CWNA Guide to Wireless

LANs, Second Edition

Chapter Seven
Conducting a Site Survey
 Objectives
• Explain what a site survey is
• Describe the tools that are used in a site survey
• Describe how to perform a site survey

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 2

 What is a Site Survey?
• When installing a WLAN for an organization, areas
of dead space might not be tolerated
– Ensure blanket coverage, meet per-user bandwidth
requirements, minimize “bleeding” of signal
• Factors affecting wireless coverage goals:
– Devices emitting RF signals
– Building structure (walls, construction materials)
– Open or closed office doors
– Stationary versus mobile machinery/equipment
– Movement of mobile walls (e.g., cubicles)
CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 3
 What is a Site Survey? (continued)
• Factors affecting wireless coverage goals
(continued):
– Expansion of physical plant or growth of organization
– Existing WLANs
• Both inside organization, and within nearby
organizations
• Site survey: Process of planning a WLAN to meet
design goals
– Effectiveness of a WLAN often linked to
thoroughness of the site survey

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 4

 What is a Site Survey? (continued)
• Design goals for a site survey:
– Achieve best possible performance from WLAN
– Certify that installation will operate as promised
– Determine best location for APs
– Develop networks optimized for variety of
applications
– Ensure coverage will fulfill organization’s
requirements
– Locate unauthorized APs

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 5

 What is a Site Survey? (continued)
• Design goals for a site survey (continued):
– Map nearby wireless networks to determine existing
radio interference
– Reduce radio interference as much as possible
– Make wireless network secure
• Survey provides realistic understanding of
infrastructure required for proposed wireless link
– Assists in predicting network capability and
throughput
– Helps determine exact location of APs and power
levels required

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 6

 What is a Site Survey? (continued)
• When to perform a site survey:
– Before installing a new wireless network
– Before changing an existing wireless network
– When there are significant changes in personnel
– When there are changes in network needs
– After making physical changes to a building

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 Site Survey Tools: Wireless Tools
• Most basic tool is AP itself:
– Position AP in various locations, monitor signal as
you move
– APs should have ability to adjust output power
– APs should have external antenna connectors
• Test effectiveness of different antenna types in
different situations
– May need DC-to-AC converter for testing
• Notebook computer with wireless NIC also
essential for testing
– Previously configured and tested

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 Site Survey Tools: Wireless Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-1: Adjusting AP power levels

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 9
 Site Survey Tools: Wireless Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-2: External antenna connectors

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
• Site Survey Analyzers: Specifically designed for
conducting WLAN site surveys
– Software often built into AP
– Receive Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value
– Full-featured site survey analyzer software settings:
• Destination MAC Address
• Continuous Link Test
• Number of Packets
• Packet Size
• Data Retries

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 11

Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)
• Site Survey Analyzers (continued):
– Full-featured site survey analyzer software settings
(continued):
• Data Rate
• Delay Between Packets
• Packet Tx Type
– Unicast or multicast
• Percent Success Threshold
– Basic survey analyzer software contains far fewer
features

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 12

Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-3: Full-featured site survey analyzer software setup

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-4: Full-featured site survey analyzer software results

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-6: Basic site survey analyzer software results

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)
• Spectrum Analyzers: Scan radio frequency
spectrum and provides graphical display of results
– Typically measure signal-to-noise ratio
– Single-frequency analyzers measure signal-to-noise
ratio at specified frequency
– Helpful in identifying interference problems
• Thus, helps properly position/orient AP

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-7: Single-frequency analyzer

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Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)

Figure 7-8: Spectrum analyzer

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 18
Site Survey Tools: Measurement Tools
(continued)
• Network Analyzers: Can be used to pick up
packets being transmitted by other WLANs in area
– Provide additional information on transmissions
– Packet sniffers or protocol analyzers
– Not used in placement of AP

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 Site Survey Tools: Documentation
Tools
• Create a “hard copy” of site survey results
– Make available for future reference
– No industry-standard form for site survey
documentation
• Site survey report should include:
– Purpose of report
– Survey methods
– RF coverage details (frequency and channel plan)
– Throughput findings
– Sources of interference
CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 20
 Site Survey Tools: Documentation
Tools (continued)
• Site survey report should include (continued):
– Problem zones
– Marked-up facility drawings with access point
placement
– Access point configuration
• Use plain paper and building layout blueprints as
tools
• Advisable to create database to store site survey
information and generate reports

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 Site Survey Tools: Documentation
Tools (continued)

Figure 7-9: Sample site survey form

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 Performing a Site Survey: Gathering
Data
• Obtaining Business Requirements: Determine
business reasons why WLAN being proposed or
extended
– If this step skipped, almost impossible to properly
design and implement the network
– Primary data gathering method is interviewing
– Must determine type of mobility required within
organization
– Must determine per-user bandwidth requirements
• May be different “types” of users with different
bandwidth requirements
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 Performing a Site Survey: Gathering
Data (continued)
• Defining Security Requirements: Consider type
of data encryption and type of authentication that
will take place across WLAN
– Consider existing security policies and procedures
• Gathering Site-Specific Documentation:
– Blueprints, facility drawings, and other documents
• Show specific building infrastructure components
– Inspecting the site
• Document changes to blueprints and get visual
perspective

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 Performing a Site Survey: Gathering
Data (continued)
• Gathering Site-Specific Documentation
(continued):
– Behind-the-scenes site inspection
• May require ladder, flashlight, and an escort
• Documenting Existing Network Characteristics:
New or expanded WLAN will “dovetail” into network
already in place
– Determine degree to which WLAN will interact with
other wired networks
– Legacy systems may require additional equipment to
support WLAN

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey
• Collecting RF Information:
– Note objects in and layout of room
• Use digital camera
– Position AP
• Initial location will depend on antenna type
• Document starting position of AP
– Using notebook computer with site survey analyzer
software running, walk slowly away from AP
• Observe data displayed by analyzer program
– Data rate, signal strength, noise floor, and signal-
to-noise ratio
CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 26
 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)

Figure 7-10: Position of APs

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)
• Collecting RF Information (continued):
– Continue moving until data collected for all areas
– Data collected used to produce:
• Coverage pattern: Area where signal can be received
from the AP
• Data rate boundaries: Range of coverage for a
specific transmission speed
• Throughput: Number of packets sent and received
and data rates for each
• Total transmission range: Farthest distance at which
signal can be received by wireless device

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)

Figure 7-11: Coverage pattern

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)

Figure 7-12: Data rate boundaries

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)
• Collecting Non-RF Information:
– Sources of interference can include:
• Wire mesh security windows, Aquariums, Outer walls,
Ceramic or marble floors, Concrete floors or pillars,
Security booth bullet-proof glass, Mirrors, and Elevator
shafts or filing cabinets
– Electrical and network connections
• Outdoor Surveys: Similar to indoor surveys, but
must consider climatic conditions, trees, different
possibilities for antenna positions

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 Performing a Site Survey: Performing
the Survey (continued)
• Outdoor Surveys (continued):
– Different tools may be required
• GPS
• Range finder
• Tape measure
• Lighting beacons, flares, and spotlights
• Finalizing the Survey Documents: Final result is
map of optimal areas of coverage for placement of
access point
– If results unacceptable, must relocate AP and start
over

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Performing a Site Survey: Creating the
Site Survey Report
• Narrative section:
– State customer requirements
– Outline methodology
• Outline all steps taken during survey
– Clearly state results of measurements
• May have tables of measurements
– Recommendations
• Should always address security

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Performing a Site Survey: Creating the
Site Survey Report (continued)

Figure 7-13: Table of measurements

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Performing a Site Survey: Creating the
Site Survey Report (continued)
• Graphic section:
– Generally includes maps and diagrams of coverage
area
• Data rate coverage map
• Signal-to-noise ratio plot

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Performing a Site Survey: Creating the
Site Survey Report (continued)

Figure 7-14: Data rate coverage map

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Performing a Site Survey: Creating the
Site Survey Report (continued)

Figure 7-15: 3-D signal-to-noise ratio plot

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 Summary
• A site survey is an in-depth examination and
analysis of a proposed wireless LAN site to meet
design goals
• Three categories of tools used
– Wireless tools include the access point and
notebook computers with a wireless NIC
– Measurement tools include site survey analyzers,
spectrum analyzers, and network analyzers
– Documentation tools create a “hard copy” of the site
survey results for future reference

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 Summary (continued)
• Three steps in conducting a site survey
– Gather the background data
– Perform the actual survey
– Create the site survey report, containing a narrative
and a graphical section

CWNA Guide to Wireless LANs, Second Edition 39