Conducting a Site Survey

Does anyone where I can find a site survey checklist for installing a network infrastructure?
I'm looking for something to document when assessing a new office location to setup a network for a small business.

I have jotted down a few of the important things that need to be considered for setting up a network infrastructure.
The following questions must be answered regarding installation site readiness:
1. Are there any special site considerations (this can include using specific building entrances,
security check points, reception desks, etc)
2. Are all the original console and auxiliary cables, interface adaptors and rack mounting hardware
available if necessary?
3. Where is the equipment physically being installed? In a rack or on a table?
4. Is the necessary power available?
5. Is the WAN circuit installed and connection ready for the installation (i.e. - CSU/DSU installed
and configured, frame-relay active, etc.)?
6. Is the LAN connection available and ready for installation?
7. Is there an analog phone line within 50 feet of the installation location for dial up access?
8. Are the cables you have received of the correct length and presentation for the LAN and WAN
connectivity for your site?
9. Have the relevant TELCO lines been installed and working?

Similar Messages

Wireless Site Survey Tool

I am looking for Software tool to conduct wireless site survey in campus
Any recommendation ?
Regards
Mohamed

one is here
http://www.flukenetworks.com/enterprise-network/wireless-network/AirMagnet-Survey

Site survey for voip cutover

need a template to conduct a site survey to determine phone lines, extentions, phone features, etc

The following book has some useful questionnaires.
http://www.ciscopress.com/bookstore/product.asp?isbn=1587051575
Hope this helps. If so, please rate the post.
Brandon

Cisco WCS to conduct an Active Wireless Site Survey

Can I use Cisco WCS to conduct an Active Wireless Site Survey or it does only Predictive Wireless Site Survey ? I already bought a software that only do Passive but I need one to make an Active Wireless Site Survey.
I think that WCS does not provide walkthrough in active mode.
Tks.

WCS woudl only be able to do a Passive Survey. do to an 'active' or AP on a Stick survey you would need softare like Ekahau or Air Magnet to go out and read the RSSI/SNR from the AP.
HTH,
Steve
Please remember to rate useful posts, and mark questions as answered

Wireless Site-Survey for High Density Environment

Hi,
I have done many Wireless SIte-Surveys in my career. But this will the first time, I am going to do a Site-Survey for High Density environment (School with Byod 1:1 design).
Currently, the school has a Wireless network in place. The current wireless design includes 3502 APs, 5508 WLC and Cisco Prime. The customer has issues with sufficient bandwidth in classrooms which limiting the students and teachers to access the learning content.
It is understood that there was no initial Site-Survey conducted, the AP positioning was made based on their knowledge.
Now, I am not sure as how to conduct the Survey here?
Do I need to conduct an Active Survey by connecting to the existing Wireless Network in the School? Or just passive Survey will be enough to determine the exact issues with the current design and provide the recommendations?
I have gone through the Cisco High Density design and white papers to start with.
Thanks,
CJ

Before you do the site survey, I'd do the initial breakdown of the LAN.
1. What kind of switch ports are we talking about?
2. Are the APs connected AND negotiated to 1 Gbps ports?
3. What is/are the switch uplinks? 100 Mbps, 1- or 10- Gbps, Etherchannel?
4. Line errors on the links between the AP and the switch, uplinks and the link between the WLC and the switches?
5. WLC link? How many are used? Are they LAG or not?
6. Configuration of the WLC must be checked.
Once you've checked these do I start talking about wireless:
1. What problems are the staff/students experiencing?
2. How many APs to a classroom? How big is the class?
3. Determine what kind of traffic are each class trying to push?
4. Where are the APs located in relations to the staff/student?
5. Verify co-channel interferrence. I know they have 3502 but I've seen people disable CleanAir.
6. Verify what kind of NIC cards are used and whether drivers have been updated or not.
I'm in the middle of improving our wireless coverage in >98 schools. This means I am now deploying 1 AP per classroom. In areas where the students/staff converge, I put additional APs (both indoors and outdoors).

Site Surveys

I am conducting some inside site surveys, I have a lot of documentation on doing a survey and have good equipment but one question I have is what should be the minimum signal strength or quality that I want to look for? For example I am thinking that a signal strength of 10 percent is as low as I want to go and would consider that the edge of the range for that access point. I am just wondering if there is a suggested limit or rule to go by.
Thanks for your help in advance.

Hi ,
It depend upon how much bandwidth is required for your application .
As you move away from AP , throughput decreases from 11 to 5.5 to 2 to 1 .
Now Signal Stregth is DIFFERENT THAN singnal quality . Good Signal Strength does not mean always good singal quality .
What you should look for is SIGNAL QUAILITY . Multipath reduces signal quaility .
I would day keep more than 30% signal quality . There is no guide line for deciding this threshold . It is upto your desing that how much overlap you want between two adjacent cell .
Roaming of users not only depend on signal strength and quality it is also depend on # of hope the backbone is away and other factors ....
I hope this helps ....

Cisco Prime 2.0 to conduct a Predictive Survey

I´m looking for where are made the "Planning Mode" to conduct a predictive site survey in Cisco Prime 2.0 but I can´t find. I´ve already read a lot of documents but I was just more confuse.
I knew that in previous versions you could enter in "Planning Mode".
Someone know where is this inside the Prime 2.0 ?

If your familiar with WCS or NCS, then change the theme from lifecycle to classic mode. You can change this by clicking on the top right in the GUI by the login name:
Prime Infrastructure provides two different graphical user interfaces (from which you can switch back and forth by clicking the downward arrow next to your login name):
Then you can follow this guide.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/ncs/1.1/configuration/guide/maps.html#wp1179446
Sent from Cisco Technical Support iPhone App

Site survey tools for ipad

Hi,
I was trying to find some apps for iPad/iPad mini which are useful in conducting a wireless site-survey. Any app which will scan air and gives list of available wireless networks along with their RSSI/SNR values.
I found one app WIFI Analyzer, but it is for Android.
Are there any apps available for iPhone / iPad / iPad mini?
I am planning for an outdoor survey for a location around 8-10 acres. The purpose is to provide internet services and cover most of the specified areas within park.
I've got the maps, conducted a passive survey by simulating the environment using AirMagnet planner. Now I am planning for on site survey .
Thanks,
CJ

iPad WiFi Survey
Ekahau Mobile Survey
Don't forget to rate our posts.

Wireless site survey doubts with cisco aironet site survey utility tool

Hi,
I have 1131 autonomous AP and we have project where we need to implement WLC 5500 with 1140 LAP.
Before that , we need to do site survey . we are going to use cisco aironet adapter and with the help of site survey utility tool we are planning to do site survey .
I have below doubt before starting the site survey :
1) do we need to configure the AP 1131 with existing LAN set-up of client to get connected ?
If yes , how can i shift this 1131 ap always from one location to another location and connect to respective vlan in switch ? It would be tedious job ....
because , We need to connect ( get associated ) our laptop always to 1131 ap and then roam around to get the RSSI , signal strength , SNR and throughput .... ...
to configure the AP to existing lan set-up of client , it would not be flexible to do site survey ?
without that , how can I just plug-in power to 1131 AP with standalone configuration .... and without connecting to switch ( any lan-port ) , do the site survey ?
Please suggest me .............
In short , without connecting to LAN set-up of client , how can i do the site survey ?
2) will it be worth to do site survey with cisco aironet card ( site survey utility ) ? or we should i have different site survey software for the same ?
Please share the knowledge ....

Site Surveys are important and should be done by a professional. A poor site survey can lead to a lot of problems. It would be hard to put all aspects of conducting a proper site survey in a single post. Lets cover a few of the basics.
1) If you plan to deploy 1140 model access points. Then you should use that AP in autonomous mode so you dont have to be plugged into your network
2) The AP gets powered by an exteral power source like this battery for exmaple:
http://www.tessco.com/products/displayProductInfo.do?sku=345625&WT.mc_id=google_base&sp=true
3) As far as moving the AP around you can purchase a site survey pole like this:
http://www.tessco.com/products/displayProductInfo.do?sku=392506&eventPage=1
4) As for software, I like AirMagnet Surveyor
http://www.airmagnet.com/products/survey/
But again. There is a lot to know about doing surveys...

Indoor Wireless Site Survey

Hello guys,
I have a question regading conducting an indoor (office building) wireless site survey. Is there a standard RSSI and SNR value for certain wireless survey requirements for "data only", "data and voice", and "location tracking"?
I am aware that voice can't go lower than -67 RSSi and 25 SNR. So I am assuming that the survey should be (using AirMagnet) the single AP coverage for both 2.4GHz and 5GHz shouldn't go lower than -67 RSSI with higher than 25 SNR is preferred. The 2nd AP coverage is -70 RSSI wih at least 25 SNR. Is this correct?
What about for data only coverage? I believe the SNR is 15dB is good starting based for data only coverage, but what is the standard RSSI value?
Is it -72 or -75?
Also, regarding the user density, what is the recommended number of users per AP for both 2.4GHz and 5.GHz for "data only", "data and voice", and "data, voice and video"?
Thank you in advance

Hello steelinquisitor
Thank you for contacting the Sales Acceleration Center (SAC) regarding your recent inquiry, Case Number 79980
Case Description:
Indoor Wireless Site Survey
Case Solution:
I do agree with Scott info but here is more information
This table lists the minimum Signal-to-Noise ratio values for the voice and data cells.
I am going to close the case for this specific inquiry. We strive to provide you with excellent service. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the SAC team if we can be of any further assistance or if you have any other related questions in the future. We value your input and look forward to serving you moving forward
Hello steelinquisitor
Thank you for contacting the Sales Acceleration Center (SAC) regarding your recent inquiry, Case Number 79980
Case Description:
Indoor Wireless Site Survey
Case Solution:
I do agree with Scott info but here is more information
This table lists the minimum Signal-to-Noise ratio values for the voice and data cells.
I am going to close the case for this specific inquiry. We strive to provide you with excellent service. Please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the SAC team if we can be of any further assistance or if you have any other related questions in the future. We value your input and look forward to serving you moving forward

LWAPP Site Survey methodology

I have been doing site surveys the "old fashioned" way for quite some time.
I am interested in how the survey is performed utilizing the new lightweight AP's.
Mainly, how do you determine AP location if there is no way to configure the AP itself?
Do these surveys require the use of a Controller?
Can I still design the infrastructure to physically load balance the network or am I at the mercy of this little box?
Also, do I have any control over channel allocation? I don't like to put channel 11 near Microwave ovens if I can help it, but I would like to know that if any thing gets switched, is it going to be switched back?
Any links that would describe the "new" survey process would be very apprieciated.
Thanks-

I can confirm that when I asked the same question, no "survey mode" exists on the AIR-LAP1131AG or AIR-LAP1242AG.
That said, you can convert these APs to autonomous mode (there are a number of threads on this forum that discuss how to do this). After you are done with the site survey you can flip the APs back.
From the Cisco "Wireless Site Survey FAQ - Document ID: 68666"
"Q. Can I perform a site survey using Cisco Aironet 1131 and 1242 access points and then use the results to deploy an Airespace wireless solution?
A. Yes, you can do this as long as a proper site survey is conducted and the results yield an effective Wireless solution. In this case, you can use any site survey tool."
If you intend on carrying your RF settings manually once deployed using the WLC, you will need to refer to the following document which correlates autonomous power settings (in dB) to the WLC power setttings 1, 2, 3, etc.
Excerpt from WLC Configuration Guide v4.0:
"The transmit power level is assigned an integer value instead of a value in mW or dBm. The integer corresponds to a power level that varies depending on the regulatory domain in which the access points
are deployed. The number of available power levels varies based on the access point model. However, power level 1 is always the maximum power level allowed per country code setting, with each successive power level representing 50% of the previous power level. For example, 1 = maximum power level in a particular regulatory domain, 2 = 50% power, 3 = 25% power, 4 = 12.5% power, and so on.
Note: Refer to the hardware installation guide for your access point for the maximum transmit power levels supported per regulatory domain. Also, refer to the data sheet for your access point for the number of power levels supported."
Final thought: I have found that the AUTO RF tends to work better if you start out your APs with manual channel settings from your site survey and then release everything to AUTO RF at the same time. The automatic channel choices that the WLC comes up with are not optimal.
The steps to doing this are:
1) Changing the global AUTO RF setting to manual channel selection or ON DEMAND. Power setting can stay on automatic.
2) Change your APs to the manual settings from your survey.
3) Change the APs to automatic RF settings. (They will not change until AUTO RF channel selection is re-enabled.)
4) Re-enable AUTO RF channel selection.
This is not official from Cisco, simply based upon my own observations. However, my experience so far has been that the channel settings I pick tend to work better (I see higher power level settings on the APs since they have less co-channel interference) and WLC will continue to use the manual channel settings unless the some significant outside interference is encountered.
(please remember to rate helpful posts)
- John

Question about WLAN Site Surveys with 802.11n APs - 1142s

I do site surveys a little differently that everyone else nowadays, I believe. In the past, I used an autonomous 1230 or 1240, but now I use a lightweight 1142. I configure a port in a room to be on the AP VLAN and I connect my 1142 to the port and hang it where I want - it then gets on the controller and start broadcasting just like the finished product will. This works well except for the time it takes me to configure a port on the switch and the bootup time for the AP. I'm one of the Networks Architects on a campus of almost 200 buildings, so I have access to all the routers and switches and can configure anything I need while onsite.
Now I want to have someone else (in-house) to do our surveys - but this person(s) does not have access to switches and routers, and that won't ever change.
I tried configuring a lightweight 1142 in HREAP mode to handoff to this person, but it appears the power and channel settings don't stick on the 5 GHz side.
Scrapping that idea, I now have to build out an autonomous 1142 for site surveying. I missed out on this step because I went from buying 1242s (can jump between lightweight and autonomous) to 1142s (which didn't have an autonomous image at that time, I believe). This is why I started surveying with lightweight 1142s.
I'm curious if anyone has gone through the configuration of an autonomous 1142 and wouldn't mind sharing their "lessons learned". I haven't seen a matrix of features that are supported/not supported on 1142s when configured for lightweight vs. autonomous.
I currently aim for designing around the 5 GHz radios set to 10 dBm, 20% cell overlap. I also turn on 40 MHz channels in 5 GHz range. This usually ends up with an AP in every other or every third classroom, depending on how old the building is and how many times it has been renovated. I can't "just throw APs out there" since each building is different - some are thin concrete block, some are poured cement, and some are block with metal mesh and stucco. Those usually end up with on AP per classroom.
Does anyone have a matrix on what can and cannot be turned on in an autonomous AP? I would like to get my config as close to the lightweight scenario we deploy for all of our production WLANs.

There is no matrix as to what you're asking for. I've done conversions and configurations of AP's from Lightweight to Autonomous and vice-versa. The configuration of the autonomous AP can be identical to the Lightweight AP from a client perspective.
My current setup has 3 SSID's (VoIP, Data, and Guest) on the autonomous AP. Couple things I do:
1. PoE powered AP through a Tessco power pack.
2. VLANs have to be enabled on the AP (1 for each SSID)
3. The SSID's will have to be created and each AP mapped to a VLAN
4. The SSID's will be need to be enabled on both radios if desired.
The easiest way to configure the AP is to power it with either the power cord.
Console into the AP and let it boot. Assign an IP address to the BVI 1 interface.
Assign an IP address on the wired NIC of our laptop and plug an ethernet cable into the AP's ethernet port.
Configure the AP as listed above via the web gui.
This is by no means a complete answer, but your questions were all over the map.
Regards,
Jerry

Looking for a beginners guide ot site survey

Good evening,
Getting ready to do a site survey of a rather large facility... About to switch to an entirely different wireless nic (intel 3945ABG) which isnt performing as well as its cousin, 2200BG. Reviewing the stats of the cards it doesnt make sense as intel claims (from my understanding) the 3945 is more sensitive.
Given the sheer size (220,000+ sq feet) of my facility i want to ensure i do this correctly the first time around. I have the given equipment which will be deploying this card.
What i have done in the past for resolving some issues is going every 5 feet and recording by hand the SNR using something along lines of netstumbler. Is this correct?
any suggestions will be great.

Hi Robert,
Here is some info that may help;
Wireless Site Survey FAQ
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/tech/tk722/tk809/technologies_q_and_a_item09186a00805e9a96.shtml
This Excel macro tool is designed to work with NetStumbler to help you complete a wireless site survey. While running NetStumbler, the macro allows you to timestamp your live access points, collect signal levels of each access point, and export the raw NetStumbler data to create a handy report.
http://whitepapers.zdnet.com/download.aspx?docid=177121&promo=100400
Hope this helps!
Rob

Best practice power setting when doing a Site Survey for VOIP

Hi Team,
Can someone please confirm or correct me. When doing a Wireless Active Site Survey for Cisco VOIP, I should be setting the Test AP to local power of 14, which is 25mW? Is this correct, or should it be another value? I asked the customer for the power of their weakest client and they do not know, but they claim there's a high probably that they will go with Cisco VOIP clients.
Thanks...

When you check the signal coverage, make sure the AP's radio transmit power does not use a transmit power greater than what the client devices can support. For example, by default, the Cisco Unified Wireless IP Phone 7925G uses the highest available transmit power by default (17 dBm / 50 mW for 2.4 GHz and 16 dBm / 40 mW for 5 GHz). It is possible to have a survey report that shows good coverage in all areas; however, if you have APs that operate at the highest transmit power, you might still experience uplink issues where the client devices do not support the same transmit power. For areas where there is deficient coverage, and you increase the AP transmit power to levels that the client devices cannot support, this only increases coverage on the downlink.
Link for the same :-
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/docs/wireless/5500-series-wireless-controllers/116057-site-survey-guidelines-wlan-00.html

Showing Full AP name in cisco Wireless phone 7921-site survey

Hi,
I am working on a project where cisco wireless phone 7921 is utilized. We use phones sitesurvey tool for coverage tests. Our AP names are 18 characters in length and are not dispayed in full in site survey screen. Please suggest on a way to increase the display character count in the site survey or to make it a running text. Thank you.
Regards,
Madhan kumar G

Hi Leo,
Thanks for the suggestion. I looked at the Fluke OptiView XG Network Analysis Tablet. Looks very interesting, but looking at the cost of the Tablet, I am pretty sure that my Employer will say NO.
Anyways, Can you recommend some vendor options (It will be really helpful, if you can share the Model information as well) for the list highlighted below.
1. AP Tripod (Reaches 3 meters max) - Need recommendation on AP Telescopic Tripod which should be portable to carry in the Peli Case.
2. Distance measuring tool - Need recommendation on this.
3. Laptop harness - I did some research and found Connect-A-Desk Laptop Harness, which I am planning to purchase
Also, I need your inputs in choosing Antennas for Site-Survey Kit (I am looking at must to have options for the Kit).
Thanks,
CJ

Conducting a Site Survey

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