Site Survey Software Question

I've inhereted a Wireless network with about 30 Aironet APs. We were looking into the Airmagnet Software, but have heard mixed reviews. Does anyone use this software or recommend something else?
I appreciate any help given!

We use the AirMagnet suite as our tools for surveying and troubleshooting. I know the others work also like Ekahau and Motorola. You just have to learn the right way to use the tools in order to get correct data. The only thing I don't like about AirMagnet is the fact that some versions seem to work better than others. depending on the laptop and build, you might get slightly different readings.

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Site Survey Software

Our company is looking to purchase a good site survey software .
Any recommendations?
Thank you
Vic

Cisco Spectrum Expert will allow you to see signal bleed through between floors but will not paint a picture on the map of the effect of the bleed through. AIrmagnet Survey Pro will do this and much more. Also, Airmagnet was recently acquired by Fluke so you can expect some integration with their Optiview and InterpretAir product lines. Of course you better move quick. Who knows what the price is going to do.

Site Survey software available?

I read on another website that Cisco has software (free) available to users that are performing a site survey. Is this true and if so, how do I get my hands on it? If not true, what is the best product available at a no charge cost? Thanks.
-Ryan

Hi Ryan,
Here is some more info to help get you started;
Performing a Site Survey
From this doc;
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4555/products_installation_and_configuration_guide_chapter09186a0080184b69.html
Or this doc;
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/wireless/ps4555/products_installation_and_configuration_guide_chapter09186a0080456a16.html
Here is where to download the ACU (you need CCO Login)
http://www.cisco.com/cgi-bin/Software/SWSearch/SWSearch_results.cgi/SWSearch_results.cgi/SWSearch_results.cgi/SWSearch.txt?isChild=false&file_delimiter=contains&file_pattern=acu&list_format=html
Hope this helps!
Rob

Site survey on non cisco card

We currently own several Cisco aironet cards which we do site survey's with. As a company standard our laptops were replaced with new laptops which did not include type II pcmcia slots. Is their a solution for the express 34/54 slots to work with the Cisco aironet site survey software?

I have seen PCMCIA to USB adapters but I think they need to be cutom made for each type of PCMCIA card. Does anyone know of a suitable adapter?

Site Survey Adapters - USB options?

Hello,
We are in need to perform a site survey with the Aironet 1041N Access Point.
Upon reviewing the site survey software, it seems you need to use an Aironet adapter.
However from what i can tell, all the Aironet adapters are PCMICA cards, which most modern laptops do not have, and the PCMICA cards that do exist don't have drivers for windows 7.
Are there USB adapters w/ Windows 7 drivers that can be used to perform a site survey?
Thank You.

I was going to use the Cisco Aironet site survey application.
the client doesn't have $1000+ to spend on site survey software.
this doesn't need to be overly complex but we're trying to get an estimate on AP placement and the # they'll need to get adequate coverage.
our plan was to go around with one access point to use as a baseline then determine how far away you can get before signal drops off too much, mark a building diagram with where access point should be placed, move the AP to that location to see how far away you can get before you should place another AP, etc.
thank you.

Sire Survey Software Recomended?

Hi,
Is there a Site Survey Software recomended by Cisco??
If not, wich one can you recomend me?
Thanks

We have been using Ekahau Site Survey and it works well.
However, the current version does not support the ability to detect the AP name over the air nor does it understand the multiple virtual mac per SSID/WLAN on the same physical AP. This results in a significantly higher number of APs showing up than are really there.
I do not know if AirMagnet Survey tool has resolved problems or not. At one time earlier in the year, their survey tool did not handle this correctly either.
However, I have used the newest AirMagnet diagnostic tool which DOES pull the AP name out of the RF signals and does handle multiple MAC address issues correctly.
- John

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...

Wireless RF Site Survey Tools: Do you have a preference?

Our customers are asking us with greater frequency to work with them on deploying high performance wireless networks that are secure, reliable and support end-to-end QOS. We recognize to do that professionally requires great site survey RF tools.
We are considering AirMagnet's "Survey Pro" with their integrated "Spectrum Analyzer." We would run them on a Lenovo 802.11abg PC.
However we have seen some discussion on here regarding Cognio's Spectrum Analyzer and we have also found the Exahau "Site Survey" software product will speak with a Fluke 802.11 radio.
We are looking at investing in a tool set for our Wireless practice and we want to ask you what are your favorite site survey and spectrum analyzer tools? Thanks for taking the time to respond!

Apart from all the features Sales folks pitch about from both these companies the intuitiveness (ease of use) and accuracy make a lot of difference.
I would suggest getting trial copies of both of these tools and using them in the field before making a final investment.
Personally I have used AirMagnet Spectrum Analyzer (a separate product) and has been impressed by it. It comes in both laptop as well as handheld formats.
For site surveys I have used Wireless Valley which is also very impressive.

Wireless Site survey tools and Software requirement

Dears,
I have Cisco wireless site survey to distributed and selected Wireless AP on big building contain 20 floor,
what are the prerequisites and is there any free tool from Cisco or third party software , that can help my to upload all building map to get accurate results,
AP model: 1602I-E-K9
Thanks in Advanced,

Is there any tools , I can used to do the site survey ?
Won't make any difference what tool to use if you don't know the basics and requirement in wireless site survey. As what George and Scott has mentioned, AirMagnet and Ekahau are the two largest and most popular wireless site survey programs in the market right now.
However, there are a number of topic that won't be covered in AirMagnet and Ekahau computer-based-training or web training. So getting the tools is half the "fun".
Get someone to do it for you. Tag along. Ask a lot of relevant questions. Observe what they do. Observe the tools they are using and what info their eyes are focusing into.
In some cases, when I do site survey, I only use a Cisco 7925G. That's all I use. So far my method, even though it is unorthodox, hasn't failed me one bit.

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

Site Survey Questions

Hello,
I have a question about surveying. I have been doing site surveys and all the site surveys that I have done were all passive mode. I use AirMagnet with Proxim card. I know that there is an active mode for doing wireless site survey. My question are:
1. When do I need to do an active site survey?
2. What is the difference between active and passive mode?
3. What is the advantages and disadvantages of each mode?
4. For post site survey, which mode should I used?
I know that the passive mode is in monitor mode and I don't need to associate with an AP whereas active mode I need to associate with the AP.
Thanks

Granted, this is My Opinion:
1. When do I need to do an active site survey?
     When you are troubleshooting an issue. And/Or needing to do throughput testing, on a live network.
2. What is the difference between active and passive mode?
     Active survey's you are actually connecting to the SSID, so you can pass traffic and measure the results.
3. What is the advantages and disadvantages of each mode?
     Active Survey - Allows you to see more information on packet frames, as you are connected to the SSID. You can watch and test roaming, throughput etc.
     Passive Survey - Is what you want to use when you are doing a pre-install survey, or even a post install validation survey.
HTH,
Steve
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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

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?

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 ....

Config for using 1242 for site survey

Hello, i'm helping a coworker, we have a 1242 and would like to use it for a site survey, but we are not able to activate the radio using conf t it is in light weight, are we missing something? were can i find a config example to use for this purpose?

Hi Alfred,
Converting a Lightweight Access Point Back to Autonomous Mode
You can convert an access point from lightweight mode back to autonomous mode by loading a Cisco IOS Release that supports autonomous mode (Cisco IOS release 12.3(7)JA or earlier). If the access point is associated to a controller, you can use the controller to load the Cisco IOS release. If the access point is not associated to a controller, you can load the Cisco IOS release using TFTP.
Using a TFTP Server to Return to a Previous Release
Note This section does not apply to Cisco C3201WMIC and Cisco C3201LAP.
Follow these steps to revert from LWAPP mode to autonomous mode by loading a Cisco IOS release using a TFTP server:
Step 1 The static IP address of the PC on which your TFTP server software runs should be between 10.0.0.2 and 10.0.0.30.
Step 2 Make sure that the PC contains the access point image file (such as c1200-k9w7-tar.122-15.JA.tar for a 1200 series access point) in the TFTP server folder and that the TFTP server is activated.
Step 3 On the PC where the TFTP server is located, perform these steps:
a. Disable any software firewall products, such as Windows firewall, ZoneAlarm firewall, McAffee firewall, or others.
b. Ensure all Windows files are visible. From Windows Explorer, click Tools > Folder Options > View > Show hidden files and folders.
Step 4 Rename the access point image file in the TFTP server folder to c1200-k9w7-tar.default for a 1200 series access point, c1130-k9w7-tar.default for an 1130 series access point, c1240-k9w7-tar.default for a 1240 series access point, and c1250-k9w7-tar.default for a 1250 series access point.
Step 5 Connect the PC to the access point using a Category 5 (CAT5) Ethernet cable.
Step 6 Disconnect power from the access point.
Step 7 Press and hold MODE while you reconnect power to the access point.
Step 8 Hold the MODE button until the status LED turns red (approximately 20 to 30 seconds) and then release.
Step 9 Wait until the access point reboots, as indicated by all LEDs turning green followed by the Status LED blinking green.
Step 10 After the access point reboots, reconfigure it using the GUI or the CLI.
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/docs/wireless/access_point/conversion/lwapp/upgrade/guide/lwapnote.html#wp161272
Hope this helps!
Rob

Site Survey Software Question

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