If your office features a wireless-based communications system, the network must be designed properly to maximize efficiency. A weak wireless signal can slow or halt communications at the most inopportune moments. If this has ever occurred in your office, you know how it can hinder productivity.
Conducting a wireless site survey is an important step for strengthening your wireless signal to create an optimally functioning network.
What Is a Wireless Site Survey?
The purpose of a wireless site survey is to test wireless signal strength in various areas of your business. In addition identifying network inefficiencies, we also recommend and implement changes to help reduce wireless signal interference. This ensures you don’t delay maximizing office productivity a single day longer!
Who Needs a Wireless Site Survey?
The need for and complexity of wireless site surveys depend on the business. For instance, a small two- or three-room office may not require a site survey at all because the wireless signal from a single router has no trouble reaching every corner of such a small office.
However, larger facilities running on wireless networks can certainly benefit from a site survey to maximize signal strength in all areas. Examples of such businesses include:
- Office complexes
- Airports
- Schools and university campuses
- Hospitals and other healthcare facilities
- Hotels
- Warehouses
- Manufacturing and industrial facilities
What to Expect During a Wireless Site Survey
The process of conducting a wireless site survey is fairly straightforward, as long as the technicians have the equipment and knowhow to get the job done. Here’s what to expect when State Systems Inc. comes to your business location to conduct a wireless site survey:
Examine Floor Plans
The survey process goes much faster if you’re able to provide building blueprints or floor plans. If you don’t have any, the fire escape diagrams usually present on hallway walls are a good backup. With floor plans in hand, the technician makes marks to identify potential wireless signal obstacles, such as walls, floors, halls and elevator shafts.
Visually Inspect the Facility
Before taking out any equipment, the technician walks through the building to verify the accuracy of the floor plans he received. The technician marks the floor plan with other signal obstacles discovered during the visual inspection, such as metal racks, partitions and other non-permanent structures. He also notes possible locations for mounting access points, including on pillars or above ceiling tiles.
Assess the Existing Network Infrastructure
Most buildings have a wired Ethernet or optical fiber network, which are needed to support a strong wireless network. This assessment helps the technician implement a better wireless system later in the survey process.
Identify Coverage Areas
The technician verifies where you need a strong wireless signal – and where you don’t. Perhaps good signal strength is important in offices, hallways, break rooms and patios, but you don’t want to waste time extending the signal to the parking garage. This helps the technician provide a worthwhile report at the end of the survey.
Conduct the Survey
With the preliminary work complete, the technician finally begins testing access point locations, data range, signal strength and signal quality. The technician walks around your building taking readings using laptop-based software.
Present a Site Survey Report
Once finished, the technician provides a report that shows current wireless coverage, signal overlap areas and network improvement recommendations. If you want to implement the recommendations, the technician then does so.
Make Network Improvements
Based on survey findings, the technician may relocate existing access points and install a few more. He continues to take network quality measurements as he works to ensure a satisfactory end result.
Benefits of Implementing Network Improvements
If you take the site survey results seriously and decide to implement the recommendations, here’s what you can expect:
Improved Productivity
When the signal is strong in every corner of your building, every employee or client tapping into the signal enjoys fast network access. Web pages load faster, communication never lags and your staff can get more done in less time.
Faster Customer Response Time
The ability to upload and download data faster means you can respond to customers in a more timely fashion. This bolsters your customer satisfaction rating and improves business success.
Simpler Maintenance and Repairs
When your wireless system goes down, diagnosing and repairing the problem is easier after completing a site survey. Your IT staff can simply reference survey data for help with network troubleshooting. If you still have difficulties, feel free to contact State Systems Inc. for additional assistance.
Schedule a Wireless Site Survey for Your Business
State Systems Inc. is happy to help you maximize your business communication system. If you’re located in Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, or Alabama, contact us online or call 901-531-6550 to find out more about wireless site surveys or to request a quote.
