1. Chapter 15 Radio Frequency Site Survey Fundamentals
WLAN Site Survey Interview
Documentation and reports
Vertical market Considerations

2. Exam Essentials Define the site survey interview.
Be able to explain the importance of the interview process prior to the wireless site survey. Understand that the interview is for educating the customer and clearly defining all their wireless needs.
Identify the questions necessary to determine capacity and coverage needs.
Understand the importance of proper capacity and coverage planning. Define all the numerous considerations when planning for RF cell coverage, bandwidth, and throughput.
Explain existing wireless network troubleshooting concerns.
Be able to explain the questions necessary to troubleshoot an existing WLAN installation prior to conducting a secondary site survey.

3. Exam Essentials Define infrastructure connectivity issues.
Understand all the necessary questions that must be asked in order to guarantee proper integration of the WLAN into the existing wired infrastructure.
Identify site survey documentation and forms.
Correctly identify all the documentation that must be assembled and created prior to the site survey. Be familiar with all the information and documentation that is needed in the final deliverables.
Explain vertical market considerations.
Understand the business requirements of different vertical markets and how these requirements will alter the site survey and final deployment.

4. Site Surveys Administrative perspective
What do you need to know, and who do you need to talk to
What preparation and document gathering needs to be done.
Final reports for delivery
Pg 502

5. WLAN Site Survey Interview
Is a site survey needed
YES
Planning
Small locations are relatively easy
Large locations often require proper prep
Interview is to help customer and technician sync expectations
So WLAN meets the mobility, coverage, and capacity needs
Pg 502

6. Customer Briefing Prepare customer for reality of WLAN
More than plug and play
Explain advantages and limitations
Explain bandwidth ratings vs. throughput
Half duplex
RF signals and interference
Pg 502

7. Business Requirements
What is the purpose of the WLAN
Applications needs/VoWiFi….
Different requirements
Warehousing vs. Hospital
Different needs
Pg 503

8. Business Requirements
What applications will be used
Who will be using the WLAN
What types of devices will be connecting to the WLAN
Pg 503

9. Capacity and Coverage Requirements
What capacity is needed
What is the coverage area
Everywhere??
Outdoors
Closets
Bathrooms
Additional areas are additional costs
Hallways may need semidirectional rather than dipole
Pg 504

10. Capacity and Coverage Requirements
Capacity Needs
Plan for cell sizing
Colocation if high user density/high throughput needs
Data applications
12 to 15 users per AP
User Density
How many users now
How many users in the future
Where are they located
Pg 504

11. Capacity and Coverage Requirements
Peak on/off use
When will usage peak
Existing Transmitters
Sources of interference
Microwaves, cordless headsets, cordless phones, wireless devices, etc
Mobile vs. Mobility
Mobile-Move from one location to another and reconnect
Mobility-Seamless motion while staying connected
roaming
Pg 504

12. Capacity and Coverage Requirements
802.11g (ERP) protection
Backward compatibility?
Pg 504

13. Existing Wireless Networks
What about when you are fixing an existing network
Additional site survey
Need to evaluate settings/ power/placement of existing APs, clients
Look for interference, hidden node, etc
Pg 506

14. Existing Wireless Networks
What are the current problems with the existing WLAN
Get clear description
Are there known sources of RF interference
Kitchen near AP, headsets, etc
Are there any known coverage dead zones
Is there existing documentation
What Equipment is currently installed
Technology version and vendor details
Security settings
Power
Use site survey to adjust existing may fix problem
Pg 506

15. Infrastructure Connectivity
Plan for good integration with wired network
Where/How will APs connect to infrastructure
Where is WLAN controller/ RADIUS server, etc
Network diagrams are often “secured” documents
May need an NDA
Pg 507

16. Infrastructure Connectivity
Roaming
Wiring Closets
Antenna Structure
Hubs/Switches
PoE
Pg 507

17. Infrastructure Connectivity
Segmentation
Naming Convention
User Management
Infrastructure management
Pg 507

18. Security Expectations
Need to coordinate wireless security with network management
Data privacy
Authentication, Authorization, Accounting requirements
Use of WIDS or WIPS
Rogue APs
Encryption overhear needs to be part of plan
VPN, etc
Be aware of other regulations
Health, finance, etc
Pg 509

19. Guest Access
Do they need is
Separate WVLAN?
Pg 510

20. Documents and Reports Need good documents
Up to date if possible
Documents are used to create final report
Customer Docs
Blueprints
Can be used with software for survey
Topographic Map
For outdoor connections
Pg 510

21. Documents and Reports Blueprints Topographic Map
Can be used with software for survey
Topographic Map
For outdoor connections
Pg 510

22. Documents and Reports Network Topology Map Security credentials
As stated before, understanding this is needed for planning AP placement and layer 3 boundaries
Security credentials
For you to access physical locations
Interview Checklist
Questions and docs to get
Installation Checklist
Hardware placement, antenna type, power, etc
Equipment checklist
What was used for the survey
Pg 510

23. Deliverables Documents/Materials in the report Purpose Statement
Spectrum Analysis
RF Coverage Analysis
Hardware Placement and Configuration
Application Analysis
Pg 512

24. Additional Reports
In addition to site survey, installation recommendations can be made
Vendor Recommendations
Particular product line
Implementation Diagrams
Design diagram with AP placements
Bill of materials
Project Schedule and Costs
Security Solution recommendations
Wireless Policy Recommendations
Training Recommendations
Pg 513

25. Vertical Markets Outdoor Surveys Aesthetics Weather constraints
National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) enclosures
RF Regulations
Aesthetics
Most businesses want APs out of sight
Also want them secured
Pg 514

26. Vertical Markets Government Education Healthcare Security
Multi OS environment
Drivers
Old buildings
RF Transmissions
Healthcare
Other equipment in ISM range
RFID tags
Pg 514

27. Vertical Markets Hotspots Retail Warehouses Mostly 2.4 Ghz
Other equipment can cause interference
Racks and metal
Warehouses
Legacy deployments
Survey at peak times
Inventory will affect propogation
Pg 514

28. Vertical Markets Manufacturing Multitenant Buildings Safety
Harsh Environments
Multitenant Buildings
Other businesses and their equipment
Use 5 Ghz where you can
Pg 518

29. Exam Essentials Define the site survey interview.
Be able to explain the importance of the interview process prior to the wireless site survey. Understand that the interview is for educating the customer and clearly defining all their wireless needs.
Identify the questions necessary to determine capacity and coverage needs.
Understand the importance of proper capacity and coverage planning. Define all the numerous considerations when planning for RF cell coverage, bandwidth, and throughput.
Explain existing wireless network troubleshooting concerns.
Be able to explain the questions necessary to troubleshoot an existing WLAN installation prior to conducting a secondary site survey.

30. Exam Essentials Define infrastructure connectivity issues.
Understand all the necessary questions that must be asked in order to guarantee proper integration of the WLAN into the existing wired infrastructure.
Identify site survey documentation and forms.
Correctly identify all the documentation that must be assembled and created prior to the site survey. Be familiar with all the information and documentation that is needed in the final deliverables.
Explain vertical market considerations.
Understand the business requirements of different vertical markets and how these requirements will alter the site survey and final deployment.