Everything you need to know about WiFi surveying

WiFi surveying is an essential step for any network administrator to establish robust and efficient wireless network infrastructure. This process involves mapping out wireless coverage areas and identifying potential sources of interference, thereby ensuring optimal network performance.

This blog post aims to demystify WiFi surveying, offering a comprehensive guide for those looking to understand its intricacies and practical applications. Whether you’re a networking beginner or a seasoned IT professional, you’ll find useful insights to enhance your WiFi deployment and management strategies.

What is WiFi Surveying?

WiFi surveying is a process of collecting data about a wireless network in order to assess its performance and coverage. It involves conducting both passive and active surveys to measure the existing network and identify any potential issues.

Passive vs Active surveys

Passive surveys involve collecting data from the existing wireless network, such as signal strength and access points, while active surveys involve using specialized tools to measure the wireless coverage and network performance.

By conducting wireless site surveys, businesses can identify any potential issues with their WiFi network and make the necessary changes to improve its performance.

Additionally, predictive site surveys can be used to plan for future wireless networks and access points. With the right tools and knowledge, businesses can ensure their WiFi network is running optimally and providing the best coverage for their employees or customers.

Conducting Wireless Site Surveys

There are various factors to consider when conducting a wireless site survey, such as the building layout, materials used in construction, and potential sources of interference. Below are some key steps to ensure a successful survey:

1. Define the scope of the survey: Determine the specific areas and devices that need to be covered by your WiFi network.
2. Plan out equipment placement: Consider factors such as access point placement, mounting options, and cabling requirements.
3. Identify potential sources of interference: This includes other wireless networks, physical barriers, and electronic devices that may cause signal degradation.
4. Conduct the survey: Use specialized tools to measure signal strength and coverage areas in both passive and active surveys.
5. Analyse the data: Once the survey is complete, analyse the data to identify any potential issues and make recommendations for improvements.

Conducting wireless site surveys is an important part of setting up a wireless network.

When conducting a wireless site survey, it is important to consider the existing network, the wireless coverage, the wireless signal, and the performance of the network.

Access points should be placed strategically to ensure the best coverage and signal strength. Predictive surveys can be used to plan the placement of access points, while active surveys can be used to measure the performance of the existing network. By conducting a WiFi site survey, you can ensure that your wireless network is optimized for the best performance.

Wireless Site Survey Tools

Wireless site survey tools are essential for any business or organization that relies on a wireless network. These tools allow users to conduct wireless site surveys to assess the existing network, identify any potential issues, and plan for future network performance.

Some popular wireless site survey tools include:

• Ekahau: This tool offers a comprehensive suite of WiFi planning, analysis, and optimization features.
• NetSpot: NetSpot allows users to visualize, troubleshoot, and plan for their wireless networks with ease.
• AirMagnet Survey: This tool provides detailed analysis and reporting for WiFi networks in large-scale environments.
• Tamosoft Survey Pro: With its user-friendly interface, Tamosoft Survey Pro offers accurate and detailed results for WiFi site surveys.

These tools have various features, such as heatmapping, network planning, and multi-floor support to ensure a thorough and efficient wireless site survey. However, it is important to choose a tool that best suits your specific needs and budget.

Tips for Optimizing WiFi Networks

1. Update Firmware and Software Regularly: Ensure that all your network devices, including routers and access points, are running on the latest firmware and software. This not only provides the latest features but also addresses bugs and security vulnerabilities.
2. Position your Wireless Access Points Strategically: The placement of your access points plays a crucial role in WiFi signal strength. They should be placed centrally and high up, away from walls and obstructions.
3. Use the Right WiFi Channel: WiFi routers can broadcast on several different channels, and choosing the right one can reduce interference and improve network performance. There are tools available to analyse channel usage and help you select the optimal channel.
4. Implement a Dual Band Network: A dual band network allows devices to switch between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands based on their requirements and capabilities, which can optimize the overall performance of the network.
5. Secure your Network: An unsecured network is vulnerable to unauthorized access which could slow down your network speed. Implementing robust security measures such as WPA2 or WPA3 encryption can prevent this.
6. Regular Network Surveys: Regularly conduct WiFi surveys to identify potential issues before they significantly impact network performance. This can help you adjust your network setup based on changing requirements and conditions.
7. Implement Quality of Service (QoS) Settings: QoS settings can help prioritize certain types of traffic over others, ensuring that the most important data gets the bandwidth it needs.
8. Limit the Number of Connected Devices: Too many devices connected to the same network can slow down performance. Consider implementing a device management strategy to limit the number of devices connected to your network at any given time.

Overview

Conducting a WiFi survey is an important step in ensuring your wireless network is performing optimally. By understanding the existing network, conducting passive and active surveys, and using wireless site survey tools, you can ensure your WiFi coverage, access points, and wireless signal are all up to par.

Predictive surveys can also be used to plan for future wireless networks and ensure network performance. With the right tools and knowledge, WiFi surveying can be a breeze.

Get in touch if you’re interested in booking a WiFi survey for your business!