The word ‘survey’ covers several very different activities. A practical guide to which type of wireless survey fits which stage of a project.
‘We need a Wi-Fi survey’ is a common requirement in wireless projects, and often an ambiguous one. Different surveys answer different questions, and choosing the wrong one wastes time and money.
Predictive design: before installation
A predictive design is carried out largely off site, using scaled floorplans and a model of the building’s construction. It answers the question: how many access points do we need, and where should they go?
Best for new builds, fit-outs, refreshes and tenders. It is fast, cost-effective and gives installers a clear plan. Its accuracy depends on knowing what the building is made of.
AP-on-a-Stick: before installation, where the building is uncertain
An AP-on-a-Stick (APoS) survey measures the real behaviour of signal in your building using a temporary access point mounted at the intended height. It answers: how does RF really propagate here?
Best for warehouses, industrial sites, heritage buildings, hospitals and anywhere construction is unknown or unusual. It is often combined with predictive modelling, using measured data to calibrate the model.
Validation survey: after installation
A validation survey measures the installed network. It answers: does the network actually meet its design criteria?
Best at handover of a new installation, after significant changes, or as a health check. It should be measured against agreed criteria rather than impressions.
Troubleshooting: when something is wrong
Troubleshooting is not a survey type so much as an investigation. It may include survey data, but also spectrum analysis, packet captures and configuration review. It answers: why are users having problems?
A typical project lifecycle
- Requirements gathering
- Predictive design, with APoS where the building needs it
- Installation by your chosen installer or integrator
- Validation survey and remediation
- Periodic validation or troubleshooting as the building and its use change
Not sure which you need? Talk to us about the site and the problem, and we will recommend the right starting point.