A predictive design is a model of how radio frequency (RF) energy will behave in your building. We build an accurate, scaled model of each floor, assign realistic attenuation values to walls, glazing, lift cores, racking and other obstructions, then place access points against a set of agreed requirements. The output is a design that installers can build and that we can later validate against.
Requirements first, coverage second
Many poorly performing wireless networks were designed for coverage alone. Bars on a laptop say very little about whether a building can support voice calls, video meetings, handheld scanners or a lecture theatre full of devices. We start by agreeing what the network must actually do:
- Client devices and their capabilities, including the weakest device that must be supported
- Applications such as voice over Wi-Fi, video conferencing, scanning, real-time location or IoT
- User density per area, now and over the expected life of the network
- Design criteria, typically primary signal strength, secondary coverage for roaming, signal-to-noise ratio and co-channel overlap
Built on accurate inputs
A model is only as good as its inputs. Where we can, we visit site to confirm wall types and ceiling construction, and we use an AP-on-a-Stick survey to measure real attenuation in buildings where construction is unknown or unusual. Predictive design and measured data work best together.
Vendor-neutral by default
We do not sell hardware and we are not paid by manufacturers. We will model the access points you have already chosen, or recommend suitable options on technical merit and leave procurement to you or your integrator.
Designed to be validated
Every design includes the criteria it will be measured against once installed. That makes the next step simple: a validation survey confirms the installed network meets the design, rather than leaving it to user complaints to find out.