A few access points do not guarantee good WiFi. Without a site survey you risk dead zones, interference and slow speeds, whether the space is a café in Downtown LA, an office in Century City or a warehouse in the San Fernando Valley. This post explains the two kinds of survey, what Ekahau tools add and how we run a survey for UniFi deployments.
Predictive and active surveys
A WiFi site survey maps wireless coverage and finds problems before or after installation. There are two main types.
Predictive survey
Software models WiFi coverage from blueprints, materials and access point placement. It lets you plan before any hardware goes in. It saves time and money, but it relies on assumptions about the building.
Active survey
Someone walks the space with measurement equipment to record real signal, interference and performance. It captures obstacles, reflections and interference sources that a model cannot predict.
In complex commercial buildings, doing both gives the best results: predictive to plan, active to verify and fine-tune after installation.
Why we use the Ekahau Sidekick
The Ekahau Sidekick 2 is a portable measurement device for active surveys.
- Accuracy: It has four tri-band Wi-Fi radios, according to Ekahau, and measures the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands, recording signal strength, noise and channel overlap.
- Spectrum analysis: It also detects non-WiFi interference such as microwave ovens, Bluetooth devices and cordless phones, which helps with unexplained connectivity problems.
- Speed: It pairs with Ekahau’s software on a tablet or laptop and shows results live, so we can adjust access point placement and settings on-site and avoid repeat visits.
- Reports: Ekahau generates heatmaps and reports showing coverage, capacity and interference, which also help guide later upgrades.
Our survey process
- Consultation. We learn your needs, building layout and device density, and set the goals for the survey.
- Building information. We collect floor plans, construction materials and existing network details for the predictive model.
- Predictive survey and design. In Ekahau software we create a preliminary design with access point placement and channel planning.
- Active survey. We walk the site with the Sidekick, measure real signal and interference, and adjust access point locations and settings.
- Analysis and report. We analyze the data for dead zones, interference and capacity issues, and deliver a report with heatmaps and recommendations.
- Implementation. We help deploy the UniFi access points according to the survey results.
Problems a survey fixes
- Dead zones: Surveys find the weak spots and guide access point placement.
- Interference: Other wireless devices, neighboring networks and obstacles. Spectrum analysis shows where it comes from, so it can be avoided or reduced.
- Channel overlap and congestion: Overlapping channels cause slow speeds and dropped connections. Surveys optimize channel assignments.
- Capacity: Conference rooms and classrooms can overload an access point. Surveys help design for peak loads.
- Signal reflection and absorption: Concrete, metal and glass affect WiFi differently, and surveys show how much.
Surveys from Gbit Tech
We do WiFi site surveys for UniFi deployments in Los Angeles, for offices, retail, hospitality and industrial spaces. We survey a range of buildings, from historic structures to modern high-rises, and we stay on through deployment. See our Wi-Fi site survey page, or call (818) 809-6743 or email [email protected].
