Design for Wireless Networking
Robert J. Bartz · 2017
This chapter discusses the details of WLAN design and site surveys for IEEE 802.11 wireless networking, exploring site survey planning and the business aspects related to a wireless network site survey, including gathering business requirements, interviewing the appropriate people, and gathering additional information about the location. Early WLAN deployments in many cases required only a one-time site survey. This is because wireless networking technology was fairly static and the RF dynamics of the locations in which these networks were installed did not change much. The number of users and their wireless devices that will be accessing a wireless network is also a big factor in determining the number of access points required, which in turn will determine the scope of a site survey and will have an impact on the WLAN design. Different environments will have different concerns such as areas that may have excess RF noise or areas with harsh environmental conditions such as temperature fluctuations, or industrial areas have their own set of challenges.