User Manual

best location for access points.
Factors Affecting Range
Although access points can transmit signals up to 60 feet away in an area with many
walled barriers or as much as 500 feet away in a large open area, the range is affected
by the following factors:
● Building materials, such as steel and drywall, can shorten the range of the radio
signals.
● Physical layout of the area can interfere with the signals and cause them to be
dropped.
● Electronic noise from cell phones, microwave ovens, or other devices on the same
frequency can interfere with the transmission of the signals.
● Range is inversely proportional to data rate, so the faster that the signals are sent,
the less distance they will travel.
Taking these factors into consideration when you survey the site for your WLAN is key to
providing all of your users with undisturbed mobile connectivity. Using multiple access
points will, of course, reduce the impact of these factors if your area has dividing walls
throughout.
What is a Site Survey?
A site survey is an in-depth examination and analysis of a proposed wireless LAN site.
The purpose of a site survey is to determine the number of access points needed, the
types of antennas needed, and the best placement for those access points and
antennas. Although the goal of a site survey is simple, the means of arriving at that goal
are not. Some of the steps involve taking measurements, but most involve experience,
trial and error, and a little guesswork rather than numbers and figures. When to Perform
a Site Survey Intel® recommends that you perform a site survey prior to installing a
wireless LAN. Site surveys are especially important when:
● You are installing a new site: Evaluate the placement of the access points and
antennas throughout the proposed site.
● You are changing an existing site: When modifying or extending an existing
network structure, re-evaluate the placement of the access points and antennas. If