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Why You Need a Wireless Site Survey 

We’ve heard it all before.  

“I paid for a survey and my wireless is still horrible.”   

“I don't need a survey, let’s just put the new APs where the old ones are located.”    

We get it. Lot's of IT companies sell surveys as the answer to your wireless problems. We know it's hard to trust whether you really need it or if it's just a waste of time and money. The answer to that question in our experience depends on who is performing the survey, and the tools and methodology they use.  

The biggest mistake we see with surveys is a lack of understanding of radio frequency (RF) issues in the design (hint: it's physics, not configs). While most IT firms can configure an AP, not everyone understands radio frequency analysis tools and will physically walk your environment to find interference, so that the network design fits the unique RF signature of your space. Our survey results tell us where to place the APs for maximum throughput and coverage. We consider the applications and devices being used on your network, ensuring our design will accommodate the specific devices that are required to operate effectively on the network. And, we guarantee our design will not have coverage holes or gaps. 

It's important to note that even a great RF design deteriorates over time as things change in the environment. This is why wireless networks may seem to perform worse over time. Common issues are interference from industrial equipment, high RF output neighbors, increases in connected devices, poorly written mobile applications and even common appliances such as microwave ovens.  

At IE, we've seen all these issues and more. We have a proven survey methodology, top-notch RF analysis tools and expert RF engineers to ensure you don't waste time or money when you hire IE for a Wireless Site Survey. 

Request a Wireless Site Survey with IE

Why You Need a Wireless Site Survey 

We’ve heard it all before.  

“I paid for a survey and my wireless is still horrible.”   

“I don't need a survey, let’s just put the new APs where the old ones are located.”    

We get it. Lot's of IT companies sell surveys as the answer to your wireless problems. We know it's hard to trust whether you really need it or if it's just a waste of time and money. The answer to that question in our experience depends on who is performing the survey, and the tools and methodology they use.  

The biggest mistake we see with surveys is a lack of understanding of radio frequency (RF) issues in the design (hint: it's physics, not configs). While most IT firms can configure an AP, not everyone understands radio frequency analysis tools and will physically walk your environment to find interference, so that the network design fits the unique RF signature of your space. Our survey results tell us where to place the APs for maximum throughput and coverage. We consider the applications and devices being used on your network, ensuring our design will accommodate the specific devices that are required to operate effectively on the network. And, we guarantee our design will not have coverage holes or gaps. 

It's important to note that even a great RF design deteriorates over time as things change in the environment. This is why wireless networks may seem to perform worse over time. Common issues are interference from industrial equipment, high RF output neighbors, increases in connected devices, poorly written mobile applications and even common appliances such as microwave ovens.  

At IE, we've seen all these issues and more. We have a proven survey methodology, top-notch RF analysis tools and expert RF engineers to ensure you don't waste time or money when you hire IE for a Wireless Site Survey. 

What to Look for in Wireless Site Survey Provider

  • Do Your Research 

IE's Wireless Site Survey

Do Your Research 

  • Ask how many survey locations the company has completed, including how many square feet they have successfully surveyed, and environment types. 
  • They should have a firm understanding of radio frequency analysis so you aren't replacing one AP for another, but are getting the correct data for signal strength and potential interference that can affect the coverage in your environment. 
  • If you're in a specialized industry like healthcare, education, or manufacturing that has multiple buildings on your campus, or have a high-density area, like concert venues or sporting arenas, go with an IT solution provider that specializes in high density, larger-scale networks. Don't be afraid to ask how many sites similar to yours they've successfully completed. 
IE's Wireless Site Survey

What makes our Wireless Site Surveys Successful? 

In addition to over 25 years of designing and deploying wireless networks, we also have deep technical expertise completing Wireless Site Surveys. We have the people, process, and tools needed to ensure your WiFi performance meet the demands of your end users. If we survey it and it doesn’t work* then we fix it at no cost. 

We've surveyed over 6000 locations, spanning over 650 million square feet! Many of those sites were for complex environments, such as education, manufacturing and distribution, retail, and healthcare, as well as high-density users for indoor and outdoor sporting venues and convention centers.  

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