Be as Specific as Possible in the Report

The person who writes the site survey report will probably not perform the installation. Therefore, the report should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. The report should protect both the writer and the customer. In the event of a disagreement or problem, a good site survey report can prove that the site survey was completed according to the requirements of the customer at the time of the survey. When describing AP locations, be as specific as possible. Use objects and identifiers to explain exactly where the AP should be located. If the AP is located in an aisle, specify which aisle, and the location of that area in the facility. Specify exactly how the AP should be mounted.

The location of the antenna is even more important than the AP location. Therefore, it is important to be as specific as possible when describing where the antenna is to be located. For example, instead of specifying an area as “on the wall above the doorway,” it is better to say “on the wall above the doorway, 0.6 m (2 ft) left of EXIT sign”.

Accurate Descriptions

The site survey should describe how the antenna is to be oriented. If the antenna is omnidirectional, mention that the antenna is to be mounted vertically, with the cable at the top. Not all installers will be familiar with the equipment and how it should be mounted. If the antenna is directional, describe the direction in which the antenna should be orientated. For example, a patch antenna might be described as “facing north” or “directed at the nursing station at the end of the hall”.

Describe the facility, its construction, its measurements, and its contents. Discuss the tools that were used to conduct the survey and how the survey was performed. Describe the settings that were used in the survey, to determine data rates, channels, packet size, and thresholds. Describe the coverage for each access point and detail the coverage in an included diagram.

Mark the areas where the customer does not want coverage. If the customer later claims to have requested coverage in one of these areas, this documentation can prove that the SE was instructed not to survey those areas. The customer should sign and return a copy of the report.

List the System Components

The site survey should list the suggested network media type and connection components. List the WLAN components that are proposed for installation. Discuss the network topology and planned implementation of the WLAN topology.

Include a list of the parts that will be needed. Include the total number of APs for the installation and recommend that a spare be kept on hand in case of an emergency. List the total number of antennas needed.

Include diagrams showing the facility, AP locations, and proposed cable runs. Whenever possible, include photos. A photo of the AP location or proposed antenna installation makes it very clear how and where the equipment should be installed.

List the contacts for each of the companies involved. These may include the manufacturer, reseller, customer, and services companies. List names, addresses, telephone numbers, fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. The checklist in the activity can be used to keep track of common project management issues and the responsibilities of the installer and the customer during the installation process.