.png)
Why placement matters more than hardware
Wireless problems are rarely about the access points themselves — they're about placement, overlap, and channel planning. A site survey turns guesswork into engineering, and it's the difference between a wireless network that works and one that generates constant complaints.
Types of survey
| Survey type | When to use it |
|---|---|
| Predictive | Pre-construction — modeled from floor plans and building materials before any cable is pulled. |
| Passive | Measures existing RF environment without connecting — identifies interference and coverage gaps. |
| Active | Connects to APs to measure real throughput, roaming behavior, and handoff quality. |
The design targets that matter
- Signal strength: ≥ -67 dBm where devices roam (required for VoIP and video).
- Cell overlap: ~15–20% between adjacent APs for seamless handoff without sticky-client issues.
- Co-channel interference: minimized via careful channel planning — especially critical in dense environments.
- Capacity: designed for device density, not just coverage area — a packed conference room needs more APs than an open warehouse of the same square footage.
Wi-Fi 6E note: the 6 GHz band adds a huge, clean spectrum — but its shorter propagation range means more APs are needed for the same coverage area. A survey matters even more with 6E, not less. See our Wi-Fi 6E upgrade guide for the full picture.
Coverage vs. capacity design
An open warehouse needs coverage; a packed conference room or hospital ward needs capacity. IDENETY designs for your real usage patterns — device types, density, application mix — and validates with a post-install active survey and heatmap before sign-off. Every wireless project includes structured cabling coordination; see our structured cabling guide for the physical layer that supports it.
Contact our engineers to discuss a wireless site survey or design project.