Site Surveys

Site surveys describe the placement of equipment for wireless networks. Conducting a site survey involves mapping primary radio coverage, mapping redundant coverage, documenting power requirements, fully describing the equipment and mounting required, and creating a complete parts list for the customer and installers.

There are many factors that go into a site survey including balancing overage requirements against installation costs, coverage and redundancy required, bandwidth requirements, and future network expansion. Site survey experience includes:

Weyehaeuser (details)

Hardwood mills in Centralia, Arlington, Sedro Woolley, Eugene, Garibaldi, and Longview. Most sites were large, challenging, and all required redundant coverage.

Manufacturing

Manufacturing facilities present unique challenges for wireless networks. Thick walls and heavy equipment interfere with RF signals and multiple buildings make coverage more challenging. In addition, most facilities require redundant coverage to ensure that devices can communicate if equipment fails.

  • Drypers (Vancouver, WA): Heavy manufacturing + wireless warehouse link
  • James River paper mills (Camas, WA and Wauna, WA)

VA Hospitals (details)

The VA Hospital campuses in Seattle and Portland presented some very unique challenges including multiple buildings, large buildings, internal shielding within buildings, etc.

Retail

These sites required various tasks including complete wireless site survey/design, tuning, debugging, terminal and access point updates, etc. Customers included:

  • Lowe’s (Washington, Oregon, and Utah stores)
  • Fred Meyer (Washington stores and warehouse)
  • Home Depot
  • Albertson’s
  • Michael’s
  • Burlington Coat Factory

Warehouse

Boeing Toolroom, Applause, Certified Grocers, Napa Auto Parts, Hollywood Video (distribution warehouse), etc.

Samples

These are sample site surveys for a large hospital campus and for a lumber mill. Note that names, contact details, and photographs have been removed from these sample site surveys.