Outdoor Wireless Survey
Our Approach
The design and delivery of outdoor Wi-Fi networks presents greater challenges when compared to indoor Wi-Fi networks.
Our experience delivering point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and outdoor Wi-Fi mesh networks makes us one of only few companies with the specialist knowledge and skill set required to successfully deploy outdoor Wi-Fi solutions.
GPS-Aided Site Surveys
Utilising GPS antennas, Passive WI-Fi surveys of large-scale outdoor areas can be completed with a high degree of accuracy. Properly scaled maps allow sample points to be accurately taken when moving in a vehicle. This streamlines the survey process and allows large areas to be covered in a short amount of time.
External Antennas
When mapping out Wi-Fi coverage for vehicles using external Wi-Fi antennas, it is vital that the Wi-Fi survey utilise the same external antennas to get a consistent result. Using a normal Wi-Fi adapter inside a vehicle will yield very different results, since the use of external antennas greatly increases the usable range of Wi-Fi. Wireless Edge Networks always uses external antennas when conducting outdoor vehicular Wi-Fi surveys.
To illustrate the difference in coverage, the use of an internal Wi-Fi adapter yielded very weak coverage when compared to the external antenna when surveying the same area shown below.
Link Path Calculations
For point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless links, Wireless Edge Networks can conduct a link path calculation to determine the suitability of a wireless link. A link path calculation determines:
- Line of sight and terrain profile.
- Link availability once factoring in environmental conditions, e.g., rain, multipath, earth curvature.
- Expected network speeds at different availability levels.
- Minimum antenna heights and other considerations.
If you would like more information, please contact us.