How to Survey with Ekahau Sidekick and Survey Mobi

1. How to Survey with Ekahau Sidekick and Survey Mobile App 6 Tips for Super Accurate Wi-Fi Site Surveys Validation is the scientific method come to life for your wireless network. You’ve done your predictive, you’ve claimed your hypothesis, now the testing fun can begin. Here’s a quick guide to performing an onsite validation survey: Step 1 – Scale Your Floor Plan It wouldn’t be a true “measure twice, cut once” without bringing out the tape. For any type of Wi-Fi survey, accurately scaling the floor plan is critical to ensuring precision in both your designs and validations. Don’t pick a small measurement for scaling your floor plan. If you scale a door at 1 meter but are off by 0.2 meters, your 100 meter building can be off by 20 meters! Step 2 – Use the Ekahau Sidekick The Ekahau Sidekick is the most advanced, all-in-one Wi-Fi diagnostic and measurement device on the market, delivering pinpoint accuracy for professional results. The Sidekick delivers consistent & accurate results every time and allows you to survey faster! Step 3 – Scan the Proper Channels Make sure that you are scanning what you care about. Are you in an environment that doesn’t have any 2.4 GHz APs or radios? Then you do not need to scan the 2.4 GHz channels. When you restrict the Sidekick to only the channels you care about, you can scan fewer channels and have a faster scan time. Step 4 – Capture Accurately Familiarize yourself with your surroundings and ensure you are clicking and capturing data accurately. Remember: junk in, junk out. If your path shows you flying through a window or stuck in a wall, you need to re-establish your location or the data won’t be accurate. Step 5 – Walk on Both Sides Measure signal strength on both sides of the attenuating material that you care about in order to determine the attenuation values. The attenuation value is the absorption of a signal by obstacles like walls or racks. Never assume that measuring just one side will capture all of the data. Step 6 – Use the Correct Survey Method for Your Environment Stop & Go: Best used in challenging or dangerous environments where you need to be aware of your surroundings. This survey method collects the least amount of data.

2. Continuous: This traditional method of collecting survey data requires attention to detail — you need to click when you start, when you turn, when you change pace and when you stop! Autopilot: This method is both the coolest and the fastest! Autopilot saves you tons of time not having to click on the map as you are walking. The initial calibration is key to getting accurate results. GPS: This survey method is best for when you are outdoors and the map you are using does not have any reference points. You will need to have a GPS-equipped mobile device with a SIM card.