Walk The Site To Measure Rssi Levels; Identify Repeater Locations (If Applicable); Preparing A Draft Installation Layout - ShoreTel 930D Planning And Installation Manual

2 Planning

Walk the Site to Measure RSSI levels

To get a sense of the average coverage range of the site, start with the base in a central location and
walk the site (including the floors above and below the base station, if applicable) to measure RSSI
levels from the base. Whenever construction materials vary significantly in one area of the site, move
the base and measure again in that area. Record the results on the floor plan.
If you know the location where you are likely to install the base, measure the coverage range from this
location, as well (for example, in the area where most handset users spent the most talk time).
Wherever the handset RSSI level reads higher than 75 dBm, you have moved out of performance
range. In this case, you might need to add one or more repeaters to achieve adequate coverage for
the site. Record these locations on the floor plan.

Identify Repeater Locations (if applicable)

Follow these steps:
1. On the floor plan, note the edge of the base station signal range (where the handset RSSI value
reads higher than 75 dBM). You can assume that you will need to install a repeater at this location.
2. Move the base to a location near this reference point and measure the handset range from the
new location.
3. Repeat if needed, recording repeater locations and RSSI levels on the floor plan.

Preparing a Draft Installation Layout

Using the coverage range measurements from your site survey, estimate base and repeater layouts
that are likely to provide a value of 75 dBm RSSI or lower everywhere that handset coverage is
required.
The purpose of the draft layout is primarily to order equipment for installation. Determining the exact
location of the base and repeaters can only be approximated at this stage. The layout can be fine-
tuned when you perform the final equipment installation.
Keep in mind:
Each base station supports as many as four handsets.

Each base station supports as many as four repeaters.

You can daisy chain as many as three repeaters, although doing so can introduce delays.

To increase the number of handsets for your system, you can overlay additional bases and

repeaters at a location where you have already successfully installed a base and repeaters.
However, the total number of handsets must be within system limits and components must be
spaced at least one meter apart. See
ShoreTel IP Phone 930D
Understanding System and Coverage Limits
Planning and Installation Guide
Walk the Site to Measure RSSI levels
on page 13.
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