Conducting A Site Survey; Choosing Trial Locations; Environmental Requirements - 3Com 6000 User Manual

4
Choosing Trial
Locations
Environmental
Requirements
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ONDUCTING A
Setting up a small office with a basic wireless LAN can be as simple as placing the
3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000 in a central area, plugging it in,
and setting up one or more clients. However, you can be certain that you have
selected the best location if you conduct a site survey before permanently
installing an access point. The 3Com Site Survey utility performs a set of tests that
help you evaluate locations for 3Com access point 6000 units.
You need the following items to conduct a site survey:
3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point 6000, power brick, and
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mounting hardware
Wireless client with 3Com Administrator Utilities installed
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To set up the tests, temporarily install the access point in several trial locations. To
set up a wireless client computer with 3Com Administrator Utilities, use the 3Com
Administrator Utilities CD when you install the wireless client.
The Site Survey utility is designed to test one 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access
point 6000 unit at a time. The tool cannot be used with access points from
other manufacturers.
Look at your site floor plan and make a list of work areas where clients are likely to
be positioned. For example, list the office cubicles where users will be logging on
to the 3Com Wireless LAN. Then select several trial locations for the access point
and make a list of these locations. For example, you may wish to test the access
point mounted on the ceiling, on a desk, and on a wall.
Look for locations in the center of the room and away from potential transmission
barriers. Consider the following environmental and electrical factors when you
choose locations.
Look for installation locations away from transformers, heavy-duty motors,
fluorescent lights, microwave ovens, refrigerators, and other industrial equipment.
Avoid areas with excessive moisture, heat, and dust. Signal loss can occur when
metal, concrete, Interfering metal fire breaks, walls, or floors block transmission.
Doorways and passages can also affect the radio signal.
You should also consider the following items:
If there any radio frequency (RF) systems already in use at the site, their signals
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could interfere with the access point signals.
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ITE URVEY