WiFi Site Surveys: Getting Coverage Right the First Time

Poor WiFi coverage creates ongoing complaints and productivity losses. A proper site survey—before installation—prevents these issues.

Wireless connectivity has become critical infrastructure for most businesses. Yet WiFi coverage is often an afterthought—planned based on rough estimates and vendor recommendations rather than actual site conditions. The result: dead zones that frustrate users, overbuilt networks that waste money, or both.

WiFi site surveys bring science to wireless planning, using actual measurements to predict coverage and identify potential problems before equipment is installed. Understanding when and how to use these surveys can significantly improve your wireless deployments.

Understanding Survey Types

Predictive surveys use floor plans and building materials to model expected coverage without visiting the site. They're faster and cheaper than physical surveys, making them useful for planning purposes and budget estimates. However, they can't account for all the real-world factors that affect wireless signals.

Post-install surveys measure actual coverage after access points are in place, identifying dead zones and interference issues that predictive modeling missed. They're essential for validating that your deployment meets requirements.

Matching Survey Types to Situations

For new construction where building materials are known and you need budget projections before build-out begins, predictive surveys often suffice. For existing buildings with unknown construction or complex RF environments, physical surveys provide more reliable data.

Many organizations use predictive surveys for initial planning, then validate with post-install surveys. This hybrid approach balances cost efficiency with deployment reliability.

Common Problems Surveys Identify

Interference from neighboring networks, building materials that block signals, inadequate coverage in high-density areas, and channel conflicts between access points are common issues that site surveys reveal. Identifying these problems before deployment lets you address them through AP placement, channel planning, or additional hardware—rather than troubleshooting complaints after go-live.

Contractor Coordination

Your low voltage contractor should understand WiFi survey requirements and be able to coordinate survey timing with your deployment schedule. For multi-location rollouts, having a national installation partner who can perform consistent surveys across all your sites ensures you're comparing apples to apples when evaluating coverage data.

Predictive vs. Post-Install Surveys

Predictive surveys use floor plans and building materials to model coverage before any equipment is installed. They're faster and cheaper but less accurate. Post-install surveys measure actual coverage after APs are deployed, allowing for optimization.

When Each Makes Sense

• Predictive only: Standard office spaces with typical construction
• Predictive + validation: Most commercial deployments
• Full post-install: High-density areas, warehouses, healthcare facilities

Common Coverage Problems

Working with Your Contractor

A national low voltage installation partner should include site surveys as part of their standard process—not as an expensive add-on. Survey data should inform cabling placement, not the other way around.