Wireless surveys are required when designing, installing, or troubleshooting WiFi networks. There are two main types of surveys - active and passive - and you should understand which is right for your setup. The following are the five key differences between active and passive site surveys.
A passive site survey can be carried out pre or post-deployment. It collects data from the existing WiFi environment from pre-installed APs, neighboring networks, and other factors. It is particularly useful for detecting possible channel interference.
Active site surveys work by actively transmitting WiFi signals, which can be done post-deployment using installed APs or pre-deployment using APoS (AP on a stick). It is a valuable validation test of the real RF performance and signal propagation of proposed or actual AP locations, as they are affected by the physical characteristics of the building and its contents.
Passive site surveys are useful for gaining information on the existing environment in which a WiFi network is being configured. They can provide much useful data on potential channel conflicts and other environmental factors which could affect network performance.
Active site surveys are generally considered to be the more accurate of the two approaches since they generate more detailed results about the performance of actual APs in their final or proposed locations. The accuracy of active wireless surveys prior to deployment can avoid having to add more APs or move existing ones following installation.
Active site surveys tend to be more expensive than passive. They collect more data and are thus more labor-intensive. An active survey may require equipment like APoS to be carried to numerous locations in a building, with tests duplicated for each site.
A passive survey produces a more general picture, often with estimated values, and is thus quicker and cheaper. This approach is typically an adequate and cost-effective option for smaller or simpler networks, but for large or complex WiFi networks, the additional cost of active surveys is usually justified.
Time considerations mirror cost factors, with active site surveys taking longer than passive. A full active survey involves gathering data for each AP, which typically takes at least an hour per device. As well as time considerations, active surveys may be more disruptive to working environments, but again, this is justified for larger and more complex networks.
The level and specificity of data gathered by active vs passive site surveys make each best suited to different use cases. Passive surveys are typically used to monitor networks, providing background data for basic analysis and minor configuration changes. For established or simple networks, this approach is often adequate to maintain good performance.
Active surveys, on the other hand, provide more detailed diagnostic and configuration information and are thus an important tool for designing and testing new networks or making major upgrades.
To discover more about the different types of wireless surveys and learn what you need for your own organization, please contact Orion US today to talk to an engineer.
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