RF Surveys is part of auto ID company Barcoding.co.uk and the new service builds on twelve years experience installing wireless networks. The surveys come on the back of a series of technical innovations allowing testing of the performance of specific devices rather than relying on PC-based receivers.
The new RF WiFi survey kit measures Signal Strength, Noise and Bandwidth both to and from access points and with greater precision than ever before. RF Surveys is completely independent from any manufacturer and the service is aimed at resellers and distributors in the telecoms, IT networking and auto ID markets. The new survey tools also incorporate specialist software a purpose built mobile wireless platform that enables sample readings to be taken up to ten metres in height; important for large warehouses.
“The methodologies we have developed ensure that specified bandwidth and coverage requirements are guaranteed. This means that the final configuration gives optimum performance from the first day of operation, eliminating the operational difficulties that so often occur when systems go live” says Tom Sealby, Wireless Network’s Manager at RF Surveys.
RF Surveys use the company’s own 'ProSurvey' software to provide a visual representation of coverage for the proposed network before it is installed, this eradicates any 'holes' using RF signal information collected around your site at the point of survey. RF Survey determines the number of Access Points (AP's) needed and their optimum positions, eliminating project overspend through unnecessary Access Points. RF Surveys currently are working with HP and Colubris to put their latest equipment into ProSurvey.
“Most tools use a specific PCMCIA card in a laptop and most manufacturer's only cover their own hardware. We are agnostic and can record Access Point information from Cisco, Symbol, Proxim, HP, Gemtek, Avaya into our software. We can normally use the actual devices due to be installed or set the minimum Signal Threshold of the customers chosen devices - ensuring very real statistics from devices like WiFi VoIP Handsets, PDA's, Laptop’s, Mobile Computers, Printers and Barcode Terminals” says Tom Sealby.