Wireless networks are fast becoming a necessity in business today. No longer a luxury, wireless technology is now a basic component of any well-built LAN. As companies shift from the wired world, priorities need to shift as well. Providing a stable, reliable wireless environment is now critical.

Stability and reliability cannot be achieved unless the environment is designed and installed properly. A wireless site survey by CDI’s certified wireless networking professionals will help assure a successful implementation, regardless of which wireless solution is ultimately implemented.

Wireless Survey Services
In the wired world, there are well-defined distance specifications for cable runs that will support gigabit speeds over twisted copper pairs of up to and beyond 100 meters. The design of a wireless network is determined by distance, as well as by interference. Anything and everything in the environment can cause interference. The more interference, the weaker the wireless signal becomes, and as the signal weakens, the coverage area and throughput decreases.

Unlike a wired network, there are a large number of outside factors that impact the success of a wireless network. A CDI wireless site survey is a measurement process that takes into account all of the interference in the environment, and provides detailed information about the access point. The following factors are analyzed during the site survey:

	Type and location of the antenna
	Frequency the access point should be tuned to - for optimal performance
	Power setting (in watts) needed to support desired coverage/redundancy
	The quantity of access points required for coverage
	Coverage for the desired area of use
	Signal confinement (considering hackers and neighboring facilities)

The results are provided in a comprehensive report, including the location and type of antenna, channel and power settings, and quantity of access points. CDI can also provide a quote for customized, best-in-class equipment, certified installation and superior customer support upon request.

Research Leads to Reliability
With the growing mobility within the workforce and the introduction of new products like WIFI-enabled PDAs laptops, it is crucial to provide a reliable wireless network. But the factors that negatively impact the wireless network are often identifiable only through a wireless site survey. A well-functioning wireless network is the new business essential – one that will pay dividends in flexibility and productivity in the long run, if it’s analyzed and installed properly today.

CDI is an IT infrastructure services company that lends knowledge, experience and credibility to helping companies facilitate communications and collaboration between employees, partners and customers around the world.

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