3Com 11 Mbps 5

5CONDUCTING A SITE SURVEY

Setting up a basic wireless LAN can be as simple as placing a 3Com 11 Mbps

Wireless LAN access point 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 installing an access point permanently. The

3Com Site Survey utility performs a set of tests that help you evaluate locations for

3Com access point units.

Before You Begin You need the following items to conduct a site survey:

■3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access point, power adapter, and

mounting hardware.

■Wireless client laptop computer with a wireless PC card and the 3Com Site

Survey tool installed. Alternatively, you can run the tests from client desktop

computers with wireless PCI cards and the 3Com Site Survey tool installed.

■The IP address of the access point being surveyed. You can use the device

manager tool that came with your 3Com access point or another network

management tool to ﬁnd the IP address.

Locations To set up the tests, you install the access point temporarily in several trial locations.

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.

Environmental

Requirements 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.

The Site Survey utility is designed to test one 3Com 11 Mbps Wireless LAN access

point unit at a time. The tool cannot be used with access points from

other manufacturers.