Summary
This report summarizes a plan to conduct a wireless site survey, also called a radio frequency (RF) survey, at Orchard Street Art Center. This survey will generate recommendations for maximizing network security, coverage, and capacity.
Expert Advice
Earlier this year, the board of directors of Orchard Street Art Center asked me to propose a plan to improve wireless coverage throughout the center’s public areas, offices, classrooms, music studios and indoor and outdoor theaters. To make sure I proposed the most effective plan possible, I decided to seek the advice of experts. Fortunately, one of the area’s top experts in wireless networking, Jamie Brookstone, president of Brookstone Network Consulting, offered the services of his staff pro bono. Thanks to his offer, I was able to meet several times with the following consultants:
Lyn Luzerne
Our conversations focused on ways to improve network connections for the center’s staff and patrons. I also studied information obtained from leading hardware manufacturers and software distributors. This research suggests that our first step is to conduct a site survey of our entire facility.
Final Recommendation
A high availability, secure wireless network is crucial to our mission at Orchard Street Art Center. Lighting and sound systems in our two theaters increasingly rely on wireless signaling, as do our classroom facilities. Furthermore, patrons and instructors now consider a secure wireless network essential for a variety of purposes. I recommend hiring a professional networking engineer to conduct a wireless site survey of Orchard Street Art Center’s entire facility, including the outdoor terraces and the open-air theater.
The network engineers at Brookstone Network Consulting suggest we obtain bids from five networking firms in the St. Louis area. Ideally, we would accept a bid and complete the site survey by the end of March. That would leave us time to evaluate the surveyor’s list of suggested wireless network improvements and seek funding for the most crucial improvements before the end of this fiscal year.
What Is a Wireless Site Survey?
A wireless site survey is an analysis of a facility’s wireless networking needs. It takes into account the site’s floor plan, size, building composition, available cabling, and all sources of potential interference, both indoors and outdoors. The ultimate goal of the survey is to identify the ideal positions for the network’s access points, as well as the type of access points required. With the survey results in hand, we can make informed decisions about equipment purchases for this fiscal year.
When properly done, a wireless site survey helps ensure the uninterrupted flow of secure, wireless data throughout a networked facility. A site survey is especially important in urban areas, which are typically rich in RF transmissions from countless sources, including cell phone towers, microwave ovens, and a wide array of wireless devices. According to the engineers at Brookstone Network Consulting, recent site surveys in our area have turned up sources of RF interference that are likely to affect the wireless network at Orchard Street Art Center in the coming years.
A site survey is conducted primarily via a laptop or PDA. The networking engineer typically carries the laptop or PDA throughout the site, using special survey utility software to analyze the existing wireless signal. The engineer also studies a diagram of the facility, and conducts a visual inspection to look for barriers to RF signal propagation. The engineer uses the results of the survey to generate a list of recommendations for access point placement, as well as recommendations for antennas and other networking hardware. The list of recommendations also includes proposed upgrades for network computers and other wireless-enabled devices.
Paying for the Wireless Site Survey
Brookstone Network Consulting estimates the total cost of the survey at approximately $4,000. At least 50 percent of the cost of the survey will be reimbursed to us through a grant provided by the Missouri Arts Foundation. Several government and private agencies also offer partial funding for technology expenditures by nonprofit organizations such as the Orchard Street Art Center. I estimate we would ultimately be responsible for $800 of the site survey cost, and this will be covered by two anonymous benefactors who have already offered to donate the necessary funds.
Probable Expenditures
Brookstone Network Consulting provided some estimates of probable expenditures resulting from the wireless site survey. These figures are presented in the following table.

Anticipated Upgrades
It’s likely that the wireless hardware purchases suggested by the survey results will involve upgrading the quality and number of the center’s wireless access points. The cost associated with these purchases will be relatively small. Also, the surveyor will probably recommend upgrading our network server, several office computers, and some sound equipment in the indoor theater. The cost of these improvements will of course be significant, but will immediately result in improved network connectivity and greatly enhanced network security.