ACU Monitoring and Troubleshooting Tools
Survey and Link Test Tool

A number of factors influence the placement of wireless products within the network. The site survey and link test tools provided with the Aironet client utility (ACU) can help determine the best placement for Access Points and workstations within the wireless network.

Site Survey Tool
Because of differences in component configuration, placement, and physical environment, every network application is a unique installation. Before installing the system, a site survey should be performed to determine the optimum placement of networking components. This is done in order to maximize range, coverage, and network performance. The Site Survey Tool is shown in Figure .

Consider the following operating and environmental conditions when performing a site survey:

  • Sensitivity and range are inversely proportional to data bit rates. The maximum radio range is achieved at the lowest workable data rate. A decrease in receiver threshold sensitivity occurs as the radio data increases.
  • Proper antenna configuration is a critical factor in maximizing radio range. As a general rule, range increases in proportion to antenna height.
  • Physical environment is important because clear or open areas provide better radio range than closed or filled areas. The less cluttered the work environment is, the greater the range will be.
  • A physical obstruction such as metal shelving or a steel pillar can hinder performance of the client adapter. Placing the workstation in a location where there is a metal barrier between the sending and receiving antennas should be avoided.
  • Radio penetration is greatly influenced by the building material used in construction. Drywall construction allows greater range than concrete blocks. Metal or steel construction is a barrier to radio signals.
  • Because the client adapter is a radio device, it is susceptible to RF obstructions and common sources of interference that can reduce throughput and range. The client adapter should be installed away from microwave ovens. Microwave ovens operate on the same frequency as the client adapter and can cause signal interference.

Link Test Tool
The link test tool is used to determine RF coverage. The test results can help the installer to eliminate areas of low RF signal levels that can result in a loss of connection between the client adapter and the AP. Figure illustrates the ACU Link Test Tool.