Manual
INITIAL SITE SURVEY
Once the customers requirements have been examined, a site survey can be
carried out. While we will briefly explain what the survey is and why it is done,
referral to a PinPoint technician for your actual site survey is highly recommend-
ed. As the process is extremely complicated, our technicians are very practiced
at it and effective at quickly and accurately completing it.
A site survey is carried out in order to ensure that assets will be tracked in the
areas where they must be tracked. Working from the customers coverage
requirements, the placement and direction of antennas must be precisely deter-
mined. Correctly placed antennas will allow for easier location and alert config-
uration.
The initial site survey involves setting up a test 3D-iD system and extensively
testing various possible antenna positions to ensure that tags can be seen by
antennas where coverage is required. In determining which antenna positions
to test many factors are taken into account. Among them,
· The effects of metal surfaces such white boards or metal equipment on
RF signals.
· The effects of microwave ovens and other RF emitters.
· The types of wall construction at a facility. Wall Construction can and will
affect the visibility of Tags by Antennas. Standard drywall constructions
do not drastically affect Antenna performance. However, cinderblock,
firewalls, hard plaster and many older style constructions will stop the
Antenna signal.
· Holes in walls (such as doors or windows) that may more easily permit
the transit of RF signals.
While the site survey is being carried out, the exact locations of every antenna
and Cell Controller are chosen. In addition, the strength of the antennas sig-
nals and the signal to noise threshold used to filter the tags return signals are
set for each antenna. When placing Cell Controllers and Antennas, care is
taken to ensure that they are within cabling length of each other.
Once the site survey is complete, the installer will have available a floorplan
detailing the placement of every antenna, Cell Controller and Server (although
there is greater leeway in Server placement). With this information in hand, the
actual installation of the 3D-iD elements can proceed.