Site Survey's

[drwho17]

We've recently received a Airview-ext, and are hoping to utilize this for site survey's. I think it would be helpful to our installer, if there was some way for them to see SSID's associated to the signals, so that we can more accurately use this for antenna alignment. Most likely our AP's are going to be the strongest signal, but it would be great if we could verify that is the case somehow with the airview software.

[WHT]

Best to use a Bullet with grid antenna to see the SSID.

[drwho17]

Best to use a Bullet with grid antenna to see the SSID.Well sure, problem being I don't have a portable POE to power the bullet, where as with this device I can use a laptop/yagi to do a site survey, and find a general direction to mount the nano/ps device.

Edit: I did look for a POE battery pack, or something to power POE via USB w/no luck.

[UBNT-Mike.Ford]

We've recently received a Airview-ext, and are hoping to utilize this for site survey's. I think it would be helpful to our installer, if there was some way for them to see SSID's associated to the signals, so that we can more accurately use this for antenna alignment. Most likely our AP's are going to be the strongest signal, but it would be great if we could verify that is the case somehow with the airview software.

Hello,

While the unit is in monitor it will not pick up beacon scans as it scans for RF energy.

The Cisco Spectrum Expert can do this but uses two radios, one to scan for SSID's and one to do the spectrum analyzer. It can be picked up for $4,000 US

Thanks,

Mike

[unferth]

You could make your own poe for the bullet, use a 12v sla battery (2ah should last at least 2 hours) wire one end of the cat5 cable normally for the bullet, on the other end just wire the 4 data connectors and run the others to the battery....

Any "Batteries Plus" type store would have a charger and enough variety of batteries

[WHT]

SR71 USB with grid antenna

[Frotihngdog.ca]

Purchase a Power Inverter and mount it in the vehicle. It'll take the 12v from your vehicle and convert it to 110.

From here you can use the Bullet or a Nano and check for SSID's. Or you can use a Wireless card in your laptop that has an external connector and connect a directional antenna to it and use NetStumbler.

ie.
http://www.canadiantire.ca/search/search_results.jsp;jsessionid=KxLLRLFHmFGL2hvnMwkd36JJHpykCD7b0Fb1WtbYhyGSJ1LWVJ2x!-154040689?bmForm=form_endeca_search&bmFormID=1244760143230&bmUID=1244760143230&bmIsForm=true&bmPrevTemplate=%2Fhome.jsp&bmHidden=OMNITURE_FROM&OMNITURE_FROM=Search&bmText=quick_search_term&quick_search_term=power+invertor&bmSubmit=quick_search&bmHidden=FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1408474396672077

[drwho17]

All good ideas, and ones that we currently have utilized, just trying to improve efficiencies. Was mostly looking for premade solutions, and was hoping to leverage our airview-ext for this purpose.

I think I'll just make a rig for a battery pack/poe injector, and some sort of velco rig to a laptop, so our installer can aim the nano/ps while on site near the antenna.

[drwho17]

We settled on one of these things, that we can hook up a POE to, and attach to a laptop. Should make Site Survey/antenna pointing a bit easier.

http://www.etailelectronics.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=15343&Category_Code=pet6x&Store_Code=etail

Edit: I see you can get them on ebay for $10 + shipping.

[WHT]

This is what we use for portable applications.
$69 from Walmart

If you don't need the AC inverter (which we don't as we all have inverters in our vehicles).
* Output - 12V DC, 450 Amps instant, 5 seconds, 300 Amps
* Battery - 12V, 19 Amp hr, sealed lead-acid
* Cables & Clamps - #5 AWG welding, heavy-duty copper
* Accessory Outlet - 5 Amps, self-resetting breaker

http://www.blackanddecker.com/productguide/product-details.aspx?productid=15582&toolview=4#details


With AC Inverter and air compressor.
$98 from Walmart
* Jump Start Output - 12V DC, 450 Amps Instant, 5 seconds, 300 Amps DC
* Inverter Input - 12.5V DC, 36.5 Amps
* Inverter Output - 120V AC, 60 Hz, 400 watts
* Class 2 Power Unit Input - 120V AC, 60 Hz
* Class 2 Power Unit Output - 12V 1000 mA
* Class 2 Power Unit Battery - 12V, 19 Ah, sealed lead-acid

http://www.blackanddecker.com/productguide/product-details.aspx?productid=15591&toolview=4#details

The air compressor is handy for firmware upgrades when we need to refill the AirOS. :lol:

[texomobile]

Here is the 20 dollar solution! Go over to newegg and pickup a rosewill rnx-g1 usb wireless adapter and then download the free netstumbler tool.
Then you will have all the info you need and you can use the airview and rosewill to get all your data. Better yet just download netstumbler and use your built-in wireless in your laptop. I like the usb wireless stick because it has a rp-sma connector on it and can be used with a directional antenna or the included rubber duckie.
Cheers!

[unferth]

That'd work, but that is 3db's less powerful than the 100mw bullet2's...

so 1/4th the power of the bullet? or maybe 25mw.. (each db doubles the power right?)

[WHT]

Not so...

First,, the transmitter power output of the monitoring device is irrelevant, but over all receiver sensitivity (including the gain of an external directional antenna) is.

For every 3 dB added or subtracted, you signal doubles or halves.

For every 6 dB added or subtracted, your range doubles or halves.

Therefore if you had 100 mWatts of power, and compared it to a product with 3 dB less power - the other device would be 50 mWatts.