Airmagnet Surveyor, recommended hardware?

PPC1 · 10-06-2005

I´ve just ordered Airmagnet Surveyor to use for Site Surveys.

I already have a Proxim 8480-WD Combocard that I was planning to use since it´s on the list of "supported wireless network cards", so far so good.

Has anyone here worked with this software and have some idea of wich card works the best, ie wich card would be recommended? I have a budget for buying any wireless NIC if it would work better than the one I have. Perhaps a Cisco AIR-CB21AG card? All our AP:s are Cisco Aironet. Or is this of no importance to the results of my site surveys? Also if there is any tips & tricks, best practice or any other input regarding this that I might have missed out on, please post.

Thanks

joswr1ght · 10-06-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPC1

I´ve just ordered Airmagnet Surveyor to use for Site Surveys.

I already have a Proxim 8480-WD Combocard that I was planning to use since it´s on the list of "supported wireless network cards", so far so good.

Has anyone here worked with this software and have some idea of wich card works the best, ie wich card would be recommended? I have a budget for buying any wireless NIC if it would work better than the one I have. Perhaps a Cisco AIR-CB21AG card? All our AP:s are Cisco Aironet. Or is this of no importance to the results of my site surveys? Also if there is any tips & tricks, best practice or any other input regarding this that I might have missed out on, please post.

Thanks

The Proxim 8480 is a good card, I use it for lots of tasks. The unfortunate thing is that you can't easily get an external antenna connector for an 802.11a card to extend your range or to attach a directional antenna. If you need an external antenna on an 802.11a card, you can buy a Linksys WPC55AG and use a dremmel tool to remove the plastic cover to expose a HIROSE U.FL connector.

-Josh

PPC1 · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by joswr1ght

The Proxim 8480 is a good card, I use it for lots of tasks. The unfortunate thing is that you can't easily get an external antenna connector for an 802.11a card to extend your range or to attach a directional antenna.
-Josh

Thanks for your input. Actually when performing a site survey you wouldn´t want better range than the ordinary clients that´s going to be used in that area, so the lack of external antenna connector isn´t a problem. The whole idea about a site survey in this case is determing where the coverage and transfer rates needs to be improved in order to meet your needs. And also for documentation reasons.

But how about wich card to choose for use with Airmagnet Surveyor? Maybe this question belongs in "Software"?

wrzwaldo · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPC1

Thanks for your input. Actually when performing a site survey you wouldn´t want better range than the ordinary clients that´s going to be used in that area, so the lack of external antenna connector isn´t a problem. The whole idea about a site survey in this case is determing where the coverage and transfer rates needs to be improved in order to meet your needs. And also for documentation reasons.

But how about wich card to choose for use with Airmagnet Surveyor? Maybe this question belongs in "Software"?

While I agree with part of that statement...

You would also want to know (in most cases) where exactly your signal is getting to in reference to boundary controls you have. I sure wouldn't want my signal out in an area where it was normal for people to hang out and use computing devices (unless I was running a hotspot). Knowing the overall footprint is as much a part of a site survey as is knowing where your dead spots are.

Of course had you of posted your requirements for the survey and answer could have been tailored to your needs.

PPC1 · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

While I agree with part of that statement...

You would also want to know (in most cases) where exactly your signal is getting to in reference to boundary controls you have. I sure wouldn't want my signal out in an area where it was normal for people to hang out and use computing devices (unless I was running a hotspot). Knowing the overall footprint is as much a part of a site survey as is knowing where your dead spots are.

Of course had you of posted your requirements for the survey and answer could have been tailored to your needs.

I agree wrzwaldo, but as I stated in my post "The whole idea about a site survey in this case " is focusing on the weak spots. It can be really difficult to prevent your RF from propagating outside the designated areas, that´s for sure. I will perform a walkabout on the outside of our buildings in order to map RF propagation on the outside aswell.

By the way, do you have any opinion on what wireless NIC to use with Airmagnet Surveyor? I could use the same as in most of our clients (Intel Pro Wireless 2200 minipci), but since this software is licensed per MAC-adress it makes sense to register it to a external (PC-card) NIC. That way I can run it in "survey-mode" on more than one computer by simply moving the card.

I was trying to stick to the hardware issue but hey it´s friday and why not go a bit off topic? How about site surveying? Anyone? Experiences, tips of the trade? This is my first.

wrzwaldo · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPC1

I agree wrzwaldo, but as I stated in my post "The whole idea about a site survey in this case " is focusing on the weak spots. It can be really difficult to prevent your RF from propagating outside the designated areas, that´s for sure. I will perform a walkabout on the outside of our buildings in order to map RF propagation on the outside aswell.

By the way, do you have any opinion on what wireless NIC to use with Airmagnet Surveyor? I could use the same as in most of our clients (Intel Pro Wireless 2200 minipci), but since this software is licensed per MAC-adress it makes sense to register it to a external (PC-card) NIC. That way I can run it in "survey-mode" on more than one computer by simply moving the card.

I was trying to stick to the hardware issue but hey it´s friday and why not go a bit off topic? How about site surveying? Anyone? Experiences, tips of the trade? This is my first.

Quote:

Originally Posted by your first post did not mention that!

I´ve just ordered Airmagnet Surveyor to use for Site Surveys.

I already have a Proxim 8480-WD Combocard that I was planning to use since it´s on the list of "supported wireless network cards", so far so good.

Has anyone here worked with this software and have some idea of wich card works the best, ie wich card would be recommended? I have a budget for buying any wireless NIC if it would work better than the one I have. Perhaps a Cisco AIR-CB21AG card? All our AP:s are Cisco Aironet. Or is this of no importance to the results of my site surveys? Also if there is any tips & tricks, best practice or any other input regarding this that I might have missed out on, please post.

Thanks

At least I didn't see it in there?

Do you need "A" support? You are probably going to want a card with average RF performance to get a real feel for the dead spots. Does your company issue hardware for use with the wireless? If so the I would suggest using a similar product. If this is for a client then I would consider using what they would be providing/recommending to their users.

PPC1 · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

At least I didn't see it in there?

Sorry about that, sometimes one means something and writes another, even more so when writing in a language other than you native one.. details gets left out. AND it´s friday night here in Sweden and we have had a couple of drinks so... But I really meant to express that the purpose for my site survey was finding faults and "dead spots", not excessive coverage. But point taken, that could really prove to be a serious security issue, no question about it.

Quote:

Do you need "A" support?

Yeah, we use both bands, a and b/g so I need "A" support.

PPC1 · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

Does your company issue hardware for use with the wireless? If so the I would suggest using a similar product. If this is for a client then I would consider using what they would be providing/recommending to their users.

Yes, we provide the hardware. I´m at the IT-department of a county hospital and we order and configure all clients, including the laptops with wireless. My original question was wich card would work best with the software I´ve ordered "Airmagnet Surveyor" because sometimes one brand or model is proven to be better than another even if both is supported by the software. And since I already have the Proximcard I would like to go with that.

BTW I´m having 10 years Glenmorangie Burgundy wood finish at the moment, had some Macallan 25 years fine oak earlier. What time is it where you are at?

wrzwaldo · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPC1

Yes, we provide the hardware. I´m at the IT-department of a county hospital and we order and configure all clients, including the laptops with wireless. My original question was wich card would work best with the software I´ve ordered "Airmagnet Surveyor" because sometimes one brand or model is proven to be better than another even if both is supported by the software. And since I already have the Proximcard I would like to go with that.

BTW I´m having 10 years Glenmorangie Burgundy wood finish at the moment, had some Macallan 25 years fine oak earlier. What time is it where you are at?

Right now it is 10:59 AM October 7th, 2005

PPC1 · 10-07-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

Right now it is 10:59 AM October 7th, 2005

Here it is 8:05 pm or 20:05 as we use the 24h view

cheers

PPC1 · 10-19-2005

After doing some testing and surveying: Airmagnet Surveyor works just fine with my Proxim 8480-WD a/b/g-card.

wrzwaldo · 10-19-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by PPC1

Here it is 8:05 pm or 20:05 as we use the 24h view

cheers

I guess that would have made it 10:59 here when I posted.

PPC1 · 10-20-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrzwaldo

I guess that would have made it 10:59 here when I posted.

Yepp that´s right, but Mickey will have a hard time pointing that out for you on your watch, (leaving out the AM and PM). You should go for one of these:

10-06-2005	#1 (permalink)
PPC1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 98	Airmagnet Surveyor, recommended hardware? I´ve just ordered Airmagnet Surveyor to use for Site Surveys. I already have a Proxim 8480-WD Combocard that I was planning to use since it´s on the list of "supported wireless network cards", so far so good. Has anyone here worked with this software and have some idea of wich card works the best, ie wich card would be recommended? I have a budget for buying any wireless NIC if it would work better than the one I have. Perhaps a Cisco AIR-CB21AG card? All our AP:s are Cisco Aironet. Or is this of no importance to the results of my site surveys? Also if there is any tips & tricks, best practice or any other input regarding this that I might have missed out on, please post. Thanks

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10-19-2005	#11 (permalink)
PPC1 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 98	After doing some testing and surveying: Airmagnet Surveyor works just fine with my Proxim 8480-WD a/b/g-card.