Survey & Certification services
Rural Security works
A TPS customer engaged TPS to design and construct a IP video security and control system for a rural farming property that they operated. Due to terrain constraints, line of site issues and geographical obstacles, TPS designers identified that a mix of wireless and wireline links would be needed. A design was produced, and a survey pack was provided to staff.
During survey, some changes were identified. Initially it was thought that power would have been available at two of the sites intended to host cameras and radio equipment on existing poles. Unfortunately, it was found that the repeater site did not contain an existing pole as expected and did not have power available either.
As such, designers developed a solar power solution which could be installed on a new pole at the repeater location. As a new pole was to be established, designers were able to better position the pole to achieve a more efficient “line of sight” configuration to both endpoint communication locations.
Enterprise WIFI Networks
Many businesses and hospitality venues today have a requirement to provide reliable, secure and fast WIFI for their staff and clients. TPS have experience in installation of WIFI mesh access networks and have worked with Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti, and Ruckus equipment.
Prior to performing a survey, it is necessary to understand how ethernet cables will be installed and where the access points will be placed. Devices can be powered either locally with a “plug-pack”, connected to a standard GPO, or can be remotely powered by utilising PoE (Power over Ethernet). Using PoE technology means that the power is not a limiting factor for installation. Prior to conducting the site survey, TPS designers produce a RF “Heat Map” with proposed AP locations. This heat map will show survey staff where intended locations for access points will be.
When the survey staff arrive at the customer site with the survey map that will first check the physical locations for suitability. E.g. is power available? Is the the ceiling suitable for device installation? Can ethernet cables be reticulated to the proposed location? Are there any obstacles that could impact Rf penetration through walls (steel walls, brick walls, concrete stairwells, etc).
In this example, we found that the office complex featured a “false” removable ceiling, which is conducive to installation, partition walls were constructed from glass, aluminium channel and doors were solid.
To understand how these materials would perform with regards to WIFI RF penetration, it was necessary to conduct a RF survey at site. When TPS conduct a RF survey for WIFI, we install a access point on our survey tripod, position it at the proposed installation locations, and then walk around the space with a WIFI client device, testing performance at every location within reach of the proposed AP. Specialised software allows us to perform spectral analysis, finding the best frequencies to utilise at the location, test signal strength and certify the proposed locations.
