A wireless site survey is the difference between a Wi-Fi network that was designed and one that was guessed. For service providers delivering wireless projects for end customers, the survey is also where most of the risk sits: get it wrong and the install team inherits coverage holes, channel conflicts and a long tail of tickets.
This guide explains the three main survey types, what to prepare before an engineer arrives on site, and what a usable survey report should contain. It is written for delivery and project managers who source onsite engineers to carry out surveys under their own brand, whether the site is an office in London, a warehouse outside Manchester or a retail floor in Dubai.
The three types of wireless site survey
Most wireless projects need more than one survey type. Each answers a different question, and each needs different inputs and skills on site.
1. Predictive survey
A predictive survey is a desk-based model built in planning software from floor plans, wall materials and the customer’s requirements. It estimates where access points should go, how many are needed and which channels and power levels to use.
It is quick and useful for budgeting, but it is only as good as the drawings. Old floor plans, missing partitions, lift shafts and metal shelving are the usual reasons predictive designs drift from reality. Treat it as a starting design, not a sign-off.
2. Onsite survey: passive and active
An onsite survey puts an engineer in the building with a survey kit. There are two methods, and good projects often use both:
- Passive survey: the engineer walks the site listening to every access point and neighbouring network, recording signal strength, noise and channel use. It shows what the RF environment really looks like, including interference from nearby tenants.
- Active survey: the survey device associates to the network and measures throughput, retries, roaming and latency. It shows how clients actually experience the network.
An AP-on-a-stick survey is a variation where a temporary access point is mounted at proposed locations to validate a design before cabling is pulled. It is the most reliable method for difficult buildings such as warehouses, hospitals and listed properties.
3. Post-installation validation survey
Once access points are installed and configured, a validation survey proves the network meets the agreed design criteria: minimum signal level, signal-to-noise ratio, overlap for roaming and capacity in high-density areas. This is the survey that closes the project and protects you if the end customer later reports problems.
What to prepare before the engineer arrives
Most failed survey visits fail before the engineer leaves home. Brief the site properly and include these items in the work order:
- Current floor plans to scale, with the scale noted and areas in scope marked clearly.
- Design requirements: target signal level, SNR, bands, expected number of clients per area and critical applications such as voice, scanners or video.
- Access arrangements: site contact, access hours, permits, escort requirements and any restricted rooms.
- Ceiling information: ceiling height, type and whether the engineer may lift tiles or needs a ladder or access platform.
- Network details for active and validation surveys: SSID, test credentials provided by the customer, and VLAN information if relevant.
- Deliverable format: which software file, which report template and the deadline.
Our IT site survey checklist covers the wider site information you will usually want to capture at the same visit, such as comms room and cabling details.
What the survey report should contain
A survey report should let someone who has never visited the site understand the result and act on it. At a minimum it should include:
- Heatmaps for signal strength, SNR, channel overlap and, for active surveys, throughput, on each floor in scope.
- Recommended access point positions with mounting height and method.
- Channel and power plan, plus notes on interference sources found.
- Photos of proposed mounting locations, comms rooms and obstructions.
- Cabling notes: distances to the nearest comms room, containment and any areas needing new runs. This is where a structured cabling scope often starts.
- A clear list of risks, assumptions and items outside scope.
Running surveys across many sites, from London to Singapore
When a programme covers dozens of sites, consistency matters more than anything else. Agree one survey kit standard, one report template and one naming convention before the first visit. Then a survey in Amsterdam reads the same as one in Frankfurt or Singapore, and your design team can compare them without translation.
Scheduling also needs care. Surveys are best done during normal occupancy for realistic results, but some sites only allow access out of hours. Plan the visit window with the end customer, not after the engineer is booked. Our dispatch and SLA options explain how visits are booked and confirmed.
Simplify Networks provides wireless survey engineers who work under your brand, follow your templates and hand the data straight to your design team. Jobs are coordinated from London, with more than 2,000 field engineers worldwide and 285 cities on our coverage map.
Where we deliver
We regularly support wireless projects for partners in the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, the UAE and Singapore, alongside many other countries.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a wireless site survey take?
It depends on floor area, building complexity and survey type. A small office can often be surveyed in a few hours, while a large warehouse or multi-floor building may take one or more days. Include the floor area and number of floors in the work order so the visit is scoped correctly.
Do I need a predictive survey and an onsite survey?
Often yes. A predictive survey is quick and useful for initial design and budgeting, while an onsite survey confirms how the building really behaves. For difficult buildings, an AP-on-a-stick survey is the safest way to validate the design.
What is the difference between passive and active surveys?
A passive survey listens to all wireless signals and records coverage, noise and channel use. An active survey connects to the network and measures throughput, roaming and latency from the client’s point of view.
Can your engineers use our own survey templates?
Yes. Engineers can work to your survey kit standard, report template and naming conventions, and deliver under your brand so the end customer sees one consistent provider.
Need wireless survey engineers on site?
Send us your site list and survey requirements and we will confirm engineer availability, coverage and timings for each location, UK and worldwide.