New tools from AirMagnet will soon allow organizations to literally view the WiFi landscape within the physical space where it is to be deployed. With their respective upgrades, Survey 3.0 and Spectrum Analyzer 2.0 now interface to each other and to complementary applications from additional vendors, such as GPS programs and MS MapPoint, to provide a detailed visual image of WiFi coverage in reference to a specific indoor floor plan or an outdoor geographic region.

AirMagnet developed a close partnership with Cognio in developing this technology. Behind it is a driving philosophy implemented in a specific component of Survey 3.0 called AirWISE. According to Wade Williamson, product manager for AirMagnet, the three core values within this philosophy are security, performance and compliance. This allows for safe and secure operation of WiFi equipment while complying with standards for safeguarding information, such as those defined by HIPAA, SOX, GLBA, PCI or the DoD Directive 8100.2.

The AirMagnet tools can be used throughout the life cycle of WiFi equipment. Prior to installation, they are used to survey the effectiveness of proposed access point (AP) sites within the physical space intended for WiFi coverage. Once WiFi equipment is deployed, AirMagnet tools can perform troubleshooting and auditing of the operational system. As the equipment matures, AirMagnet provides a year of support for the tools to help maintain the protection of the host network and the confidentiality of the information it contains.

Survey 3.0 and Spectrum Analyzer 2.0 perform complementary functions. Survey is used to capture and display a variety of location-specific WiFi statistics such as signal coverage, connection speed, and packet metrics. The resulting WiFi data is then overlaid on a map of the location, to allow network managers to intuitively view the quality of the network and proactively identify any problem areas. Simultaneously, Spectrum Analyzer 2.0 can analyze the RF spectrum and interface with Survey 3.0 to show the strength of WiFi carriers as well as any competing RF energy for each region.

These integrated tools also include useful features to facilitate ease of use. For example, Survey can import graphical images of a floorplan. According to Williamson, this can be a detailed blueprint or, as has been done in the field, a modified fire escape plan captured with a cell phone camera. Any image that preserves the scaling of the physical space can be used. As another example, Spectrum Analyzer now performs recording and playback, allowing a technician to conduct a survey for an analyst to study remotely or at a later time. Other abilities include capacity planning, which can identify overloaded APs. AirMagnet also offers BlueSweep freeware to enable detection of Bluetooth devices.

For outdoor applications, such as those involving networks established by municipalities, Survey 3.0 interfaces to GPS applications and to Microsoft’s MapPoint to provide a similar graphical representation of coverage. Stated Williamson, Survey 3.0 can also support the 4.9 GHz licensed band likely to be used by such networks.

With either AirMagnet’s Enterprise or Mobile suite of products, which use these integrated tools, organizations using WiFi will not only be able to view the RF landscape. They will also be able to shape it.

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