Wi-Fi Site Survey for Offices and CCTV: What to Measure

A practical Wi-Fi survey checklist covering signal, interference, channel use, capacity, roaming and access-point placement.

Measure signal quality

Record received signal strength and, where available, signal-to-noise ratio. Strong signal does not automatically mean a clean connection.

Check interference

Inspect nearby access points and other sources of interference. Channel planning and sensible transmit power are often better than simply increasing power.

Consider capacity

An access point can be overloaded even with excellent signal. Estimate concurrent users, cameras, phones, laptops and IoT devices and consider airtime consumption.

Place access points deliberately

Avoid metal cabinets and major obstructions. Ceiling placement can work well, but building materials should guide final locations.

Plan roaming

For mobile clients, deliberate overlap and consistent configuration matter. Excessive overlap or mismatched power can make roaming less predictable.

Document the survey

Create a simple map of AP locations, channels, coverage expectations and cable routes. This becomes a valuable troubleshooting reference.