Plan the Wi-Fi around the space before choosing access points

When requesting Wi-Fi equipment, begin with the areas that need to work well. Reception, meeting rooms, guest rooms and loading areas each have a different job. Describe the experience you want in those spaces before settling on access-point models or quantities.

Separate coverage from busy-time demand

Coverage and capacity are different design questions. The planning brief should include the number of devices expected to connect at the same time, their capabilities and the applications they use. A meeting area carrying video calls deserves attention beyond simply checking whether a signal reaches it. Cisco Meraki describes these factors in its capacity-planning guidance.

For your enquiry, identify the busiest areas and the periods when they fill up. Approximate counts are useful; explain what they represent, such as staff laptops during a normal shift or visitors at a scheduled event. List any equipment that must connect wirelessly.

Use the floor plan to guide the survey

Building materials, nearby metalwork and device placement can affect wireless propagation. A site survey helps assess conditions at the actual premises and review proposed access-point positions. Testing should represent the equipment and client devices intended for use. See the manufacturer’s site-survey recommendations for the underlying approach.

Mark the rooms and outdoor areas in scope, existing data outlets and practical mounting locations on a plan. Point out areas that have caused problems. Include the current router, switches and access-point models so their role can be reviewed alongside the new requirement.

Prepare a useful handover brief

• Identify who will manage the network and who should receive the agreed documentation.
• Describe staff and guest access requirements, including any existing sign-in process.
• Agree which areas, devices and applications will be checked after installation.
• Record installation access restrictions and the work that must fit around normal operations.

The result should be a defined installation scope and agreed checks for your site. Explore Networking & Wi-Fi or browse listed access points when you are ready to discuss models.

Further reading

• Cisco Meraki: conducting site surveys
• Cisco Meraki: high-density Wi-Fi design