Meritech releases iSite WiFi 3.1 delivering value to IT professionals who deploy and maintain 802.11a/b/g
networks. Launched in December 2003, iSite has matured gaining a reputation as the tool that gets the job
done. IT engineering firms rely on iSite for accurate surveys of WiFi network signal coverage. Now, small
and medium enterprises (SME) can benefit from a revised pricing model making iSite the ideal choice for IT
department budgets.
iSite WiFi 3.1 comes in two packages, iSite WiFi Essentials and iSite WiFi Professional. Both packages offer
features to survey 802.11a/b/g networks and spectrum using either touch-point or GPS navigation. iSite WiFi
Professional includes extra features for designing WiFi networks using propagation prediction and load
capacity estimation.
iSite WiFi is offered as a node locked or floating license. Node locked license pricing is shown below.
• iSite WiFi Essentials $495
• iSite WiFi Professional $995
Note: The English version of iSite WiFi 3.1 is currently available for download at the Meritech web site.
The Japanese version will be released on November 1, 2008.
Meritech is releasing iSite WiFi with enhanced spectrum measurement capabilities.
The new release scans the unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum using the Wi-Spy 2.4x device created by Metageek, LLC.
The addition of Wi-Spy spectrum information to iSite provides a complete picture of the factors that influence WLAN
network performance. Users view WLAN coverage and interference in ways never before possible. Sources of interference
such as cordless phones and Bluetooth devices are not detected using normal WLAN adapters. The spectrum information
provided by Wi-Spy simplifies the identification of interference sources so that appropriate changes can be made to
improve WLAN network operation.
Meritech Co., Ltd and DoCoMo Technology, Inc. co-developed iSite RFID, a survey and design tool for UHF band RFID.
Unlike conventional RFID that uses 13.56 MHz and 2.45 GHz, the UHF RFID market is expected to expand quickly due
to its extended transmission range. Despite this promising outlook, the UHF RFID market expansion is partly inhibited
by problems that prevent it from practical use. Problems include interference between reader and writer, detection error
due to multi-path interference, and signal saturation.
iSite RFID displays UHF band spectrum and maps signal coverage on a floor plan. Interference is reduced between readers
by adjusting adjust reader placement and orientation. The result is improved tag detection and readability.
Meritech and Cognio have teamed together to provide an RFID site survey tool capable of mapping RFID reader coverage and
improving network performance. Meritech will integrate the Cognio UHF RFID Cardbus module into the iSite platform. iSite
is a software application created for WiFi network deployments which provides a powerful design environment able to plot
the coverage footprint of radio signals.
The new site survey tool reduces interference between readers and improves readability for tag detection and tag performance.
Common problems in RFID networks include overlapping coverage areas and dead spots occurring within the coverage zone. iSite shows
plots as a floor plan overlay, and includes information about signal strength, interference and coverage overlap. Plots are then
used to identify and fix problem areas. iSite also provides prediction capabilities allowing network adjustments to be evaluated
before they are applied.
New RFID network deployments are typically plagued by poor reader performance due to the presence of objects that interfere with
readers, such as large metal objects, microwave ovens, and even adjacent readers. A survey tool that plots reader coverage, and
identifies adjustments that will improve network performance is crucial,Esaid Fumio Kondou, a senior manager at DoCoMo Technology.
The iSite RFID site survey tool is targeted for semi-passive tag and active tag networks where readers reach distances of up to 30
and 100 feet respectively. Companies using RFID for data collection, asset management, and supply chain processes need accurate tag
detection. As RFID deployments increase, network architects will greatly benefit from the use of site surveys with solutions such as
iSite to improve network performance and maximize the cost to deploy mission critical business technologies such as RFID.
Meritech releases iSite with enhanced features that estimate VoWiFi call capacity. The application uses site survey data to calculate
network coverage and interference levels. Based on the signal to noise ratio (SNR), iSite plots the estimated VoWiFi call capacity
on a floor plan display. A color grid indicates areas of low capacity where adjustments should be made to improve network performance.
Several voice codecs are supported including G.711, G.729, G723.1v, GSM and iLBC.
iSite also shows VoWiFi call capacity using predicted coverage and interference levels. Prediction is useful when a site survey is not
practical. Prediction also lets users evaluate configuration scenarios before changes are made to the network thereby lowering the cost
of network maintenance.
WiFi has inherent limitations that can result in restricted capacity and poor voice quality if the network is not designed properly.
iSite is an essential tool that helps ensure the network is VoWiFi capable,Esaid Brett Maurer, Director of Engineering at Meritech.
Other features in this iSite release include antenna patterns and reports. Antenna patterns are used to model the propagation characteristics
of directional antennas often used for indoor wireless networks. Reports produce quick output of useful network information that can be
saved to PDF, DOC, XLS and other file formats.
Meritech is a software development corporation that leverages wireless expertise to provide effective engineering solutions. Inspired by
the possibilities of wireless technology, Meritech is focused on delivering solutions that empower technical professionals and improve the
quality of network design and deployment.
Integrating Wi-Fi survey and design capability into one application, Meritech releases iSite for international distribution. iSite was created
for IT professionals with limited knowledge of Radio Frequency (RF) engineering who are challenged by the complexities of Wi-Fi deployment.
iSite measures network coverage and tests scenarios that will improve performance.
WiFi is impaired by insufficient coverage and high interference. IT professionals were waiting for a tool like iSite that will improve existing
Wi-Fi networks,Esaid Brett Maurer, Director of Engineering at Meritech. iSite was first released in February 2005 providing functionality that
models radio wave propagation in order to predict Wi-Fi coverage. Survey functionality is now added to give engineers the ability to measure true
Wi-Fi coverage. Having both survey and design functionality in one application lets engineers simulate the effect changes have on network
performance. iSite is quickly becoming an essential tool for IT professionals who deploy Wi-Fi networks.
Meritech is a software development corporation that leverages wireless expertise and Microsoft .NET technology to provide effective software
solutions. Inspired by the possibilities of wireless technologies, Meritech is focused on delivering solutions that improve process
efficiency and empower engineers to excel.