Design and simulation products offer a method of evaluating wireless network configurations before making
expensive changes. Engineers view coverage and interference plots as well as consider overall capacity limits.
The application renders data using colorful gradient plots showing coverage areas on map images.
Deploying a new wireless network or modifying an existing one can be costly. It is always desirable to do things right the first time, eliminating revisions that may occur after the network is live and customer opinion is formed. Perhaps the most complex part of a wireless network is the air interface where radio waves interact with objects in the environment, changing the predicted coverage footprint and interference levels.
A special class of software provides a way to model the air-interface design to simulate how the radio signal will propagate. Such software allows engineers to easily refine the design for optimal performance. Some software applications also allow for the comparison of real-world survey data and predicted data to improve the computation model. Engineers work most efficiently when using a tool that effectively integrates survey and prediction data allowing for what-if scenarios and performance plots.
Meritech offers iSite to survey and design WiFi networks. Users can quickly switch between the survey mode and design mode to see plots based on measured coverage or predicted coverage. Plots show coverage and interference as color gradients on the floor plan. iSite creates plots by modeling projects in 3D. Users can see how a transmitter on one level contributes to interference on other levels.