RF site survey: the independent pilot-preparation checklist.Skipped site surveys are where pilots start to fail.
A site survey done badly can cost months of programme delivery. Done properly, it is time well spent in any RTLS or RFID roll-out. Here is what a survey should cover across UWB, RAIN RFID, BLE AoA, LoRaWAN and Wi-Fi location.
Why many site surveys fail on day 60, not day 1.
A survey run in an empty bay against an architectural drawing produces a design that works at commissioning and starts failing weeks later, when the bay fills with racking, guarding, mezzanines and tooling.
Common causes of accuracy loss: anchor height drift, new RF blockers after the survey, multipath from metal and glass, line-of-sight gaps across the production day, and timing. A properly scoped survey looks for each of them.
The 12-point pre-survey checklist.
The full version is part of our service: we work through it with you, on your site. See the service → · Book a free 30-minute call
Per technology.
Each technology has its own checks, from timing to antenna geometry. We tailor these to your site in the survey.
The full version is part of our service: we work through it with you, on your site. See the service → · Book a free 30-minute call
During and after the survey.
An RF site survey for locating is not the same as a Wi-Fi coverage survey: it checks whether the chosen radio can deliver your locating KPI in the layout and traffic of a real shift.
The full version is part of our service: we work through it with you, on your site. See the service → · Book a free 30-minute call
Frequently asked questions
How long does an RF site survey take?
It depends on the site and the technologies in scope. We scope it per site, and the fee is agreed in writing before we start.
Should the survey be done by the supplier or independently?
A supplier survey tends to produce a design that suits the supplier. An independent survey tests the design against your KPI.
What should a survey deliver?
Drawings installers can work from, the risk zones, and a clear statement of what the survey did not prove.
Get the PDF for your evaluation pack
Last updated: