TamoSoft: Network Analysis Tools & Security Software
Contents

Site Survey Tool - TamoGraph

 
Introduction
Overview
Why to Perform a Site Survey
When to Perform a Site Survey
Survey Types
System Requirements
Driver Installation
Driver Installation Troubleshooting
Trial Version Limitations
License Types
Interface Overview
Access Point List
Floor Plan / Site Map
Plans and Surveys, Properties, and Options Panel
Main Menu
Performing a Site Survey
New Project Wizard
Calibration
Configuration
Data Collection
Understanding Survey Types: Passive vs. Active
Active Survey Configuration
Best Practices, Tips, and Tricks
Survey Job Splitting
Analyzing Data – Passive Surveys
Selecting Data for Analysis
Adjusting AP Locations
Splitting an AP into Multiple Unique APs
Visualization Types
Signal Level
Signal-to-Noise Ratio
Signal-to-Interference Ratio
AP Coverage Areas
Number of APs
Expected PHY Rate
Frame Format
Channel Bandwidth
Requirements
Analyzing Data – Active Surveys
Selecting Data for Analysis
Visualization Types
Actual PHY Rate
TCP Upstream and Downstream Rate
UDP Upstream and Downstream Rate
UDP Upstream and Downstream Loss
Round-trip Time
Associated AP
Requirements
Reporting and Printing
Customizing Reports
Google Earth Integration
Configuring TamoGraph
Plans and Surveys
Properties
Plan / Map
Environment
Requirements
Scanner
Options
Colors and Value Ranges
AP Detection and Placement
Visualization Settings
Miscellaneous
Configuring GPS Receiver
Using GPS Configuration Dialog
Finding the GPS Receiver Port Number
Frequently Asked Questions
Sales and Support

Access Point List

The left application panel is used to display the list of APs detected by the application (if you have a compatible adapter installed.) You can use the Group by button to group APs by band, channel, or SSID. Grouping by SSID is the best method in a corporate WLAN environment, where all the WLAN's APs share the same SSID.

The AP list displays key AP parameters in the corresponding columns: SSID, vendor, channel, current signal level in dBm, supported encryption type(s), maximum data rate in Mbps, the number of 802.11n spatial streams, and MAC address. If the vendor is unknown, the AP name is preceded by “Unknown.” If the vendor name is known, the AP name is preceded by the vendor name followed by the AP type. Additionally, for Cisco APs, TamoGraph will try to find and use AP names assigned by the administrator. You can rename APs by right-clicking on them and selecting Rename. To restore the original name, simply delete a user-assigned name by hitting the backspace key. If the AP uses channel bonding (two 20 MHz channels), the number of the secondary channel is shown in parenthesis after the primary channel number. You can customize the columns by right-clicking on the list header or change their order by dragging them. The APs that are not currently audible are shown in grey font, and their signal level is shown as “N/A.”

The AP icons are color-coded to reflect the 802.11 bands and standards they use:

2.4 GHz 802.11b

2.4 GHz 802.11g

2.4 GHz 802.11n

5 GHz 802.11a

5 GHz 802.11na

 

The check boxes next to the APs play a very important role: They should be used for selecting the APs you want TamoGraph to analyze.  When the Selected APs mode is enabled on the tool bar, data visualizations for passive surveys include only the APs that have checked boxes next to them.

Right-clicking on the AP list allows you to Select All or Deselect All APs, as well as to disable or enable the Ignore APs if max. signal is below option (see AP Detection and Placement for more information.) 

If the AP signal is strong enough and if a sufficient number of readings has been recorded, TamoGraph computes the AP location and places the corresponding icon on the site map. Those APs that are present on the floor plan have a small plus (+) sign in the lower right corner of their icons. The Auto-locate Access Points command allows you to reset the original estimated AP location(s) of either all or only the highlighted AP if you changed them by moving AP icons with the mouse. If an AP was not automatically placed on the site map and you want to place it there, you can drag the AP icon from the AP list to the site map. To remove it from the site map, drag the AP icon outside of it. See Adjusting AP Locations for more information.