Traversa provided a Wireless Assessment for an Electrical Supplier at two of their warehouses located in Texas and North Carolina.

Project Request:

Our channel partner’s customer who is an Electrical Supplier with warehouses throughout the United States was experiencing poor performance on their wireless networking within two of their newer warehouses.  The current wireless solution was implemented prior to the warehouse build-out.   The racking and product placement within these warehouses is affecting wireless performance.  This assessment will focus on documenting the current state of the RF (radio frequency) environment and making recommendations based on findings to improve performance.

 

Solution:

The wireless network is critical to maintaining a functioning warehouse.  Our channel partner’s customer needed Traversa to perform a wireless assessment and make recommendations on how to improve coverage, reliability, and performance for their customer.

The customer uses Fortinet APs (Access Points) throughout their warehouses.  The Texas warehouse is approximately 200,000 square feet and the North Carlonia warehouse is approximately 150,000 square feet.

Fist Traversa conducted a discovery call to review the requirements and Customer’s inputs.  They discuss the following:

  • Current WLAN (wireless) constraints, coverage issues, configuration issues and challenges
  • Current and planned WLAN use cases and key user groups utilizing the solution
  • Relevant environmental attributes, such as ceiling height, obstructions, coverage areas, and wall construction needed to develop assessment deliverables.

Traversa surveyed each of the warehouses using Ekahau standard set of tools, including access points, signal strength meters, and diagnostic software.  Traversa made a single walk through each site using an Ekahau Sidekick 2 to analyze the power and efficiencies of each access point and antenna.

The outcome of the assessment is a detailed report.  The report summary included the following:

  • Assessment inputs
  • Key analysis and findings about current environment
  • Summary assessment recommendations
  • Noted environmental considerations, constraints and critical dependencies of the proposed solution
  • Detailed recommendations including:
    • AP placement map confirmations or relocation recommendations
    • Channel and power settings
    • Coverage analysis