Site Survey Guide For Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones: April 2005

Site Survey Guide for Deploying
Cisco 7920 IP Phones

April 2005
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Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Copyright © 2005 Cisco Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
C ON T E N T S
Preface v
CHAPTER 1 Overview 1-1
Recommendations for Successful VoIP Surveys 1-1

Getting started 1-2
Minimum Requirements for WIPT Cells 1-4
The Ideal WIPT Environment 1-5
Data Rate and Signal Strength Considerations 1-6
Multi-floor survey 1-7
Comparison of a Manual Survey and an Automated Survey 1-8
CHAPTER 2 Survey Tools 2-1
Survey Tools for Packet Jitter 2-11
CHAPTER 3 Surveying for Cell Capacity and Channel Re-Use 3-1
Survey Design for Cell Capacity 3-1
CHAPTER 4 Conducting a WIPT Survey 3
How To Survey for the WIPT 3

Channel Re-Use 4
Manual Survey for the WIPT 5
Automated Survey for the WIPT 6
CHAPTER 5 Positioning Access Points and Antennas for

Site Surveys 4-1
Access Point Positioning 4-1
Antennas and Antenna Positioning 4-2
APPENDIX A Additional Sources of Information A-1

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Contents

iv OL-6315-01
Preface
This document provides instructions and guidelines for conducting a site survey for wireless LANs using
Voice over IP (VoIP) on Cisco 7920 IP Phones.
With the introduction of voice to a predominantly wireless data network the methodology of site surveys
will have to be altered. Voice over WLAN is a new application to wireless technology. Many of the
survey techniques used for WLAN must be updated.
This document is intended to identify many of the recommended techniques and tools needed to
successfully deploy VoIP over an 802.11 wireless network. The recommendations made in this document
supersede all other guides on doing site surveys. However, other site survey guides or training documents
are valuable and a necessary prerequisite to this recommendation guide.
Surveying for wireless voice coverage requires more effort and time than for data-only coverage at the
same site. A voice survey requires planning of coverage plus the planning of capacity. Wireless data is
less susceptible to disruption than wireless voice when it comes to cell overlap, RF noise, and packet
delay.

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Preface

vi OL-6315-01
C H A P T E R 1
Overview
This document begins by identifying the specific radio environmental values that are needed for a
successful voice deployment.
Note Cisco offers a Cisco Aironet Wireless Site Survey class for technical individuals who will be performing
site surveys for wireless LAN solutions. This white paper does not replace the information in the site
survey class. Cisco recommends that wireless LAN survey technicians take the Aironet Wireless Site
Survey class as a requisite. Cisco also recommends that technicians study the Cisco Wireless IP Phone
7920 Deployment Recommendations before studying this white paper.
There are two types of wireless LAN VoIP surveys:

• A survey performed with Wireless IP Telephony (WIPT) handsets
• A survey that simulates WIPT operation
Cisco recommends that, if possible, you install the VoIP network following AVVID design guidelines
before surveying for a WIPT network.
Tip Click this link to browse to a library of AVVID design guides:

http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/largeent/it/ese/srnd.html
Recommendations for Successful VoIP Surveys

The most effective surveys are performed using Cisco access points and Cisco WIPT handsets on active
calls through Cisco’s Call Manager. In the site survey, it is important that you test performance from the
source to the end point and also from the end point to the source. For example, your WIPT site survey
should use a wired VoIP phone (such as a Cisco 7960) in the core of the network to a WIPT (such as a
Cisco 7920) handset with a live conversation going in both directions. The Cisco 7920 WIPT handset
enables you to audibly monitor the quality of the call. Cisco also recommends that you use the
customer’s actual handset configuration when performing the survey.
Cisco considers it necessary to re-survey for voice at a site that has a trouble-free WLAN data network.
Voice traffic is isochronous—to be usable, it must be transmitted without delay. Voice traffic has strict
resource requirements for guaranteed bandwidth, low latency, low jitter, and low packet loss. The 7920
G.711 codec voice packets require a guaranteed bandwidth of 80 kbps. The G.711 packets have a
160-byte payload plus a 40-byte RTP/UDP/IP protocol overhead. Typically, voice packets are sent every
20 milliseconds (ms), and a corresponding service rate is expected from the network by the voice
application. A delay or loss of two or more contiguous voice packets is generally noticeable as quality

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Chapter 1 Overview
degradation. This quality requirement also dictates the need for a fast roaming solution between access
points where the network can reassociate a client to a new access point within 100 ms (that is, without
suffering at most one packet delay or loss). People often walk around while talking on the phone, so users
making voice calls tend to roam more than users of wireless computers. Users of wireless computers
roam, but because very few users walk and use their computers at the same time, computer users are not
using their computers when the roam occurs.
Because it might not be possible to have a VoIP network and WLAN network in place before the WIPT
site survey, this document also describes a WIPT site survey process using standard wireless client cards
and utilities.
Cisco recommends that all WIPT site surveys use diversity enabled access points and diversity antennas
because a diversity configuration provides better throughput performance. A simple throughput test
using an FTP data transfer of 50 MB in an office environment (with low multi-path signals) shows a
3-second improvement when using a diversity configuration. Diversity configurations are especially
important in environments such as shop floors and hospitals, which often have heavy multi-path signals.
Cisco also recommends that you use 256-byte packets when you perform receive and transmit tests
during the survey. Voice traffic consists of two-way transmissions, usually a burst of packets in one
direction followed by a burst of packets in the other direction. You should check performance, error
rates, and signal levels in both directions.
This document also describes how to use signal levels and signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) in WIPT site
surveys. WLAN site surveys that use only signal level tests are designed to identify the wireless network
coverage area. Previous site surveys have shown that signal level tests alone are not sufficient for voice
traffic and many times are not sufficient for data traffic. WIPT site surveys must also consider voice call
capacity within a wireless cell. Currently, call loading is 7 active voice calls per channel using the G711
codec. This number is based on simultaneous requirements for data clients and quality voice calls with
current data rates and packet sizes. Cisco recommends that all WIPT site surveys and installations use
non-overlapping channels. For 802.11b/g operation the non-overlapping channels are a minimum of 5
radio channels apart. Cisco also recommends that you use a data rate of 11 Mbps to determine the cell
size for the Cisco 7920 WIPT handset. If other data rates are allowed, call capacity might be substantially
lower.
Getting started
Part of any site survey is measuring the noise level within a wireless cell. Noise levels vary from site to
site and also within different locations of a site. The noise level affects a radio’s ability to receive data
or voice packets. Figure 1-1 uses the Cisco Aironet Client Utility (ACU) and a Cisco PCM350 client
adapter to identify the noise level, signal strength, and SNR at a specific location with a wireless cell.
The ACU window shows that the signal strength is –48 dBm, the noise level is –92 dBm, and the SNR
is 44 dB.

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Chapter 1 Overview
Figure 1-1 ACU Site Survey Window
Noise is defined as a 2.4-GHz signal that is not in an 802.11 DSSS format but is in the frequency range
of the access point’s configured channel. The noise can originate from an 802.11 2.4-GHz
frequency-hopping radio, a 2.4-GHz wireless phone, a 2.4-GHz HAM radio, a Microwave oven, or a
Bluetooth radio. Signals from a distant out-of-network 802.11b or 802.11g radio may also be seen as
noise. Any 2.4-GHz signal that the access point cannot decode is considered noise. However, valid data
packets from 802.11b or 802.11g radios that are not associated to the access point are considered data
traffic. Those packets are decoded by the access point and client devices but are discarded. However,
they increase the channel utilization on the access point, thus limiting the number of voice clients that
can associate. Same-channel interference must be minimized.
If the signal strength on a valid packet is higher than the receiver threshold of the access point radio or
the client device radio, the data packet is decoded. Most 802.11 radios have a receiver sensitivity value
of –94 dBm to –85 dBm at a data rate of 1 Mbps (the lower the dBm value, the better the radio’s receiver
sensitivity). Radio receiver sensitivity changes with data rates; for example, an access point radio might
have a receiver sensitivity of –94 dBm at 1 Mbps, but the radio sensitivity might be –84 dBm at 11 Mbps.
The access point discards random data traffic--valid packets that can be decoded but which are not from
clients associated to the access point. Random data traffic can originate from a shared media or from a
client device that is transmitting at a data rate that the access point does not support.
In Figure 1-1, the noise level reported by the ACU is –92 dBm and the PCM350 receiver sensitivity at
11 Mbps is –84 dBm, which provides a margin of 8 dB at the receiver. A signal strength value of –48
dBm less the noise value of –92 dBm equals an SNR of 44 dB as reported by the ACU (see Figure 1-2).

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Chapter 1 Overview
Figure 1-2 Signal to Noise Ratio
Minimum Requirements for WIPT Cells

Table 1-1 lists the minimum values for voice and data cells. For WIPT cells, Cisco recommends that the
cell edge be –67 dBm and the SNR be 25 dB using a data rate of 11 Mbps. These values are much more
restrictive than those needed for data because of the sensitivity to delays and retries for voice clients.
Table 1-1 Minimum Signal Strength and Signal to Noise Ratios for Voice and Data Cells
Data Cell WIPT Cell

Minimum Cell Minimum Cell
Edge Signal Edge Signal
Data Rate (Mbps) Strength Minimum SNR Strength Minimum SNR
54 –71 25 — —
36 –73 18 — —
24 –77 12 — —
12 or 11 –82 10 –67 25
6 or 5.5 –89 8 –74 23
2 –91 6 –76 21
1 –94 4 –79 19
Figure 1-3 shows how the difference in transmit powers between the access point and the WIPT client
creates different effective ranges. The 5 mW signal probably would continue all the way to the access
point, but if the access point antennas do not have enough gain to make up the difference in received
signal of the WIPT client, then the WIPT packets will not be decoded. A high-gain antenna on an access
point will receive a signal from a 5-mW client from a greater distance than a low-gain antenna. It is the

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Chapter 1 Overview
difference in transmitter power and receiver sensitivity that matters because the gain of an antenna is
reciprocal. To verify the cell coverage edge of –67 dBm while the client is actively sending and receiving
voice size packets, check the access point’s Station Information and Status page for a dBm value of
–67 dBm or higher.
Figure 1-3 Transmit Power Imbalance
135108
5mW
100mW
The Ideal WIPT Environment

Figure 1-4 shows the ideal WIPT cell with the recommended cell edge signal strength value of -67 dBm
at an 11-Mbps data rate and the recommended same-channel separation of 19 dBm at an 11-Mbps data
rate. The two yellow cells have a cell edge of –67 dBm. The measured overlap of a channel should not
exceed –86 dBm (from the center of the measured cell to the edge of the neighboring cell of the same
channel). This is the value of –67 dBm plus the 19 dBm for separation. Keeping the separation at 19 dBm
between same-channel cells produces a cell with minimal throughput degradation because of media
contention. This helps maintain up to 7 good-quality WIPT calls in a cell.
Figure 1-4 Ideal WIPT Environment
A typical deployment showing a 15-20% overlap

from each of the adjoining cells.
Provides almost complete redundancy throughout
the cell
The radius of the
cell should be: The separation of
67 dBm same channel cells
should be:
19 dBm
7920 RSSI=20
Channel
1
67dB 86dB
Channel
11
135075
Channel
6

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Chapter 1 Overview
Figure 1-4 also illustrates the recommended overlap of 15 to 20 percent for WIPT cells (larger than the
10 to 15 percent for data cells). The reason for the increase in overlap is to provide enough capacity for
quality calls, efficient roams, and better load balancing. With a 15% to 20% overlap the call capacity
would be double that of a cell without overlap. However, it is important to avoid excess overlap because
it can cause frequent roams by the WIPT clients which may result in lower quality calls.
Data Rate and Signal Strength Considerations

You should consider data rate and signal strength before beginning any WIPT site survey. Signal strength
or transmitting power of the access point radio combines the configured transmit power of the access
point and the antenna attached to it. If an additional antenna cable is placed between the access point and
the existing antenna cable, there is a loss in transmitted power. Generally, the longer the cable between
the access point and the antenna, the lower the transmitted signal strength will be. The combination of
radio transmit power, antenna cable loss, and antenna gain is known as Effective Isotropic Radiated
Power (EIRP). For example, if the 100mW transmit power of the radio equals 20 dBm, the loss of a
100-foot cable is 6 dB, and the gain of an antenna is 3 dBi, the result is an EIRP of 17 dBm. Using the
EIRP value of 17 dBm from this example and considering the receiver sensitivity of the Cisco 7920
radio, the coverage area in an open office without noise would be about 140 feet from the access point
at a data rate of 11 Mbps.
This example highlights the guidelines for surveying for the Cisco 7920 WIPT handset. Cisco
recommends an access point data rate configuration of 11 Mbps for WIPT cells. The faster data rate
means that packets take less time to be received and results in higher call quality. The 1-Mbps data rate
has a theoretical throughput of 650,000 bits per second for 256-byte packets. The codec used by the
Cisco 7920 has a packet size of 236 bytes. The data rate of 11 Mbps has a theoretical throughput of
2,000,000 bits per second for 256-byte packets. This means the Cisco 7920 packets require almost 4
times more time at the 1 Mbps than at the11-Mbps data rate. Another important reason for using the
11-Mbps data rate is the reduced cell size. At 11 Mbps, the 802.11b/g radio of the access point has an
open office cell size with a radius of 160 feet. The 1-Mbps cell size for the same radio has a radius of
over 400 feet. The larger the cell size, the more clients that can be active in the cell. For the Cisco 7920,
we recommend only 7 handsets in a cell, which results in better quality calls.
The data rates configured on the access point depend on the other types of client devices used at the
customer site. The customer might have an installed base of legacy 802.11 clients that require support
of a 2-Mbps data rate. It is highly unlikely that any 802.11b network would need support for a data rate
of 1 Mbps. This rate should be disabled because it uses long headers, and the slowest required data rate
is the data rate used by the access point to send 802.11 control and management packets. Other
configuration parameters that could have negative impact on legacy 802.11 performance are short
headers and beacon rates. The 350 series access point, the 1100 series access point, and 1200 series
access point running Cisco IOS software default to short headers, as do the Cisco 7920 handsets.
Note Older clients might require long headers. The Cisco 7920 works correctly with long headers, as should
all client devices.
802.11b might use a long 144-bit preamble or a shorter 72-bit preamble. The short preamble cuts 96 ms
off the transmission time of every packet. It can significantly improve performance, especially for
smaller-sized voice packets. There is a throughput hit with long headers of about 500,000 kbps with a
256-byte packet at the 11-Mbps data rate.
Note An 802.11 transmission channel is simplex only. Only one device can transmit at a time, exactly like
shared Ethernet.

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The characteristics of VoIP require a meticulous WIPT site survey. To avoid a call with jitter, the delay
variation between packets should not exceed 30 ms. The one-way delay should not exceed 150 ms and
packet loss should not exceed one percent. Surveying for a one percent packet loss is important because
VoIP uses the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP), which does not retransmit for lost packets. Voice
packets are small but are sent at consistent intervals. The 7920 client assumes that it has lost its
connection to an access point if it misses 3 consecutive beacons. The access point sends a beacon every
100 ms, which means that the Cisco 7920 looks for another access point if it does not see beacons every
300 ms from the access point to which it is associated.
Multi-floor survey
At many sites it is important to consider the effect of above-floor and below-floor coverage. An antenna
placed near a ceiling in a multi-floor facility can easily provide coverage to the floor above. There will
be considerable loss in dBm signal strength, but the signal can still have enough quality to be usable.
Depending on the capacity, throughput, and coverage requirement for the site, the power of the access
point may be turned down to minimize the signal coverage between floors. An Omni antenna propagates
directly above it into the floor above. A patch antenna will also propagate signal into the floor above,
but not directly above as the Omni antenna will. Although directional antennas help focus the signal
energy in a particular direction, which can help to overcome fading and multipath signals, multipath
signals reduce the focused power of a directional antenna and the amount of multipath seen by a user at
a long distance from the access point can be much greater. Directional antennas used indoors typically
are low gain (5 dBi to 10 dBi), and therefore have lower front-to-back and front-to-side lobe ratios. This
reduces the radio’s ability to reject or reduce the interference signals received from directions outside
the primary lobe area. A low-gain directional antenna, such as a 6.5-dBi patch, will receive signal from
the sides and the back, but the primary coverage area will be forward. The coverage in Figure 1-5
represents an Omni antenna coverage. The cell coverage overlap and same-channel separation should be
maintained at a multi-floor site.
Figure 1-5 Survey in a Building with Multiple Floors
Different types of facilities, such as hospitals and schools, have different signal propagation patterns,
multipath levels, and attenuation levels.

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Chapter 1 Overview
Comparison of a Manual Survey and an Automated Survey

Figure 1-6 shows an actual hospital survey done using AirMagnet Surveyor with an 802.11b Cisco
PCM350 client card. Four panels on the AirMagnet window show the survey results. The top-left panel
shows that the survey data was collected in passive mode. The middle left panel shows the access points
seen by the survey client while doing the passive mode walkabout to collect survey data. The right panel
shows the floor plan that was imported and the strength of signal as reported by the client walkabout for
the survey area. The dark green to light blue colors indicate that the signal strength on the floor of the
hospital wing varied from -30 dBm to -55 dBm. The five access points that are located on the floor are
tagged with their MAC addresses. The room walls on this floor had 6 dB of attenuation and the doors
had 7 dB of attenuation. The through-floor attenuation was 7 dB.
Figure 1-6 Hospital Floor Survey with AirMagnet Surveyor
Figure 1-7 shows the manual survey results of a group of survey engineers. The AirMagnet Surveyor
report shows a remarkable similarity to the manual survey. The survey in Figure 1-6 shows that
throughout the floor the signal is above -65 dBm. The manual survey was done with a cell edge
requirement of -65 dBm. The manual survey was completed several weeks before the AirMagnet
Surveyor survey. The floor plans used for AirMagnet Surveyor were imported from the drawings
provided by the contracted survey team. By necessity, the survey team spent a great deal of time
determining the proper location, power settings, and antenna types to be used on the floor. However, the
AirMagnet Surveyor provided an updated survey in a couple of minutes from a walkabout that took less
than 20 minutes.

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Chapter 1 Overview
Figure 1-7 Hospital Floor Survey by a Survey Crew

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Chapter 1 Overview

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C H A P T E R 2
Survey Tools
AirMagnet offers many tools for analyzing 802.11 performance at a site. Figure 2-1 shows the
AirMagnet Survey tool. Cisco recommends AirMagnet for data and WIPT surveys.
Figure 2-1 AirMagnet Survey Tool
An accurate survey requires packets sent in both directions. The size of the packets needs to equal the
size of the packets used by the primary applications used at the survey site. Figure 2-2 shows a packet
capture of the AirMagnet Survey tool survey packets. This window shows that the AirMagnet tool is
actively sending packets.

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Chapter 2 Survey Tools
Figure 2-2 AirMagnet Packet Decode Tool
The 7920 survey tool reports the signal strength of the signal from the access point as an RSSI value.
Most client card utilities report signal strength as dBm or percent of signal strength. In this chapter, each
of the tools tested will be reviewed showing how they measure signal strength. Table 2-1 provides a cross
reference of RSSI, dBm, and percent of signal strength as reported by different cards and utilities. The
numbers were captured in a live over-the-air test with each device in the same location for comparison.
These are not exact numbers. A plus or minus of five percent in radio-to-radio performance is considered
within tolerance. All surveys regardless of the tool used must be measured to the signal strength
requirements of the 7920. Cisco recommends that cell size for the 7920 be an RSSI value of 35 for the
7920 survey utility; this equals a PCM350 ACU value of -67 dBm and a Cisco a/b/g client Aironet
Desktop Utility (ADU) value of -66dBm.
Table 2-1 RSSI, dBm, and Signal Strength Cross-Referenced for 7920 Phones
1200 Series Access Point @ 11 Mbps @ 20 mW with 2.2 dBm Antennas

SniffPro access 350 ACU AirMagnet AiroPeek ADU CB21
Feet Signal % point dBm 7920 RSSI dBm 350 (PDA) CB21 dBm dBm
10 78 –55 52 > –45 –47 –51 –51
20 72 –60 46 –52 –49 –52 –53
30 68 –67 46 –55 –54 –58 –60
40 63 –72 43 –59 –54 –68 –68
50 68 –74 37 –59 –58 –68 –70
60 72 –72 38 –63 –64 –68 –67
70 30 –78 35 –67 –67 –68 –66

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Table 2-1 RSSI, dBm, and Signal Strength Cross-Referenced for 7920 Phones (continued)
1200 Series Access Point @ 11 Mbps @ 20 mW with 2.2 dBm Antennas

SniffPro access 350 ACU AirMagnet AiroPeek ADU CB21
Feet Signal % point dBm 7920 RSSI dBm 350 (PDA) CB21 dBm dBm
80 47 –74 34 –69 –67 –72 –69
90 59 –84 31 –68 –70 –71 –71
100 28 –80 31 –72 –78 –69 –75
110 28 –78 34 –78 –70 –77 –79
120 33 –84 32 –77 –71 –77 –78
The data in Table 2-1 was created from live tests. Each tool and card combination data point was taken
at the same time from the same distance. The environment was an open office. The floor plan used for
the test is shown in Figure 2-12.
Figure 2-3 shows the ACU screen for dBm. The signal strength shown is -48 dBm, which is equal to a
7920 RSSI value of 51.
Figure 2-3 ACU Site Survey Window

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The Cisco CB21 ADU reports signal strength in dBm. Figure 2-4 shows the ADU Advanced Status
window.
Figure 2-4 ADU Advanced Status Window

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Figure 2-5 AirMagnet Survey Tool

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The AirMagnet Survey packet decode tool shows signal strength in dBm. Figure 2-6 shows the
AirMagnet Survey Packet Decode window.
Figure 2-6 AirMagnet Packet Decode Window
The AiroPeek trace shows the signal dBm value and signal percentage with the PCM 350 client radio. It
does give relative time between packets so that jitter can be investigated if you suspect inter-packet
delays. Figure 2-7 shows the AiroPeek window.

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Figure 2-7 AiroPeek Window
AiroPeek has options to show real-time graphs of current signal strength and current noise levels both
in dBm and percentages, but it does not have a survey tool like ACU or AirMagnet. Figure 2-8 shows
the AiroPeek real-time graphs.

OL-6315-01 2-7
Figure 2-8 AiroPeek dBm and Signal Percentage Real-Time Graphs
Sniffer Pro from Network Associates shows the signal strength in a percent value. There is no option to
show RSSI or dBm values. Sniffer Pro is trace utility with no support for a site survey. Figure 2-9 shows
the Sniffer Pro window with signal strength at 28 percent.
Figure 2-9 Wireless Sniffer Pro Displays Percent of Signal Strength

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The Cisco access point displays the signal strength of the packets from the client. The signal strength of
the access point as reported by the client utility should be relatively close to the signal strength reported
by the access point for the client. It is important that the signals between the access point and the 7920
be relatively the same. This design avoids a call in which one side of the call has poor connectivity.
The Station Information and Status page on the access point shows the signal strength of the client as
seen by the access point. Figure 2-10 shows the access point Station Information and Status page, with
client signal strength at -31 dBm.
Figure 2-10 Access Point Station Information and Status Page
The survey utility for the 7920 is hidden by default. To enter the survey tool and to change the settings
for data rate and transmit power, follow these steps:
Step 1 Select Menu.

Step 2 Press * once.
Step 3 Press # twice.
Step 4 Press the send key, which on the 7920 is the key labeled with a green phone symbol.
Step 5 Choose the Network Config tab.
Step 6 Scroll down to the 802.11b Configuration option and choose it.
Step 7 Choose Wireless Settings.
Step 8 Choose Data Rate.
Step 9 Choose 11Mb.
Step 10 Choose Transmit Power.
Step 11 Choose the power value that matches the power setting on the access point.

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Figure 2-11 shows that the 7920 hears three access points and the RSSI values of those access points are
18, 31, and 48.
Figure 2-11 Cisco 7920 IP Phone Survey Screen
You can also use AirMagnet Surveyor to determine channel separation. Figure 2-12 shows the two
access points on channel 1 with 1-mW transmit power. The dBm values from 0 to -70 dBm are shown in
brown. Any signal below that is shown in dark grey. You can control the values that appear in grey by
sliding the Signal gauge. The popup bubble shows the signal at any location in the coverage area.
Figure 2-12 AirMagnet Surveyor Tool

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Survey Tools for Packet Jitter

Typically, voice packets are sent every 20 ms. Voice calls are usually bursty, consisting of a group of
tightly packed packets in a transmit direction followed by a tightly packed group in a receive direction.
The users of WIPT are typically mobile users who have active calls while moving between WLAN
coverage cells and hence roaming between coverage cells. AirMagnet Surveyor provides a tool for this
type of possible packet jitter and the trace decode tool provides interpacket timings. Over-the-air packet
jitter tools measure the WLAN packets. A WIPT call will also at some point be on a wired segment or
segments, which could also be a source of jitter. Figure 2-13 shows the AirMagnet jitter tool.
Figure 2-13 AirMagnet Jitter Tool
The AirMagnet jitter tool allows for the monitoring of a WIPT client during an active call. The tool
reports the standard deviation (STD) of the transmit side and the receive side of the client packets. It
reports the average interpacket delay plus the minimum and maximum delays. The jitter measurement
of this tool is just from access point to WIPT client and WIPT client to the access point. This is not an
end-to-end measurement of jitter or latency for a VoIP call.
Figure 2-14 shows there is significant data and noise on all channels. The effect of the data and noise on
the quality of voice is shown with STD values of 4.87 and 6.02. The channel utilization is 30.65. The
Cisco AVVID design guide states for quality VoIP calls the Delay Variation (Jitter) should not exceed
30 ms. In an office with heavy use of 802.11, the average in-packet delay might vary from 19ms to a high
of 32ms, and the average out-packet delay might vary from 18 ms to a high of 41 ms. Those delay
averages would produce intermittent but noticeable jitter during active calls and a noticeable delay
during roams.

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Figure 2-14 AirMagnet Jitter Tool in an Enterprise Office with High 802.11 Traffic
Figure 2-15 and Figure 2-16 show the LiveCapture window and the Station window results in a home
office with low 802.11 traffic.
Figure 2-15 AirMagnet in a Home Office with Low 802.11 Traffic

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Home office utilization is 2.18 percent and the throughput is 246 kbps for 11 Mbps-only calls, with a
single active WIPT call, but utilization is 15.41 percent with throughput of 248 kbps for 1 Mbps-only
calls.
Figure 2-16 AirMagnet in a Home Office with Low 802.11 Traffic
The 14.15 percent utilization result reflects a call at 1 Mbps.

OL-6315-01 2-13

2-14 OL-6315-01
C H A P T E R 3
Surveying for Cell Capacity and Channel Re-Use
This chapter describes how to perform a site survey to design a wireless LAN for cell capacity and
channel re-use.
Survey Design for Cell Capacity

Cisco recommends that you install enough access points to provide all users with quality calls.
Maintaining high call quality might require small coverage cells that limit the number of calls per access
point to 7 to meet the QBSS level on access points below 35. With a recommended RSSI level of 20 dB
throughout the RF network, the access point transmit powers could be as low as 20mW, with low-gain
antennas on the access points. You should consider these design factors to ensure adequate capacity and
coverage:
• removing interfering devices
• configuring older 802.11 devices to lower transmit power
• configuring older 802.11 devices to the highest possible data rate
When you configure the access points for higher data rates and lower transmit power, the cell coverage
from the access point becomes smaller. However, if you adjust the access points for high data rates and
low transmit power but you do not make similar adjustments on the clients, the cell might be unbalanced,
as in Figure 3-1, except that the client signal exceeds the access point signal.
Figure 3-1 Unbalanced Cell Due to Mismatched Transmit Power and Data Rate Settings
135108
5mW
100mW
Depending on the configurable and non-configurable parameters of the client, it might continue to
transmit packets at a 1 Mbps data rate. The transmit coverage of a client could be 400 feet when the
transmit coverage of the access point is 100 feet. This mismatch could affect the call capacity and QBSS
of an access point several cells away from the access point to which the client is associated.

OL-6315-01 3-1
Chapter 3 Surveying for Cell Capacity and Channel Re-Use
Survey Design for Cell Capacity
Note If the Cisco access point is configured to disable data rates 1, 2, and 5.5, clients are not required to
transmit only at 11 Mbps. In fact, older client devices might not be programmed to recognize the access
point configuration for data rates.
Cisco recommends that customers update their 802.11 clients to run the newest firmware and drivers
available. Vendors generally update power and data rate options as their products mature.

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C H A P T E R 4
Conducting a WIPT Survey
This chapter describes specific steps for performing a site survey for WIPT.
How To Survey for the WIPT

Cisco recommends that the first step of a survey is to work with administrators at the local site to
determine the requirements of the RF network. Determine what the coverage areas are or will become.
Determine the number of RF network users by location in the site. If the site already has an active RF
network, learn the site’s radio frequencies, equipment locations, and equipment characteristics. Next, do
a complete scan for RF signals throughout the site. Determine the levels of RF at the site, and verify that
the information you’ve been given about the locations of RF devices is correct. Report your findings to
the site administrators.
Cisco recommends that the next step is to find on the drawings the locations of the existing RF devices.
Use the drawings to estimate the cells based on the requirements for 7920 call capacities and cell design.
Plan the antennas needed and transmit powers required for the access points within the site. When
surveying with an existing WLAN, plan for the areas to be filled in and for changes to existing data rate
and transmit power settings. Plan on possible changes to antenna types. At a multi-floor site, plan the
survey of the coverage for the floor above and below. When doing a manual survey, record the cell edges
of the current floor and then use your survey tool on other floors to measure and record the signal levels.
When doing an automated survey, include the access point on the floors above and below in the
walk-through survey.
When you survey a site without an installed 802.11 network, plan to use two or three access points to
measure cell coverage and cell overlap. The cell edge for the 7920 at the 11-Mbps data rate is -67 dBm.
The signal strength at the edge of that cell needs to be 19 dB weaker than the signal from the next cell
on the same channel. That means at the -67 dBm edge of the cell, the next cell on the same channel
should measure -86 dBm, as shown in Figure 4-1.

OL-6315-01 4-3
Chapter 4 Conducting a WIPT Survey
Figure 4-1 Ideal WIPT Environment
A typical deployment showing a 15-20% overlap

from each of the adjoining cells.
Provides almost complete redundancy throughout
the cell
The radius of the
cell should be: The separation of
67 dBm same channel cells
should be:
19 dBm
7920 RSSI=20
Channel
1
67dB 86dB
Channel
11
135075
Channel
6
Channel Re-Use
Figure 4-2 shows the typical channel re-use for 802.11b and 802.11g WLANs. The two gold channel 1
cells are -86 dBm apart from center to center. The same separation should be maintained between floors
of a multi-floor site.
Figure 4-2 802.11b/802.11g Channel Reuse Diagram
You can use the two Aironet client tools and the survey tool in the 7920 to measure cell separation. The
ACU for the PCM350 client has an active survey mode. Cisco recommends an active survey where there
are transmitted and received packets of the same size as a voice packet.

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Manual Survey for the WIPT

You can use passive or active mode when you use ACU to run a site survey. Figure 4-3 shows the ACU
Site Survey windows.
Figure 4-3 ACU Site Survey Windows
To set up active mode, click the Setup button at the bottom of the screen. If the Setup button is
unavailable, the client is using a version of firmware that does not support active mode, and you should
upgrade the firmware. The destination MAC address should belong to the access point to which you want
to test coverage. The destination MAC address prevents the client from roaming to another AP. For most
surveys, you should uncheck the Destination is Another Cisco Device check box. Set the packet size
to 256. Set the Data Rate to 11 Mbps. On the access point, set the 11 Mbps data rate to required, and
set all other data rates to disabled.

OL-6315-01 4-5
Figure 4-4 ACU Site Survey Active Mode
Click OK to return to the Site Survey screen. Click Start to start the site survey in active mode.
This information updates constantly during the survey:
• Percent Complete—the percentage of packets that have been sent. When you select continuous link
test, this field shows the percentage of packets that have been sent. When it reaches 100 it starts over.
• Percent Successful—the number of packets the have been successfully sent and received. Notice the
red threshold line. If the percentage drops below this line, the bars become yellow.
• Lost to Target—the number of packets that were lost between the client and the access point.
• Lost to Source—the number of packets that successfully reached the access point but did not reach
the client.
Click Stop or OK to stop the survey.
The goal for a site survey for 7920 phones is 99 percent of packets successfully sent and received for
each cell.
Automated Survey for the WIPT

Cisco recommends the use of AirMagnet Surveyor for automated surveys. AirMagnet Surveyor uses a
client walkabout function that formulates coverage in both signal strength and signal to noise ratio from
all the data points taken during the walkabout.
You can configure the AirMagnet surveyor client to associate and authenticate to the network. When the
unit associates, begin the walkabout. You should walk at a slow pace; the program takes a data point
about once per second.

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The AirMagnet surveyor works very well for surveying a site with an installed WLAN or for surveying
a site without a WLAN. The tool works with the existing transmit power of the access points, but allows
you to redisplay coverage areas with simulated transmit power settings, another time-saving feature over
manual surveys. Figure 4-5 shows the AirMagnet Surveyor main window. Figure 4-6 shows the Active
Mode window.
Figure 4-5 AirMagnet Surveyor Main

OL-6315-01 4-7
Figure 4-6 AirMagnet Survey Active Mode
To survey a group of access points using the Active Mode tool, configure the tool with an SSID that is
configured on the access points.
To begin the data collection in active mode, select a starting position near the perimeter of the area to be
covered. Click this location on the floor map to indicate the starting point. A small stick figure appears
on that spot. Begin the walkabout by moving at a smooth rate to the next vertex in the path; stop briefly
to click this spot, and continue.
The survey tool control area displays various real-time data as you conduct the survey. Use the data to
monitor the state of the link. The signal strength, noise level, link speed, and packet loss statistics are
all displayed.
Figure 4-7 shows the complete walkabout path taken for an example coverage area. Note that the path
includes a section outside the perimeter walls of the building. Continuing the walkabout outdoors
measures possible propagation outside of the building, where the signal level should be as low as
possible without compromising connectivity to the interior areas, which helps prevent unauthorized
connections to the WLAN.

4-8 OL-6315-01
Figure 4-7 AirMagnet Client Walkabout
When you select display mode on the bottom tool bar, SiteViewer displays data collected during the
survey. Two new panels appear in this mode: the Filter area in the center left panel, and the map zoom
box in the lower left. You can display one or more survey data sets by clicking the appropriate check box
in the data catalog area in the upper left of the window. You can also select the display parameter for the
data sets from the menu in the upper right corner of the floor plan display area. The choices include:
Signal, Noise, Speed, SNR. You can enable appropriate filters for the data. The survey data is displayed
in color-coded zones. In Figure 4-8, colored areas represent signal level in 10-dBm increments.

OL-6315-01 4-9
Figure 4-8 AirMagnet Showing Access Points and Merged Display
Figure 4-9 shows SiteViewer’s four-panel display. Viewing more than one survey data type helps you
compare measurement factors.

4-10 OL-6315-01
Figure 4-9 AirMagnet Four-Panel Display

OL-6315-01 4-11

4-12 OL-6315-01
C H A P T E R 5
Positioning Access Points and Antennas for
Site Surveys
When you perform a site survey, it is important to position wireless equipment for optimal coverage.
This chapter describes best practices for positioning access points and antennas.
Access Point Positioning

In industrial environments such as warehouses, a common installation point for access points is on
girders or I-beams. However, an I-beam reflects both received packets and transmitted packets, resulting
in poor signal quality because of nulls and high-strength mulitpath signals. Figure 5-1 shows the I-beam
installation and the resulting signal propagation. The null is created by the crossing of signal waves
shown in the scattered waveforms diagram. The multipath is shown as the multiple waves in the signal.
Figure 5-1 Access Point Installed on I-Beam

OL-6315-01 5-1
Chapter 5 Positioning Access Points and Antennas for Site Surveys
Antennas and Antenna Positioning
The access point in Figure 5-2 provides better coverage because the reflected signal produces fewer nulls
and less multipath than the I-beam placement. However, because there is only one floor in this industrial
building, there is no need for the antennas to be above the access point. The signal could be improved
by inverting the access point so that the antennas point to the ground.
Figure 5-2 Access Point Installed on a Wall

Interference and multipath cause the transmitted signal to fluctuate. Interference increases the required
signal-to-noise ratio for a particular data rate. The packet retry count goes up in areas where interference
or multipath are high. Changing the type and location of the antenna can reduce multipath interference.
Antenna gain adds to the system gain and improves the signal-to-noise requirement.
Figure 5-3 shows proper positioning of the antennas on a dual-radio access point mounted on a
suspended ceiling. Both the removable antennas and the paddle antenna are pointed down at the floor.
Figure 5-3 Access Point Installed on a Suspended Ceiling

5-2 OL-6315-01
Figure 5-4 shows a patch antenna mounted on a wall. The antenna cables are routed above the suspended
ceiling and are attached to a hidden access point.
Figure 5-4 Patch Antenna Mounted on a Wall
Figure 5-5 shows a dual-radio access point mounted on a wall. The removable antennas are pointed up,
and the paddle antenna is folded against the body of the access point.
Figure 5-5 Access Point Mounted on a Wall

OL-6315-01 5-3
Figure 5-6 shows a patch antenna mounted on a suspended ceiling. The cables are hidden and are routed
above the ceiling to the access point.
Figure 5-6 Patch Antenna Mounted on a Suspended Ceiling

5-4 OL-6315-01
A P P E N D I X A
Additional Sources of Information
This appendix lists documents that provide additional information about site surveys:
• Cisco Wireless IP Phone 7920 Deployment Recommendations
http://www.cisco.com/en/US/products/hw/phones/ps379/products_white_paper0900aecd800f6d97.
shtml
• Solution Reference Network Designs: Best Practices for Building a Cisco AVVID Network
Infrastructure
http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/largeent/it/ese/srnd.html

OL-6315-01 A-1
Appendix A Additional Sources of Information

A-2 OL-6315-01

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Cisco 7920 IP Phones

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• Turn the television or radio antenna until the interference stops.

• Move the equipment farther away from the television or radio.

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

CHAPTER 1 Overview 1-1

Recommendations for Successful VoIP Surveys 1-1

CHAPTER 2 Survey Tools 2-1

Survey Tools for Packet Jitter 2-11

CHAPTER 3 Surveying for Cell Capacity and Channel Re-Use 3-1

Survey Design for Cell Capacity 3-1

CHAPTER 4 Conducting a WIPT Survey 3

How To Survey for the WIPT 3

CHAPTER 5 Positioning Access Points and Antennas for

Antennas and Antenna Positioning 4-2

APPENDIX A Additional Sources of Information A-1

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

There are two types of wireless LAN VoIP surveys:

Tip Click this link to browse to a library of AVVID design guides:

Recommendations for Successful VoIP Surveys

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 1-1 ACU Site Survey Window

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 1-2 Signal to Noise Ratio

Minimum Requirements for WIPT Cells

Data Cell WIPT Cell

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 1-3 Transmit Power Imbalance

The Ideal WIPT Environment

Figure 1-4 Ideal WIPT Environment

A typical deployment showing a 15-20% overlap

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Data Rate and Signal Strength Considerations

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 1-5 Survey in a Building with Multiple Floors

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Comparison of a Manual Survey and an Automated Survey

Figure 1-6 Hospital Floor Survey with AirMagnet Surveyor

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 1-7 Hospital Floor Survey by a Survey Crew

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 2-1 AirMagnet Survey Tool

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 2-2 AirMagnet Packet Decode Tool

1200 Series Access Point @ 11 Mbps @ 20 mW with 2.2 dBm Antennas

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

1200 Series Access Point @ 11 Mbps @ 20 mW with 2.2 dBm Antennas

Figure 2-3 ACU Site Survey Window

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 2-4 ADU Advanced Status Window

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones

Figure 2-5 AirMagnet Survey Tool

Site Survey Guide for Deploying Cisco 7920 IP Phones