I didn't answer before but here is how we do it: Departments/Groups: Wireless Group (WG) - responsible for design, monitoring, management of AP Maintenance Group (MG) - responsible from conduits, enclosure installations Installation Maintenance and Repair (IMR) - responsible for AP installation and antenna placement
Process: WG speaks with customers to get information on what the design should look like. We usually try and convince them of a whole building installation and to at least look at the building as one unit to accommodate upgrades in the future. MG installs conduits etc to accommodate design. IMR installs cables, APs and antennas according to design. Since we have Minor and Major Projects we decided to have a design legend symbol added to the prints by the architectures. We can send this to anyone as a .pdf. We send this to new architecture companies that may be used. Our MG for installation information if they get the conduit design and eve our IMR for review and to make sure the conduit is all correct. Answer to the question: By setting up the system this way we only have to "train" our own in house personnel about antenna location placement etc. Since it is a small group they can also train each other. They get to determine if they need a longer patch cable to move the antenna or AP away from a light fixture etc. The training gets done about once a year and gets reviewed as needed. The WG goes onsite to discuss any questions and to verify the process as needed. -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Greene, Chip Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:11 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Installation Process We do a brief training in-house for the technicians that will be installing the APs. -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Case, Brandon J Sent: Thursday, December 18, 2008 9:08 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Installation Process Thanks to everyone for the great replies. I was scratching my head over our wireless install process for a few days and figured this was a good place for some ideas. All those replies did lead me to a follow-up question though. For those of you that contract the AP installs out, either to another department or a contractor, is there some kind of training you require them to have been through? We contract the AP installs out to another department, but the issue we run into most often is that the people doing the work don't understand how to properly mount either the AP, the antenna, or both. We're beginning to go through a refresh cycle and would like to avoid the mistakes that happened last time (like antennas installed 3' above the ceiling between two HVAC units). Thanks again in advance. Brandon -----Original Message----- From: The EDUCAUSE Wireless Issues Constituent Group Listserv [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Case, Brandon J Sent: Wednesday, December 17, 2008 10:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [WIRELESS-LAN] Wireless Installation Process I'm curious as to how you all out there handle the actual physical installation of APs in your environments. Do you handle that within the same team that manages the wireless network or is it a separate group that installs the equipment? How do you go about having the data jacks installed? Just as an estimation, approximately how long does it take to have an AP installed? For buildings that are still in the planning phase, do you design the AP locations into the building based on CAD drawings ahead of time? Or do you perform an on-site survey after the building is open and then proceed with installation? Any and all comments are appreciated. Thanks, -- Brandon Case, CCNA Network Engineer, ITaP Purdue University [email protected] Office: (765)49-67096 Mobile: (765)479-7597 Fax: (765)49-46620 ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/. ********** Participation and subscription information for this EDUCAUSE Constituent Group discussion list can be found at http://www.educause.edu/groups/.
