Campus Wi-Fi Coverage Mapping and Analysis

Abstract: Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs), known as Wi-Fi, have become an essential service in university environments that helps staff, students and guests to access connectivity to the Internet from their mobile devices. Apart from the Internet being a learning resource, students also submit their assignments online using web portals. Most campuses will have poor coverage areas for mobile networks and, as a result, the ability of the wireless network to supplement Internet access for mobile devices in these areas becomes more important. Acquiring clear understanding of WLAN traffic patterns, network handover between access points and inter-network handover between the Wi-Fi and mobile networks, the optimal placement of networking equipment will help deliver a better wireless service. This paper presents data analyses and Wi-Fi signal coverage maps obtained by performing wireless radio surveys, coverage predictions and statistical analysis of data from the existing access points to show the current Wi-Fi performance in several locations of a large university campus. It them makes recommendations that should improve performance. These recommendations are derived from AP performance testing and made in the context of cabling length limitations and physical and aesthetic placement restrictions that are present at each location.