What’s in our APoS Kit?

APoS site surveys can be an essential part of designing and deploying Wi-Fi networks. To conduct a successful APoS site survey, you need the right equipment. In this blog post, we’ll take a closer look at the equipment we include in our APoS kit and why we think it’s important.

Note: other tools and products might be available. We are just covering what we use (or have used) at SemFio.

The first essential item in an APoS Kit is a tripod. Tripods are used to hold the access point off the ground and position it at the correct height and angle for the survey. When it comes to tripods, it’s important to have a range of sizes to choose from. Here are the tripods that we include in our kit:

• Neewer Heavy Duty 3m/9ft
• Neewer 4m/14ft
• Vantage Point tall Mast 12m/40ft
• Manfrotto 1004BAC 3.6m
• Manfrotto 269HDBU 7m

The Neewer tripods are great for indoor surveys with low ceilings, while the Vantage Point tall mast is better suited for high ceilings or outdoor surveys.

A PoE battery is an essential component of any APoS Kit. You need a battery to power the access point during the survey. The battery should be able to provide enough power to run the access point for the duration of the survey. Here’s what we use:

• Ventev VenVolt 2
• Ventev VenVolt 1 (not available for purchase anymore)

The Ventev VenVolt 2 is a 30W PoE battery that provides up to 8 hours of power for the access point. It’s lightweight and compact, making it easy to transport and travel with.

You’ll need a bracket to mount your access point onto the tripod. The bracket should be sturdy and adjustable so that you can position the access point at the correct angle for the survey. Here are the brackets that we use:

• Wi-Fi Stand Bracket
• Wi-Fi Stand XL Bracket

The Wi-Fi Stand bracket is great for most access points, while the Wi-Fi Stand XL bracket is better suited for large access points.

You also might need a bracket to mount the external antenna onto the tripod. The bracket should be sturdy and adjustable so that you can position the antenna at the correct angle for the survey. Here are the brackets that we use:

• Quick Release Mast Antenna Mounts from Vantage Point Products
• AccelTex Articulated Mount

The Quick Release Mast Antenna Mounts are made for the Vantage Point tripod and are well adapted to install external antennas. They also do not weigh too much, which can be important while extending the tripod to tall heights.

You’ll want to make sure you have a sturdy case to transport your equipment. The case should be able to protect the equipment from damage during transport. Here’s the case that we use:

• Pelican Storm IM3220-00001 Case

The Pelican Storm IM3220-00001 Case is a watertight, crushproof, and dustproof case that can hold all of our APoS Kit equipment. It has wheels and a retractable handle, making it easy to transport. It can hold the 3m Neewer tripod. Other bigger tripods will have to be carried outside of the case.

We also bring our Sidekicks from Ekahau in order to perform our survey and measure the RF environment. We also use a couple of accessories to make our life easier while surveying. Here’s what we use:

• Sidekick 1 & 2
• PeakDesign Strap
• PeakDesign Belt Clip

The Sidekick is a compact device that connects to your laptop via USB. The PeakDesign Strap and Belt Clip allow you to attach the Sidekick to your body, leaving your hands free to use the laptop.

The Sidekick is a compact device that connects to your laptop via USB. The PeakDesign Strap and Belt Clip allow you to attach the Sidekick to your body, leaving your hands free to use the laptop.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is always important, but it’s especially important when conducting wireless site surveys. You’ll be working in environments where there may be hazards such as falling objects or sharp edges. Here’s what we include:

• Yellow Vest
• Lanyard with ID
• Safety glasses
• Hard Hat
• Safety Shoes / Boots

The Yellow Vest and lanyard with ID are important for identifying yourself as a surveyor. We can quickly identify ourselves when people ask who we are and what we do. We also use the lanyard to attach additional cards the customer gives us when arriving onsite.

Finally, here are some other miscellaneous items that we include in our APoS Kit:

• Flat Ethernet cable (long enough)
• Laser measuring tool
• Multi-tool
• AP brackets
• Zip Ties
• WLAN Pi
• Battery packs
• Flashlight
• AirCheck
• Chargers

We hope this list helps you as you put together your own APoS Kit. Happy site surveying!