5-day training event
6100-3201
This Ekahau WiFi RF Planning and Site Survey Tool training course provides hands‑on instruction for network engineers and IT professionals on designing, deploying, and validating high‑performance wireless LANs using Ekahau Pro and Ekahau Sidekick. Participants learn RF fundamentals, spectrum analysis, predictive planning, heat‑map creation, capacity planning, channel and power optimization, and practical site survey techniques for enterprise, healthcare, education, and industrial environments. The course covers real‑world workflows including conducting active and passive surveys, troubleshooting interference, generating professional reports, and interpreting performance metrics to meet coverage, capacity, and roaming requirements. Attendees leave with the skills to produce accurate predictive models, perform efficient on‑site validation, and apply best practices for ongoing Wi‑Fi optimization and documentation.
Target audience:
Wireless network engineers and technicians
IT professionals responsible for Wi‑Fi design, deployment, and optimization
Consultants and integrators performing site surveys and RF planning
Students preparing for Ekahau certifications or vendor-neutral Wi‑Fi exams
Prerequisites:
Basic networking knowledge (TCP/IP, VLANs, SSIDs)
Familiarity with 802.11 fundamentals (channels, bands, modulation)
Laptop with Ekahau Pro installed (or access to training lab)
Optional: experience with enterprise Wi‑Fi hardware
Course Outlines
Introduction to Ekahau and Course Objectives
Course goals, syllabus, and lab environment overview
Ekahau product family: Ekahau Pro, Sidekick, Capture, Cloud, and Connect
Licensing, system requirements, and software installation checklist
Safety and on-site survey considerations
Wi‑Fi RF Fundamentals Review
2.4 GHz vs 5 GHz vs 6 GHz characteristics and trade-offs
Channel planning, co‑channel vs adjacent channel interference
RF propagation basics: path loss, reflection, diffraction, absorption
Antenna types, patterns, gain, and mounting considerations
Impact of materials and building construction on RF
Ekahau Pro User Interface and Project Setup
Creating projects, floor plans, and multi-floor sites
Importing and calibrating floor plans, scale, orientation
Setting up building materials and assigning material attenuation values
Defining networks, SSIDs, security types, and client profiles
Using project notes and survey metadata
Predictive RF Planning and Heatmap Modeling
Placing access points and using AP templates (vendor models)
Automated vs manual AP placement strategies
Running predictive coverage, throughput, and interference heatmaps
Capacity planning: device density, throughput targets, SNR and MCS expectations
Evaluating predictive results and iterating AP placement
Ekahau Sidekick and Survey Hardware
Ekahau Sidekick capabilities and usage best practices
Other supported survey adapters and mobile devices
Survey equipment setup, calibration, and verification
Conducting spectrum scans with Sidekick or external analysers
Managing survey hardware firmware and drivers
Active and Passive Site Surveys
Passive vs active vs combined surveys: when to use each
Performing walking surveys: speed, path planning, and sample density
Tagging measurement points, creating manual reference points
Using directional antenna measurements when required
Best practices for survey data quality and repeatability
Spectrum Analysis and Interference Troubleshooting
Interpreting spectrum view and waterfall displays
Identifying non‑Wi‑Fi interferers and their signatures
Correlating spectrum data with Wi‑Fi performance issues
Using spectrum scan logs to recommend mitigation (channel change, shielding)
Practical exercises: detect and mitigate interference scenarios
Post‑Survey Analysis and Validation
Processing survey data and fixing alignment/calibration errors
Creating coverage, SNR, throughput, and roaming heatmaps from survey data
Validating predictive models against survey results
Identifying dead zones, coverage holes, and capacity shortfalls
Documenting findings and actionable remediation steps
Advanced Design Considerations
Designing for voice, video, and high‑density use cases
Roaming and handoff considerations, 802.11r/k/v basics
MIMO, spatial streams, and antenna diversity effects in modeling
Planning for outdoor, mixed‑use, and industrial environments
Redundancy, channel reuse, and power planning best practices
Troubleshooting Workflows and Real‑World Scenarios
Systematic troubleshooting methodology using Ekahau outputs
Case studies: poor throughput, intermittent connectivity, roaming failures
Combining Ekahau data with controller/AP logs and client diagnostics
Rapid field triage: pass/fail checks and quick fixes
Creating prioritized remediation plans
Reporting and Deliverables
Building professional survey reports and executive summaries
Customizing report content: maps, heatmaps, survey metrics, and recommendations
Export formats: PDF, CSV, images, project backups
Presenting findings to technical and non‑technical stakeholders
Handoff materials for installation teams (AP placement maps, cabling notes)
