Predictive vs On-Site Survey: Which Do You Need?

These two survey types answer different questions, and confusing them is one of the most common mistakes we see when businesses plan a wireless deployment.

Predictive Survey

A predictive survey uses building floor plans and material properties to model wireless coverage before any equipment is installed. It's ideal for new builds and budget planning, since it lets you finalise an access point layout and a budgetary bill of materials before construction or fit-out is complete.

On-Site Survey

An on-site (active/passive) survey measures real-world conditions using professional tools like Ekahau. It's essential for existing buildings, where wall materials, interference sources, and neighbouring networks all affect performance in ways a floor plan alone can't predict.

Which One Should You Book?

For critical deployments — hospitals, warehouses, venues, multi-floor campuses — we recommend both: predictive for the initial design, and an on-site validation survey once access points are installed to confirm the design meets requirements in practice.