So, you are a highly qualified Wi-Fi expert (such as Les Frampton) and you need to perform an active Wi-Fi site survey in a high ceiling environment - likely a warehouse, factory, or large venue.
You know you need to test and validate the real RF design performance of the AP / antenna in that unique environment, so only a Wi-Fi AP-on-a-Stick (APoS) mast tripod method will do the job.
You are left with some questions:
- How tall will the simulated ceiling AP / antenna potential mounting point be?
- How can I reach that high?
- Should I use a MEWP lift, a.k.a. a Skyjack - with a non extended APoS on top?
- Or should I use a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod - made by Vantage Point Products?
What will you decide?
QUESTION 1: "How tall will the simulated ceiling AP / antenna potential mounting point be?"
ANSWER: Most potential AP / antenna mounting points in a warehouse, factory or large venue are 6-12m 20-40ft. Some AP drop down points are much higher, 15-18m 50-60ft.
QUESTION 2: "How can I reach that high?"
ANSWER: Until they invent jetpacks for Wi-Fi survey teams, you only have two options - either a MEWP lift, a.k.a. a Skyjack or a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod
QUESTION 3: "Should I use a MEWP lift, a.k.a. a Skyjack - with a non extended APoS on top?"
PRO's - a MEWP lift
- May already be on the site where you are surveying.
- Can lift you, your retracted APoS, and any AP / antenna payload, no matter the weight. Some AP / antennas are very heavy (Cisco 9179F / Cisco 9124AX + large antenna / Cisco IW9167)
- A MEWP lift can reach heights up to 15-18m 50-60ft, model dependent
CON's - a MEWP lift.
- Very.... very... slow. You will have to price that into your project costs / margins
- May require two RF designers on site - one to operate the lift and monitor the (retracted) APoS tripod at height + one to walk around to collect spectrum analysis data at ground level.
- Needs to have its battery charged / liquid gas fuel changed, and that takes time
- Could be rented and delivered for the survey, or it might already be on site - but you will likely not be allowed to use it without significant training, insurance, approvals, and monitoring by the on-site health and safety manager
- Can cause severe damage to warehouse racking if collision occurs - we've all seen those forklift vs racking domino fall videos, right...?
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A MEWP lift can cause injury or loss of life due to risk of working at height, collision with site staff.
QUESTION 4: "Or should I use a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod - made by Vantage Point Products?"
PRO's - a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod
- A safe, proven solution for fast, cost effective RF design work in challenging, high ceiling environments
- Can be operated by one person (if APoS area is demarcated and out of the wind) who does not have to work at height. Two operators can be used if needed - one to stay close to the mast tripod + one to walk around to collect spectrum analysis data at ground level
- Very light to transport to and from site - and can even be transported in the baggage hold (not carry on) of an airplane if shipped in a very well padded bag we can supply / recommend
- Can reach 6-12m 20-40ft, therefore it suits the 70-80% of the most common heights of AP / antenna and potential final mounting heights
- Supports and elevates very commonly used AP / antennas, such as Cisco 9166D1, 9176D1, CW9163, 9100 + external panel Dir or Omni antennas
- 7.5kg max payload at 6m (indoors), 9.5kg payload at 4.5-5m (partial top sections extension - indoors), 6kg payload at 6m (outdoors - in light winds - guyed)
- 3.5kg max payload at 9m (indoors), 5.5kg payload at 7.5-8m (partial top sections extension - indoors), 3kg payload 9m (outdoors - in light winds - guyed)
- 2kg max payload at 12m (indoors), 4.5kg payload at 10.5-11m (partial top sections extension - indoors), 2kg payload at 12m (outdoors - in light winds - guyed)
- Has a rapid return on investment - often paying for itself on day one of a warehouse, factory or large venue Wi-Fi site survey
- Fully telescopic and retracts to less then 1.87m 73.62 inches so it can be used in a low ceiling environment one day (i.e. an office) and at any height up to its max the next day (i.e. a warehouse).
- A tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod will save you time, so you will be busier carrying out more Wi-Fi site surveys in a week / month / year.
CON's - a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod
- Not a universal AP / antenna mounting solution capable of elevating any payload to any height (as MEWP lift can) no matter the combined weight
- Requires manual operation to safely elevate and retract the payload
- As with any tool, still a risk of collapse if misused, impacted, overloaded or unsecured in the wind (but won't cause the racking to collapse in domino if the mast falls against it!)
- Well designed, high quality, wide top tube OD, high modulus 100% carbon fibre will have a price tag to match. Good carbon fibre isn't cheap / Cheap carbon fibre isn't good...
- A tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod will save you time, so you will be busier carrying out more Wi-Fi site surveys in a week / month / year. ;-)
CONCLUSION:
- 70-80% of the time, a tall Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod will suit the high ceiling site you are performing RF design, and the combined AP / antenna payload you are elevating.
- The other 20-30% of the time, you will have to rely in a MEWP lift. Some AP / antenna payloads are just too heavy to safely lift to the maximum a Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod can reach.
- We will leave it up to you to decide which tool is right for you and the site you are working on - you must balance safety, efficiency, results and profitability per active Wi-Fi site survey.
WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE?
- Contact the Team at Vantage Point Products and ask any questions you wish. We are not about the hard sell, just friendly advice.
- Tell us your AP / antenna payload, the height you require - and we will advise you if our tall Wi-Fi APoS tripod solution will suit you.
- Or click here to view our range of safe, proven, high reach Wi-Fi APoS mast tripod solutions.
