Design Guide for the Alcatel
OmniPCX
Enterprise – Mobile IP Touch
4.1.1.
Exceptional Deal Handling
In some cases, it is possible to consider a solution that violates one or more of the MIPT VoWLAN offer
restrictions. In these cases, sales engineers can complete and submit an “Alcatel VoWLAN Premium
Customer Support Form” explaining the opportunity and the proposed solution.
4.2.
Pre Install VoWLAN Radio Coverage Audit (Site Survey)
It s recognized that in many situations, a customer may be unwilling or unable to perform a wireless audit
before the establishment of budgetary costs (RFP/RFQ.) Regardless of whether or not predictive tools were
used to define a “budgetary” topology design, a Radio Coverage Audit (also known as a Site Survey) is
mandatory for all MIPT VoWLAN solutions prior to installation. Voice quality and coverage continuity can not
be guaranteed without this compulsory environmental evaluation.
In ideal situations, this audit would be performed as the first step towards building a VoWLAN solution. The
results of the audit could be used to strategically identify ideal locations for Access Points to maximize
coverage and minimize radio spectrum conflict. By working backwards from the Access Points, we could
easily see where best to place and how best to size Wireless Switches and/or Wireless Appliances.
VoWLAN Radio Coverage Audits are very specific in that they focus on the requirements of 802.11b based
wireless clients. Being small, handheld, battery operated devices; Mobile IP Touch terminals possess unique
radio sensitivities. Where a typical Wi-Fi enabled PC could find the ability to maintain a useful connection
with a signal as weak as -80dBm, MIPT terminals lose reliable communications capabilities beyond
(approximately) -65dBm. It is for this reason that typical Wi-Fi surveys, as well surveys for other digital
wireless technologies, can not be used for VoWLAN solutions. Again: A VoWLAN Radio Coverage Audit is
mandatory for all solutions prior to installation.
Alcatel’s OmniAccess platform family can be used to support data as well as voice. For solutions that
propose both voice and data coverage, it is important to distinguish between the needs of the voice and data
elements. If voice and data are to share 802.11b Access Points, bandwidth consumption and client
saturation need to be incorporated into the overall audit results. If the data will utilize 802.11a Access Points,
a completely different wireless audit may be required.
The specificity of VoWLAN audits requires a certain level of solution specific training and knowledge. For the
benefit of Alcatel customers and business partners, Alcatel’s Professional Services organization can provide
VoWLAN and WLAN Radio Coverage Audits at a competitive price. For more details on this service, please
contact Alcatel Professional Services.
4.3.
Post Install Survey
Wireless networks are often changing to meet new application demands, business processes, or in response
to external influences (neighboring networks and other spectrum disturbing sources.) For this reason, Alcatel
recommends regular radio coverage surveys in order to continuously revalidate system operation. This is not
a mandatory process, but a recommended one as proactive network modification is often less costly and
disruptive than reactionary engineering to sudden holes or degradations in the RF coverage plan.
The regularity by which a customer should consider RF coverage re-evaluation depends greatly on network
size, radio spectrum competition, sensitivity to degraded voice quality, rate of user population growth, and
other factors. As a general rule, Alcatel recommends re-evaluation whenever new technology demand is
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