Site Surveys the Fast and Easy Way

I have been doing an average of 20 Site Surveys a day, by using some innovative tools.
First and foremost is a 34' bucket van. I download my list of sites, and plot them in Map Point, I drive to the addresses, and pull in the driveway near the building, and hop into the bucket. I extend to an optimal place, get signal readings, check for new possible towers or repeater sites, then log it into the Access App I created, and drive to the next location. No climbing on roofs, or setting up appointments to have the property owner there to give permission to climb on the building. I have a pocketPC (IPAQ) set up to talk wireless with an AP in the Van. I can then connect to a Canopy 900 MHz SM to do NLOS surveys. The Canopy has a convenient feature for PDA's, with a three second automatic refresh. I utilize a 19db Panel antenna with Mini Stumbler on the PDA for 2.4 signal testing.

Unfortunately it takes more time collecting the client information and getting the results to the sales people than doing the surveys.

We are working on several information systems to handle the demands for the amount of surveys.

1000 foot Tower

We recently installed a Canopy Cluster with a CMM at 750 feet on a 1000' tower, with another CMM and Backhauls at 600'. It was an interesting install, and except for losing my cell phone over the side of the tower at 750', it was very successful.