Feature Spotlight: Adding/Modifying Network Parts Yourself

While we have a very large database of network components (over 25,000 and counting!), we know that parts are not always you need them when you design networks, and that maybe we are missing an AP, or switch, or router, or two that is new or just has not been added.

In this blog, I will show you how you can modify the parts database – to add a new AP or part or to duplicate and modify an existing part to use in your design.

Here we go.

Once logged into iBwave Wi-Fi (or Design), go to the ‘Network Design’ tab and open up your ‘DB Editor’

Which presents you with a list of all the parts in the database that looks something like this:

From here you can do several things:

Add a new AP
Modify an existing AP
Duplicate and modify an AP (to change the default power level for example)
Set an AP as approved (to limit what APs can be used in a design)

Add a New AP or Network Part

To add a new AP, simply click ‘Add’ and then fill out the information you have for that AP

Same with other network components, for example here is a controller:

Modify an Existing AP or Network Part

To modify an existing AP, simply highlight an AP and then select ‘Modify’

Then you can modify the AP in several ways including characteristics like:

Costs (which you can then view later on in the cost details report)
Inventory #
Power
Antenna Type
Image
Layout Image

Duplicate and Modify Network Parts

In the event you don’t want to modify the original part information, you can simply duplicate a part and then modify it to be what you need for the design you are working on. This way you don’t have to go into the properties in the design itself and change anything as you design.

To duplicate a part, simply select the part you want to duplicate, and then hit ‘Duplicate’

A duplicate of that AP will be created with ‘copy’ stuck on the end of it, and you can go in and modify it as need be (see #2)

What else can you do?

While I used APs as an example in this blog, you can essentially add, modify and duplicate any existing network part we have – that includes switches, routers, connectors, power supplies, network equipment, and so on and so forth!

The value in this is that once you have the network part that you need, as you need it, you can simply make it a default part in your design and not have to worry about updating any of the properties as you design.

Why is this useful?

To many of our customers, having the ability to add and modify the network parts in real-time saves them a lot of time and removes the dependency of waiting on us to add parts. Although if you need that to happen, we also do that pretty quickly – it’s just a matter of calling our customer care team and they will get it added usually in pretty short order.

Enjoy!

Interested in trying out iBwave Wi-Fi? Get a free trial for 14 days.

No, Not All Prediction Methods Are The Same

At the WLPC Conference in Phoenix, 2017 (a great conference for Wi-Fi professionals) our Director of Research – Vladan, gave a talk called ‘Algorithms Behind the Heatmaps: A Deeper Dive’ on the different type of prediction algorithms in our iBwave Wi-Fi planning and design software.

Afterward, we got a few comments from attendees saying they didn’t realize that not all prediction models have the same accuracy, or that even the most complex of prediction models can have some measurement of error.

So in the follow-up to that great talk, and to spread the propagation word further (somehow that seems like a pun?), here’s a simplified breakdown of the different algorithms that Vladan covered, and can be found in our wireless network design software, and what they mean.

COST 231

The COST 231 model is a common direct path model used to simulate the performance of an indoor wireless network.

Example venue types it works best for?

Typically COST 231 is best used in non-complex venues where you know the material penetration loss.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Fast Calculation	Only direct path is accounted for; no reflected or diffracted paths
Good signal accuracy prediction when used with CAD files	Heat map shows unnatural looking ‘shadows’
	The more complex the venue, the less accurate the prediction

What does it look like?

Here is an example of COST 231 in an office environment:

VPLE (VARIABLE PATH LOSS EQUATION)

VPLE is an iBwave patented direct path model that can be used to run prediction with user-defined RF propagation environments (in iBwave this is mostly used on our site survey mobile apps to simulate performance on-site during a survey).

User-defined RF environments can be:

Semi-open (ex: warehouse)
Light (ex: shopping center)
Medium (ex: office)
Dense (ex: hotel)
Very dense (ex: hospital)

The benefit of VPLE is that it can be used directly on images and enables fast calculations and network performance simulations.

Example venue types it works best for?

Non-complex venues (cubicle offices, retail stores, etc)

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Very fast calculations	User needs to define RF propagation environments on the floor plan
Can be used directly on images	Can have limited accuracy (no walls, no penetration loss)
	The more complex the venue, the less accurate the result

What does it look like?

Here is an example of VPLE in an office environment:

RAY TRACING

Unlike COST 231 and VPLE, Ray Tracing takes into account all signal paths: direct path, reflected path and diffracted paths as shown here:

The benefit of Ray Tracing is largely the accuracy you get as a result of it taking into consideration all of the signal paths.

Example venue types it works best for?

Complex venues (stadiums, multi-level subway stations, shopping malls)

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
The best accuracy	Computing-intensive
Can accurately predict signal in complex 3D venues

In iBwave software, we have ‘Fast Ray Tracing’ which strikes a balance between the intensive computing time and the accuracy of the prediction.

What does it look like?

Here is Fast Ray Tracing in an office environment:

A COMPARISON OF ALL THREE MODELS FOR AN NHL ARENA

You’ve seen the propagation for each of the three methods for an office environment, now let’s take a look at the results for an NHL arena:

COST 231

VPLE

FAST RAY TRACING

HOW TO USE EACH OF THE METHODS IN iBwave?

Using iBwave Wi-Fi as an example, you can select which propagation method you will use depending on the venue you are designing for.

To select the prediction method, simply go to the ‘Prediction’ panel, select the Properties icon and go under the ‘Specific’ tab to select the Propagation model.

WANT TO LEARN MORE?

Vladan, our Director of Research, recently did a great talk that goes into more depth about each of these methods, including case studies at the recent WLPC show in Phoenix, Arizona.

You can watch Vladan’s presentation, complete with walkthrough of each case study here.

Enjoy

Podcast on the Importance and Implications Behind Public Safety Communication Systems

Tune in as Seth Buechley, President at SOLiD Technologies and Ted Erb, a consultant for the Bellevue Washington Fire Department discuss the importance and implications of optimal public safety communication networks inside buildings.

Joe Dans hosts “Creativity and Technology for Business and Life” and facilitates the conversation.