Site Survey
Physical inspection of a candidate site checking structural capacity, power availability, antenna mounting options, line of sight, and zoning requirements.
A site survey is the reality check before money is committed to a candidate location. The coverage prediction might love the spot, but the survey decides whether you can actually build there — far cheaper to find a dealbreaker on a clipboard than after the steel is up.
What the surveyor checks spans several disciplines:
- Structural — can the roof or mast carry the antennas, radios, and wind load? Usually needs a structural engineer's sign-off.
- Power — is there reliable power, or does it need a new feed and backup?
- Backhaul — is there fibre nearby, or clear line of sight for a microwave link?
- Mounting and space — where do antennas go, at what height and azimuth, with room for the cabinet?
- RF line of sight — for the antennas and any microwave hops, is the path clear?
- Regulatory — zoning, planning permission, lease terms, and any height or aesthetic restrictions.
The recurring theme: the perfect RF spot is often a non-starter for non-RF reasons — no power, no roof rights, a planning objection — so the survey is as much about feasibility as about radio.
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