Fluke AM/A4012 AirMagnet Planner Wireless Network Planning and Testing Tool
The AirMagnet Planner wireless network design and planning tool provides reliable Wi-Fi signal and performance predictions by comprehensively considering factors such as building materials, structure, access point configuration, antenna patterns, and many other parameters—even before the network is built, or before the physical construction of the building is completed. This solution does not provide physical APs but offers an advanced predictive model to determine the ideal number, placement, and configuration of APs for optimal security, performance, and compliance.
When implementing new technologies, network engineers should not simply perform a one-to-one replacement of the existing network with new technologies like 802.11n and 802.11ac just to save time. Although such one-to-one replacements are the quickest way to deploy, they are not the best approach and often lead to degraded network performance, ultimately resulting in costly rework. Using professional tools like AirMagnet Planner helps customers define migration strategies (complete replacement vs. phased rollout) for transitioning from existing 802.11a/b/g networks to 802.11n and 802.11ac networks. AirMagnet Planner also assists in evaluating the budget before AP deployment, facilitating smoother decision-making on whether to proceed with implementation.
AirMagnet Planner can be purchased as a standalone product or as an integrated feature of AirMagnet Survey. When integrated with AirMagnet Survey, users gain a powerful solution that combines advanced predictive modeling with real-world performance data.
Complex WLAN Modeling
Even before network deployment or building construction is completed, AirMagnet Planner allows you to easily create detailed models of any wireless environment. Simply load a floor plan and use the built-in library of walls, doors, and windows to accurately match the building’s characteristics. The environment can also be customized to account for obstacles such as rooms, offices, elevators, and various warehouse settings. All environmental settings are fully customizable, down to fine-grained material adjustments, to meet user technical requirements.
The Fluke AM/A4012 AirMagnet Planner Wireless Network Planning and Testing Tool gives users complete control over the proposed wireless infrastructure. Users can add access points at any location and conduct tests to determine the optimal AP placement based on specific requirements. AirMagnet Planner also provides full control over all access point settings, including independent configurations for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios. Users can set AP parameters such as channel, IP address, transmit power, antenna type, orientation, height, and 802.11n specifications. Once the planning is complete, users can generate a professional bill of materials report containing all necessary information for proper network installation, including a list of required access points along with their ideal locations and configuration details. In addition to RF coverage information, users can also analyze performance metrics such as data rates and throughput.
AirMagnet Planner also offers a "Recommendation Feature" that automatically places access points on the floor plan. Users can define parameters such as desired minimum signal coverage, transmit power, AP media types, and mark Wi-Fi coverage zones as well as areas where APs cannot be installed.
802.11ac and 802.11n Modeling
The Fluke AM/A4012 AirMagnet Planner Wireless Network Design and Planning Tool is the industry's only solution capable of providing comprehensive data for all aspects of 802.11ac and 802.11n deployment: migration, performance prediction, and validation. Users can design new 802.11ac and 802.11n networks from scratch or develop migration strategies for existing legacy networks, including one-to-one replacement or phased introduction of 802.11ac or 11n devices into traditional networks.
Users can maximize performance through the deployment of 802.11ac and 802.11n without physically deploying any access points. The tool generates unique WLAN throughput coverage maps and other technical specification heatmaps, such as signal coverage, operating modes, MCS data rates, channel bandwidth, and channel coverage. These visualizations predict WLAN performance at every location on the floor plan and provide optimal designs to minimize post-deployment rework.
As AirMagnet Planner is part of a seamlessly integrated application suite with AirMagnet Survey PRO, users can verify their 802.11ac and 11n modeling results against actual post-deployment survey data.
Multi-Floor Modeling
As users plan and design wireless access in multi-story buildings, reusing AP services to reduce equipment deployment costs makes economic sense. With the new multi-floor planning capability of the Fluke AM/A4012 AirMagnet Planner Wireless Network Design and Planning Tool, users can visually review 2D and 3D coverage and performance heatmaps across all floors, gaining clear insight into signal conditions between adjacent levels.
Users can also analyze channel strength, data transfer rates, and 802.11ac/11n coverage metrics—such as operational modes, MCS transmission rates, as well as channel bandwidth and channel overlap between floors.
Custom Antenna Design
AirMagnet Planner includes over 300 popular antenna patterns required for custom AP configurations from leading vendors such as Cisco, Aruba, Ruckus Wireless, Meru Networks, HP, Symbol, 3Com, Bluesocket, Motorola, D-Link Systems, Samsung, Meraki, Juniper, and Xirrus. Additionally, AirMagnet Planner features a built-in utility that enables users to create custom antenna patterns, allowing them to replicate the characteristics of virtually any existing antenna.
Integration with WLAN Infrastructure Vendors
Users can create planning projects and export them directly to Cisco WCS. This significantly reduces the time and effort required for setting up maps, access point placements, and other WLAN deployment modeling activities, eliminating the need to duplicate these tasks in Cisco WCS. This greatly enhances operational efficiency for users of the Fluke AM/A4012 AirMagnet Planner Wireless Network Design and Planning Tool and Cisco WCS, freeing them from repetitive wireless planning and site survey tasks associated with WLAN network deployment and ongoing management.