Want to Build a Great APoS Wireless Survey Kit

Disclosure:  Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.

APoS Survey Kit? Whats That?

An APoS ( AP on a Stick) Survey Kit is a grouping of selected parts that when assembled allow you to perform a wireless site survey.  Wireless survey kits require some very specific items that are required for a basic setup, highlighted below.

• You will need a stand, preferably portable that extends to an average height of roughly 10-11 feet.
• A way to secure the Access Point to the top of the pole
• Power in the form of a POE+ 802.3at portable, rechargeable battery
• Mount for attaching the battery to the stand
• Ethernet cable to connect from your POE+ battery to the access point
• While not essential, having a case to carry all of your gear is extremely helpful

Let’s Talk about My Build

I spent a lot of time researching existing builds, taking notes from a couple different articles, looking at prefabricated designs from various companies, and talking with other industry professionals.  In the end, the following perfectly meets my needs for 95% of the wireless surveys I encounter.

Impact Folding Wheeled Base Stand in Chrome

The Impact Folding Stand met all the prerequisites I had for my stand.  First, it has to be portable, the Impact stand has three very heavy duty casters with locks, which are easily removed without tools.  I found if I lock the wheels, I can just spin them on and off.  This was an excellent feature for fitting it in the case, discussed later.  Secondly, it also needed to be compact when collapsed, not wasting precious space within the confines of a small case, which with the spring released legs was perfect (see collapsed picture below in case section).  Third, it had to be extremely sturdy while extended.  It covers this well with very strong clamps and thick poles.  Extending to 11 feet, it meets most of my projects needs.

The WifiStand XL Bracket

Looking for the perfect AP bracket for your APoS Kit?  Look no further.  The WifiStand XL Bracket is the perfect solution.  It has a swiveling mount at the top of a rectangular hard ABS plastic bracket that allows you mount a standard rail kit.  Once rotated back flat it keeps your access point level, even if you are on slightly uneven ground.  I have used access points as large as a Cisco 4800 series with no issue, and we know what a beast those are!

The WifiStand Battery Bracket for VenVolt

Not to sound like a broken record, but WifiStand comes to the rescue once again.  If you are a fan of the big orange VenVolt POE+ 802.3at portable batteries, then they have you covered with the WifiStand Battery Bracket for VenVolt.  The pole mounted design holds the battery in an upright position giving you easy access to the Ethernet ports on the side.

VenVolt 802.3at Site Survey Battery Pack

VenVolts 802.3at Site Survey Battery Pack is the work horse of my APoS wireless survey kit.  On a single charge it easily lasts through a full day of surveying.  I keep a spare with me just in case in we encounter a long day.  It also allows for a quick swap should something fail.  Another great feature is the data in and out, allowing you to connect to your AP while it is powered via Ethernet.

Audio2000’S Pole Mounted Tray

Here is something I didn’t know I needed until I had it.  Audio2000’s Pole Mounted Tray is a life saver.  If you have ever been doing a wireless survey in an open space and really wanted to rest your arm, but getting to a place to set down your laptop isn’t convenient.  Well, this is for you.  It is large enough to place a MacBook Pro inside all the lips, preventing it from sliding off.  Granted you can’t lean your screen all the way back, so I recommend setting it higher on the pole so it isn’t an issue.  It is also a nice place to set your laptop while you move from one survey point to another.

UTEBIT Rapid Adapter

One of the unsung hero’s of the build is the Utebit Rapid Adapter.  This 1/4″ adapter allows you to mount the WifiStand AP Bracket to the top of the stand with no modifications.  Other builds I have seen have had to drill in 1/4″ cut off screws into the top of their stands.  This solves that headache and looks super clean.

Pelican Storm iM3220 Case

So now we need to protect our investment.  I mean let’s be honest, wireless survey kits are not inexpensive, so you best protect all your components.  Enter the Pelican Storm iM3220 Case.  I am by no means breaking new ground here.  It has been used for this purpose before, and for good reason.  It is durable, compact, closure clamps are excellent and rolls very well.  It has handles on the side and top, for easy transport in and out of your vehicle.  I ordered the case with three layers of foam included, which I cut out with an electric turkey carver (works surprisingly well).  It took quite some time to get the layout right (seriously, I used graph paper lol).  It was able to contain everything listed above and then some, all layered on top of each other as you will see in the following pictures.

All total I carry an Ekahau Sidekick and related charger, a large access point or two regular sized, two VenVolt batteries and related chargers, Impact tripod with three wheels, WifiStand AP and Venvolt brackets, A2000’s pole mounted table, zip ties, velcro, and spare cables.  I have also fit a Cisco patch antenna in there with no problem above the WifStand AP Bracket.

Final Thoughts

This APoS kit has served me very well.  I have surveyed roughly 500,000 sq feet with it so far and could not be happier. If you have any questions about the build, feel free to connect with me via social media links toward at the bottom of the page.  I would love to see your rigs as well.  I am always looking for new ideas.  

Last, if you are looking for more information on planning for your site surveys check out our CWNA Chapter 14 Review that covers site surveys and validation.