Its all about the WiFi
One of the core competencies that we have at Skyriver is wireless networking, we install large scale WiFi networks in hotels and we have almost 15,000 rooms in over 100 hotels fully covered with our Hospitality WiFi services. So we really do know WiFi and hotspots 🙂
More and more business are calling us to become unwired and I wanted to
share some thoughts about the process and what you should expect as far as performance and ease of installation.
What is an Access Point
Lets get started with some general information. The fundamental requirement for setting up a wireless network is a device known as an access point. An AP as it is know is essentially a short-range transceiver with a range of about 100 yards in any direction. All of the magic happens within this sphere of radio waves and any computer, modem or printer or in fact any computing device that is suitably equipped can communicate with any other one via the access point.
Fact vs. Features
If your businesses already has a wireless router chances are that it comes from either Linksys or Netgear, because they own more than 80% of the consumer WiFi market. While these AP’s offer a good blend of features for about $50 the do not have the reliability or range of their commercial counterparts. These consumer AP’s ship with low powered and omni directional antennas that make it very difficult to place within an office and get comprehensive coverage. Their performance is adequate, their reliability is ok but the real issue that I have is their lack of
comprehensive enterprise grade security features.
A Sense of Security
Security is a huge issue with wireless networking, without careful configuration anyone can connect to your wireless network from the parking lot. Radio waves flow through walls and out the windows and can be picked up hundreds of feet from your office.
The default setting for these AP’s is to allow anyone to connect, so unless you turned this off, your network may be vulnerable.
Take a look at the software from Netstumbler.com and you will be amazed at the number of open access points you can find within a few hundred feet of your office. My advice is you need to protect your network with a password or Key and if security is a big concern you should investigate a more refined and integrated security mechanism like radius
or WPA.
Have you read my
99 Tips for Using the Internet for Your Business? If you like them, please leave a comment!
Its as Easy as Not Plugging in.
One selling feature of WiFi networks is their expandability and the ability to use a laptop in every office or conference room. As you purchase new machines to accommodate an increase in staff, you can connect them to the existing network without having the cost and inconvenience of
hiring a contractor to install new cabling and network sockets. Similarly, if you move to larger premises, you can simply take all your equipment with you and install it at your new location. But convenience comes with a price, just keep reading…
Wireless Wireless Everywhere
Since most new laptops come with WiFi cards preinstalled it is a simple matter of enabling these cards and connecting to your network, with no strings attached. It is tempting to just want to install wireless AP’s around your office because it costs less than installing an Ethernet network. When you look at the total cost of ownership for wireless you might be surprised. There are headaches with wireless, it can be temperamental and I NEVER recommend wireless for
servers or other infrastructure hardware. So you are going to need
some cables – it’s all about balance.
Location, Location, Location
You will also have to bear in mind that some types of buildings are better suited to using a wireless network that others. The type of material that was used during construction has a huge impact on your ability to receive wireless signals, drywall is better than concrete and clear glass passes more of the signal than tinted glass. Careful planning and placement of the WiFi equipment can overcome almost all challenges you just have to know how to look at the office before installing the access points.
Why Stay With Wires?
Personally I love wireless when its primary purpose is to supplement and existing or proposed wired network. Its simple really, when compared with hardwire networking WiFi hardware is slower, it typically runs up to 54Mbps half duplex which is about a quarter of the speed of Ethernet cables. Most desktops ship with wired Ethernet ports but not wireless, so to joint them to the network requires buying additional hardware, it is not as reliable and without prior planning you may quickly find that even a small office of 10-15 people can bog down the network.