Geekzone: technology news, blogs, forums
Guest
Welcome Guest.
You haven't logged in yet. If you don't have an account you can register now.


1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek


#214084 27-Apr-2017 11:35
Send private message

Hi Guys
Im after some options to get wifi reliable

Auckland CBD office, absolutely swamped by nearby offices BLASTING hi power wifi
Wifi analyser app shows many nearby wifi SSD's, at the same power level as the office in question, so those nearby
offices had the same issue & are just using stupidly high power to get their wifi going (I assume)
There are no clear channels to use.

 

The wifi works,sometimes, buts its just not reliable. Whatever I do I'll be battling with nearby offices, it could turn into a
transmit power war :-)
Any options? 

 

Perhaps try 5.8Ghz as the ONLY local wifi in the office ?, but even thats getting congested now.
Unfortunately, the office staff & management just want wifi to work , they dont really hear when you tell them them & show them
how congested wifi is locally .
All PC's are connected via cable, so its just for phones & for guest's laptops .

 

 

 

 

 

 


View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic
 1 | 2
sbiddle
30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  #1771165 27-Apr-2017 11:40
Send private message

Sounds like the first step is to buy better equipment. What are you using?

 

 

 

 




darylblake
1162 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1771166 27-Apr-2017 11:40
Send private message

Read this. Its just right:

 

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2017/03/802-eleventy-what-a-deep-dive-into-why-wi-fi-kind-of-sucks/

 

So 5Ghz Options with High Quality Equipment that supports band steering is a good start. That is not blasting too loud. Turning down the transmit power and having MORE Access points is a bit of a general rule. Get LoS to the AP. 

 

And don't expect amazing speeds over wifi. use cable if you want to copy a lot of data. 

 

If some moneys are copying files over the LAN all day over the wifi then tell them not to do so and get a docking station for people that need to do that. 

 

Wifi should really only be used when you are roaming around the office. I use wifi in the board rooms and offices. Or if I am out on the deck in the sun.

 

At my desk, i have an ethernet cable plugged into my Mac Thunderbolt Monitor.


1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek


  #1771195 27-Apr-2017 12:13
Send private message

sbiddle:

 

Sounds like the first step is to buy better equipment. What are you using?

 

 

1) Microtek wifi router (ISP Supplied) . It worked fine on my Android when I tested it yesterday, staff are complaining
that its "not Working"

2) TPLink wifi router : In the previous building office (not CBD) it was good , with reason (range/walls etc)
They shifted to a another blding(CBD) , now its unreliable (for them)
Its hopeless in the wifi congested main office. So I put it in the
managers office, it works OK in there (his Walls blocking external wifi I guess) > Keeps the boss happy, thats allways the 1st step.

 

They would be happy to buy better equipment (within reason) , as long as it allways works. (not reasonable ?)
I dont want to recommend something , only to have that swamped by nearby companies wifi .
Saying wifi is a best effort, not a 100% platform comes across as an excuse

"wifi works perfectly at home "  "wifi works at my friends office "  etc

 

Most of them have newish Iphones , so should be AC compatable
That may be the next step to try, an wifi AC access point . & then turn off 2.4 to force them to use 5.8

 

Cheers

 

edit : the other thing to look into would be to monitor data usage on wifi, see if 1 user has constant/excesssive downloads ?

 

 




sbiddle
30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod
Trusted
Biddle Corp
Lifetime subscriber

  #1771223 27-Apr-2017 12:55
Send private message

How many devices?

 

 


sdavisnz
1015 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1771224 27-Apr-2017 12:58
Send private message

Sounds like you need a wifi system. Not a single ap.

If there is a large surface area then a few ubiquiti Ac aps would work. Ideally wired into the network.

If smaller surface area. Maybe try netgear Orbi. Although it uses a wireless backhaul they have been very successful for me. Easy setup.

Get the pros in if you can't manage it.




Voice gives context

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek


  #1771228 27-Apr-2017 13:02
Send private message

sbiddle:

 

How many devices?

 

 

approx 8 , assuming they all have ph's connecting to wifi . & allowing for say 1x guest laptop/ph.

Its a shared office (another company in same room), so the other company also has their own separate wifi AP (& separate fibre connection).

 

 


sonyxperiageek
2958 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1771229 27-Apr-2017 13:07
Send private message

The Ubiquiti UniFi range sounds like just the system you may need. Easy to set up, and manage remotely, and can monitor which wireless devices are using too much data. It has features such as Band Steering which steers devices to the 5G network if desired.




Sony


 
 
 
 

Shop now on Samsung phones, tablets, TVs and more (affiliate link).
1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek


  #1771230 27-Apr-2017 13:10
Send private message

sdavisnz: Sounds like you need a wifi system. Not a single ap.

If there is a large surface area then a few ubiquiti Ac aps would work. Ideally wired into the network.

 

Its not a large area , open plan main office space that needs the wifi. Coverage isnt an issue .
 

 

I'll look at the unfi's , I can allways add more units with that system .



richms
28172 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted
Lifetime subscriber

  #1771233 27-Apr-2017 13:28
Send private message

There is no always works with wifi. With the stupidity of it _still_ haveing unencrypted deauth frames, you are at the mercy on 2.4GHz of anyone with $3 for an esp8266 and a few mins to watch a youtube video on how to upload to it not wanting to "jam" your wifi.

 

Get on 5GHz if you can, if your devices are not junk and support the DFS channels, use those since they are largely clear still.

 

You have not paid for exclusive use of the spectrum, the other networks are not intentionally interfering with you so nothing you can really do other than move your gear away from them.





Richard rich.ms

Crowdie
228 posts

Master Geek


  #1771238 27-Apr-2017 13:39
Send private message

You are up against a number of factors:

 

  • Unqualified people deploy wireless in corporate offices.  This means they blast it not realising that their throughput is reduced.
  • The 2.4 GHz spectrum is only three 20 MHz channels wide and in the Auckland CBD it is saturated.
  • The telcos are deploying LTE TDD (and equivalents) that are adding to the 2.4 GHz spectrum saturation.
  • Small companies deploy residential and SME equipment like Netgear, Netcomm, Ubiquiti, etc. and these don't perform well in these environments.

What is the square footage of your customer?

 

How many wireless users (worst case) to you need to support?

 

Which wireless clients are deployed? (Apple smartphones/tablets Android smartphones/tablets, Windows laptops, etc.)

 

What is your customer's expectation of the wireless network?  Do they want to web surf or run HD video?

 

What is your customer's budget to resolve this issue?


Crowdie
228 posts

Master Geek


  #1771287 27-Apr-2017 14:22
Send private message

richms:

 

Get on 5GHz if you can, if your devices are not junk and support the DFS channels, use those since they are largely clear still.

 

 

Be careful with DFS channels as:

 

  • Not all consumer devices support DFS channels so they will not see a radio on a DFS channel.
  • DFS channels are required to instigate channel moves if radar is detected and down by the waterfront (if you are down that part of town) you may have issues with radar on the vessels.  Some wireless clients will ignore or not understand the channel move request and disconnect when the radio changes channels.

If you can use DFS channels then do so but always test the wireless clients first.


Crowdie
228 posts

Master Geek


  #1771321 27-Apr-2017 14:51
Send private message

Another consideration is that while using applications like InSSIDer Home and WiFi Analyzer is useful they only tell you the signal amplitude ("strength") not the duty cycles ("duration").  The duty cycles are extremely important in fault finding issues like this but require a spectrum analyzer to determine. 

 


MadEngineer
4274 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

  #1771331 27-Apr-2017 15:20
Send private message

Localised (overhead) ceiling mounted AP's. I'd also be ensuring that it's not a network issue.




You're not on Atlantis anymore, Duncan Idaho.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek


  #1771342 27-Apr-2017 15:35
Send private message

Crowdie:

 

What is your customer's expectation of the wireless network?

 

 

Unfortunately, the expectation is allways that wifi will work . smile
Its mainly for the staffs phones (personal use) , and for occasional guest use when "guests" need wifi access

 

Ive a spare TPLink AC1200 I can setup there & see how that goes , those with older 2.4 only devices may just have to struggle on
with whats there allready .

 

The issue is seemingly only in the open office area.
The AP that had issues in the open plan area works just fine in the enclosed offices.
PC's on the same network via cable: no issues.

 

 


Crowdie
228 posts

Master Geek


  #1771383 27-Apr-2017 15:55
Send private message

Most cellular phones are single spatial stream and support up to 40 MHz wide channels.   Basically they are not that fast.

 

I would create a guest SSID on 5 GHz only with either a 20 or 40 MHz wide channel.  Try 40 MHz wide first and see how the coverage is.  If coverage is an issue then reduce the channel width to 20 MHz as this will increase the signal strength by 3 dB (double it).

 

I suspect you are under tight cost constraints with this customer?


 1 | 2
View this topic in a long page with up to 500 replies per page Create new topic





News and reviews »

Air New Zealand Starts AI adoption with OpenAI
Posted 24-Jul-2025 16:00


eero Pro 7 Review
Posted 23-Jul-2025 12:07


BeeStation Plus Review
Posted 21-Jul-2025 14:21


eero Unveils New Wi-Fi 7 Products in New Zealand
Posted 21-Jul-2025 00:01


WiZ Introduces HDMI Sync Box and other Light Devices
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:32


RedShield Enhances DDoS and Bot Attack Protection
Posted 20-Jul-2025 17:26


Seagate Ships 30TB Drives
Posted 17-Jul-2025 11:24


Oclean AirPump A10 Water Flosser Review
Posted 13-Jul-2025 11:05


Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Raising the Bar for Smartphones
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Samsung Galaxy Z Flip7 Brings New Edge-To-Edge FlexWindow
Posted 10-Jul-2025 02:01


Epson Launches New AM-C550Z WorkForce Enterprise printer
Posted 9-Jul-2025 18:22


Samsung Releases Smart Monitor M9
Posted 9-Jul-2025 17:46


Nearly Half of Older Kiwis Still Write their Passwords on Paper
Posted 9-Jul-2025 08:42


D-Link 4G+ Cat6 Wi-Fi 6 DWR-933M Mobile Hotspot Review
Posted 1-Jul-2025 11:34


Oppo A5 Series Launches With New Levels of Durability
Posted 30-Jun-2025 10:15









Geekzone Live »

Try automatic live updates from Geekzone directly in your browser, without refreshing the page, with Geekzone Live now.



Are you subscribed to our RSS feed? You can download the latest headlines and summaries from our stories directly to your computer or smartphone by using a feed reader.