Cabling

Computers, printers, telephones, Wi-Fi access points, CCTV cameras, credit card machines all connect to CAT5 type cabling. When planning your cabling make sure that there is a good spread of data sockets, even where you don't think you need them, then over time as people move around there is aways some sockets nearby and they can plug in and start working, without the cost and disruption of call in cablers for rewiring.

CAT5 cabling only supported 100Mbs connections, CAT6 was going to support 1000Mbs - Gigabyte speeds, but was taking too long to arrive, thus CAT5 was enhanced to CAT5e and become the standard for Gigabyte capable cabling. CAT6 did finally arrive but its extra cost means that most people still use CAT5e or opt for choose the advanced CAT6 - CAT6a with its 10,000Mbs capabilities.

We can quote, either after a full site survey or working from plans with photos. This takes any room or building and covers installing the cable and the sockets thought the building. This covers fitting trunking, installing underground ducts and overhead spans. We can provide the complete solution from building site stage to working office. We can work weekends and out-of-hours to minimise disruption to your office.

Wi-Fi

If you want the best Wi-Fi coverage for your office, or to get a great Wi-Fi signal anywhere in your home the answer is the same, the difference is the scale.

The best WiFi comes from 6 elements:

Best Internet connection to your building

The best wifi system is going to be limited by the quality and reliable of the Internet connection it uses. Is your connection fast enough for everything you need it to do? Are there delays on the line? Thinkbroadband provide a free service that will help you find out.

Best data cabling in your building

But this Wi-Fi, why does it need cabling? Only cabling can give that top quality link back to the Internet. In the same way your phone has problems getting a Wi-Fi signal from the other side of a thick wall, the wifi linked, Wi-Fi access points connection back through it will also be poor.

MESH Wi-Fi is okay extending coverage around an open plan office, but its performance will drop if it has to connect back through any obstruction, bouncing between lots of switches or via any kind of wifi extender or wifi booster, will degrade the strength of the available connection. Stand alone Wi-Fi points will probably require a mains power points, limiting their locations, while the better access points will also receive Power over the Ethernet cable via a PoE switch or injector.

Managed WiFi access points working as a group

You want the best Wifi everywhere, with managed Wi-Fi as you move around the Wi-Fi controller moves you to the nearest WiFi access point (AP), the one with the best Wi-Fi signal, the Wi-Fi controller shares the load between all the wifi access points so no onward connection is over loaded and each user is getting the best share of the available Wi-fi speed.

If you have a number of different Wifi access points, then your device (phone / laptop) makes a list of them, and even if it is next to the perfect WiFi connection, if it can still see on higher in that list even when its at the far end of the building it will connect to that much weaker signal because its listed higher.

Connections per point

With Wi-Fi 5, 6 and 7 this is less of a problem but the capacity of the wifi point is shared among the devices connecting to it, so don't spread it too thin. With an old “n” speed wifi point sharing 150Mbs between 10 or 20 devices, each might get 15Mbs or 7.5Mbs, if they all had great wi-fi connections, but more likely the actual speed would be far lower.

Best Wi-Fi access points

The best wi-fi points are currently Wi-Fi 7 access points, they have a few advantages over Wi-Fi 5 access points and better devices can connect at Wi-Fi 5 / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 7 speeds. These Wi-Fi 5 / Wi-Fi 6 / Wi-Fi 7 access points are a large step up from anything that went before, have multiple aerials allow many more devices to connect and at much higher speeds if the devices support it. If not they us the old “n” speed connections.

Best Wi-Fi locations

The Wi-Fi access point needs to be free from obstructions which is why they no mount on the ceiling, and can beam down through a floor or two, Where as mounting on a wall, often means there are more obstructions in the way, including the wall. They need to be free from things that produce electrical interference, and the Wi-Fi channels they use should be the least busy for each WiFi access point.

Within a building if a single unit won’t provide coverage, you need to look at a master control unit with a number of slave stations enabling you to roam all over the site without losing signal as one slave unit hands over to the next. If you need to save money and don’t roam but need signal everywhere than a series of independent units could be better for you. We can plan and check coverage using "heat" maps like the one on the left.

With a clear line of site, Long Range Outdoor Wi-Fi Access Point / Bridge can be used to link different buildings together / back to a main centre for both data and telephone calls. We have set up and support systems that cover many kilometres. Please contact us so we can help specify what is right for your requirements in your location.

There are three basic set-ups for full building / area Wi-Fi coverage:

Lots of Access Points (APs)

Full coverage is given to an area just by placing lots of access points in the area, and optimise their positions by use of a Heat Map survey.

Advantages -	It’s relatively cheep
Disadvantages -	Many access points to maintain (change passwords) Can’t separate secure network from guest network Each unit needs it’s own power supply and socket

Access Points linked to a managed PoE switch

The access points are in the same locations as the above but they broadcast multiple network SSIDs, receive Power over Ethernet (PoE) and that switch also enables the VLANs to separate the secure from the insecure traffic

Advantages -	Guest network separate from secure network(s) Each unit just needs it’s own data socket, no seperate power requirement
Disadvantages -	Many access points to maintain (change passwords) Each AP needs a dedicated socket

Master controller Access Point system

A master central controller is added to the network either localy or via the Internet, all access points connect to it via a managed PoE switch setup, as above. Then you make a change in the controller all the access points get it, rather than you having to log on to every access point to say, change the Wi-Fi password. Where there is coverage overlap the controller balances the load to maximise everyone's throughput

Advantages -	Guest network separate from secure network(s) Each unit just needs it’s own data socket, no seperate power requirement You have a single point of control
Disadvantages -	Each AP needs a dedicated socket

Model

Key Features

Wi-Fi Speeds

2.4 or 5 Ghz

LAN Port Speed

No. of LAN ports

Price

Unifi U7-Pro

UniFi AP WiFi 6 Mesh

U6 Professional

U6 Lite

U6 Long Range

U6 Enterprise

Unifi AC Pro

Vigor AP-912C Ceiling Wireless Access Point

Ubiquiti GigaBeam