You’re having an important meeting. You share screens and have customers on a video call. At some point, your Wi-Fi disconnects, leaving you and your customers in an awkward silence. If this has happened to you before, you’re not alone.
As businesses shift to being more reliant on cloud-based applications and video conferences, and using Point of Sale (POS) Systems, they are also seeing an increase in Hybrid Working environments. As a result, many businesses look for office network setup services to get rid of slow or unstable Wi-Fi connections at their offices.
The shocking truth is that while most afflictions are caused by either the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or the router, Wi-Fi issues originate much deeper in the cabling.
Structured Cabling is the foundation for a successful office networking environment. When done correctly, your Wi-Fi will provide you with a solid, fast, reliable, and transparent connection.
Conversely, when structured cabling installation is poorly executed, even the highest quality routers will be ineffective. This guide explains structured cabling in nontechnical language and details how structured cabling correlates to Wi-Fi speed/reliability/and future growth.
What Structured Cabling Is (And Why It Matters So Much)
Think about structured cabling as a roadway system created for your data. Instead of having random wires running under your desks and along the walls, like a chaotic mess of twisted pair cables, everything is laid out in a predetermined way.
All is following an orderly path using the proper standards, such as the structured cabling schedule, so that your data flows smoothly, safely, and predictably. It will consist of the following components:
- Horizontal cabling (connects the network closet to the workstation or an access point)
- Backbone cabling (connects different floors or departments and generally consists of a fiber medium)
- Patch panel/rack to make managing the cabling neat and tidy
What does this all mean?
Unstructured cabling results in signal loss, interference, overheating and endless troubleshooting. Over time, these small issues can develop into many outages and slow speeds. Structured cabling allows businesses to benefit from:
More reliable networks:
- Simpler maintenance and upgrades
- High-speed data/transmission with Power over Ethernet (PoE)
- Lower long-term costs
Structured cabling is the backbone of a growing business. It is much more than a luxury and that is why businesses are opting for office network setup services.
How Structured Cabling Improves Wi-Fi Speed & Reliability
Here’s what many people miss about wireless networks: The only part of a wireless network that is actually wireless is the final part of the network—the connection from the access point to the client device. Prior to that connection is a wired connection from the network closet to the access point. If the wire is poor, damaged, or overloaded then no matter how current the router is, the wireless network will be adversely affected.
Proper Placement of Access Points
Access points should be strategically placed based on the size of the area to be covered, predicted usage of the area, and interference. In most cases, every 20’ to 30’ will provide satisfactory coverage. Also ensure that all access points are located away from metal objects, elevators, microwaves and electrical panels.
Clean, High-Quality Cabling
Using a high-speed Ethernet cable directly to each point of access offers several advantages:
- Lower Latency
- Higher Throughput
- Reduced Disconnections
Structurally designed cabling reduces lost signals by minimizing interference from extraneous junctions, which slows the transfer of data.
Reduced Interference
Cancellation of undesirable waveforms from power line interference, or from poorly routed cables in the vicinity of one another, causes signal degradation. Proper routing and separation minimizes noise and maximizes reliability.
Real-World Impact
Businesses often experience the following improvements when structured cabling is designed and installed correctly:
- Faster Wi-Fi speeds (often by a factor of two)
- More stable video conferencing
- Better support for multiple users
- Fewer “slow” internet complaints per day
As one can see, great Wi-Fi begins with great cabling.
Future-Proofing Your Office Network Setup
Technology evolves rapidly. Your cabling should be equipped to support the next evolution of your business, not just the current requirements. A future-focused workplace network will plan for:
- Business growth (more employees; more devices)
- Faster internet speeds
- Cloud applications, Internet of Things (“IoT”) devices, and smarter systems
- Hybrid and remote workplace environments
Structured Cabling provides future growth through easy expansion. As your organization grows, adding additional desks, points of access, or systems can be done easily without tearing apart existing installations. IT networking solutions for growing Businesses provides:
- Expansion capability (with excess capacity for future growth)
- Well-documented and easily labelled
- Support for new hardware products in networking
Office Network Maintenance Tips That Actually Matter
Even the finest wiring requires basic care. However, the good news is that maintaining wiring does not need to be complicated.
Here are some basic maintenance tips for office networks:
- Quarterly inspection of wires for signs of damage or wear.
- Keep racks clean of dust.
- Clearly label all connections.
- Routinely update network device firmware.
- Maintain accurate documentation of ports and layouts.
Goodly maintained structured wiring decreases time spent troubleshooting issues and ensures your network operates reliably every year.
Case Study: A Small Business, Big Difference
A small café located in Pune, India experienced many reductions in its networking connectivity, creating significant problems with both its billing and online ordering systems. The cause of these problems was not the internet service agreement but rather an outdated, tangled wiring infrastructure.
After replacing its old wiring with structured wiring and placing access points in their correct locations, the café was able to increase its WiFi speed and reliability to 99.9% uptime with daily operations running much smoother overall.
The effect of these improvements? Faster customer payment processing, increased customer satisfaction, and remarkable increases in revenue.
Martech Computers IT Networking Services: Built for Performance
This is where Martech Computers can help businesses stop making assumptions about their networks and create networks that will actually work for them.
Our company has three primary areas of expertise; Structurally wired networks, optimizing WiFi, and creating complete office network solutions, which includes ongoing maintenance; all of which are focused on providing reliable, fast, and scalable results.
We collaborate with emerging companies to create IT networking systems that cater to both the current demands as well as future growth. Through the use of professional audits, proper implementation and reliable support, we make certain that your network runs quietly behind the scenes allowing your staff to work rather than having to deal with Wi-Fi problems.
If you are experiencing inconsistent performance from your office’s internet connection, it is necessary to address your network’s foundation—structured cabling is not only a technology enhancement; it is also an overall enhancement for your company. Talk to us and get the best IT networking services in Mohali.