Enterprise-class wireless network design and consulting
The old laws mandating that network clients be tethered to a fixed point (i.e., an Ethernet cable) have long since faded into the rearview mirror. What is left is the question of how to supply each wireless client with ample bandwidth and sustained, secure connectivity, and Gyver Networks has the answer. Regardless of your facility’s layout, structural components, environmental interference, and user demand, we can formulate the ideal implementation to satisfy your wireless requirements.
Some of the services we offer include:
Design and upgrading of conventional 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n Wi-Fi networks
In-building cellular network enhancements such as femtocell and FMC (fixed-mobile convergence) solutions
Let Gyver Networks design the optimal wireless configuration to suit your needs. Contact us today for a free consultation.
CLICK TO EXPAND
CLICK TO MINIMIZE
Frequently Asked Questions
You’ve heard the terms a million times - wireless, Wi-Fi, WiFi – and you know that you need it for essentially every electronic device in production today. But what is it, and what should you know (particularly as it relates to enterprise, hospital, academic, or warehouse environments, etc.) before deciding on an in-building wireless solution? Consider the answers to these frequently asked questions:
What is WiFi?
WiFi, or Wi-Fi (used interchangeably), literally means “wireless fidelity,” and refers to a wireless network. A wireless network facilitates the electronic exchange of data between connected devices via RF, or radio, waves. "WLAN" (wireless local area network) is the terminology used most often in relation to enterprise environments.
How fast should my WiFi be?
The actual speed at which you can access data over a wireless connection depends on a number of factors, most notably the wireless standard in use by your router/AP (access point) and your wireless adapter (see the section on IEEE Wi-Fi standards below). When you include other variables, like the performance of the webserver and ISPs between you and the Internet website you’re attempting to access, the question becomes even murkier.
It should also be mentioned that the speeds outlined are theoretical and far higher than real-world speeds. So just with respect to the wireless speed at your location, taking into account local signal interference from other WiFi networks and electronic “noise” of varying types, structural interference, and the signal quality/speed of the hardware on both sides of the data exchange, the short answer is that your final data rates depend on your equipment, environment, etc.
What does IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, and 802.11ac mean, and what is the difference between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi?
The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) 802.11b/g standard, operating on the 2.4 GHz band, has maximum throughput rates of 11/54 Mbps respectively and, while quite effective in penetrating walls and other hard to reach places, is subject to interference from other electronic devices on the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum, e.g., cordless phones, microwaves, baby monitors, etc.
802.11a, broadcasting on the 5 GHz band, also tops out at 54 Mbps, but the signal is easily absorbed by walls and other impediments, making the overall range and penetration less than 802.11b/g. While operating on a band less crowded than 2.4 GHz, a 5 GHz network is still subject to interference from cordless phones and other networks broadcasting on that band.
802.11n, the current industry standard running on both 2.4 and 5 GHz, combines the strengths of 802.11a and 802.11g and is capable of transmission speeds of 288.8 Mbps (4x4 in 20 MHz bandwidth) or 600 Mbps (4x4 in 40 MHz bandwidth). 802.11n incorporates support for MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) and beamforming signal correction technologies, thereby providing maximum throughput with maximum penetration at maximum range. This is the standard employed in most high-end consumer and nearly all enterprise-class wireless products available today.
802.11ac is the next 5 GHz standard, supporting increased MIMO spatial streams (8), standardized beamforming for increased compatibility across vendors, 80-160 MHz channel bandwidths, and promising speeds up to 1.3 Gbps – that’s right, 1300 Mbps! The downside is that, since it operates exclusively on the 5 GHz band, it’s susceptible to the range/penetration issues mentioned above with 802.11a, but these coverage issues will be resolved with the inclusion of 802.11n support in all 802.11ac devices.
Why do I keep getting disconnected from my WiFi?
It is sometimes difficult to pinpoint the root issue(s) when performing WiFi troubleshooting. Excluding simple checklist items such as incorrect password/key and client configuration, anything from a misconfigured WLAN (wireless local area network) controller to the external sources of interference discussed in the previous section may be responsible. The only way to confirm – and correct – issues responsible for WiFi dropouts is to have a qualified Gyver Networks RF engineer visit your site to investigate and, if necessary, perform a wireless site survey.
How should I secure my WiFi?
The current industry standard for wireless security is WPA2, which replaces WPA and, thankfully, WEP. WPA2 uses a 256-bit encryption key to secure network communication and includes the AES-CCMP algorithm, a vast improvement over the WEP standard introduced in 1999, which can be cracked in a matter of minutes by a knowledgeable attacker.
What is a wireless mesh network?
A mesh WLAN is made up of peer radio devices that act as nodes and provide wider coverage areas by breaking up long distances into shorter hops. This type of wireless topology also provides increased redundancy by connecting each node to multiple nodes to prevent signal loss in the event one stops functioning.