Handheld electronics have become more and more prominent over the last 20 years. Long past is the days of hardlines connections being a must-have. Wired connections do still have better data speeds than Wi-Fi, but for many devices staying within reach of an Ethernet wall outlet all the time is just not an option. Internet access is crucial to many of the day-to-day activities that smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices are used for. The ability to use these devices on-the-go, without having to carry around any cables and plug them in every time you want to use said device, was a huge game changer. Having handheld electronics always ready at 100% functionality has become an integral part of people’s daily lives in just a few short decades and it is now hard to imagine a world without them.
While beepers and other wireless technologies did exist beforehand, Wi-Fi entered the public domain and started attracting attention in 1997. Within two years, the Wi-Fi Alliance was founded and began providing official certifications for Wi-Fi devices. This new technology started out small, but a router in someone’s home today is more powerful than state-of-the-art equipment was 20 years ago. As the Internet grew from a fad into something that allowed people, businesses, and all other aspects of society to become integrated into an increasingly global society, the importance of Wi-Fi technology and access to that information network grew right alongside it.
Wi-Fi Network Installation
Since Wi-Fi is used by members of the general public, it is not terribly complicated to set up a basic Wi-Fi network. However, there are considerations and prep work that go into getting a Wi-Fi installation ready. There are two main boxes to check on the pre-installation checklist: the cabling survey and wireless survey. Cabling surveys are fairly straightforward and are performed for any type of installation that involves running cables across one or more buildings. The existing cable infrastructure will be examined to see how the new cables and equipment will fit into the building. Wireless surveys are a bit more specialized and unique to Wi-Fi installation projects.
Few buildings are exactly the same. Even if two buildings are built with the same layout, the needs of the people using each building may be different. Where a device generating the Wi-Fi signal, such as a router or wireless access point, should be placed will depend on those needs. A large open area is the ideal scenario, without anything in the way to block the Wi-Fi signals. Anything in the way of the Wi-Fi signal will cause some signal loss, albeit some objects cause more loss than others. Signal loss from lightweight objects, like wood or glass, are fairly small whereas thicker materials like concrete or brick can cause significant signal loss. There are different strength ratings available for Wi-Fi signals, so potential issues here can be remedied by simply using more power equipment.
Leaving Wi-Fi Network Installations to the Professionals
Prior to a professional Wi-Fi network installation actually taking place, a site surveyor can come out to perform cabling and wireless surveys as a pre-examination. If documents showcasing the building infrastructure are available, such as blueprints or floorplans, someone coming out in person may not even be necessary. After that information is gathered, either in-person or via documents, it can be used to prepare an installation plan before the job actually takes place. On the day of the install, make sure the installer has someone to let them inside or another way onto the property. It is also helpful to have a person or directions available to point the installer to wherever in the building the work will take place.
Once on-site, a professional installer can get the Wi-Fi network hardware set up fairly quickly. The exact length of time will depend on the scope of the project and how much hardware needs to be put into place. Routers can configure themselves automatically, but an installer will also do systems checks to ensure that all the new equipment is up-and-running smoothly. After the software check is complete, the new Wi-Fi network will be ready for use with your handheld electronics
