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Wi-Fight against external antennas?

Internal antennas are used for ordinary access points and the chances are you are no stranger to those.  However, most people haven’t considered external antennas for fear that they will be too costly and time-consuming to set up.  Often people are unaware of the benefits of external antennas so this week we’ve been looking at the advantages and disadvantages of external antennas and have found some interesting info.  External antennas are great for use outdoors and can have a huge impact on the overall network performance by increasing directional accuracy.

Firstly, let’s brush up on what types of external antennas are out there.  Omni-directional antennas are useful for outdoor spaces that are large in size and cater to big numbers.  However, semi-directional antennas do exactly what you would imagine.  They direct the network to different areas and range in degrees which mean they can cover a specific area.  The downside of semi-directional antennas is that they are not so great for large areas since they are highly focused and often come out of something like a dish.  They have a very small range but can be powerful.

An Azimith antenna pattern is what you can expect to use with an external antenna.  Understanding this alongside knowing how the WiFi signal moves around the space you are working with and being able to mentally visualise it will hugely help in the deployment of the outdoor antenna.  It is essential to mount the antennas properly and take the time to get the right angle.  It’s also crucial to consider the spacing between antennas to avoid connecting two antennas to one access point.  The exception to this rule is if you are using a DART connector which can handle it but for the average external antenna avoid this at all costs.

Wi-fight against external antennas? Hopefully this blog post has given you a bit of insight into external antennas so you can learn to love them like we do!

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Wi-Fi – it’s not rocket science!

Here at Geekabit we are passionate about good Wi-Fi.  Increasingly we have found that clients think of us as wizards who have fallen upon some secret knowledge about Wi-Fi – this is not true.  This blog is all about sharing the easy tips and tricks that will help you get the most out of your Wi-Fi.

Firstly, we need to mention the importance of 5GHz band vs 2.4.  As you probably know 5GHz is way more effective as a primary band and delivers 8 times the capacity of 2.4GHz.

Secondly, a useful tip is to put APs near users.  It sounds so simple, but so often Wi-Fi fails are caused by APs that are located in bizarre and hard to reach places.  Client performance will significantly increase if you place APs in rooms where users are and avoid hallways and staircases as AP sites.

Our next tip is about coverage.  Coverage should always be tailored to the building or facility that you are in.  Radio frequency obstructions should be assessed before you get fitting APs and you should always consider the correct antennas and orientation for the location.

Another way that you can improve your connection is by disabling 2.4 GHz Radios since there are fewer available channels and they can cause interference which is unnecessary.

To increase efficiency you may also want to disable low data rates.  Low data rates can impact the networks overall performance and disabling these will give a reduction in traffic which will improve your connection.

Once you have done the hard work, it is important to check that what you are doing is working in practise and not just in theory.  Validate and check the design using actual client devices to see for yourself how client performance is affected.  You could also use a RF site survey to check how your improvements are working.

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MU-MIMO: What is it and why do I need it?

It comes as no surprise that the as the number of wireless clients has increased there has been advancements in technology that aims to ease congestion.  It’s fair to say that the 802.11 wireless standard brought with it a few problems, one being the restriction of one way communication from access point to device.  This week we are fascinated by the new standard MU-MIMO which stands for Multiple Input- Multiple Output.  It has the potential to solve some of these issues and ease congestion that many of us see on our networks daily.

MIMO offers a practical solution to the problems of congestion by enabling more than one data signal to travel over the same radio channel at one time thereby creating multiple pathways and easing the congestion which slow networks down.  AP’s and devices are therefore able to transmit data back and forth in this new way which increases the speed of connection.  MIMO therefore relies on multiple radio/antenna chains where each spatial stream is transmitted from a different antenna in the same frequency.

MU-MIMO is an advancement again on the above, and ensures that omni-directional antennas come into play.  All antennas are transmitting data streams at different times with MU-MIMO which increases the range and eases congestion.  Due to this addition of radio chains/antennas the access point is now able to control where the signal is strongest and weakest and can transmit to multiple devices at one time without overcrowding.  Speed and efficiency is therefore acheived without altering bandwith or any other factor.

We are pretty obsessed with MU-MIMO this week and think it’s going to be an essential over the next few years as network pressures increase and the number of devices available to consumers skyrockets.  

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What is 802.11ac and why should i upgrade to it?

Recently we’ve been hearing an uproar of praise for the newest Wi-Fi advance – 802.11ac wireless routers.  This week we set our minds to finding out whether we need to be recommending this new upgrade and what advantages it may have to our clients.

802.11 is nothing new.  Pretty much every model of router made within the last 5 years will be part of this family and most routers support 802.11n.  This wireless standard was introduced in 2007 as an upgrade on the 802.11g which was standard at the time.  It can transfer around 56 Megabytes per second and has long been considered the sufficient standard.  Until now.

802.11ac looks to be the newest contender providing double the throughput of the 802.11n.  Of course, on paper is seems like a better deal offering much speedier access.  However, we’ve been doing some research and we’re not so sure that it’s essential to buy a 802.11ac router just yet.

For starters, most people simply don’t need the speed and throughput that it provides.  The 56 megabytes of the 802.11n is sufficient for most households and we think in most cases the upgrade to an 802.11ac is a little excessive.  Not to mention, most devices don’t support the latest model yet so you could struggle to see the benefits unless you upgrade your device as well which can be expensive and as we mentioned before, pretty pointless.

Overall, the upgrade is an exciting moment for the world of Wi-Fi however we’re not so sure you need to be ditching the classic 802.11n routers just yet!

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IoT’s uncoded

This week we’re asking what exactly is the new cultural phenomenon known as the ‘Internet of Things’ and how it will affect our industry.  The Internet of Things refers to the interconnection of computer devices in everyday objects which enables them to send and receive data – think Fitbit’s and Amazon Echo.  We’ve recently read some rather incredible stats about the Internet of Things:

According to Cisco, the number of connected devices will rise from 15 to 50 billion by 2020 and in 2019 it is estimated that 245 Million wearable devices will be sold (smartwatches, Fitbits, etc.)

Clearly, this growth is going to have a massive impact on the industry and create opportunities. Wi-Fi is essential to the proper functioning of the Internet of Things, however as there is currently no standardised technology we are seeing competition between technologies (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee etc.)  Whist the emergence of these new devices presents many opportunities, there will inevitably be challenges to networks as they become crowded and stressed.

Not only does overcrowding present itself as an issue for the Internet of Things there are questions surrounding the security of such devices.  These new data points are collecting masses of information from their subjects, collecting personal information that may be shared between third-parties (other apps etc.)

Overall, the Internet of Things presents new and exciting opportunities for us geeks working with Wi-Fi, but it seems that it may come at a price as we see the number of devices increase.  Still, we are excited by the prospect of this new technology and the opportunities it may bring to the market in the future.

 

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3 Trend Predictions for 2017

 

Increase in speed and capacity 

The internet is a wonderful thing and increasingly consumers want it to be quicker and more efficient than ever.  2017 will be no exception to the trend of speed and capacity increasing year on year.  With apps like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram dominating the marketplace and relying on a device to stream content quickly – 2017 will be a year where we see mobile operators increase their speed, capacity and coverage to keep on top of demand for video streaming.

 

Public Hotspots

Public hotspots have become essential to modern life.  However, in the past there have been some very real security risks attached to browsing on a public network which have put people off.  We think there will be a strong improvement in security of these networks which will encourage more users to browse using public hotspots which will in turn increase demand for them.  2017 will see public hotspots move towards more secure measures.

 

Wireless VR

VR is about to get big.  But before this happens we need to address the issues surrounding the wires that connect the headsets to the device.  In 2017 we hope that wireless will save the day and VR will move into an era of wireless which will help it’s users to enjoy VR more freely and without constraint.

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Tweet is Murder: Vegan cafe owners in Wi-Fi battle

A strange dispute erupted this month over a vegan cafe’s lack of Wi-Fi.  Huddersfield’s ‘Goat Cafe’ came under scrutiny when they rejected the notion of Wi-Fi altogether, claiming that it ‘exploits humans’.  This bizarre internet bashing was, ironically, posted on Facebook which lead to a series of complaints from their customers.

Their message, which has since been deleted, read “being vegan, we believe humans are being exploited within the use of modern technology and would like to set a precedent in saying that we are ditching our internet.”

Sadly, for the cafe’s owners this was a cause of much controversy as many customers couldn’t bear the thought of being without Wi-Fi (quite rightly). Curly Kale but no email wasn’t going to cut it for these guys but customer complaints weren’t taken lightly.  One customer was even told “F*** you Bethany, and f*** your plans!” after she let the owner know that she would now have to cancel her upcoming visit.

Another local was allegedly asked “when exactly are you going to die?”.

We here at Geekabit sympathise with those wanting to connect to Wi-Fi.  We believe that you should be able to sip a soy chai without being asked when you’re going to die.

 

Get in touch to save yourself from these kinds of disasters!

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Pretty fly for a Wi-Fi

This week Quantas have announced free in-flight Wi-Fi services on all domestic trips and are even offering free Netflix and Spotify on their flights. In-flight Wi-Fi is becoming more and more popular, proving the power of connection and the necessity of Wi-Fi access. Even at 35,000 feet connection is essential & in this blog post we want to find out exactly how in-flight Wi-Fi works.

The first way that signal can reach you is through ground-based broadband towers. Effectively this method allows your device to hop from tower to tower as it travels over them. Signal is sent to the aircraft’s antennas and voila! However, this is far from foolproof and problems can occur when passing over large volumes of water where no mobile broadband towers exist. Obviously whilst flying this happens a lot. Luckily though, there is another way for signal to reach your device.

The second way is considered more effective and involves satellite technology. Far, far away in geostationary orbit sit satellites that send and receive information. They bounce signal from satellites to Earth and back again. The aircraft’s antenna then connects to these satellites and connects the aircraft to the closest signal that it can find. An on-board router then manipulates the signal and ensures that passengers receive Wi-Fi signal on their devices.

So there you have it – the mystery of in-flight Wi-Fi solved!

Staying connected is more important than ever and we are always looking to work with businesses to create effective solutions to Wi-Fi problems.

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Wi-Fails

If you, like us, spend a lot of time trying to avoid those three fated words ‘the Wi-Fi’s down’ then read on. Here are the most common (and most frustrating!) Wi-Fi fails and how to avoid them:

#1 – Incorrect usage of channels

A sure fire way to complicate and slow down your network is by overlapping channels with your Wi-Fi installation. Don’t be fooled – even 5Ghz is not immune! Although using 5Ghz offers far more channels, channel overlap is still a pressing issue. Get in touch to find out how to avoid this common Wi-Fi error and find out the tips and tricks to ensure you avoid channel overlap.

#2 – Maximum Power

Bigger doesn’t always mean better! Ironically, the biggest source of interference is your own access points. If you set your access points to maximum power then you leave your connection open to co-channel interference. When access points are set to maximum, devices are torn between each access point and end up continually flipping from one to the other, unsure whether to stay or go. The trick is to avoid using maximum power as tempting as it is. To find out exactly how to create smaller cells that work more effectively get in touch.

#3 – Only designing for 2.4 GHz

This one has fail written all over it. It’s 2017 and yet everywhere people are still falling into the trap of thinking that 2.4 GHz is the most important band for Wi-Fi installations. Often with 2.4 GHz there is too much interference and not enough channels. Single radio AP’s and single radio clients are to be avoided in favour of dual radio access points.

#4 – Access point placement

Having the wrong installations can be problematic. Different environments require different equipment and having the wrong type of access point or positioning it in the wrong area can cause problems. Access point polarity is also important – dipoles should always be pointing up or down but never horizontally.

#5 – Forgetting the importance of security

A surprising number of Wi-Fi hotspots have low or no security. WPA2 is the bare minimum for personal and business environments but should never be used in a public environment. VPN should be used for public environments to avoid security risks.

#6 – Forgetting to do a site survey

Site surveys are crucial to Wi-Fi success. From predictive site surveys which question access points, channels and power to periodic site surveys, each stage is crucial in order to gain insight into how the network actually works. A top tip is to use an external adapter for passive surveys in order to maintain accuracy.

#7 – Lack of knowledge

Thinking that certifications are overrated is an error. Becoming certified and having a wealth of knowledge about Wi-Fi is invaluable in this day and age. In order to learn more about wireless connectivity and speak to someone who can answer all of your Wi-Fi questions get in touch.

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Wi-Fi Advice
How to improve Free Wi-Fi – and what does it actually mean?

It’s interesting to see the new fleet of buses in Southampton that quite rightly offer Free Wi-Fi on each of their vehicles.

Whilst this may quite useful for the people sat in the city’s frustratingly busy corridors of travel, what intrigued our Geekabit team the most was the branding surrounding this.

Each of the vehicles is clearly labelled as free ‘4G Wi-Fi’. This got us thinking as we sat wondering how long it would take to get anywhere – “does anyone care if the Wi-Fi is powered by 4G?”. Additionally, do half the people even know what that means? 4G internet may be the source of the internet on that particular bus, but what does it mean to the average consumer?

We see “Free Wi-Fi” posters and signs across Europe now as standard, and although it can be a big draw, there does need to be some consideration over exactly what they mean.

Sat writing this in a coffee shop offering such a facility (I’m glad you’ve now got Wi-Fi Coffee #1), can we please consider a few things?

1) Terrible experiences lead to loss of customers – I am connected to my 4G iPhone, as I know it will work. I can’t trust the Wi-Fi here. For people with significantly less data allowances, I can see them changing to a venue where we know it will work properly.

2) If you promise free Wi-Fi, then make sure it’s easily accessible – confusing and broken captive portals that need your waist measurement are frustrating for everyone.

3) Free Wi-Fi in a venue means that – everywhere. Make sure it works in every nook and cranny, not just one end of your coffee shop, bar or restaurant. You can’t do this by hiding an access point in a back room or under the counter.

One of the biggest frustrations, and let downs with the technology, is the over-marketing and over-promise of free internet wherever you go. If you’re intending to offer this service, be clear what you mean, and make sure that it is as faultless as possible.

If we continue to let people down with Wi-Fi, then they will slowly learn to not trust the technology, and migrate to the 4G and 5G platforms as quickly as they can.

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