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Why Does My Office Wi-Fi Keep Disconnecting Randomly? (Even Though the Signal Looks Strong)

We’ve all been there at some point. The signal looks strong, but the Wi-Fi keeps disconnecting. It’s an extremely common business complaint. 

Many companies immediately jump to blame their ISP – Surely it must be the broadband provider! But this isn’t necessarily the case every time a member of staff reports random disconnections. 

Our Wi-Fi engineers often find that the broadband is actually working perfectly – And the problem instead lies with the office wireless network. 

Modern businesses and offices now rely on cloud applications, Microsoft Teams, VoIP phones, VPNs and remote desktops. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately?), this also means that Wi-Fi issues are exposed much quicker than they would if employees were only using the internet for browsing the web. 

Did you know that ‘strong signal’ and ‘good Wi-Fi’ are not the same thing? Well, now you do. 

This article is going to explain the most common causes of disconnecting Wi-Fi in the office and how professional Wi-Fi experts can go about diagnosing the problem.

What “Random Disconnects” Actually Look Like

What does a ‘random disconnect’ look like in real world terms in a modern office or business? Your IT Managers might be getting reports of:

  • Microsoft Teams calls freezing for a few seconds before reconnecting
  • Zoom meetings dropping unexpectedly
  • VPN connections disconnecting while working remotely
  • Cloud software logging users out unexpectedly
  • Remote Desktop sessions disconnecting
  • File uploads stopping midway through
  • Wi-Fi printing intermittently failing
  • Mobile phones switching to 4G because Wi-Fi briefly stopped responding

Of course, IT Managers might also be getting much more vague complaints that are less specific to a current issue but sound a bit like: 

  • “The internet keeps going funny.”
  • “Everything just pauses.”
  • “It’s fine most of the time.”
  • “Only happens in certain meeting rooms.”
  • “It works after I turn Wi-Fi off and back on.”

The problem with intermittent Wi-Fi faults like this is that they are often harder to identify as they don’t leave behind much evidence or any obvious problem other than “the Wi-Fi is hanging.”  

Why Signal Bars Don’t Tell the Whole Story

Your signal bars might be full, but that doesn’t automatically mean that the Wi-Fi your device is receiving is as strong. 

Imagine 5 people in the same room, all shouting. Everyone in the room can hear each other clearly, but actual communication is difficult. 

Signal strength is really only measuring how loudly the Access Point can be heard. What it doesn’t measure or show you is:

  • Congestion – Lots of devices all competing for bandwidth
  • Interference – Building infrastructure (like walls and ceilings) blocking the signal
  • Packet loss – When tiny packets of information get sent from your device but don’t reach their destination
  • Latency – How long it takes data to travel from your device to the router and back again

Wi-Fi airtime is the total amount of time wireless devices spend transmitting data over your network’s radio frequency. Because Wi-Fi is a shared medium where only one device can transmit at a time on a channel, the devices in your office must take turns. Slower devices take longer to transmit the same amount of data, consuming excessive airtime, so one older device can slow down a whole network. 

For all these reasons, a busy office network can have excellent signal, but poor performance. 

The Most Common Causes of Disconnecting Wi-Fi in an Office

Poor Wi-Fi Roaming

Devices can often cling to an Access Point for too long, instead of moving to one with a better location. This is known as a “sticky client.” This could look like a colleague walking around the office with their laptop connected to an AP at the opposite end of the building. 

Modern enterprise systems help devices to roam efficiently – But they only work if they are correctly designed and deployed. 

Poor Wi-Fi roaming can cause:

  • Delays
  • Dropped calls
  • Temporary loss of connectivity

Channel Interference

Channel Interference can happen when nearby offices use overlapping channels, or when there are multiple neighbouring Wi-Fi networks. 

Co-channel interference occurs when separate devices or networks use the identical frequency channel simultaneously. Adjacent channel interference happens when devices operate on overlapping or closely neighboring frequencies, causing signal “bleeding”. While co-channel forces devices to share airtime and wait their turn, adjacent channel is usually more disruptive as it corrupts data.

Things like the office microwave can also cause interference with Wi-Fi networks as they run on the same frequency band. 

Bluetooth congestion also causes channel interference issues. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi share the crowded 2.4 GHz unlicensed frequency band. When multiple devices attempt to transmit data on overlapping frequencies simultaneously, packet collisions occur. Devices then drop connection or slow down to retransmit lost data. Bluetooth mitigates this via Frequency Hopping, but heavy congestion in small areas causes interruptions.

Channel planning is a really important step when designing Wi-Fi networks, but is often overlooked.

Too Many Devices on One Access Point

Whilst one AP may technically be able to support many devices, performance does depend on the workload. If employees are heavily using video conferencing then this is going to consume significantly more airtime than, for example, email would. 

You may also find that employees congregating in a meeting room suddenly creates a spike in demand. Guest devices can also increase contention. 

Adding another AP might seem like the simple solution, but in order to work effectively it must be designed correctly. 

Incorrect Power Settings

An Access Point (AP) does not need to run at full transmit power because a loud, high-powered signal can cause client communication imbalances, creates overlapping interference, and ruins wireless roaming.

A lower power setting often yields better Wi-Fi performance because:

  • Two-Way Communication Balance – The receiving device needs to be able to transmit back to the AP, so if the AP is transmitting at full power and reaching a device that’s too far away to return the signal, it can cause dropped packets, high retry rates and lag.  
  • Preventing “Sticky” Clients: Devices like phones tend to latch onto the strongest Wi-Fi signal they can hear. If an AP broadcasts at full power, a client will stay connected to a distant AP even when walking right past a closer one, resulting in terrible performance and inefficient roaming.
  • Minimizing Interference: Powerful signals bleed through walls. In multi-AP environments, high power leads to overlapping coverage and Co-Channel Interference (CCI), effectively clogging up the available airtime.

So whilst IT Managers might respond to “poor Wi-Fi” by turning up the power on AP’s, that might actually cause more problems. Professional tuning helps to provide a better balance and thus, better Wi-Fi performance for the office. 

Consumer Wi-Fi in Business Environments

Many SME’s (and even some bigger companies!) think they can get away with consumer Wi-Fi with ISP-provided routers and domestic mesh systems. But these are designed for homes, not offices. 

Just sticking in a plug-in Wi-Fi extender and powerline adapter is not going to work in an office with dozens or even hundreds of users moving around throughout the day. 

An office needs business Wi-Fi, designed for a business environment. 

Firmware or Controller Issues

9 times out of 10, Wi-Fi problems come down to configuration issues. However, occasionally our Wi-Fi engineers see problems arise from:  

  • Firmware bugs
  • Failed updates
  • Incompatible client devices
  • Controller software problems
  • Hardware faults

It is very important to keep up with updates, but in a controlled manner where firmware updates are monitored and checked rather than just automatically installing every new release straight away. 

How Wi-Fi Professionals Diagnose These Office Internet Problems

How do us Wi-Fi professionals identify the problems in a troublesome office wireless network? We have a lot of tools at our disposal to diagnose Wi-Fi problems and lead network design. 

Here are some of the tools we use as Wi-Fi engineers to help fix your wireless network. 

Wi-Fi Heatmaps

Used to:

  • Measure coverage.
  • Identify dead zones.
  • Detect excessive overlap.

Spectrum Analysis

  • Finding non-Wi-Fi interference.
  • Identifying hidden RF noise.

Client Analysis

  • Looking at roaming behaviour.
  • Retry rates.
  • Disconnect events.

Packet Captures

  • Understanding authentication failures.
  • DHCP problems.
  • DNS delays.
  • Application behaviour.

Channel Planning

  • Selecting optimal channels.
  • Reducing interference.
  • Balancing utilisation.

Whilst your IT department might tell you to turn it off and on, diagnosing Wi-Fi is rarely about guessing. It relies on precise measurement and knowing what to do with that data in order to design and deploy the most efficient network possible for your business or office. 

Why Rebooting Often “Fixes” Things

It’s the age old joke, isn’t it – Just turn it off and on again! Ta-dah! It’s miraculously fixed. But is it, really? Let’s take a look at why rebooting often looks like it’s solved the problem. 

When we reboot something, or turn it off and on again, here’s what’s actually happening:

  • Temporary memory is cleared
  • Clients are disconnected and then reconnected
  • Radio utilisation is reset
  • Congestion is temporarily reduced
  • Stuck processes are cleared

In the short term, great, it seems to get things back on track. But underneath the surface…

  • Poor coverage remains
  • Interference remains
  • Incorrect design remains
  • Roaming problems remain

And that’s exactly why the problem usually returns a few days later, if not sooner!

Can You Troubleshoot It Yourself?

Sometimes your IT team will be able to fix it. Sometimes even a well-versed-in-Wi-Fi colleague will manage to get things working better. Things that members of your team can very much keep on top of are:

  • Occasionally rebooting your networking equipment
  • Carefully updating firmware
  • Considering careful placement of hardware (e.g. not putting AP’s in cupboards or above metal ceilings)
  • Separating guest traffic from the main network
  • Using a wired connection wherever it’s practical to do so
  • Not relying solely on signal bars or internet speed tests

If problems remain, then it may be time to dig a little deeper. 

  • Exactly where are issues occurring? 
  • Are particular issues happening at certain times of day?

When things don’t improve with the obvious fixes and troubleshooting ideas, then it may be time to call in the professionals to help you get to the bottom of your office Wi-Fi problem.

When It’s Time for a Professional Wi-Fi Survey

Signs that you should call the Wi-Fi experts and arrange a Wi-Fi Survey are:

  • Staff that complain every week about the Wi-Fi
  • Video meetings regularly failing
  • Phones disconnecting when moving around the office
  • Warehouse scanners losing connection
  • Barcode scanners pausing
  • VoIP calls breaking up
  • Worsening Wi-Fi as the business has grown
  • Multiple DIY fixes not helping
  • You’re moving office
  • You’re refurbishing existing premises

A Wi-Fi Survey might be viewed as an unnecessary expense, however, the price of a Wi-Fi Survey is significantly less than the hidden productivity losses caused by unreliable Wi-Fi. 

Conclusion

Reliable Wi-Fi is rarely about simply buying expensive hardware, but more about intelligent network design. 

A strong signal does not guarantee reliable performance, and there are many factors to consider when designing and deploying a wireless network for an office or business. 

Employees shouldn’t need to even think about the Wi-Fi – They should be able to simply get on with their jobs with a wireless network that supports their productivity. 

Investing in the right Wi-Fi design from the outset can save significant time and frustration in the future. 

If your office is experiencing persistent wireless issues, then please do contact our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit to arrange an independent assessment of your network. 

FAQ Answers

Why does my Wi-Fi disconnect even when I have full signal?

Signal strength only indicates how well your device can hear the access point. It doesn’t reflect interference, congestion, packet loss or roaming issues. It’s entirely possible to have full signal while experiencing unreliable connectivity.

Can too many devices cause Wi-Fi to disconnect?

Yes. Every device shares the available wireless airtime. As more devices compete for access—particularly those using video conferencing or large file transfers—performance can suffer, leading to delays or temporary disconnections.

Why do Microsoft Teams calls keep dropping on Wi-Fi?

Video calls are sensitive to even brief interruptions. Roaming issues, interference, congestion or packet loss that go unnoticed during web browsing can quickly disrupt Teams calls, causing freezing, poor audio or dropped meetings.

Should I buy more wireless access points?

Not necessarily. More access points can improve coverage, but if they’re positioned or configured incorrectly they can actually increase interference and make performance worse. Network design is just as important as the number of access points.

Can my broadband be fine but my Wi-Fi still be the problem?

Absolutely. Many businesses have fast broadband connections but experience poor wireless performance because of interference, poor coverage, outdated equipment or incorrect configuration inside the office.

Does rebooting my Wi-Fi actually solve the issue?

Rebooting can temporarily improve performance by reconnecting devices and clearing temporary faults, but it rarely addresses the underlying cause. If problems return regularly, further investigation is usually needed.

How do professionals diagnose Wi-Fi problems?

Professional engineers use specialist tools to create coverage heatmaps, analyse radio frequency interference, review client behaviour, capture network traffic and assess channel usage. This allows them to identify the root cause rather than relying on guesswork.

What’s the difference between interference and weak signal?

Weak signal means your device struggles to hear the access point. Interference occurs when other devices or nearby networks compete for the same radio frequencies, disrupting communication even if the signal itself appears strong.

How long does a business Wi-Fi survey take?

The duration depends on the size and complexity of the premises. Small offices may take a couple of hours, while larger buildings or warehouses can require a full day or more. The survey includes detailed measurements and recommendations.

Can older laptops or phones cause Wi-Fi problems?

Older devices can struggle with modern wireless standards or remain connected to distant access points for longer than they should. While they’re not always the root cause, a mixture of old and new devices can highlight weaknesses in a poorly designed network.

by admin
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Ofcom Uncategorised
Ofcom Moves Ahead with Plan to Share Upper 6GHz Radio Band for Mobile and Wi-Fi in the UK

Ofcom, the UK’s independent regulator for telecoms (among other things), has recently confirmed that the UK is set to be the first European country to adopt a proposal that allows low power indoor Wi-Fi signals and outdoor mobile broadband (4G, 5G etc.) networks to “share” access to the Upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (6425 to 7125MHz).

This comes as very welcome and celebratory news to Wi-Fi professionals across the country, who have been waiting for this to happen for a while! 

The lower part of the 6GHz band (5925 to 6425MHz) has already been made available for Wi-Fi by Ofcom through the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 standards. However, the availability (or lack of) of the upper part has remained the subject to debate. 

Why do Mobile and Wi-Fi operators want access to the Upper 6GHz band?

Mobile operators want to harness the upper band, in a licensed way, in order to deliver faster 5G and future 6G based data speeds. 

Other groups maintain that the upper band should be accessed by licence-exempt consumer Wi-Fi. 

Current users of the upper band, for example, satellite, radio astronomy and fixed services, also share concerns that allowing access to other users will risk causing interference.

Part of the proposal has also been to allow outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi to operate within the Lower 6GHz band under the control of an Automated Frequency Coordination database (historically only low power indoor use Wi-Fi has accessed the lower band). The AFC database will help protect other users from interference, whilst improving Wi-Fi coverage in places like hospitals, factories and sports stadiums. 

Both sides of the debate, for and against sharing access to the upper 6GHz band, have given strong arguments. Ofcom have spent the last few years looking into ‘hybrid sharing’ to try and find some middle-ground between the two camps. This would, hopefully, mean that both Wi-Fi and mobile could be used in the upper 6GHz band. We should caveat this by saying that the co-existence of the two without causing interference remains a challenge. 

How does this ‘hybrid sharing’ of the Upper 6GHz band work? 

Ofcom’s ‘hybrid sharing’ approach works by dividing up the upper 6GHz band. This means that Wi-Fi would be prioritised in one part and mobile in the other. Each would have clear technical conditions and controls attached, which would help to limit the risks from interference. 

The new consultation closes on the 20th March 2026 and finalises Ofcom’s proposals. You can read the full consultation and statement here. 

Although this is very exciting for us Wi-Fi professionals, we must remember that implementation will be a slow process.

Ofcom’s Group Director for Spectrum, David Willis said:

“Today’s announcements reaffirm the UK’s position as a leader in Europe in getting the most out of the airwaves we all rely on.

Sharing Upper 6 GHz would be a win for businesses and homes across the country who want both better Wi-Fi and mobile networks that are fit for the future. And our decision on lower 6 GHz will boost broadband services across the UK.

Our plans open the doors to further economic growth and investment, while supporting the delivery of crucial innovations like 6G in the future.”

What are the latest Ofcom decisions in the Proposal to Share Upper 6GHz Band? 

  • Ofcom will authorise, under a licence exemption, use of outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi devices (up to 36 dBm EIRP) in the Lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) provided they are under the control of an AFC system.
  • As a result, they will require implementation of an AFC system by third parties. They are separately consulting on the details necessary to implement that AFC system.
  • Whilst they are consulting further on approaches to enable Wi-Fi in the Upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz), they will proceed with making low power Wi-Fi client devices available across the Upper 6 GHz band, provided they are connected to an authorised Access Point (“AP”, for example a Wi-Fi router). This decision should allow client devices to be made available for possible future use of the band, thereby helping faster adoption. Use in the band, in practice, will only become possible once they have made a decision on the proposals below to enable Access Points in Upper 6 GHz.
  • They will adopt a sub-national licencing approach for mobile in the Upper 6 GHz band in the “mobile priority” portion of the band. They intend to award mobile licences in “high density” areas of the UK and expect to implement a local licensing arrangement (for example, on a first come, first served basis) outside of these high density areas. We will consult further on the specifics of this in spring 2026.

What are Ofcom proposing for Mobile and Wi-Fi use of the Upper 6GHz band? A Brief Summary:

  • Ofcom will implement prioritised spectrum sharing in the Upper 6 GHz band, with:

– A “Wi-Fi- priority” portion in the bottom 160 MHz of the band (6425–6585 MHz).

– A “mobile priority” portion in the upper 540 MHz (6585–7125 MHz).

  • Ofcom will make the Wi-Fi priority portion available on the same basis as spectrum in the Lower 6 GHz band. This includes indoor and very lower power Wi-Fi, and also outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi provided this is under the control of an AFC system.
  • Ofcom will enable early access for Wi-Fi in the mobile priority portion of Upper 6 GHz. In response to feedback from the February 2025 consultation, we propose to only allow this access for Wi-Fi which is under the control of an AFC system. This will ensure that we can clear Wi-Fi out of the way, in the locations and channels where mobile deploys later on.

Mobile Operator Use of the Upper 6GHz Band

Of course, as we said above, the full implementation of this will take a while, especially in terms of mobile use (4G, 5G, 6G). 

This proposal and approach from Ofcom is in part linked to the efforts in Europe to harmonise the use of the same band. A policy very similar to this is expected in 2028. Ofcom is not expecting the support of mobile hardware equipment until 2030. 

Wi-Fi Use of Upper 6GHz Band

As we mentioned earlier, the Wi-Fi side of things requires the new AFC database to help reduce the risk of interference, so that will show down implementation. How does AFC work? It automatically identifies frequencies that can be used by Wi-Fi, without having an impact on existing services. This keeps the task of spectrum management and administration as low demand as possible. The US and Canada already use the AFC system, and other countries are in the consideration stages. 

What do you think about the proposal to share Upper 6GHz band for UK mobile and Wi-Fi? 

Perspectives differ and the debate surrounding this is passionate on both sides. As Wi-Fi professionals, we have been waiting for this to happen for a while and we are excited about what this means for Wi-Fi deployment and coverage for many UK businesses. 

Why will access to the upper 6GHz band be good for Wi-Fi professionals? 

As Wi-Fi engineers, our job is to deploy strong, reliable Wi-Fi with robust coverage in a myriad of business settings and industries. 

Access to the upper 6GHz band will provide Wi-Fi professionals like us here at Geekabit with a massive amount of clean, uncongested spectrum.

In simple terms, access to the Upper 6GHz band for Wi-Fi means:

  • faster speeds
  • lower latency
  • greater capacity

These are all essential for high-density and mission-critical environments like factories, hospitals, and stadiums. 

Key Benefits of Accessing the Upper 6GHz Band for Wi-Fi Professionals:

  • Vastly Increased Capacity and Bandwidth: The 6 GHz band can add as much as 1200 MHz of new, contiguous spectrum (depending on the region), more than doubling the combined bandwidth of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This extra capacity is crucial for environments with a high density of users and devices, allowing networks to handle heavy traffic volumes without performance degradation.
  • Reduced Interference and Congestion: The band is a “greenfield” (empty) spectrum, meaning it is reserved for newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices only. This exclusivity eliminates interference from older legacy devices and neighboring networks, providing a much cleaner and more reliable radio frequency (RF) environment.
  • Lower Latency for Critical Applications: The 6 GHz band enables extremely low latency connections, often as low as under one millisecond. This is vital for real-time applications such as remote medical imaging, augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) training simulations, autonomous robotics in factories, and instant replays in stadiums.
  • Wider Channels for Higher Speeds: The large swaths of contiguous spectrum allow for the use of wider channels (e.g., 80 MHz and 160 MHz, and even 320 MHz with Wi-Fi 7). These wider channels facilitate multi-gigabit speeds and higher data throughput, which is perfect for transferring large files like high-resolution medical images.
  • Improved Network Efficiency and Management: Offloading newer, high-performance devices to the 6 GHz band frees up capacity on the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This improves performance for older devices that cannot access 6 GHz and gives Wi-Fi professionals more flexibility in channel planning and network design.
  • Enhanced Security: The adoption of the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 often mandates the use of the latest WPA3 security protocol, offering more robust encryption and authentication to protect sensitive data, such as patient records in a hospital.
  • Support for Innovation: Access to this spectrum future-proofs networks, enabling the adoption of emerging, bandwidth-intensive technologies and services like IoT devices, real-time analytics, and advanced automation, which can enhance operational efficiency and customer care. 

By leveraging the upper 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi professionals like us can design and deploy more resilient, high-performance, and secure wireless networks capable of meeting the rigorous demands of complex environments like our clients in factories, hospitals and stadiums. 

by admin
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4G 4G LTE 4G Mobile Broadband 4G survey 4G Wi-Fi Antenna Antennas
4G LTE Antenna – What Do I Need to Consider? 

If you are using a 4G LTE broadband connection, or plan to, then you’ll need to be considering your external antenna. 

 

4G broadband is a fantastic option if you struggle with a standard broadband connection, especially if you live or work in a more rural area. Over the past few years we’ve seen a big uptake in 4G and mobile broadband options – For homeowners as well as businesses. 

 

What you don’t want is to switch to mobile broadband, and then end up with download speeds that are lower that what you were expecting. Whilst this may simply be down to poor reception, there are some other factors that can come into play. 

 

So, with you as the user, what considerations do you need to make to ensure your 4G mobile broadband connection will be the strongest it can be?

 

Did you know that LTE is MiMo technology?

LTE, like 11n Wi-Fi, is a multi-stream radio, multiple in/multiple out (MiMo) service. So similarly to 11n Wi-Fi, LTE uses multiple radio data streams to and from the end client – Which means the more streams of data the client can take, the faster the broadband. 

Just like in 11n Wi-Fi, the number of streams is T (the number of transmit radio streams) multiplied by R (the number of receive streams the connection can support) so TxR. This means that if something supports 2×2 streams, it can support twice the upload and download speed of a device with 1×1. In 4G LTE, you get anything from 1×1 to 8×8 stream capability (including all the possible mixes in between them). 

The number of transmit and receive streams dictates how many antennas the client needs. So for a 1×1 service, you would only need a single antenna. For a 2×2 service you would need 2 antenna. You get the idea. 

A connection can only support the number of streams the service provider is capable of via their masts. It is also dependent on the client device and its radio capabilities. 

The majority of devices – Like phones and routers – have dual stream capabilities. 

 

Choices of Antenna

If you’ve already been looking for a 4G LTE antenna then you’ll likely already have realised that there can be a difference in price. One of the main differences between antennas will be, as we said above, the number of connections they have. 

 

As you’ll have probably guessed, the more connections they have, the picier the get. So a 2×2 (or 2×1 or 2×2) device will cost more than a 1×1 device. You’ll typically see a choice between single (1×1) and dual connection (2×2) antennas. 

 

In most scenarios, you will be wanting a dual connection (2×2) antenna so that it supports the functionality of your router and other devices with dual stream, MiMo functionality.

 

But how do you know if the antenna will be any good? 

 

That comes down to polarisation. There needs to be a physical difference between the radio streams so that the receiver can differentiate between them. This can be as simple as mounting the antennas, leaving a physical gap between them of a few inches. 

 

It’s also a good idea to have each antenna at a different angle – Ideally at 90 degrees to each other. This is because although the radio waves might leave the mast in a lovely vertically polarised fashion, after a few reflections they will likely not be like that any more. Setting up the antenna so that they can also receive radio waves that are no longer vertically polarised will mean you will better receive the signal – A cross shape would achieve this. 

 

Do I need a Directional or Omni-Directional Antenna Set Up? 

Whilst it might be tempting to just opt for the highest gain directional antenna, this isn’t actually always the best choice – For 4G LTE or Wi-Fi. 

 

If you imagine a radio wave travelling from the mast to your receiver, with nothing in the way, it would have a straightforward route and an uninterrupted signal. In real life, this is unfortunately not the case. The signal cannot go through anything solid, so whenever something gets in its way, it reflects and scatters from those objects until it reaches the antenna. This means that the radio signal could come to your receiver from all different directions. 

 

Directional antenna, although high gain, have limited coverage in terms of their angle. So with radio waves potentially coming in in all directions, the directional antenna is going to cause you problems. 

 

The best situation for a directional antenna is when there is a clear line of sight between the mast and the mount of the antenna – Which is not a very common thing. 

 

The omni-directional antenna might well be lower gain, but it should pick up the signal regardless of what directional the radio waves are coming from. 

 

The best way to improve the signal you receive is to mount the antenna outside and as high up as possible.

 

Directional Antenna Pros

  • Can occasionally give a better, stronger and cleaner signal when carefully aligned with line of sight 
  • With a clear line of sight (and no ambiguity) then a directional antenna would be preferred choice

Directional Antenna Cons

  • Careful alignment with line of sight can be very tricky
  • Without line of sight, you have to rely on how it reflects and scatters
  • Changes in environment can result in how the signal is reflected (e.g. something as simple as a dry wall reflects better than a wet wall)
  • It is harder for the system to switch to a different mast (this could be dictated by the provider)

 

Omni-Directional Antenna Pros

  • Easy and quick installation (no tricky, careful alignment needed)
  • It is easy for the system to change transmitter masts
  • Antenna can be mounted outdoors, making a significant improvement in signal despite the lower fain

 

Omni-Directional Antenna Cons

  • In comparison to the directional antenna, the omni has lower gain
  • Can be more susceptible to radio frequency interference coming from different directions

 

Frequency Bands

There are a number of frequency bands that are used for 4G LTE in the UK. There’s the 800MHz band, the 1400MHz / 1.4GHz band, the 1800MHz / 1.8GHz band, the 2100MHz / 2.6GHz band, the 2300MHz / 2.3GHz band, and the 2600MHz / 2.6GHz band.

 

Although not set in stone, you generally find that the lower frequency bands are used more in rural areas due to them having longer transmission range than the higher frequencies and having to cover a larger geographical area. The higher band would likely be used more in built up towns and cities. 

 

What does this mean for antenna? Well, it means that you, as the end user, need to ensure that your antenna will support the service and frequency band of your provider. If you are sensible and savvy, you will choose an antenna that can cover the different frequency bands in case your service/provider changes. 

 

Stream Bandwidth

The available spectrum is divided and allocated between providers into sub-bands. The connection you get as the end client will depend (and vary) on how many clients the local signal mast can support as well as the bandwidth. 

 

If you live or work in a high user area, the density will mean that you may struggle with throughput speed or even getting a connection in the first place! 

 

What high user density situations could impact your 4G connection? Well, if you live near a football stadium or a busy motorway, you may find that on match day or during a bad traffic jam, your internet connection comes to a standstill as well! 

 

Which Antenna Do I Need for my 4G LTE Connection? 

 

How do you choose? Let’s take a look again at the main considerations you need to think about to ensure the best possible connection. 

 

Single or Dual Antenna

 

Does your router only have a single antenna connector? If so, then you should probably choose an external antenna with a single connector. 

 

If your router has a dual stream connection then you need to choose an antenna with 2 connectors. You could also choose two single connection antennas. 

 

Remember – If the local signal mast sends out a 1×1 service, then that’s all you’re going to get, even if you have a router and antenna set up that supports 2×2. Having the 2×2 compatible service won’t see you any difference if it’s a 1×1 signal service.  

 

Directional or Omni-Directional Antenna? 

We’re not trying to tell you what to do… But our Wi-Fi expert’s advice would be, in most scenarios, to go for an omni-directional antenna. As we mentioned above, it’s tempted to just go straight for the antenna with the biggest gain, usually the directional, when you could face very tricky alignment issues. Very few properties, business or home, have a clear line of sight between their local mast and their antenna. Unless you have this clear line of sight, then an omni is the best option.  

Correct frequency

Remember to ensure that your choice of antenna will work with the frequency range coming from your service provider and local mast. It’s only going to work if your frequency band matches what your antenna supports! 

 

To avoid potential issues when services or providers change, you should aim to choose an antenna that covers all the 4G LTE bands here in the UK. That means that your antenna should always work, even if you change provider or your local service changes. You might have to pay a little more, but it could save you problems in the future. 

 

Location

You should always mount the antenna wherever it has the best line of sight to the local mast. Sometimes you might not be able to see the signal mast, especially if you live or work in a very built up area. Even if you cannot see the mast, bear in mind the direction it’s in – Does your antenna need to be at the front or the back of your building? Even without a clear line of sight, this will vastly improve the signal you get. 

 

Generally speaking, the higher up you can mount the antenna the better! 

 

Also make sure that you’re not locating it close to a thick wall or anything metal. Even an omni-directional antenna would struggle to get a good signal in these situations! You want to make it as easy as possible for the signal to reach the receiver on your antenna. 

 

I’ve followed the advice but still don’t have good download speeds? 

You could have the perfect signal – And still not get good download speeds. This could be down to a few different reasons:

  • The service capabilities of your provider (the frequency they are allocated)
  • The service provided from the local mast
  • The capabilities of your router
  • If you live or work in a high user density area with lots of people trying to connect at the same time

 

Whether or not this matters depends on what you are using your connection for. If you are a business and are relying on your 4G LTE connection for your business operations, then this is going to be an issue. 

 

Trust the Experts

 

Here at Geekabit, our Wi-Fi experts can tell you just how reliable a 4G (or 5G) mobile broadband connection would be with one of our surveys. 

 

If you’re struggling with wired broadband, and not getting the reliable internet connection you need in your rural business or home, then 4G / 5G could be a fantastic option for you.

 

It can feel like a big jump to give up on your wired broadband connection and opt for 4G – Which is where our Cell Coverage 4G survey comes in.

 

We can tell you exactly whether 4G broadband would work for you, and which network would be most reliable.

 

by admin
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5G Hampshire Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E Wi-Fi Advice
What is 6GHz Wi-Fi?

Did you know that following the historic decision by USA’s FCC in April 2020 to release 1200 MHz of bandwidth in 6 GHz space for unlicensed use, UK regulators cleared unlicensed wireless usage in the 6 GHz spectrum to give 6GHz WiFi a huge boost back in July 2020. 

 

This regulatory go-ahead enables your router to broadcast over the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. What does this mean in real life terms? Simply, it means there are now a lot more open airwaves that routers can use to broadcast Wi-Fi signals. This in turn means faster, more reliable connections from the next generation of devices.

 

This is the biggest spectrum addition in over 30 years – In fact, since the FCC cleared the way for Wi-Fi back in 1989. Pretty huge right? It means the space available for routers and other devices have quadruple the amount in this new spectrum. This means a lot more bandwidth for the user and less interference for their devices. 

 

For the past 20 years we’ve had the Wi-Fi Alliance that oversees the implementation of Wi-Fi. This change in the spectrum is the most ‘monumental decision’ during their existence. You’ll be seeing this implementation as Wi-Fi 6E, with more and more enabled devices becoming available. 

 

Will Wi-Fi 6E fix my bad Wi-Fi? 

 

There’s a good chance that spectrum congestion has interfered with your ability to connect to your Wi-Fi network in the past. When there are a lot of devices all trying to connect over the same band of frequencies, some devices will drop out. Have a look at your local area for Wi-Fi networks – If there is a long list, that could be why you’re struggling with a slow connection and less than favourable reliability. This is because there are too many competing signals, which stops your device getting through. It’s hoped that gains in 6GHz performance will last, even when they are more widely used than they are now. 

 

Not only does Wi-Fi 6E offer new airwaves for routers to use, they are also more spacious airwaves that have less overlapping signals which can cause problems on some other Wi-Fi channels. 

 

The new spectrum doesn’t use any of the previous spectrum, yet offers space for up to 7 maximum-capacity Wi-Fi streams which can all be broadcast simultaneously without causing interference with each other. 

 

Here’s the geeky bit… The UK telecoms regulator, Ofcom, made it possible for home Wi-Fi networks to harness 500MHz of radio spectrum frequency in the new 6GHz band, which will significantly boost the speed of licence-exempt indoor home wireless networks via Wi-Fi 6/6E. 

 

What is 6GHz? 

 

Basically, Wi-Fi works by broadcasting over airwaves that are open for anyone to use. Previously, this was over two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. This third band, 6GHz, is quadrupling the available space for traditional Wi-Fi. 

 

What do the numbers mean? 2.4GHz can travel further, but 6GHz travels faster. The main thing however is that the number of airwaves available on the6GHz band is quadruple what has been available before. Exciting stuff! 

 

On a personal ‘how will this affect me’ level, it means that if you live in a block of flats, and you are the first person to get a 6GHz router, then you won’t be competing with anyone for a connection. The great thing is that even as 6GHz routers become more popular, it’s likely that signals will stay faster and stronger than previously as it’s a more spacious spectrum.  

 

Will Wi-Fi 6E be faster?

 

It’s not quite as straight forward as that, but Wi-Fi 6E will sort of be faster. Theoretically, 6GHz Wi-Fi has the same top speed as 5GHz Wi-Fi. The maximum Wi-Fi 6 standard speed is 9.6 Gbps. Now, you’re not going to actuall get that speed in real life, however having access to the new airwaves could well increase your speed. 

 

The available spectrum at 5GHz means that Wi-Fi signals aren’t as large as they could be. Whereas, it’s thought that routers at 6GHz will broadcast at the current maximum allowable channel size. That in itself, means a faster connection. 

 

These new networks could see smartphone Wi-Fi connections hit 1–2 Gbps. You might be wondering how this compares to 5G – Indeed, these are the speeds expected from millimetre-wave 5G. However, that has very limited availability. 

 

Remember that your internet speeds will also always depend on / be limited by your provider. But it could still be a huge jump for connectivity.  

 

Can I buy Wi-Fi 6 devices?

 

Here in the UK we started to see Wi-Fi 6 devices creep onto the market in the last year or so, once the Wi-Fi Alliance started offering certification for Wi-Fi 6E. Deployment has been slow and steady, with more Wi-Fi 6 enables devices appearing bit by bit. We’re on course for the next generation of Wi-Fi networks.

 

Wi-Fi 6E enabled devices are most seen in smartphones and then tablets, with TV’s likely to follow suit. We use our phones for almost everything, so it’s no surprise that it’s this device that will be top of the list for Wi-Fi 6E. 

 

How do I know if a device supports Wi-Fi 6E?

 

The most widely used Wi-Fi standard on current devices is probably still Wi-Fi 6, the standard previous to Wi-Fi 6E, which you could still see on the box of a new device. This isn’t such a bad thing – It means that the device supports that Wi-Fi standard and offers efficient Wi-Fi performance. 

 

What you should probably start looking out for when buying a new device is Wi-Fi 6E – It’s this one that is extended into the 6GHz band. All devices, like smartphones, tablets, laptops and routers should have backward compatibility – Meaning they will work with any previous Wi-Fi standard to the one that’s stated on the box. This means that you can enjoy available connections even when Wi-Fi 6E isn’t available. 

 

Be aware that even if you buy a Wi-Fi 6E compatible device, you will enjoy the benefits of that when you use it with a Wi-Fi 6E router. 

 

6GHz will become an integral part of Wi-Fi 6 and future generations of Wi-Fi. This means that at some point, you will have to replace your devices with ones that are Wi-Fi 6E compatible to be able to enjoy all the benefits the extra spectrum has to offer. 

 

Due to the Wi-Fi Alliance certification programme, only efficient Wi-Fi 6 devices will be certificated. 

 

It’s worth bearing in mind that the 6GHz spectrum does have some existing licensed users. This means that particularly in outdoor spaces,  Wi-Fi will have to work around them. Outside, routers will need to use something called an “automated frequency control” system. This ensure that they don’t interfere with these existing 6GHz users. Because that means less space to broadcast, there could be degradation of overall performance in some areas.

 

Does Wi-Fi 6E have anything to do with 5G? 

 

We touched on this earlier, but no, they don’t have anything to do with each other really. It just happens that both of these networks are being spoken about a lot, simultaneously. 5G is everywhere, is it not!

 

We keep saying about Wi-Fi 6E being a new spectrum, but really it’s not new, it’s always been there, it’s just been unlicensed. Now, people can use the 6GHz spectrum without a license in their homes. 

 

This also means that other technologies could try to make use of the 6GHz band, which could in turn take up some of the space that Wi-Fi wants to use. 5G is one of the technologies that could be a rival for the space on the 6GHz band. 

 

There is a possibility that 5G could overlap on the new Wi-Fi 6E spectrum through mobile network carriers. This could in turn lead to interference issues, but it’s a bit early to say. If you’re wondering whether 5G will become dominant and replace Wi-Fi altogether, then we think probably not. There doesn’t need to be a winner or a loser when it comes to Wi-Fi 6E vs 5G – They dont necessarily have to be in competition with one another. The spacious nature of this spectrum means there should be enough room for both. 

 

6GHz Wi-Fi is certainly being revered by the tech industry, so we’re pretty hopeful that Wi-Fi will be the main beneficiary of the newly opened 6GHz spectrum. 

 

by admin
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Broadband Business Wi-Fi FTTP Leased Line Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Design Wi-Fi Installation Wireless Network
Which is best for my business – FTTP or a Leased Line?

 

Let’s face it – These days, business flow depends on connectivity. 

 

With remote working now more prevalent than ever before, there is a significant business need for straightforward online collaboration. Not to mention business critical operations and organisational efficiency. 

 

For a successful business, you need a reliable, strong connection that doesn’t buffer or drop out during vital video calls and digital team meetings. 

 

What’s the point in having top of the range tech and dedicated employees if you don’t have the broadband speed to keep up with their communications or computers?

 

There is nothing less motivating than slow internet – Lagging video, audio that’s out of sync, calls that drop out, pages that load slowly. It makes us feel frustrated just thinking about it! 

 

And whilst it might not sound like much – That 30 seconds of delay here and there throughout the day could actually add up to a lot of lost productivity across an organisation in just one week. 

 

So what’s the solution? For any small business, it’s really down to two options – FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) or a leased line. But which one is best for your business?

 

What is FTTP and how does it work?

 

As we said above, FTTP is Fibre to the Premises. It means an internet connection that is designed for small businesses and consumer use.  

 

FTTP works by sending data over a fibre optic cable from the exchange to the user’s premises. FTTP relies on already existing broadband infrastructure, which means that users share the bandwidth. This could lead to slower connection speeds and unreliability during peak times. 

 

An FTTP service is asymmetrical, meaning that the upload and download speeds are not the same. 

 

What is a leased line and how does it work?

 

A leased line, or fibre leased line, is a dedicated fibre optic service. It has a fixed bandwidth and is provided directly to the premises. Unlike FTTP, a leased line connects directly to the public internet. This means there is no shared infrastructure – thus the data’s journey is very different. 

 

Due to leased lines being dedicated, it won’t be affected at peak times because the bandwidth is reserved exclusively for that user. A leased line also uploads data at the same time as it downloads – Useful for sending large files or if you use VoIP telephones throughout the business. 

 

How do FTTP and Leased Line compare? 

 

Let’s take a look at how FTTP and Leased Line compare to each other in terms of use and functionality. Depending on how these fit with your business, you should hopefully be able to identify which would work better for you and your business operations. 

 

Speed and Bandwidth for FTTP vs Leased Line

 

Using an FTTp service, your highest download speed will be in the range of 300mbps and 1Gbps. Remember, in this scenario you share the infrastructure with other users, which means that during busy periods your bandwidth is likely to be compromised. Generally speaking you are looking at about 32 customers on an FTTP service. 

 

On a Leased Line, all of the bandwidth is there for you to use. The connection speeds on a Leased Line could be up to 10Gbps, with the same upload and download speeds. This is particularly useful for high-demand users, who could struggle on an asymmetrical FTTP. 

 

Traffic on a FTTP vs Leased Line

FTTP services can have a monthly data transfer quote which means it would be important for you to stay on top of your data usage. 

 

A leased line has availability 24/7 all year round, which means you have unlimited data transfers. 

 

Price of FTTP vs Leased Line

There is a significant difference in price when it comes to FTTP and Leased Line. 

 

The cheaper option is FTTP. This is because it’s a shared service, and more specifically aimed at residential properties and small businesses. You would likely be looking between £30 and £60 per month, which of course depends on the provider and the speed of the broadband you choose. For a new FTTP installation, it would take about 10-15 days. 

 

For Leased Lines, you would be looking at a cost of about £150 per month for lower bandwidths. Not only is it up to 5 times the cost of some FTTP, you may also incur additional charges (construction charges) which can push the price up more. Installation wise you would be looking at about 60-90 days to get things set up. 

 

Service Level Agreements for FTTP vs Leased Lines 

 

Whichever service you go for, you will have an SLA. The SLA for a Leased Line will be more thorough – For example, any fault on the line that needs fixing will be repaired within 5 hours. In comparison, a fault on FTTP could take 2 days to fix. 

 

An SLA will also lay out the speed of a Leased Line, which you can then be compensated for if it is consistently slower. This isn’t something you can do with FTTP. 

 

A Leased Line also comes with 24/7 support, whereas support for a FTTP line will be within business hours. 

 

Reliability of FTTP vs Leased Lines

 

As we mentioned above, when using an FTTP line, you could notice an adverse chane in connection during peak times. Leased Lines will never experience this problem (unless there is a fault) so you are less likely to have the connection drop out. This means that a Leased Line is the more reliable connection of the two. 

 

Availability

 

Leased Lines are available throughout the UK, but of course their accessibility depends on whether you can afford the cost. 

 

Whilst FTTP is a cheaper option, it is only available to approximately 94% of the UK.

 

Contracts

 

Contract options for these lines are as follows:

  • FTTP – 12 months, 18 months or 24 months, 
  • Leased Line – 12 months, 36 months, or 60 months 

 

It’s worth noting that if you choose a 12 month Leased Line contract, you’ll be paying more each month to spread the installation cost. 

 

So Which One is Best – Leased Line or FTTP?

 

If you own a small business, run a charity or are a residential consumer, then FTTP will likely meet your needs. 

 

Generally speaking, if you are one of these types of consumer then you won’t be needing service 24/7 all year round. You are also less likely to be transferring huge amounts of data too. And it’s the cheaper option! 

 

For larger businesses and organisations that rely more on a reliable connection, then a dedicated Leased Line service with a thorough SLA could be the better choice. You will then have peace of mind that your broadband is sturdy, and should something go wrong with it you’re backed up by a speedy resolution. Keeping disruption to your organisation to a minimum! 

 

Get In Touch

 

If you are feeling unsure about what could be the best internet service for your business and would like to discuss your connectivity needs, then get in touch with one of our Wi-Fi Experts today. We operate out of Hampshire, London and Cardiff and can help you to make sure that your connectivity meets your business or residential needs – Both in terms of connection but cost too. 

 

by admin
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Business Wi-Fi Hampshire Wi-Fi Wi-Fi Advice Wi-Fi Design Wi-Fi Installation Wi-Fi Interference Wi-Fi Site Survey Wireless Network
How Wi-Fi Site Surveys Validate Your Network Design

You could have the most expertly designed Wi-Fi network, but without a Wi-Fi Site Survey, how will you know it will actually work as intended?

When it comes to designing and installing a wireless network, the most important thing is that it meets the demands of your users. 

The great thing about a Wi-Fi Site Survey is that can test your wireless network when it’s in the design stages and predict whether it will work or not, as well as within an already deployed network that needs some changes or additions made. 

Driving your Wi-Fi network design choices and deployment with data removes the risk of your wireless network failing to meet the needs of your enterprise. 

Gone are the days where a surveyor is laden down with computer setups, trudging around like a donkey. Nowadays it’s all the latest tech and we can carry out a Wi-Fi Site Survey with just the phone in our pocket. 

Validating your Wi-Fi network has never been more straightforward. Good news if you’re about to be designing your Wi-Fi network! Not only that, but it also makes it easier and quicker for businesses to be able to survey their Wi-Fi on a regular basis, ensuring that they continue to operate reliably. This is particularly important for anything that is business critical. 

What is a Wi-Fi Site Survey?

A Wi-Fi site survey is the process of assessing a physical environment to collect real-world data about wireless performance. It involves measuring signal strength, interference, and spectrum usage, while also identifying the best locations for access points and cabling.

This data is used to design, test, and validate a Wi-Fi network — ensuring it performs reliably in the real world, not just in theory.

When do I need a Wi-Fi Site Survey?

Wi-Fi site surveys are used at multiple stages of a network lifecycle, depending on your requirements:

Wi-Fi Design Site Survey (Pre-Design)

This survey is carried out on site before you’ve started to design your wireless network. Performing a Site Survey at this point allows you to create a predictive Wi-Fi network using data captured on the survey, including RF conditions, neighbouring networks, available/ congested channels, interference and accessibility for mounting AP’s.

Pre-Deployment Site Survey

Once you’ve designed your Wi-Fi network, you can use a Wi-Fi Site Survey to test your design and simulate the performance of antenna and access points. This data is acquired by placing an AP in the relevant location(s) and then analysing the Wi-Fi, making sure that the network would function as predicted in the design. 

Post-Deployment Wi-Fi Site Survey

The role of this Wi-Fi Site Survey is to identify whether a deployed network is working as intended. That means meeting performance expectations laid out in the predictive stage of the wireless design. 

Health Check Wi-Fi Site Survey

The best networks carry out regular ‘health checks’ to make sure everything is functioning as it should. This means that any changes you need to make to your network are proactive rather than reactive. Why wait until your end users are experiencing Wi-Fi problems that could produce a costly Wi-Fi outage? A Wi-Fi Site Survey at this stage can help pick up any issues with interference, coverage and capacity, nipping any potential problems in the bud. 

Troubleshooting Wi-Fi Site Survey

This is the Wi-Fi Site Survey you would carry out if you were already experiencing problems. A more reactive survey in which you can identify the underlying cause of the problems your end users are reporting. You can then go back to the design stages and re-deploy your wireless network for more effective working. 

Why Use a Site Survey to Validate Your Wi-Fi Design

A predictive Wi-Fi design is only as good as the assumptions it’s based on. A site survey allows you to validate that design using real-world data before full deployment.

This helps you:

  • Reduce risk
  • Avoid costly redesigns
  • Ensure performance meets expectations
  • Deliver a reliable user experience

Think of it as an insurance policy for your network design — confirming everything will work before you commit to installation.

What Does a Wi-Fi Site Survey Identify?

By completing a Wi-Fi Site Survey, you would find out a site survey provides critical insights that help validate your design.

Accurate Floor Plans

Accurate floor plans are the foundation of any reliable Wi-Fi design. If you haven’t physically been on site, you are relying heavily on CAD drawings or existing plans being completely up to date — which is often not the case.

During a Wi-Fi site survey, we verify that:

  • Dimensions and scaling are correct
  • Walls, stairwells, lifts, and partitions are accurately positioned
  • Any structural changes or temporary layouts are accounted for

Even small inaccuracies in a floor plan can lead to significant errors in a predictive design, resulting in poor coverage or misplaced access points. By validating the physical environment, we ensure your Wi-Fi design is based on reality — not assumptions.

Signal Attenuation and Building Materials

Not all walls are equal when it comes to Wi-Fi performance. Different materials — such as plasterboard, brick, concrete, glass, or metal — affect signal strength in very different ways.

A Wi-Fi site survey allows us to measure real-world signal attenuation, helping to determine:

  • How much signal is lost through specific walls and obstacles
  • How far Wi-Fi signals will realistically travel
  • Whether the predictive RF model accurately reflects the environment

Relying on estimated values or “best guesses” can lead to underperforming networks. By measuring attenuation on site, we can fine-tune your design to ensure accurate coverage and consistent performance.

Access Point Locations

Identifying the correct access point (AP) locations is critical to achieving reliable Wi-Fi coverage and capacity. While predictive designs provide a strong starting point, they cannot account for every physical constraint within a building.

A site survey enables us to:

  • Validate proposed AP locations in a live environment
  • Identify obstacles such as ducting, machinery, or structural features
  • Assess mounting options and cabling accessibility
  • Adjust placement to optimise coverage and performance

This stage ensures that your design works not just in theory, but in the real-world environment where it will be deployed.

Neighbouring Networks and Interference

One of the biggest limitations of predictive Wi-Fi design is that it cannot fully account for external interference. Nearby networks, devices, and environmental noise can all have a significant impact on performance.

During a Wi-Fi site survey, we can detect and analyse:

  • Neighbouring Wi-Fi networks
  • Channel congestion
  • Non-Wi-Fi interference sources
  • Background RF noise levels

This allows us to optimise channel planning and network configuration, ensuring your wireless network performs reliably even in busy or high-density environments.

Without validating these factors on site, even the most carefully designed Wi-Fi network can fail to deliver in practice.

What do you need for an accurate Wi-Fi Site Survey?

The Wi-Fi Site Survey is your chance to see how your network design could come to life. Really, the testing is the fun part! The most important parts of a successful Wi-Fi Site Survey are:

Accurate floor plans

Proper scaling is critical — even small errors can significantly impact design accuracy.

The right tools

Modern survey tools allow fast, accurate data collection using portable devices.

Relevant channel scanning

Focus only on the frequencies and channels your network will use.

Accurate data capture

Incorrect positioning or tracking can lead to unreliable results.

Proper attenuation measurement

Signal loss should be measured across obstacles to ensure accurate modelling.

Survey Methods

Different environments require different survey approaches:

  • Stop-and-Go
    Used in hazardous or complex environments where precision is more important than speed
  • Continuous
    A traditional method requiring manual input throughout the survey
  • Autopilot
    A faster, more efficient method with automated data collection
  • GPS-Based Surveys
    Ideal for large outdoor environments with limited reference points

Trust the Experts

If Wi-Fi Site Surveys have got your head in a spin, then why not leave it to the experts? Our trained Wi-Fi professionals here at Geekabit are experts when it comes to wireless site surveys. 

Operating out of Hampshire, London and Cardiff, our Wi-Fi experts are on hand to assist with all stages of Wi-Fi deployment – From the initial design and Pre- and Post-Deployment Site Surveys to Health Checks and full installations. 

Get in touch with our friendly team today and we’ll be more than happy to help. Or head to our website to find out more about the Wi-Fi Site Surveys Geekabit have to offer. 

by admin
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4G 4G Mobile Broadband 4G survey 5G 5G survey Business Wi-Fi Robustel Robustel Remote Monitoring Robustel Router Monitoring Router
How to Remotely Monitor a Robustel 4G Router

In this blog we’re going to show you how you can link the Robustel 4G router with other platforms, so you can monitor your router remotely in real time, in a way that best fits with your business operations. 

 

Who are Robustel?

Robustel are used across various industries including Retail, Healthcare, Transport, Oil & Gas, Manufacturing, Security, Agriculture and Smart Cities. 

 

The design and manufacture of Robustel products provides industrial quality wireless routers, modems and gateways for Wi-Fi, cellular and LPWAN networks. This includes 3G/4G/LTE/5G in cellular networks and Cat-M1/NB-IoT/LoRaWAN/Bluetooth in LPWAN networks. 

 

Robustel customers are provided with EDGE Computing, Cloud Software and end-to-end IoT Solutions to complement the hardware. 

 

If you’re an enterprise or mobile network looking for a competitive edge in the IoT market, then Robustel could be just the thing. They are passionate about long-term relationships with their customers and partners, and work alongside many distribution partners in 120 countries including the UK.

 

Robustel work with businesses across the world in various industries – Solving connectivity problems with scalable, robust and secure IoT solutions. Whether you are just looking for the hardware or a complete  ‘IoT in a box’, Robustel will have a solution. 

 

So where does Geekabit come in, you might be wondering?

 

Well, while Robustel has an excellent interface for remote diagnosis and simple email notifications, it does not provide automated notifications to other platforms, with checks sent to your IT support teams.

 

How can Geekabit help with Robustel 4G router monitoring?

 

Here at Geekabit, we can provide access to our router monitoring software platform for real-time notifications of uptime, downtime, speed issues via:

  • Slack 
  • Teams
  • Text message
  • Automated phone calls

If none of those are sufficient, we can also provide an API connection to automatically import your Robustel notifications to the platform of your choosing.

 

Get in touch

 

If you have or are considering a Robustel router for your use case, but are not sure of the benefits vs a Teltonika router, please speak with one of our Wi-Fi experts.

 

If you think a 4G router will not provide sufficient upload and download speeds for your use case, please get in touch with us here at Geekabit. 

 

By using the right combination of equipment, external antennas, research and evidence based placement, we can dramatically increase what is possible.

 

Image from Robustel.com – Product shown is the R1520 Dual-SIM Cellular VPN Router.

by admin
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5G 5G survey Enterprise 5G
Enterprise 5G: What You Need To Know 

You may be wondering what 5G means for enterprises. You may well have googled it and landed here! The prevalence of 5G will help to empower businesses – Allowing them to create new experiences and connect in more inventive ways.. 5G will help to change how we work and how we play as well as providing the solution for many problems. Some of them we might not even know about yet! There is a constant buzz in the air surrounding 5G and the excitement of all the possibilities it brings. It might also be causing a bit of FOMO – Businesses will not want to be the ones left behind. 

 

5G is quite often used as a backup for 4G – But those days may soon be over. Businesses will need to start considering using 5G as their primary mobile network, as well as the possibility of using it or their wireless environment – Negating the need for office wiring. 

 

Transformation is happening across all industries – As it tends to do with the introduction of new technology. An ever-changing world! 5G could well be the latest key when it comes to boosting the ambition of your business and increasing the confidence of enterprise customers. 

 

There are 3 main take homes when it comes to Enterprise 5G:

  • This year, the investment in 5G looks strong in enterprises across industries
  • Confidence in the ability to implement 5G successfully is low (only 25% of enterprises feel very confident about effective implementation)
  • Sustainability needs must be met by 5G providers and IoT use

 

The level of current and future spending on emerging technologies is looking healthy, yet there are some significant challenges that industrial 5G needs to overcome. With only a quarter of enterprises feeling confident in their ability to implement 5G successfully, it is vital that 5G providers can help enterprises to get set up. 

 

So what do our 5G providers need to know? Well they need to know what enterprises are thinking when it comes to 5G implementation in order for them to become trusted business partners. 

 

There are several key insights that need to be considered for Enterprise 5G. 

 

Adoption of 5G is not guaranteed


Just because the intention to invest in 5G is there, doesn’t mean it’s a given. The future looks bright in terms of enterprises adopting emerging technologies over the next few years, with investments likely to rise.  The intention to invest in 5G is highest amongst enterprises adopting new technologies. 17% have already invested, and 56% plan to invest in the next 1-3 years. Only 12% are not planning to invest whilst they monitor technological changes.

It seems that organisations are mostly interested in 5G for its use in helping them to meet their sustainability goals as well as improving supply chain management.

This doesn’t mean that 5G implementation is guaranteed. Indeed, just because 5G is becoming more mainstream, doesn’t mean that all organisations are going to stay receptive to it. Asian companies planning to invest in 5G is actually down 10% in comparison to last year.

 

Enterprise 5G Vision Becomes Defensive

 

The mindset towards 5G and IoT is prizing efficiency and optimization instead of entering adjacent markets and driving top-line growth. The top priority of enterprises when it comes to IoT is operational efficiency. Similarly, less enterprises want to spend on IoT for new products and services. 5G application uses for VR and AR seem to be diminishing.

We also need to look at Environmental, Social and Governance consideration as although these are fueling interest in 5G, they are also necessitating new demands on tech providers. Sustainability is a hot topic at the moment, and almost 50% of businesses don’t feel their sustainability needs are being met by 5G vendors.

 

New ways of buying and deploying 5G are well received by enterprises

 

Enterprises seem very receptive to 5G solutions, with over three quarters of businesses interested in using private networks to support the implementation of 5G. Furthermore, 50% of businesses thought that purchasing private network capabilities was an important 5G investment strategy. The reasons being that it provided more control of their network and improved reliability.

It would seem that the lack of confidence in 5G implementation could lead to businesses purchasing 5G through a MVNO (mobile virtual network operator). This implies that the relationship between telecommunications operators and enterprise customers could be in jeopardy. They need to ensure that 5G offerings are offered with easy market strategies.

 

Focus on 5G’s relationship to other technologies, with less attention on cyber risks

 

It looks like one of the top priorities for businesses is looking at the relationship of 5G with other technologies. It would be beneficial for enterprises to receive ongoing information and education on emerging technologies and how they relate to each other for their business needs. Not understanding the relationship between 5G and other emerging technologies could cause challenges.

Rather incredibly, less than a quarter of businesses viewed reducing the risk of cyber threats a priority in terms of IoT and 5G. We cannot stress enough how vital it is for enterprises to design their 5G and IoT deployments with security in mind. This is not a blind spot that can be ignored.

 

Telecommunication operators are falling behind network vendors



Enterprises are supporting their 5G deployments with their technology and telecoms providers, often following selection criteria based on price. Pricing seems to even come above the speed of execution.

It seems that enterprises don’t just want a technology supplier – They want a transformation partner. And who the experts are in this area is fairly evenly split between application and platform vendors and professional services firms. Hot on their heels are network equipment vendors! Less than a fifth of enterprises view telecommunication operators as experts in digital transformation. Whilst trusted as IoT experts, they need to prove their ability to deliver new connectivity transformations.

 

Ambitious ecosystem strategies for enterprises

 

Enterprises are wanting to take advantage of new technologies and ecosystem collaboration is one route towards these new skills and knowledge. Much of their 5 year growth is based within business ecosystem collaboration. There is a growing emphasis on developing cross-sector partnerships as well as shortening the time between new products and services, and revenue. These are ambitious drivers of ecosystem strategies.

Perhaps the most important takeaway from all this is that nearly three quarters of businesses are prioritising suppliers that can offer the relevant ecosystem relationships as part of their 5G capabilities. This means that any 5G provider needs to meet their customers needs and expectations by tapping into these fast-changing corporate ecosystems.  

 

 

Get in touch

 

If you’re struggling with wired broadband, and not getting the reliable internet connection you need in your business, then 5G could be a fantastic option for you.

 

It can feel like a big jump to give up on your wired broadband connection and opt for 5G – Which is where our Cell Coverage survey comes in.

We can tell you exactly whether 5G broadband would work for you, and which network would be most reliable.

 

Give our Wi-Fi experts a call or email us today!

 

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5G Survey London

With the increasing prevalence of 5G availability across London, you might be needing a 5G survey. Perhaps your London business is moving premises – Or maybe you’re looking to buy or rent a property in London? Either way you need to know that wherever you’re living or working in London will have decent cellular and data coverage. 

Mobile coverage is a huge part of buying or renting a new property – Whether for a business or somewhere to live. 5G mobile phone coverage could be a massive deal breaker if it’s not at the level people have come to expect. 

Thankfully, here at Geekabit we offer a 5G survey in London and the surrounding areas – We know our stuff when it comes to all things wireless. We understand how vital it is to maintain strong connections, whether it’s in the office or at home. 

 

Geekabit’s 5G Survey London

Geekabit offer both internal and external 5G surveys, looking at mobile phone coverage both inside and outside your property. 

You might be wondering – Why would I need a 5G survey? 

For our clients that are wanting to map out the availability of 5G cellular and data coverage in a London office or building, the 5G survey would be a great tool. It’s extremely useful if your organisation is considering moving premises. It is so important nowadays to make sure that you have good 5G mobile phone signal coverage before signing on the dotted line. You don’t want any nasty surprises when it comes to coverage once you’ve moved in! 

Our landlord and estate agent clients also find it a very beneficial tool when it comes to selling or renting out business or residential properties in London. Tenants and house buyers aren’t just looking at the water pressure of the taps or the state of the windows – They’re now asking questions about the strength of cellular reception. Our 5G Survey gives you all the information you need to know. 

People want to make sure that where they live and work in London will have strong 5G mobile coverage. Geekabit’s 5G survey is the perfect way to prove your property has just this and on what networks. 

5G Hybrid Broadband

And where there’s a strong 5G connection, you know you’re covered if the internet goes down. Hybrid broadband is giving customers confidence that even if their standard internet connection fails, they will still have 5G mobile broadband to fall back on.

But this is only as foolproof as your 5G coverage. So before going ahead and investing in hybrid broadband, why not carry out a 5G survey first to make sure that your London property has the coverage you need to fall back on. 

 

Office and homes aren’t the only places where you need a strong, reliable 5G cellular connection

There are many external areas that would hugely benefit from an external 5G survey. Geekabit can also carry out a 5G survey along London roads, parts of the capital’s transport network and throughout leisure facilities in London and the surrounding areas. 

In today’s world, we don’t just stay in one place – Even while we’re working. We take our need for connection wherever we go – And it needs to be strong and reliable. 

Gone are the days where we are tethered to a desk – We need the 5G mobile coverage to be available on the go. Whether we are using a smartphone, tablet or other internet enabled device, we need to stay connected – And we need to know that the signal will be strong and reliable. 

Geekabit’s 5G survey can tell you how strong the cellular coverage is in certain areas of London, and which networks would work best for those locations. This information is invaluable.

 

How do we report the results of our 5G survey?

We can provide results, heatmaps and detailed reports measuring the details of phone coverage for 5G (as well as 2G, 3G and 4G/LTE). 

For any given London location, we can measure: 

  • The cellular connectivity
  • Data upload and download speeds 
  • The occurrence of dropped and failed calls for all the main mobile network operators

Over the last 2 years, companies have realised how vital cellular coverage is – For business operations as well as staying connected with loved ones. This was true before the pandemic, but Covid has certainly increased the need for strong, reliable mobile coverage. 

 

It’s time to invest in mobile enterprise

If you value the importance of the Quality of Service and Quality of Experience of your employees cellular coverage whilst they are at work, then it’s time to invest in mobile enterprise. 

Here at Geekabit, we’ve long been able to provide mobile phone coverage survey results for a fixed point – For example, a particular property in London. 

We can now provide this matched to geolocation data over a moving area, as well as on building plans and maps. When it comes to 5G surveys, this information is really important. 

If your London business has been thinking about investing in further mobile technologies, then our 5G survey is ideal for providing graphical and interactive information, allowing you to really drill down into the data and support and inform your worthwhile investment.

 

A word from our Founder

Steve Cross, Founder of Geekabit, comments:

“Mobile phone coverage has continued to increase in importance, with a massive investment throughout the pandemic in mobile working technology. With the great shift in office working already happening, organisations are looking to ensure that 5G mobile phone coverage in potential London office locations will be suitable for their workforce. Our internal cellular 5G survey tool gives clients the opportunity to make sure there will be no issues with mobile phones and tablets when moving buildings or downsizing.”

Want to know more about our 5G surveys?

For further details about the data which can be captured, or to discuss a potential project, please email our Wi-Fi experts at [email protected] and someone will be in touch as soon as possible.

 

Our 5G surveys are available across London and the surrounding areas. If you are interested in this service in a different location, please do get in touch. 

 

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Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 7
What is Wi-Fi 7 and When Will We Have It? 

Things move fast in the world of tech. We might only just be connecting to Wi-Fi 6, yet Wi-Fi 7 is already hovering in the background ready to arrive on the scene and bring us even more improvements. Before we’ve even had a chance to enjoy the most recent ones! 

It’s only fairly recently that the Wi-Fi Alliance announced the certification for Wi-Fi 6E (or Wi-Fi 6 Extended). This joyful addition to the spectrum for unlicensed Wi-Fi was the first in 20 years! Yet even with this extra ability to give the 6 GHz band an advantage, the next generation of wireless technology is still on the way. And with the promise of even higher data rates and lower latency that the current offering!

Wi-Fi 7 (or 802.11be to be technically correct), in comparison to Wi-Fi 6, will:

  • Use multi-band/ multi-channel aggregation and operation 
  • Deliver higher spectrum and power efficiency
  • Have better interference mitigations
  • Offer higher capacity density 
  • Have higher cost efficiency. 

As a result of the projected ability for it to support up to 30Gbps throughout, this seventh generation of Wi-Fi is also being referred to as Wi-Fi Extremely High Throughput. It will be approximately 3 times faster than Wi-Fi 6.  

What are the enhancements of Wi-Fi 7 over Wi-Fi 6? 

Wi-Fi 7 is purported to offer a number of better features. Some of the direct improvements over it’s Wi-Fi 6 precedent are:

  • The support of 320 MHz transmissions. In comparison to 802.11ax, this is double the 160 MHz it currently supports
  • The use of higher modulation orders, optionally supporting 4096-QAM. This is a significant increase from 802.11ax ‘s 1024-QAM 
  • The allocation of multiple resource units, such as groups of OFMDA tones

Due to the last feature, Wi-Fi 7 will be the perfect option for enterprise spaces due to having more efficient spectrum utilisation across multiple resource units. 

Organisations requiring the addition of AR/VR, Iot and IIoT as part of their workflow will find Wi-Fi 7 a useful tool in their digital transformations. 

Applications that require deterministic latency (an upper limit to how long a signal takes to get from point A to point B), high reliability and quality of service will find that Wi-Fi 7 has the potential to support them. 

And it’s not just the workplace that Wi-Fi 7 will prove beneficial. Due to Wi-Fi 7 being optimised for video, those who enjoy gaming and streaming at home will also enjoy the improvements. Any smart-home devices and services will likely feel enhanced with the new Wi-Fi standard. 

The popularity of video is huge, and will only continue to grow. It is expected to become the dominant form of internet traffic (if it isn’t already). Cisco’s Visual Networking Index expected video traffic on a global IP scale would be 82% of all IP traffic by this year for both business and consumer. 

When can we expect to get Wi-Fi 7?

The 802.11be amendment is expected to be published by IEEE in 2024. Commercial deployment of Wi-Fi 7 will likely be around the same time. 

Following that, the Wi-Fi Alliance will then release the Wi-Fi 7 certification programme, just like with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, which will ensure security standards and interoperability. 

But in the interim, we’ll be enjoying what Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E has to offer! You can read more about this Wi-Fi standard in our previous blog post, if you’re wondering what all the fuss is about.

 

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