London

Does this sound like your business, or perhaps a client of yours? 

You’ve invested in a fast internet connection – Perhaps 500Mbps, 1Gbps or a leased line. Wired computers connected to the network perform extremely well, but staff are still continuing to report:

• Slow Wi-Fi
• Teams/Zoom calls dropping
• Poor performance in particular meeting rooms
• Laptops disconnecting or reconnecting
• Devices hanging onto the wrong access point
• Good Wi-Fi in one part of the office but poor performance elsewhere
• Problems becoming noticeably worse when the office is busy

The in-house IT team checks the internet connection and reports that everything looks fine. And both statements can be true: The Internet connection can be excellent AND the Wi-Fi can be poor. 

If your London business has recently installed fibre, leased lines or gigabit broadband, but haven’t seen the improvement you expected with the Wi-Fi then please read on. 

What’s the difference between broadband / internet and Wi-Fi?

The Internet connection or broadband is the service bringing connectivity into the building. Wi-Fi is the radio network distributing that connectivity wirelessly around the office.

When you buy a faster internet connection, that only increases the potential bandwidth available at the edge of the network. It doesn’t automatically improve:

• Wireless coverage
• Interference
• Channel utilisation
• Access-point capacity
• Roaming
• Poor AP positioning
• Network configuration

Think about it like this. Upgrading the motorway into a city doesn’t necessarily remove congestion from the streets around the destination.

Similarly, conducting a speed test beside an Access Point isn’t evidence that the entire wireless network is healthy and working to the same speed.

Why do London offices tend to be particularly difficult wireless environments?

London offices have a high density of neighbouring businesses and wireless networks. Numerous Access Points may be visible from surrounding offices. This is especially relevant in business in:

• Shared office buildings
• Serviced offices
• Converted buildings
• Multi-tenant commercial buildings;
• Dense central London locations.

Wi-Fi uses shared radio spectrum. Your network doesn’t operate in isolation simply because it has its own SSID. Other wireless networks and sources of interference can affect the available airtime. The challenge is therefore often much greater than simply achieving “full bars”.

Coverage isn’t the same as capacity

An Access Point may provide a perfectly strong signal but still be overloaded or operating in a congested environment. Traditional office Wi-Fi was often designed primarily around providing coverage. Modern offices need to consider capacity as well.

50 people with laptops and phones can easily represent 100+ connected devices. Then add in:

• Company tablets
• Meeting-room equipment
• Printers
• TVs
• IoT devices
• Wireless presentation systems.

Wi-Fi needs to be designed around how the space is actually used, not merely the size of the floorplan.

The Meeting Room Problem

The Meeting Room provides us with a particularly good real-world example of the kind of Wi-Fi problems you can run into in a London office. 

A meeting room might normally contain nobody. Then all of a sudden, 10–20 people enter carrying laptops and phones. Several of these people may start video calls, screen sharing or cloud applications.

Within moments, the wireless demand has changed dramatically.

An AP in the corridor outside may technically provide coverage, but not necessarily sufficient capacity or performance.

Modern office design therefore needs to consider where people congregate, how many of them there are and what devices they could be using and for what. 

Why adding more access points isn’t automatically the answer

It’s commonly thought that the solution for poor Wi-Fi must just be to buy another Access Point. And of course, more AP’s can be helpful – When they are properly designed. 

But indiscriminately just adding more AP’s can actually introduce additional contention and interference, creating further problems. 

AP transmit power, channels, channel width and positioning all matter.

Access Points need to form part of a coordinated wireless design. The aim isn’t simply to produce the strongest possible signal everywhere.

Office Construction and Layout

Walk around London and you’ll see it has a huge variety of building types.

From modern glass offices to converted Victorian buildings – All London offices present different Wii-Fi challenges. 

When it comes to construction, potential Wi-Fi obstacles include:

• Brick
• Concrete
• Reinforced concrete
• Metal
• Glass
• Lifts
• Stairwells
• Plant rooms
• Dense storage
• Partition walls

Any refurbishments can also dramatically alter an RF environment. An Access Point installed before an office fit-out may no longer be positioned appropriately afterwards.

This is just one of the reasons Wi-Fi shouldn’t simply be designed from a square-metre calculation.

Roaming and the “Wi-Fi is bad when I walk around” complaint

Modern offices frequently have multiple APs, which means that devices need to transition between them. Clients ultimately make many roaming decisions themselves.

Poor network design and configuration can make roaming less effective.

Common symptoms of poor roaming:

• The Wi-Fi works, then
• The user walks towards another part of the building
• The laptop/ phone remains connected but performance deteriorates
• User understandably reports “the Wi-Fi keeps dropping”.

Increasing the broadband speed isn’t going to fix the issue. 

The 9am problem / Busy-office effect

Wi-Fi can appear excellent while an office is empty. The Wi-Fi Engineer performs a speed test at 7pm and gets fantastic results.

9am and it’s a different story. For a London office with 20-200+ employees, between 9 and 10am the next morning, dozens or even hundreds of devices arrive.

Suddenly the demand for airtime increases dramatically. Video meetings start. Cloud applications synchronise.Phones and laptops connect simultaneously.

Performance problems begin to become apparent.

This is a perfect illustration of why testing needs to consider the real operating environment rather than simply headline download speed.

Why just a normal speed test isn’t enough

Speed tests are useful, but only answer a limited question.

Speed Test results can vary according to:

• Location
• Device
• AP
• Network load
• Time of day

A professional Wi-Fi assessment should consider much more than merely Mbps. Our expert Wi-Fi engineers here at Geekabit can investigate many potential areas including:

• Signal strength
• Signal-to-noise
• Channel utilisation
• Interference
• Access Point placement
• Channel planning
• Client distribution
• Roaming behaviour
• Wired infrastructure feeding APs
• Configuration
• Actual user experience.

There is considerably more happening beneath the surface, and focusing just on internet speed is unlikely to fix the problem. 

Let’s not forget the wired network

Wi-Fi APs ultimately connect back to the wired network. Poor cabling, incorrect negotiation speeds, unsuitable switches, VLAN/configuration problems or inadequate PoE can also cause symptoms that users perceive as “bad Wi-Fi”.

Specialist troubleshooting therefore needs to look beyond the Access Points themselves.

Our approach at Geekabit is to investigate the network as a system rather than automatically blaming one component.

What can a professional Wi-Fi assessment or Site Survey reveal for a business?

There’s a lot that a Wi-Fi Site Survey can tell us about your business wireless network. 

• Areas with insufficient coverage.
• Areas with excessive overlapping coverage.
• Congested channels.
• Poor AP placement.
• Incorrect configuration.
• Capacity hotspots.
• Problems caused by building construction.
• Wired-network issues affecting wireless performance.
• Legacy equipment.
• Opportunities to optimise the existing infrastructure without necessarily replacing everything.
• Locations where additional or relocated APs would genuinely help.

Using the information provided from the Wi-Fi assessment, Geekabit can then provide evidence-based recommendations rather than trial-and-error equipment changes.

Wireless network replacement isn’t always necessary!

We’re not hardware sales people – We just want your network to function at its full potential. Wi-Fi recommendations following a Wi-Fi Site Survey aren’t necessarily going to say ‘replace everything.’ There are times where an existing Wi-Fi system is actually perfectly capable – It’s just the configuration or deployment that is poor.

A specialist assessment may recommend:

• Configuration changes
• Repositioning equipment;
• Replacing particular components
• Adding APs only where needed
• Upgrading only part of the network.

Recommendations of this nature should be based on evidence, following a Wi-Fi Assessment or Wi-Fi Site Survey.

Geekabit work alongside your existing IT department or company

We know that many London businesses already have an MSP or outsourced IT provider. Any problems with your network don’t automatically mean that your IT Manager / provider is incompetent. 

Diagnosing and resolving a complex wireless problem often requires expert knowledge, whereas general IT support covers an enormous range of technologies. A bit like how a GP knows a little about a lot of illnesses, and then refers you to a specialist for more niche diagnosis and treatments. Wi-Fi engineering is a specialist discipline.

Here at Geekabit we can work alongside:

• MSPs
• internal IT departments
• Cabling companies
• Office refurb contractors.

Geekabit can investigate the wireless problem, provide evidence based recommendations and work with the incumbent IT provider on remediation.

When should a London business consider calling a Wi-Fi specialist?

If you’ve been struggling with Wi-Fi issues for a while, it may be time to call in a Wi-Fi expert. If your London business is experiencing any of the following issues, please do get in touch with our friendly team.

• Internet connection tests well but users still complain
• Problems vary significantly depending on location
• Wi-Fi gets worse when the office is busy
• Meeting rooms regularly experience problems
• Video calls are unreliable
• Users disconnect when moving around the office
• Additional APs haven’t solved the problem
• Different engineers/providers have tried fixes without identifying the root cause
• Business is moving office or refurbishing an existing one
• Organisation is planning a significant Wi-Fi upgrade
• There is pressure to replace the entire network without clear evidence of what’s actually wrong

Call in the Wi-Fi experts at Geekabit 

Geekabit specialises in Wi-Fi and wireless networking rather than providing generic outsourced IT support. Our Wi-Fi expert engineers are on hand to provide on-site specialist assistance at your London office. 

We approach Wi-Fi problems through measurement, diagnosis and evidence.

Our team has experience with business, commercial and complex environments and has the ability to investigate and support both wireless and wired infrastructure. 

We are more than happy to work directly for your London business or alongside an existing IT provider.

Before you spend money replacing equipment or buying an even faster internet connection, STOP. It’s worth finding out what the wireless network is actually doing first. As a Wi-Fi Specialist covering London, Geekabit can help your business diagnose the problem and help deploy the solution. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my office Wi-Fi slow even though we have fast fibre?

Fast fibre only determines how much internet bandwidth reaches your office. Wi-Fi is the wireless network that distributes that connection to laptops, phones and other devices. Poor access point placement, interference, congestion, insufficient capacity or network configuration issues can therefore cause slow Wi-Fi even when a wired speed test shows a very fast internet connection.

Will upgrading to faster broadband improve our office Wi-Fi?

Not necessarily. If your existing internet connection is already fast enough for your business, upgrading it will not fix problems caused by the Wi-Fi network itself. Before increasing broadband capacity, it is worth establishing whether the bottleneck is the internet connection, the wired network or the wireless network.

Why does our office Wi-Fi get worse when more people arrive?

Wi-Fi uses shared radio airtime. As more laptops, phones and other devices connect and transmit data, they compete for that available airtime. An office Wi-Fi network therefore needs sufficient capacity for the number of devices and the applications being used, rather than simply providing a strong signal throughout the building.

Why is the Wi-Fi particularly bad in our meeting rooms?

Meeting rooms can create sudden areas of high wireless demand. A room that is normally empty might suddenly contain 10 or 20 people, each carrying a laptop and smartphone, while several users are making video calls or accessing cloud services. Good Wi-Fi design considers where users congregate as well as basic coverage.

Can adding more Wi-Fi access points make performance worse?

Yes. Adding access points without considering channels, transmit power, positioning and the existing RF environment can create additional contention and interference. More access points can provide greater capacity and coverage when properly designed, but simply installing additional units is not always the solution.

Why does Wi-Fi work well in one part of our office but badly in another?

Wi-Fi signals are affected by distance, building materials, interference and the position of access points. Brick, concrete, metal, glass, lifts and other structural features can all affect radio signals. A professional Wi-Fi assessment can identify how the wireless network actually performs across the office rather than relying solely on theoretical coverage.

Why does my laptop have full Wi-Fi signal but still feel slow?

A strong Wi-Fi signal does not guarantee good performance. Your device may have a strong connection to an access point that is busy, operating on a congested channel or affected by interference. Wi-Fi performance depends on signal quality, available airtime, network capacity and the underlying network as well as the number of signal bars displayed on a device.

Why does Wi-Fi drop when I walk around the office?

In an office with multiple access points, laptops and smartphones need to roam between them as users move around the building. Devices make many of their own roaming decisions, but access point placement and network configuration can influence how effectively this happens. Poor roaming can result in a device remaining connected to a distant access point even when a better one is available nearby.

What is a professional Wi-Fi site survey?

A professional Wi-Fi site survey assesses how a wireless network performs within a real building or planned environment. Depending on the type of survey, it can examine factors including signal strength, coverage, interference, channel utilisation, access point placement and capacity. The findings can then be used to diagnose problems or design improvements based on measured evidence.

Is a Wi-Fi site survey just a series of speed tests?

No. Speed tests can be useful, but they only show the performance experienced by one device at a particular location and moment in time. Professional Wi-Fi troubleshooting considers the wider radio environment, access point deployment, interference, capacity, configuration and the wired infrastructure supporting the wireless network.

Can network cabling or switches cause Wi-Fi problems?

Yes. Wireless access points ultimately rely on the wired network for connectivity and power. Cabling faults, incorrect Ethernet negotiation speeds, switch configuration problems or power issues can all affect an access point’s performance. Users may experience the result as poor Wi-Fi even though the underlying fault is elsewhere in the network.

Do we need to replace all our Wi-Fi equipment if performance is poor?

Not necessarily. Existing equipment may be perfectly capable but poorly positioned, configured or integrated into the wider network. A specialist assessment should identify the cause of the problem before recommending replacement equipment. In some cases, configuration changes or repositioning existing access points may significantly improve performance.

What is the difference between Wi-Fi coverage and Wi-Fi capacity?

Coverage describes whether a usable wireless signal reaches a particular area. Capacity describes whether the network can adequately support the number of devices and amount of wireless traffic in that area. A modern office can have excellent Wi-Fi coverage but inadequate capacity when large numbers of people are using the network simultaneously.

Why are London offices particularly challenging for Wi-Fi?

London offices are often located in dense commercial environments containing many neighbouring wireless networks. Multi-tenant buildings, neighbouring businesses, complex building materials and high numbers of connected devices can create challenging radio environments. Effective office Wi-Fi therefore needs to account for the surrounding RF environment as well as the size and layout of the premises.

Can Geekabit investigate our Wi-Fi without replacing our existing IT company?

Yes. Geekabit can work directly with businesses, internal IT teams and existing managed IT providers to investigate specialist Wi-Fi and networking problems. The objective is to identify the underlying cause, provide evidence and recommend appropriate improvements rather than requiring a business to replace its existing IT support provider.

When should we call a Wi-Fi specialist?

Consider specialist investigation when Wi-Fi problems persist despite having a reliable internet connection, when performance changes significantly around the building or during busy periods, or when previous attempts to fix the problem have been unsuccessful. A specialist assessment can also be valuable before an office move, refurbishment or significant wireless network upgrade.

How can we tell whether the problem is our broadband or our Wi-Fi?

Comparing wired and wireless performance is a useful starting point. If devices connected directly to the network perform well while wireless devices experience poor or inconsistent performance, the problem may be within the Wi-Fi network rather than the internet connection. A proper assessment can investigate the internet connection, wired infrastructure and wireless environment to locate the actual bottleneck.

Should Wi-Fi be planned before moving into a new London office?

Yes. Planning Wi-Fi before an office fit-out allows access point locations, network cabling and capacity requirements to be considered alongside the physical layout of the space. This can avoid access points being installed wherever cabling happens to be convenient and reduce the need for disruptive changes after staff have moved in.