How to choose WiFi access points for restaurants

by Marco Papavero | Apr 22, 2021 | All articles, TanazaOS, What's new, Wireless Hardware

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WiFi Access Points for Restaurants - Choose the Right Hardware

How to choose WiFi access points for restaurants

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about how to choose WiFi access points for restaurants.

Choosing the best WiFi access points for restaurants is much more important than we think. Access points are the backbone of any wireless network. Therefore, it is important to choose the right hardware as it ensures that you can build a strong and scalable system that can handle the right amount of connections per device and maintain the network’s reliability based on your connectivity needs.

When deploying a new WiFi network, it is important to look for the right access point to enhance guests’ connectivity. The type of access points you might require will depend on the environment in which it will be deployed. Further, it is paramount to provide seamless connectivity that allows users to roam freely throughout the space.

Choosing the right WiFi Access Point for restaurants

Measure the restaurant size and check physical obstacles for WiFi signal

The primary step that involves choosing the right access point for your restaurant is to measure your restaurant’s size. Check how large is the space you need to cover with an access point. If you are just starting a new restaurant with less gathering, say around 10-30 people, you will need far fewer access points than what you might require for a gathering of around 30-80 people. If you think of expanding shortly, you might consider choosing an AP with an extensive range to prepare for your growth.

Also, you need to consider many factors, such as the shape of your floor plan, note the type of building or wall materials that divide the space. The number of access points needed in a place increases if the internal walls are separating the area.

Removing any unnecessary physical obstacle will enhance the connectivity of the access point. A thorough survey of your restaurant will also help determine how many access points you will require.

Number of concurrent users – Check how many users are connected to WiFi

Depending on the size of the location, the number of concurrent users connected to the network will also vary. For example, a large restaurant network may host approximately a maximum of 30 concurrent WiFi users, whereas a mid-sized restaurant may host a maximum of 12 concurrent users. Therefore, it is important to take into account the client coverage carefully when designing the WiFi network.

In addition, different factors can affect the number of concurrent users that a wireless access point can support. Although many access points support up to approximately 250 connected devices, it is important to note that single radio devices can handle a smaller number of concurrent users than dual-radio access points.

If you want to calculate the number of concurrent users and number of APs for your WiFi networks, read our article Network Capacity Planning – Wireless Capacity vs. Coverage.

Predict internet usage to establish what WiFi access points work better for your restaurant

It is essential to understand the internet usage of your restaurant and to know what kind of online activity your WiFi users will be doing while connected to your WiFi network. Knowing your internet usage is necessary to choose the right access point for your restaurant.

Some applications consume more bandwidth than others. The rate of data transfer is calculated in bits per second. This bit/second is quite lower when customers simply browse the web, message and chat on Facebook, Whatsapp, or Telegram, or just go through their emails. However, when people share or download the pictures and files on DropBox and Google Drive, the number of bits/seconds transmitted across your network will increase.

Moreover, if guest users are streaming videos on YouTube, Netflix, or making VoIP calls and video calls, there is a significant rise in the number of bits/sec. Therefore, it is important to predict internet usage beforehand to provide your guests with an optimal WiFi experience. The access point handles different numbers of concurrent users depending on the internet usage of customers.

Calculate your internet usage with our access point selector.

Choose the best WiFi access points for restaurants, considering technological variables

By considering the technological variables, you would choose the best WiFi access points for the guest users. Apart from the access point performance, if the signal of the WiFi network is not reached to the users, the number of concurrent clients connected to the network in a location will be limited.

Thus, carry out a proper site survey of your restaurant to choose the right access point. There are many expectations from a particular access point ranging from speed performance, ease of installation, cloud manageability, and software stability. Access points with cloud-based management features are a must for any restaurant provider. It lets network administrators control the devices and customize bandwidth while monitoring the overall network performance and security issues.

Discover Tanaza Powered Devices with network management out-of-the-box for your restaurant WiFi networks.

POE vs LAN

Power over Ethernet (PoE) is a technique that passes electrical power over wired ethernet local area networks. It allows the power cords to carry the electrical current of each device instead of data cables. The POE usage limits the number of wires needed for a Wifi network. The primary benefit of the POE is that you do not need to run electrical wiring, which saves money in material and saves installation time. The usage of POE has made access point installations relatively easier and more scalable.

On the other hand, LAN is a computer network that interconnects computers within a limited area. Contrary to Power over Ethernet, in LAN cable external power source (Adapter) is required to get the power.

802.11ac vs 802.11n

The 802.11ac and 802.11n are the wireless networking standards that significantly differ from each other. The IEEE 802.11ac was finalized in 2013, and it supports a wireless frequency of the only 5Hz. It is the 5th generation of WiFi and is found in every major smartphone, laptop, computer, and smart television. The improved version of 802.11ac offers better speed, better range, and enhanced WiFi performance.

Instead, the 802.11n wireless networking standard was finalized in 2009. It uses multiple antennas to increase data rates and supports the wireless frequencies of both 2.4GHz and 5GHz. In terms of speed, 802.11ac is capable of 720Mbps (Megabits/sec.), whereas 802.11n locks its speed at 240Mbps.

You clearly know the winner here. As 802.11n uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless frequencies, it surpasses the 5th generation of WiFi which only uses 5GHz. Higher frequency bands are comparatively faster, but lower bands travel further.

Determine WiFi access point placement to improve coverage

Only having a suitable access point will not determine seamless connectivity. If you have placed a WiFi access point for a restaurant, you need to find a suitable placement to improve its coverage. It is recommended to install the wireless access point on the ceilings of your restaurants as this will provide full connectivity to the whole place.

Moreover, the top of the access point must be facing the intended service area to improve the coverage. This is the place where the antennas of an access point are situated.

The access point must never be obstructed by anything, such as drop ceilings, TVs, or cameras. In fact, these access points get affected by other devices that transmit radiofrequency. Therefore, the interference results in weak and unstable connectivity. So make sure that your access point is positioned away from the common radio sources such as Televisions, Microwave/Ovens, Speakers, Wireless security cameras, and many more.

Select the right WiFi access point antenna types: directional vs omnidirectional

It totally depends on your network connectivity to choose from the two types of WiFi access point antennas. One is directional, and the other is omnidirectional. The omnidirectional antenna is the one that sends signals to all directions, whereas the directional antenna, as the name suggests, sends a signal to only one direction.

After surveying your network connectivity, you can decide to choose the right WiFi access point antenna. Directional antennas are considered a better option as they send a signal in one specific direction. You can improve your network connectivity by pointing your antenna in the direction where the signal lacks.

Test a multi-vendor approach if you want to reduce costs

While you are looking for the right WiFi access points for your restaurant, you need to consider all the factors that will ensure the seamless connectivity of your network to guest users. Consider that you need to install devices not only indoors but also outdoors for your deployment.

For optimum performance of your access point, check the Tanaza platform. It’s a multi-vendor network management software to operate and control access points in the cloud.

Tanaza works with the most commercial access point brands like Ubiquiti, MikroTik, OpenMesh, LigoWave, PowerCloud, and also it comes already pre-installed in a selected line of access points from Comfast, Amer Networks, Intelbras (only for Brazil), DCN, and Yuncore.

With Tanaza, you will be able to manage multiple WiFi devices from different vendors in a centralized way. Troubleshoot WiFi networks via cloud, enable captive portals with different authentication methods and customize the guest WiFi experience from a single platform.

If you are looking for the right access point for restaurants, you also need a network management software to operate and control the devices and networks. Tanaza allows you to scale network deployments, mix and match brands, all from the cloud.

Tanaza offers various customization options for the network administrators in which they can also limit the bandwidth and data usage. Discover all the features of the Tanaza platform by starting a free trial today.

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Can I use MikroTik hardware with Tanaza?

by Marco Papavero | Apr 20, 2021 | Device management, Partnerships, Tanaza Account Management, TanazaOS

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Mikrotik Hardware Management - Can I use it with Tanaza?

Can I use MikroTik hardware with Tanaza?

MikroTik hardware can sometimes be tricky and hard to handle if you are not skilled in managing complex configuration methods.
Do you have MikroTik hardware deployed and would like to have an alternative to manage other access point brands from a single platform? Then keep reading this article and learn how Tanaza can be the smartest alternative to manage your Mikrotik devices and multi-vendor access points from a single platform with no complexity in the middle.

Tanaza for MikroTik Hardware

Tanaza’s WiFi cloud management platform is a solution designed for IT professionals by Network Engineers. Deploy and control WiFi networks, access points, SSIDs, and connected devices from a single dashboard in the cloud.
Tanaza’s robust and reliable technology is based on a Linux-based Operating System compatible with a wide range of access points, from the most cost-effective to Enterprise high-performing ones.

Scale your networks

Manage unlimited networks and access points from the Tanaza dashboard, accessible from desktop, tablet, or smartphone, at no extra cost. With Tanaza, there is no cape on the number of networks and access points managed through the platform. Furthermore, Tanaza allows you to mix and match hardware devices and scale your networks when needed.

Reduce costs

Avoid the costs associated with vendor lock-in. Tanaza provides users with unprecedented flexibility and higher operational levels. Thanks to its vendor-agnostic capabilities, users can select their hardware of choice.

Manage centralized networks

Tanaza’s user-friendly interface allows users to install the Tanaza firmware on compatible MikroTik hardware and cloud-managed all devices from a centralized dashboard effortlessly. The advantage of Tanaza is that users can deploy networks remotely, control and troubleshoot access points even if the networks are in different locations across the globe.

Provision APs with Zero-touch

Configure efficient and error-free networks. The zero-touch provisioning feature allows the remote configuration of hundreds of APs before they even go online. Send APs pre-configured to the customer’s premises for installation only. As soon as the device is connected, it automatically gets all the configurations set up in the platform.

Integrate your favorite apps

Tanaza’s rich marketplace enables users to integrate third-party applications from independent software vendors to meet any specific need. Enable applications like Cloud4Wi to empower the Guest WiFi experience or Express Wi-Fi by Facebook to monetize WiFi networks in emerging countries. We also have the Classic Hotspot by Tanaza to manage public WiFi hotspots from the cloud.

Enjoy a flexible subscription plan

Tanaza provides flexible subscription plans to fit any network deployment. Take advantage of monthly commitments if you are deploying seasonal networks. Alternatively, get on board with yearly, 3 or 5-year subscription plans for long-standing deployments. You can deploy multiple networks and have different subscription plans per network. We adapt to your deployment needs. Our monthly subscription starts at $3.50 per device. Alternatively, our annual plans start from $35 per AP (save 16%), $70 per AP for 3 years (save 45%), or $105 per AP for the 5-year plan (save 50%).

MikroTik hardware compatible with Tanaza

Tanaza currently supports the MikroTik RB951UI 2HnD and MikroTik wAP AC. It is also compatible with Ubiquiti, Comfast, DCN, LigoWave, Amer Networks, Intelbras, PowerCloud, and OpenMesh devices. We continuously keep adding new hardware to our compatible list. If you don’t find your device within our list, we can develop compatibility on-demand for large network deployments. Just fill out the “Request a device” form, and we will run a free-of-charge investigation to see if the device is supportable.

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Remote syslog – Track client device connections

Update Firmware in Wireless Access Points

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Manage MikroTik devices with Tanaza – Mikrotik Cloud Management

by Marco Papavero | Apr 19, 2021 | Device management, Partnerships, Tanaza Account Management, TanazaOS

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Manage MikroTik devices with Tanaza – Mikrotik Cloud Management

Do you need a Mikrotik cloud management platform?
Are you a MikroTik user?
Are you looking for an easy solution to manage your deployments and control devices remotely from the cloud?

You are in the right place then; keep reading the article to find out more about the most innovative alternative to manage your networks effortlessly.
MikroTik devices are incredibly flexible. They allow users to customize almost everything, but they also require a high level of technical skills to be correctly set. This sometimes results in quite complex configuration and management procedures.
The MikroTik management software, the Dude, allows you to customize a lot, but it can be hard to use if you’re not an expert. It doesn’t allow you to control everything from a single dashboard and to make changes quickly when you need to. On the soft side, the interface might not be that user-friendly at all.
However, Tanaza is the ideal solution to manage your MikroTik devices, mix and match other hardware vendors while still working everything from a single pane.

Mikrotik cloud management from a single platform

Tanaza is a WiFi cloud management platform for IT professionals to manage and operate remotely WiFi access points and networks. The Tanaza platform allows MikroTik users to quickly install, configure and monitor their access points via the cloud through an intuitive web interface accessible from computers, tablets, and mobile.
MikroTik users can install the TanazaOS firmware on their devices and cloud-managed them from a centralized dashboard. The advantage of Tanaza is that users can deploy unlimited networks seamlessly with zero-touch provisioning on the Tanaza platform in a few clicks.
Furthermore, Tanaza’s vendor-agnostic capabilities allow users to mix and match access point brands. The platform works with the most popular networking brands like Ubiquiti, Mikrotik, TP-Link, and LigoWave. Thanks to partnerships with Hardware Manufacturers, users can buy selected Enterprise access points from Comfast, Amer Networks, Intelbras, and DCN, which comes with the Tanaza Operating System pre-installed, for a “plug&play” experience. With this high-performing line of devices, users can reduce the total cost of ownership by 80% compared to commercial enterprise devices.

Centralized network management for MikroTik users

Tanaza is ideal if you need a cloud-based system that lets you control remotely every aspect of your device configuration and network deployment, particularly when you need to deploy multiple access points in different locations from multi-vendors.
The Tanaza platform offers different features to facilitate the configuration and installation of small and medium to large and complex WiFi networks:

Intuitive user-interface

The Tanaza platform offers an intuitive and user-friendly interface: the deployment, configuration, and remote monitoring of WiFi networks become very easy and immediate, with no need for particular skills.

Centralized configuration of MikroTik access points

Users can increase efficiency with Tanaza by configuring, managing, and monitoring multiple organizations and networks, access points, SSIDs, and client devices from a single platform.
Tanaza lets users set the basic configurations of the network applied by default to all the same network access points. This feature ensures an issue-free, fast and easy provisioning of new access points, ideal for large-scale network deployments.
Additionally, in case of disconnection of an access point, the system will automatically restore the WiFi access point’s last working settings to avoid disruptions in the network.

Remote monitoring

It’s possible to monitor WiFi networks and control access points remotely. Tanaza enables users to monitor the WiFi network’s performance indicators thanks to real-time statistics at the WiFi network and access point level.
You can control how many client devices are currently associated with an SSID and how much bandwidth they are consuming. Also, you can identify possible bottlenecks in bandwidth demand and oversee the access points’ health status, mainly if the number of connections requested increases. Furthermore, with Tanaza, you can reboot WiFi access points at a specific hour and weekday or schedule WiFi network maintenance to minimize downtime and load peaks after a long uptime.

Cloud-based platform

Tanaza represents the best alternative to the on-premises and hybrid-cloud deployments because there’s no need for physical hardware controllers. It relies its cloud platform on the Amazon Web Services (AWS), guaranteeing the market’s highest security levels while running on a robust cloud infrastructure.
Tanaza takes care of many operations, including server maintenance, backup, security patches, and fixes, to ensure the system’s high availability for minimum downtime and productivity losses.

Zero-touch deployment

Network administrators can set the network’s basic configurations applied by default to all the cloud-managed access points in that network remotely. Thanks to the zero-touch feature, access points can be sent pre-configured to the customer’s site for installation.
Also, it is possible to reconfigure access points without rebooting them or restarting the services, all from the Tanaza dashboard.

Multi-Tenancy

Tanaza offers multi-tenant and role-based administration capabilities for Mikrotik cloud management. Tenants can monitor and manage multiple organizations and networks of access points based on their permission levels.

The role-based administration feature reduces the risk of malicious configuration and isolates other collaborators’ parts of the network. Tanaza’s multi-tenant structure allows an unlimited number of administrators and offers greater scalability and flexibility when managing multiple WiFi network deployments of hundreds of access points.

Marketplace

Tanaza keeps building its marketplace to offer a vast wide range of third-party software applications users can integrate with the platform for added-value services. You can enable any application at no extra cost.

The Tanaza platform integrates with the Classic Hotspot management system and Cloud4Wi to manage and monitor the guest WiFi experience and enable any captive portal on top of the platform.

Moreover, if you are a Service Provider deploying large networks in emerging countries, Express WiFi is ideal for generating revenues over WiFi. Tanaza is an Express WiFi Technology Partner. Therefore, the Tanaza WiFi cloud management software integrates seamlessly with the Express WiFi platform to enable Service Providers to use a fully integrated solution to manage their network deployments coupled with the best-in-class monetization tools offered by Express WiFi by Facebook. Learn more about Express WiFi to generate revenues over WiFi.

Are you ready to switch your networks and your MikroTik devices to the smartest alternative for network management?

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Reduce Operating Costs of Wi-Fi Networks

Tanaza WiFi platform vs. Classic Hotspot

What is MUMIMO and why is needed it?

by Marco Papavero | Apr 19, 2021 | Device management, TanazaOS

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What is MUMIMO and why is needed it? A technical guide for 2022

MUMIMO is a multipath wireless communication technology that allows multiple antennas to improve communication by creating multiple connections to the same device at the same time.

In this article, you will learn how it works, the future of the technology, what kind of devices it supports.

The main benefits of MUMIMO are:
– Wi-Fi constant signal
– Increased network capacity
– More network speed (2x downlink throughput of each device)
– Improved performance and reducted latency for high-density activities

Click on each item of the list to understand more about MUMIMO.

A typical scenario for the use of MUMIMO

Let’s assume you are experiencing congestion in the WiFi network. The devices connected run slower and your WiFi connection suffers from interruptions and delays. This could be due to an access point in the network serving only one client device at a time. With single-user access points, each device waits its turn to send and receive data from the internet.

Accordingly, when a new device tries to connect, the waiting time becomes longer. Enter MU-MIMO, a set of wireless technologies that enables multiple client devices simultaneously to communicate with each other. Let’s discover why MU-MIMO is so useful and how you can make the most of it.

What is MUMIMO?

MUMIMO – Multi-User, Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output – is a feature introduced within IEEE 802.11ac Wave 2. This technology allows a set of users or wireless terminals, respectively, with one or more antennas to communicate with each other. In this way, multiple WiFi devices can simultaneously receive multiple data streams.

MIMO – Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output -, which refers to the way internet bandwidth is broken up by an access point and pushed to the connected devices, has evolved over the years since the debut of the single-user mode (SU-MIMO) introduced with the 802.11n wireless standard. MIMO technology was created to increase the number of antennas on a wireless router or access point used to receive and transmit, improving wireless connections capacity.

MUMIMO access points can be available in 2×2, 3×3, or 4×4 variations. These variations refer to the number of streams (two, three, or four) that they can create for each device. This technology was developed to help in situations where multiple users are trying to access the wireless network at the same time, without interruption of the connectivity.

The 802.11ac (WiFi 5) standard introduced optional MUMIMO in Wave 2 products. With the 802.11ax (WiFi 6) standard, we see even more progress to this new innovative technology.

How does MUMIMO work?

This technology works with downlink wireless connections and allows access points to transmit data to multiple client devices simultaneously. To understand how MUMIMO works, let’s explore how MIMO works in principle. For MIMO to work, both the client device and access point must have multiple radio antenna chains that are identical and physically separated.

For instance, an access point that can send radiofrequency on one stream and receive it on another would be 1×1. Then, a 2×2 device supports two streams in each direction, and a 3×3 device supports three, and so on. Any device that supports more streams will work with any device that supports fewer streams, but the lesser device will limit the overall performance.

A transmitting radio chain sends a data set (known as a spatial stream) that the receiver’s radio chain reconstructs. In MIMO, each radio/antenna chain transmits a spatial stream in the same frequency channel as the transmitter. Then, the receiver gets each stream on each of its identical radio/antenna chains. Because the receiver understands the phase offsets of its own antennas, it can reconstruct the original streams.

Transmit Beamforming

Another key feature to grasp to understand better how MUMIMO works. Beamforming sends the same spatial stream on multiple antennas with determined timing offsets, thus increasing range.

MU-MIMO takes advantage of Beamforming —a feature of 11ac and 11ax that directs signals toward the intended wireless device instead of random directions. The signal is directed to the devices that are connected to it. Without Beamforming, a transmission would be sent in every possible direction. Since the signal is more efficiently used, MU-MIMO helps increase WiFi ranges and speeds.

It allows an antenna to send radio signals from one location to multiple specific endpoints, instead of transmitting around an entire area. This designated point-to-multipoint communication creates a stronger, better, faster wireless communication.

Full Bandwidth VS Partial Bandwidth

MUMIMO transmissions can work on two different types of bandwidth: Full Bandwidth (242-tone RU) and Partial Bandwidth (106-tones RU).

In the WiFi6 standard, only 26, 52, 106, 242 e 996 RU-tones can transmit data. MUMIMO can have different bandwidth sensitivity. It depends on the network activity MSPs, ISPs, and SPs have to do.

Assuming to work on a channel bandwidth of 20MHz
MUMIMO transmission in the full bandwidth will use a 242-tone RU which effectively occupies the entire channel.
MUMIMO transmission in the partial bandwidth (in combination with OFDMA) mode will use a 106-tone RU to allocate proportionally on two different users for a single stream.

What are the benefits of MUMIMO?

Several advantages can widely enhance your network experience if using this feature.

The signal remains constant

The main benefit of MUMIMO is that instead of each stream being systematically interrupted, a MUMIMO access point can keep its signal constant for the connected client devices and properly distribute the bandwidth to each of them without compromising any devices’ speed at the same time.

MU-MIMO helps increase network capacity

Both MUMIMO and SU-MIMO devices operate fast because all network devices have less time to wait to get data from the WiFi access point. Still, MUMIMO technology increases the network’s capacity and efficiency, allowing the access point to handle more WiFi-intensive activities such as streaming and gaming. Thus, MU-MIMO can help alleviate congestion on busy or dense networks, such as WiFi hotspots.

Any channel width is supported. 2x downlink throughput of each device

Although your network uses narrower 20MHz- or 40MHz-wide channels, MU-MIMO can help it run faster by serving some clients simultaneously. How faster depends on how many supported devices are on the network and how many streams each of them supports. Using MU-MIMO even without implementing wide channels could double the downlink throughput of each device.

MUMIMO improves performance and reduce latency

It reduces latency and improves performance for high-density activities such as video streaming, video calls, or webinars. The access point never interrupts its connection with the client device in order to communicate with other devices. MU-MIMO minimizes jitter, freezes, and buffering.

MUMIMO and WiFI6 (IEEE 802.11ax)

To meet the challenges of high-density deployments, the IEEE recently introduced the WiFi 6 (802.11ax). With the arrival of this new standard, MU-MIMO work in both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The access points can support up to twelve simultaneous streams, with four streams on 2.4 GHz band and eight streams on the 5GHz band. This can help speed up the communication process, both in download and upload.

In the 802.11ax standard, 8-stream MUMIMO can be combined with the OFDMA modulation technology. In fact, WiFi6 leverages the multi-user version of OFDMA and MU-MIMO for better efficiency of uplink and downlink transmissions.

OFDMA and 8-stream MUMIMO is the perfect combination for ultra high-density environments as:
– stadium
– malls
– transportation hubs
– convention centers
– auditoriums.

What is the future for MU-MIMO?

Nowadays, MU-MIMO is still expanding its capabilities, and always more devices can get the benefits. Therefore, the possibilities of MU-MIMO are rapidly growing and could become endless, with considerable advantages for an even more performing internet network experience.
The ultimate variation available on the market with the new standard is the 8×8 MU-MIMO. This technology is also known as Massive MIMO. 8×8 devices can transmit data on eight radio chains to a single client, downloading and uploading at the same time.

Benefits of 8×8 compared to 4×4

An 8×8 AP is excellent for medium and large deployments, where many devices access the Internet simultaneously. This variation offers improved MU-MIMO performance for:

Single-user data throughput
MU-MIMO capacity – 8×8 devices support four simultaneous 2×2 MU-MIMO clients that support downlink MU-MIMO, with significant multiplications in network capacity.
Larger WiFi coverage area, especially thanks to the Beamforming.
WiFi reliability with fewer interruptions of the connection
Possibility to deliver up to 1.2 Gbps of bandwidth to each of four 2×2 client devices. The total aggregate bandwidth will be then of 4.8 Gbps.
Repeater Configuration, reducing the need for repeater/mesh over 4×4, thus representing the most economical deployment for service providers.

In summary, the deployment of 8×8 APs significantly increases the data rate over 4×4 AP deployments. Loss of connection goes down from almost 23% for a 4×4 deployment to 10% for 8×8 deployment resulting in a 60% decrease in disconnections.

Furthermore, MU-MIMO scales better with 8×8 rather than 4×4. While coverage can be improved by adding repeaters, network capacity goes down, ending in a lower capacity than using 8×8 APs in those deployments where an 8×8 AP provides sufficient coverage.

It seems that 8×8 MU-MIMO facilitates access points to manage traffic from different 802.11ax devices more efficiently than 4×4. Nevertheless, the debate on the pros and cons of 8×8 is still open.

The drawbacks of 8×8

As a first issue, we point out that 8×8 APs might require a significant power consumption. The power needed could not be covered by the standard PoE. The 8×8 APs may require 31 watts of power or more, so even PoE Plus power would not be enough.The 8×8 APs that use the standard 25 Watts provided by the PoE Plus often suffer from a downgrade in functionalities. This aspect implies that the power budget for deployment must be sometimes reviewed. These 8×8 APs could be very expensive and cause an enormous waste on any PoE power budget.

Moreover, MU-MIMO requires spatial diversity. Most of today’s WiFi enterprise deployments involve a high density of users and devices that are not compatible with MU-MIMO provisions. To make MU-MIMO technology perform, there must be a proper physical distance between all the clients and between the AP.

Almost all indoor WLANs are high-density environments because there are many users and devices. What’s more, most users want to connect with more than one wireless device, at the same time. Additionally, high-density environments expect multiple areas with roaming as a fundamental prerequisite. But, MU-MIMO hardly works well with mobile clients. So the necessary spatial diversity doesn’t exist within the majority of indoor enterprise WiFi high-density deployments.

In conclusion, even if MU-MIMO profits can appear more than the drawbacks, often, the reality is that the expensive 8×8 AP offers no substantial advantage over a less expensive 4×4 access point.

16×16 MU-MIMO and 64×64 MU-MIMO has already been taken into consideration by the industry with the arrival of IEEE 802.11be standard – WIFI 7 and the next generations of WiFi access points.

Soon you will read more information in this page.

What kind of devices support MUMIMO?

If you want to use MU-MIMO in your wireless network, both the client device and the access point must support 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO. Not all access points support MU-MIMO, which means having at least 802.11ac Wave 2 devices. Most modern devices already do, the older models, such as 802.11 a, b, g, n do not support it. Anyway, the equipment must specifically state that they can support MU-MIMO.

4×4 MUMIMO Tanaza Powered Devices

Tanaza has a curated selection of access points that support 4×4 MU-MIMO. The cloud-managed access points come with the Tanaza software already installed to give customers a plug & play experience.

The Tanaza Powered access points are suitable for professional medium and large-scale deployments. Also, Tanaza gives customers the flexibility to choose the WiFi access points that meet their needs best from our list of compatible devices.

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Discover the line of Tanaza Powered Devices and enjoy an out-of-the-box experience with a full support of 4×4 MU-MIMO capabilities.

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5GHz vs 2.4GHz – What is the best WiFi frequency for business?

https://www.tanaza.com/blog/how-to-monitor-bandwidth/

Comfast joins the Tanaza Powered Device

by Caterina Vertaldi | Mar 29, 2021 | Device management, Partnerships, Tanaza Account Management, TanazaOS

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Comfast joins the Tanaza Powered Device family with cloud management ‘out-of-the-box’

Tanaza and Comfast have partnered to bring a new cloud-managed solution to the networking industry. The Tanaza software running over Comfast hardware ‘out-of-the-box’ provides the networking market with a smart alternative to cloud-based networking for a ‘plug and play’ experience. This partnership offers IT professionals a networking solution to provision, manage and deploy over thousands of WiFi access points from a single cloud-based platform.

This year, Tanaza is closing multiple partnerships with OEMs in the networking industry to bring a compelling alternative to network management. The operational model that Tanaza proposes offers a cost-effective, easy-to-use, and scalable solution on the market with unprecedented levels of flexibility and efficiency.

Tanaza’s modular software layer integrates on top with third-party applications to offer added-value services to suit specific customers’ needs. From Wi-Fi monetization applications like Express Wi-Fi by Facebook to Hotspot management, Tanaza can enable integrations seamlessly on any Comfast device powered by Tanaza.

The Comfast devices models powered by Tanaza

Comfast CF-EW71
Product specifications

The Comfast CF-EW71 is an 802.11b/g/n 360-degree omnidirectional outdoor high-power WiFi coverage AP. It’s mostly suitable for spaces like schools, parks, shopping malls, and villages.

The outdoor IP66 rating provides the ability to handle severe outdoor environments. It is waterproof, dustproof, antifreeze, high-temperature resistant, and lighting-protected. Still,it also suits indoor wide range coverage.

It has a speed wireless transmission rate of 300 Mbps. Furthermore, CF-EW71 supports a 2.4Ghz frequency, 48V PoE, and can be wall or pole mounted. A single AP can handle 50 concurrent wireless devices and assures a stable, lag-free network experience.

Comfast CF-E320N V2
Product specifications

The Comfast CF-E320N V2 is an 802.11b/g/n wireless access point. It is suitable for high-density indoor long-range environments, like restaurants, hotels, exhibition centers, meeting rooms, and shopping malls. It can be ceiling or wall-mounted.

Speed wireless transmission rate is 300 Mbps, perfect for multi-user simultaneous access. In this way, it will be easier to avoid connectivity interruptions and breakdowns. CF-E320N V2 uses the typical power consumption and supports a 2.4Ghz frequency. Anti-thunder 365 days stabilization guaranteed. Additionally, It supports roaming seamlessly, and clients can move without any packet loss.

Comfast CF-EW72
Product specifications

The Comfast EW72 is an 802.11b/g/n long-range outdoor AP. It is designed to provide WISP, CPE solutions, and long-range wireless network solutions for video surveillance and transmission. It provides a compelling performance solution with two omnidirectional antennas and strong transmit power of up to 500mW to deliver long-range coverage.

Ideal for small and growing businesses, it also provides an efficient way to pick up and maintain a stable signal for a wireless network connection from a long distance.
It supports dual-band speed up to 2.4GHz 300Mbps and 5GHz 867Mbps. Furthermore, EW72 has an IP66-rated weatherproof housing that ensures continued operation in harsh outdoor environments or climates of extreme cold, heat, or continuous moisture.

Comfast CF-E375AC V2
Product specifications

The Comfast CF-E375AC V2 is an 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless ceiling AP, which supports dual bands 2.4/5.8Ghz simultaneously. Also, it has a built-in dual-band anti-interference technology. It is ideal for high-density indoor environments like hotels, auditoriums, schools, convention halls, restaurants, and offices.

It supports MU-MIMO technology that allows optimizing the antenna array. The 2.4 GHz supports 3×3, which offers three spatial streams. A maximum of three clients can be simultaneously connected to the AP. The 5.8Ghz has 2×2, offering two spatial streams of wirelessly transmitting and receiving data on the same channel or frequency. A maximum of two clients can be simultaneously connected to the AP.

Comfast CF-WA350
Product specifications

The Comfast CF-WA350 is an 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO, high power access point, ideal for outdoor long-distance transmission signals. Multiple concurrent users can connect online thanks to directional dual-polarized antennas and a powerful transmit power of up to 500mW. The AP is ideal for residential areas, parks, schools, commercial streets, villages, and more.

The CF-WA350 supports dual-frequency on 2.4/5.8Ghz. Thanks to it, 160 users can go online simultaneously. An estimated 50 users can access the Internet on the 2.4Ghz band and 110 users on the 5.8Ghz. Remember that the environment, the network, and any interference can influence the number of concurrent users.

Furthermore, the 1300 Mbps high-speed wireless transmission rate of the CF-WA350 makes WiFi signals stronger and more efficient. On the other hand, the two-gigabit ports support higher bandwidth while transmitting data in a more agile and smooth way.

The AP features an IP67-rated weatherproof enclosure to ensure continuous operation in harsh outdoor environments with extreme cold, hot, or humidity.

Comfast CF-WA700
Product specifications

The Comfast CF-WA700 is an 802.11b/g/n high-power outdoor AP with 500W Engineering Signal Amplifier WiFi Signal Booster omnidirectional CPE. It is a larger area wifi coverage AP, particularly suitable for outdoor environments, like parks, schools, and squares.

It supports 48V PoE, ideal for outdoor power consumption, and a 2.4Ghz frequency, with a speed wireless transmission rate of up to 300 Mbps.

Tanaza, a compelling alternative solution for cloud-based network management

The Tanaza platform enables MSPs, ISPs, System Integrators, and Network Operators to enhance their networks’ performance by allowing them to manage all WiFi networks, access points, SSIDs, and clients from one single dashboard in the cloud.

The Tanaza platform also features:

Auto rollback: when a wrong configuration is applied, the system restores the previous one
A scheduled reboot of APs
Enabling and disabling the hardware reset button
Automatic channel distribution
Centralized SSIDs, with up to 8 SSIDs per access point
Client isolation
Maximum concurrent clients
Band selection
Built-in Hotspot
Per SSID and client bandwidth control
802.11r, 802.11k 802.11v support
Integration with third-party applications like Express Wi-Fi by Facebook, Cloud4Wi, Social WiFi and Classic Hotspot by Tanaza.

Tanaza represents a smart alternative to manage network deployments from the cloud. The Comfast Tanaza Powered Devices can be deployed remotely with zero-touch provisioning thanks to the Tanaza WiFi cloud management platform. IT professionals can now access cost-effective, high-performing devices cloud-managed with Tanaza ‘out-of-the-box’.

Comfast + Tanaza = ‘plug & play‘ experience

Lower your WiFi networks TCO with Comfast Tanaza Powered Devices.

Reduce Operating Costs of Wi-Fi Networks

Tanaza WiFi platform vs. Classic Hotspot