How to deploy an Outdoor WiFi network for your venue

by Marketing Team | Jul 21, 2021 | All articles, Cloud Management, Device management, Networking, TanazaOS, What's new, WiFi Networks, Wireless Hardware

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How to deploy an Outdoor WiFi network for your venue

There can be multiple reasons why you need to deploy an outdoor WiFi network for your area. Maybe you want your guest WiFi network to extend outside to keep your guests connected on your network at all times.
Nowadays, many businesses offer complimentary WiFi for their guests/customers. One of the most primary and biggest reasons to provide free WiFi is that it increases on-premises time. Many surveys suggest that consumers stay longer when they are connected to public WiFi. It is also seen that businesses offering free WiFi have seen a comparatively high success rate. No matter how large or small your business is, offering free WiFi will always benefit your business in one way or another. Consider this as an investment, and you will feel the growth in your company.

5 key things to take into consideration before deploying an outdoor WiFi network

Before deploying an outdoor WiFi network, there are few things that you must take into consideration. Like an indoor WiFi network, the outdoor WiFi network also needs to be planned before deploying the access points. It’s essential to map out every access point and the extent to which the outdoor network will reach.

Remember, the outside areas you want to expand coverage to should be where you expect the most traffic. You need to ensure that throughout the installation of your outdoor network, the same network management configuration and solutions are being followed as your other networks.

With time, we have gotten access to tools to determine where we should place our access points and how high we should place them to broadcast the best signal. Choosing the right equipment is vital as everything depends on it. Apart from the access points, there are multiple things that you need to consider, such as firewalls, switches, network interface controllers, and so much more. Your equipment must work seamlessly and not create any limitations for you from a speed or usability standpoint. By positioning your equipment correctly, you will distribute the wireless signal to cover a large area. Configuring your equipment will provide the best performance in the environment you have set up your network.

Estimate bandwidth needs for outdoor WiFi

When building infrastructure, it is crucial to detect how much bandwidth do you require carefully. It is fundamental to consider and adequately calculate the bandwidth requirements of the WiFi network. As we all know, bandwidth is referred to as the channel’s capacity to transmit data. Data is sent in a binary system (0 or 1), each of which is called a bit.

Network bandwidth plays a significant role in designing and maintaining a functional wireless network. Now, it is essential to calculate network bandwidth requirements before deploying them onto a network because the more bandwidth the data connection has, the more data it can send and receive at one time.

However, every kind of deployment location has certain types of bandwidth limits. This means that there is a constraint to space for the data to flow. Some devices require more bandwidth than others. If you wish to maintain proper speeds on each device, then greater bandwidth is a must.

Before you start deploying your WiFi network, you must estimate how many devices will be connected to your WiFi network simultaneously. The more bandwidth you deliver, the faster the devices will run. The usage level for Social Networks, Emails, VOIP, and video streaming ranges from medium to heavy, so be aware of it.

Select the best outdoor access points for outdoor WiFi

Tanaza works with a wide range of access points to suit almost all scenarios and maintain the network’s reliability. Knowing your internet usage is necessary 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. Nowadays, access points with cloud-based management features are a must for any business. It will let network administrators control the devices and customize bandwidth while monitoring the overall network performance and security issues.

These are our favorite access points for outdoor WiFi networks.

Comfast CF-WA350

Discover more about the Comfast CF-WA350

This high-power access point is 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. As a result, there is an increased terminal throughput and a much better user experience. It supports dual-frequency on 2.4Ghz and 5.8Ghz. An estimated 50 users can access the Internet on the 2.4Ghz band and 110 users on the 5.8Ghz. 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 an agile and smooth manner. This access point is available with the Tanaza Operating System out of the box.

The Comfast CF-WA350 is an 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO. This technology allows multiple concurrent users.

Outdoor. The AP is ideal for residential areas, parks, schools, factories, commercial streets, villages, scenic spots, and more.

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Comfast CF-EW71

Discover more about the Comfast CF-EW71

This high-power access point is suitable for outdoor areas. It hosts 50 concurrent users. Its two oxygen-free copper antennas with 360° omnidirectional WiFi coverage meets the needs of different situations. It also features a SE2576L power amplifier, improving wireless network reception and the transmission function. This access point is available with the Tanaza Operating System out of the box.

The Comfast CF-EW71 has a single-band and cloud-managed SU-MIMO 802.11n. It delivers a 300 Mbps aggregate frame rate with 2.4GHz radio.

Outdoor. The Comfast CF-EW71 stands up in severe environments, thanks to its outdoor IP66 rating that provides the ability to handle different kinds of rugged environments: lightning protection, waterproof, dustproof, antifreeze, high-temperature resistance, and it's antioxidant.

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UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti

Download TanazaOS for UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti

The UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti includes adjustable dual-band Omni antennas. You have the option to use a 5 GHz Omni antenna1 for spot-beam coverage in high-density locations with numerous APs and clients, like a conference hall or event center. The UAP-AC-M discreetly integrates into any environment. The UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti is versatile. You have the option to use a 5 GHz sector antenna (wide beam in the azimuth plane and narrow in the elevation plane) for broad outdoor coverage. The AP is compatible with 802.3af PoE Alternative A and 24V passive PoE.

The UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti model features 2x2 MIMO technology available in single and five packs. It can be used for indoors or outdoors deployments.

Indoor and outdoor. The UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti can be mounted on a wall, pole or can be fast-mounted on an optional Ubiquiti high-gain antenna. The antenna options on this access point include Omni antennas or the fast-mount adapter to install the AP on the optionally connected antenna.

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UniFi AC Mesh Ubiquiti PRO

Outdoor Access Point UniFi Ac Mesh Pro Ubiquiti

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The UAP-AC-M-PRO is ideal for applications requiring 3×3 MIMO data rates for close-in Omni coverage. It has simultaneous dual-band, 3×3 MIMO technology and is available in single-and five packs. This access point has built-in dual-band omnidirectional antennas that deliver expanded range coverage outdoors. The primary port is for data and PoE; the secondary port is for bridging.

The enclosure of this access point is designed to withstand the elements, which makes it the ideal choice for outdoor deployment.

Outdoor. The access point can be mounted on a wall or pole.

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Place an order

Maximize WiFi Performance

To maximize your WiFi’s performance, there are multiple ways that you can opt for. With Tanaza, network admins can set a per-user guest WiFi bandwidth limit. The platform allows limiting bandwidth both per SSID and per user too at the same time. After surveying your network connectivity, you can decide to choose a suitable 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. You can also use additional antennas to maximize your WiFi network’s performance and increase the access point’s power. You can use them to make your WiFi signal stronger in a specific area, such as an open-air restaurant or the swimming pool.

Understand the power gain with the Rule of 10s and 3s

Your device’s radio power describes how well the transmitting antenna converts the input power into radio waves, known as ‘power gain.’ The power of the access point is the intensity of its wireless signal. The change in intensity is called gain. It represents the increase of power, which is the ratio between input power and output power.

The gain of the antennas is expressed in decibels (dB). The power input and output are in milliWatts (mW) in the wireless communication sector. To understand the power gain, simply let us explain the Rule of 10s and 3s. For every loss or gain of 3dBm, divide or multiply the power in mW by 2. Whereas for every loss or gain of 10dBm, multiply the power in mW by 10.

Improve user engagement with a captive portal

Tanaza integrates with the Classic Hotspot platform that allows network managers to personalize how WiFi users log into the network. The platform provides you with various login modes that will enable you to gather different types of information regarding your customers.

Apart from the basic login modes via email, phone number, and password, users can opt for social login. We suggest you opt for social login as it is the optimal login mode from the marketing point of view. To increase user engagement on your page, you can advertise products and services to your customers to increase their engagement. Allowing social login on your captive portal is an excellent option to collect customer’s insights. This data is a great tool to drive marketing campaigns and target the right audience for a network administrator.

Discover more about Classic Hotspot by Tanaza

The outdoor WiFi has the same amount of benefits as the indoor WiFi, but there is a slight difference in setting up the two. You need to choose the right access point that satisfies your bandwidth requirements to provide optimal connectivity. It is good for your business growth and enhances your overall guest user experience.

Furthermore, it is also crucial to have a unique network management system that enables you to manage the networks and WiFi access points regardless of the brand. Tanaza is the most innovative alternative for network management in the cloud.

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MSPs – The ultimate guide to the 802.11 ax wireless standard

Tanaza WiFi Cloud Management

Best Access Points for Enterprise Network Deployments in 2023

Wi-Fi 6 – A quick guide to the 802.11ax standard for business networks

by Marketing Team | Jun 23, 2021 | All articles, TanazaOS, Wireless Hardware

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Wi-Fi 6 – A Technical Guide to the 802.11ax standard for Business Networks

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the actual commercial generation of IEEE standard for wireless local-area business networks, faster and more powerful than the previous one Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). It is also known as High Efficiency Wi-Fi, for the overall improvements to Wi-Fi 6 clients under dense environments. This next-generation WiFi technology had come with the emerging 5G cellular technology that will change the way we connect to the network. With technological advancement, MSPs have to stay ahead of the trend to cope with the development of wireless networks.

The WiFi 6 or 802.11ax can connect devices that are far from the reaches in the crowded networks. This new WiFi standard will completely reform the way we connect to our smart devices entirely.

Just like the previous generation of technologies, the WiFi6 is emerging in the same manner. It is coming integrated inside the latest smartphones and laptops, new routers, and access points that promise faster and comparatively reliable connectivity for more devices.

WiFi6 is both a revolutionary and evolutionary standard. We all know that it will provide faster, more reliable connections. It is better able to handle a lot more traffic at once at a simultaneous time. It may not seem evident initially, but revolution is destined to follow the evolution.

Differences between Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6

The 802.11ax standard was announced in 2018, which was the better, faster generation of WiFi4 and WiFi5 standards. It began to be certified in September 2019 in the devices. Slowly but gradually, the 802.11ax (WiFi6) started appearing on devices. For now, it is coming in the flagships of Apple and Samsung. The WiFi6 tech has also emerged in some routers and access points.

Of course, this technology offers significant improvements to its predecessors. Not only does it work in high-density environments, but it also supports dozens of devices. Furthermore, it also boosts the battery life of compatible devices and possesses higher data transfer rates than previous generations.

Talking about speed, theoretically, the WiFi 6 delivers maximum speed rates of 9.6Gbps across multiple channels, in contrast to the WiFi5’s 3.5Gbps. It is almost 250% more than the WiFi5 devices. The higher speed of WiFi6 is due to the OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) sub-channels, MU-MIMO user multiplexed, Beamforming, and 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM). The beamforming enables higher data rates at a given range to increase network capacity. This all became feasible because of these multiple variations in Wifi5.

If you want to discover more about this technology, read our previous article, the ultimate guide to the 802.11ax wireless standard.

	802.11n - Wi-Fi 4	802.11ac - Wi-Fi 5	802.11ax - Wi-Fi 6/6E
Frequency Range (GHz)	2.4 - 5	2.4	2.4 - 5 - 6
Channel Bandwidth (MHz)	20 - 40	20 - 40 - 80 - 80+80 - 160	20 - 40 - 80 - 80+80 - 160
Subcarrier Spacing (KHz)	312.5	312.5	78.125
Symbol time	3.2	3.2	12.8
MU-MIMO	None	Downlink	Uplink and Downlink
Access Scheme	OFDM	OFDM	OFDM, OFDMA
Data Subcarrier Modulation	BPSK, QPSK, 16-64 QAM	BPSK, QPSK, 16-64 QAM	BPSK, QPSK, 16-64-256-1024 QAM
Coding	BCC (mandatory) - LDPC (optional)	BCC (mandatory) - LDPC (optional)	BCC (mandatory) - LDPC (mandatory)

What is the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E?

WiFi 6E is the next generation of the WiFi 6 standard. It offers all the main features of the 802.11ax, giving also access to the 6GHz band. The new frequency band ranges from 5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz, allowing up to 1,200 MHz of additional spectrum.
WiFi 6E reduces overlap and interference between multiple networks in high-congested areas as offices, apartments complexes, industrial districts.

	WiFi 6	WiFi 6E
Max. Data Rate	1.5 Gbps per device	2.3 Gbps per device
DFS scanning	Required ❌	Not required ✅
Capacity	Lower	Higher
Security	Secure	More Secure. WPA3 is mandatory.
6GHz Legacy Devices	The 6 GHz band is not available on WiFi6.	The 6 GHz band is exclusive to WiFi 6E devices. More bandwidth, spectrum, and speed improvements guaranteed.
Simultaneous transmissions	8K movies and large file download with possible short buffering. No AR/VR gaming.	8K movies, AR/VR gaming and large file download all without buffering.
Latency	Reduced	Extrimely reduced
Network performance	Good	Better in congestioned enviroments

Do businesses need Wi-Fi 6?

The WiFi 6 is all about improving the networks when a lot more devices are connected. The speed of 9.6Gbps is theoretical, and it is unlikely that you ever need such speed in real-world WiFi use. The fact that i has a much higher theoretical speed than its predecessor is quite essential. The more the devices are connected, you will experience more toll on your network. So Yes, it’s true that businesses need WiFi 6. The latest WiFi standard introduces new technologies that work on the issues that come while connecting dozens of WiFi devices on a single network. It lets the routers communicate with more devices by sending data to multiple devices in the same broadcast.

The usage of WiFi 6 in your business will surely increase your office productivity. It will help the companies drive more value from their present infrastructure. The vast transfer rate will allow companies to attain 5G level performance.

How will WiFi 6 impact your networks, and how soon?

We all understand that the new WiFi standard is providing faster and more reliable connections. The number of critical new features provide WiFi 6 networks and the devices with the ability to handle more traffic and efficiently. The vital point to note here is that WiFi 6 isn’t likely to be substantially faster than WiFi 5 when connected to a single laptop. However, when more and more devices get added to your WiFi 6 network, the story changes.

In this scenario, when current routers may get overwhelmed by the requests from many devices, WiFi 6 routers will effectively keep all those devices up to date with the amount of data each device needs. It is important to remember that you will only get the full benefits of WiFi 6 if both provider and client devices are certified for WiFi 6.

WiFi generations rely on hardware and not just on software updates. To get this new version of WiFi running, you’ll need to buy new devices. The new devices with WiFi 6 will start coming into the market by default. It’s not something that you’ll want to run out to the store and buy.

Year by year, MSPs, ISPs, and SPs are facing the challenge to provide higher throughput and bandwidth for multiple connected devices in enterprise networks. Hardware is not enough to guarantee an adequate and democratic sharing of WiFi connection. A new standard was necessary to manage the huge quantity of devices in the networks (anchor link to the chapter dedicated to e-waste).

On April 23rd, 2021 the FCC voted and approved the allocation of the new 6GHz band for Wi-Fi. WiFi 6 represents a new revolution for enterprise and SMBs WiFi networks.

Should you upgrade your business networks to WiFi 6?

Well, Yes, you should upgrade your business networks to WiFi 6. It offers more speed, a more reliable connection, improved battery life, and better security. This new WiFi standard enables an unimpeded network by allowing more client devices and IoT devices to connect. Undoubtedly it seems a wise decision to upgrade your business networks to WiFi 6. With time new devices have emerged that are WiFi 6 certified but still, it is a long way to get transitioned to this new standard. The sole reason behind this is that the WiFi 6 will appear in the market by default as it has appeared on flagship smartphones of Apple and Samsung and some routers. These routers are so far quite expensive high-end devices.

The inclusion of WiFi 6 in the devices has begun. As time will pass the prices will start coming down, and they already are since this network was introduced. The WiFi Alliance began certifying devices in 2019, so the routers and devices became cheaper. There is no need to rush to replace every WiFi5 device and network component simultaneously. The reason behind this is that there aren’t many WiFi6 clients out there. It will take a few years for the WiFi 6 to make its way to the market. The hardware for this WiFi standard is still being built, and interoperability testing is being performed, implying that it is worth waiting before opting for this standard.

Wi-Fi 6 has already made its way into the market but still, it will take time to reach its full potential. There is no doubt that 802.11ax has bought immediate benefits in network speed, capacity, and responsiveness. These are some of the perks that will improve overtime as the new WiFi standard capable devices replace the system with older generation connectivity. This network will revolutionize the way by bringing network performance to the optimum level in virtually every segment. To get the most out, buyers have to choose the best technology available for their deployments.

Tanaza is constantly adding more APs to the list of compatible devices. It is currently working on a batch of APs to support customers when the right time comes to upgrade the networks with the latest technology.

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https://www.tanaza.com/blog/802-11ax-wireless-standard/

How to Improve WiFi Network Security

by Marco Papavero | May 27, 2021 | All articles, Cloud Management, Networking, TanazaOS, WiFi Networks, Wireless Hardware

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How to Improve WiFi Network Security

Discover how to improve the Wi-Fi security of your network deployments.

Protecting your WiFi Network from intrusion might be difficult if there is a breach in your network. In today’s world, nothing is more precious than data and to protect it from getting into the wrong hands is all you need to do. We always have to look out for malicious users trying to access networks and sensitive data that includes email IDs and passwords, and information about your bank accounts. It is important to understand that the WiFi systems extend beyond the walls of your workplace if you have not kept some security on the network. It will get difficult for you to control if someone gains access to your WiFi network. To improve WiFi security, the administrators have to constantly check their usernames and passwords to ensure that only authorized persons can connect to the network.

The administrator can also configure their network with password-protected SSIDs or even hide them to improve WiFi security. Usually, when we install the WiFi, we don’t realize much about its safety until all our devices are connected, and there is no issue with its speed or signal. However, this ignorance can make us prone to cyberattacks. We live in the age of data breaches, so it is of utmost importance that we practice certain steps to keep our WiFi network safe.

Few steps can help Improve WiFi Security:

1- Use strong passwords for accounts and access points

While setting up the passwords for our access points, we often try to use those that we can easily guess to remember them. We must not forget that changing your default username and using strong passwords is a primary step to improve WiFi security. The difficult passwords are often the safest, and the administrator must set up one that is the combination of a string of random characters. Changing the default name of your access point is crucial as the default credentials of the famous WiFi access points are widely known.

Make sure that your password is unique and strong, and it is recommended that you change usernames and passwords for your access points frequently, every 30-90 days. By doing this, it will be difficult for anyone to guess them and restrict them from consuming your data.

2- Enable SSID encryption

One of the best ways to improve WiFi security is to change the name of your WiFi network, formerly known as SSID. Changing your WiFi name will be harder for the attackers to know which type of access point you are using. To ensure full-proof network security, it is important that you must hide all your SSIDs so that other users are not able to locate them. With the Tanaza platform, you will be able to encrypt your SSID to eliminate the possibility of your access point falling into the hands of an unauthorized person.

The Tanaza platform lets you add a maximum of 8 SSIDs for each Access point. You can configure each SSID individually. By clicking on a particular SSID, you’ll be redirected to its configuration that is divided into three: Summary, Wireless Security, and Bandwidth. Encrypting your SSID is most important to have a secure access point. By default, the SSID you have added is enabled with open encryption, which means any user can access it. For encrypting your SSID, with Tanaza you can choose from the various encryption levels such as WPA2 or WPA2-Enterprise. The Tanaza platform offers a splash page editor that allows WiFi professionals to configure, edit and customize their portal.

3- Filter MAC Addresses

Every device that connects to a network has a MAC (Media Access Controller) address. It is also known as a physical address as it is the identifier of the network card, which is unique. No two devices in the World can have the same MAC address. Filtering MAC addresses is one of the critical parts of improving your WiFi Access Point security. To filter the MAC address, you have to open the configuration window in your device and list MAC addresses to connect to the network.

In the Tanaza platform, you can also blacklist a specific user’s MAC address. There are various configuration options by which you can restrict users to connect to a specific SSID.

4- Monitor WiFi users activity

By Monitoring your WiFi activity, you make sure that there is no unusual activity in your WiFi network. You need to check on your data usage how much data is used on a particular day and at a specific time. With the Tanaza platform, you can easily monitor your WiFi network’s performance by seeing the number of clients currently associated with WiFi SSID and monitoring how much bandwidth they consume.

It is one of the best ways that will improve WiFi security to a great extent. You will even be able to track your device’s traffic flow at the WiFi network and the access point level. Tanaza also allows users to analyze and track the performance of WiFi networks using statistics.

5- Choose a WiFi cloud platform with high levels of reliability and scalability

Selecting a WiFi Cloud Platform that can provide you with an intuitive and powerful user interface is suitable for enterprise and retail environments. You need to select a platform that ensures the complete security of your WiFi network. To improve your WiFi security, you need a cloud platform that offers you a configuration suitable to your needs. Tanaza is the platform that you can trust fully as they are empowering hundreds of networks Worldwide. Hundreds of IT professionals have adopted their WiFi cloud platform.

6- Manage WiFi networks with a cloud platform that guarantees 99.99% Availability

The Tanaza WiFi Cloud Platform is among the few that guarantees 99.99% availability. It is one of the percentages used to communicate the system’s operational performance. It is one of the core features of the Tanaza platform based on the World’s most reliable cloud platform service. The level of high availability is guaranteed by the internal monitoring process that includes 24×7 failure detection with rapid term response which recovers data up to the latest few minutes. The powerful AWS platform by Amazon adds an extra layer of security in terms of availability.

7- Verify security levels for the cloud management platform you use

It is necessary to verify the security levels for the cloud management platform that you are using. Tanaza ensures complete security that will protect you from potential breaches in your network. They use Amazon AWS as a secure cloud services platform. The access to the core systems is not protected by passwords only, but also any remote access will be restricted by IP address. The firewalls highly protect their systems. For monitoring the access and potential threats, a 24×7 services logging is operative. From the user’s point of view, all sensitive data is secured with highly controlled and restricted access.

It is important that you secure your access point to save your data. Securing your WiFi can be done by configuring them with strong encryption protocols that prevent unauthorized users from connecting to your WiFi network. Tanaza focuses on the importance of data protection which is why they are considered best to improve WiFi security. They comply with the EU regulations and ensure that their tools are sufficient to protect personal data. Securing your network must be the top priority of any organization and if you have a platform that will remotely monitor your network’s performance is a gift. Start managing your devices today with Tanaza, the WiFi cloud management platform.

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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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Experience the power of managing WiFi access points from the cloud with Tanaza.

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Best Wireless Access Points for Enterprise Network Deployments in 2023

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Tips to execute an accurate WiFi channel selection

by Marketing Team | Nov 26, 2020 | TanazaOS, WiFi Networks, Wireless Hardware

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How to Choose the Best Channel for WiFi Networks

Tips to execute an accurate WiFi channel selection

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about a correct WiFi channel selection.

An accurate WiFi channel selection can be tricky. When deploying a wireless network, Network Engineers need to select the right channel to improve WiFi coverage and performance significantly.

WiFi instability and signal interruptions are very often tied to the choice of the channel applied. Issues like reduced range or sudden drops in transfer speed are the mainstream problems of any high-density WiFi deployment. This, of course, might depend on the wireless environment in which a new network is deployed.

Therefore, before designing and implementing WiFi networks, it’s essential to ensure that the impact between a network previously deployed and converging WLANs is minimized.

To prevent all these issues with your networks, when planning for the right channel, we suggest taking into account two key factors: IP and Channel plan.

What is the IP Plan, and how does it work?

An IP plan is a document developed by Network Engineers to show how IP addresses will be distributed among network devices based on network design to support the required services.

The IP plan allows you to:

Determine the number of IP addresses required to provide the specified services to customers.
Maintain reachability between the different network segments.
Facilitate future expansion and modification of the network.

The first aspect to check concerns the presence of IP conflicts. IP conflicts occur when two or more networking devices have the same IP address (layer 3) and can communicate within the same WLAN (layer 2). Thus, the sender doesn’t know who should deliver the specific IP packet due to the conflict. It is like if two units claim to be the receiver of the specific package, and there is no way to know who will be chosen.

Therefore, it’s crucial to know the WLAN’s design, how it’s partitioned into collision domains, and how many NAT levels are cascaded. The typical situation in an environment where a DSL router is installed is that such router has a WAN port with a public IP, dynamically provided by the ISP. An IP class is shared among all LAN ports, such as 192.168.1.1/24. It means clients connecting to the LAN ports will receive an IP address between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.254.

In these cases, it is best to leave the added AP configured to work in DHCP mode (with dynamic IP), which means it will receive an IP address in that range, behaving precisely like other clients.

To know the exact IP addresses assigned to WiFi clients, you can check the DHCP Lease Table, available in the DSL router configuration tool.

If your DSL router has a WiFi interface, the same criteria must be applied, as the SSID is usually connected to the LAN ports and shares the same DHCP range. If you need to assign a static IP to the added AP, it’s important to check the DHCP range of the DHCP server built into the DSL router.

This operation is usually accomplished by logging into the web interface or DSL router configuration tool.

The static IP assigned to the new AP connected to one of the router LAN ports must not be included in the DHCP RANGE; otherwise, an IP conflict is likely to occur between the AP and a network client receiving that IP from the DHCP server.

The Channel Plan to reduce interference

A proper design and deployment of a wireless network must include a channel plan, pivotal for high-performance WLANs.

Whether you are using a static channel plan or a dynamic channel assignment, there are a few things to consider during the WiFi channel selection process. One of the most important item is the correct channel width to use.

The IEEE 802.11 standard defines wireless networks’ operation in the frequency ranges of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. (Learn more here https://www.tanaza.com/blog/5ghz-vs-2-4ghz/).

WiFi channels are the smaller bands within each WiFi frequency band. The 2.4 GHz band is divided into 14 channels (1-14), according to the standard and depending on the availability of each country’s regulations. Each channel could be up to 40 MHz wide. The two frequencies combined allow for channel width from 20MHz to 160MHz. Although, there are 14 channels available in 2.4GHz, and only 3 of them don’t “overlap” or interfere with each other: 1, 6, and 11.

However, channels 2-5 interfere with 1 and 6, while 7-10 interfere with 6 and 11.

For instance, when a station (access point, or client device) needs to transmit something, it must wait for the channel to be free. Therefore, only one device can send data at a time. When overlapping channels (2-5, 7-10 at 2.4 GHz) are in use, any station on those channels will transmit regardless of what is happening on the other channels, causing performance downgrade. This type of interference is described as Adjacent Channel Interference (ACI).

A Co-Channel Interference (CCI), on the contrary, occurs when two or more APs in the same area operate on the same channel. This essentially turns both cells (the coverage areas for an AP) into one large cell. Any device that has something to transmit must wait for the other devices associated with the same AP. But also wait for all the devices related to the other APs on the same channel.

Indeed, CCI will also reduce performance even if not as severe as ACI. The reason behind this behavior is that multiple devices are attempting to access wireless media on the same channel, forcing stations to wait longer before they can transmit.

Due to the limited amount of available spectrum, it’s safer to use only non-overlapping 20 MHz channels, although the possibility to use 40 MHz was added in 802.11n.

In the 5GHz band, there is much more spectrum available. Each channel occupies its non-overlapping slice at 20MHz. As with the 2.4, 802.11n gave us the ability to use 40 MHz channels. From there, 802.11ac now allows 80 MHz and even 160 MHz wide channels. These wide channels are created by joining 20 MHz channels together, using the center frequency to indicate the channel.

So why not set your APs to the widest channel available?

At the end of the WiFi channel selection, let’s assume we have decided to use 80 MHz channels for our deployment. We just went from 9 non-overlapping channels to 2. This means that half of the APs we have implemented will occupy the same part of the spectrum. Now, for APs on opposite ends of the facility that can’t communicate with each other too loudly, this isn’t a big issue.

The situation changes for the APs close to each other. These APs and any associated devices become part of the same cell, slowing everything down. All devices must then wait their turn to access the network.

The best way to accomplish this is to have as many channels as possible to distribute. Even though a 20 MHz channel doesn’t achieve the higher data rates shown on 80 MHz, users can still achieve acceptable speeds.

For most enterprise-grade deployments with many APs, choosing narrow channels will give the spatial reuse you need for your WLAN to perform at its best and improve the user experience. However, the best practice is to do a quick survey and check which channels are already in use on-site to choose the right channel for your network. There are many free tools for Windows, Mac, Linux, to do this kind of process.

For example: in a venue with a WiFi DSL router in place, the site survey might provide the following result:

– SSID A / location 1 / channel 1 / power 4/5
– SSID B / location 2/ channel 11 / power 3/5
– SSID C / location 2 / channel 9 / power 5/5

In such a situation, the best channel to use is 6, which does not overlap with neighboring SSIDs. If possible, we suggest to turn off the WiFi of the DSL of the venue where the AP is being added and remove unnecessary interference. If this SSID is active, it should be considered as a source of interference.

For instance, Tanaza allows the band selection with which you can decide whether to transmit the SSID only at one frequency or whether on both frequencies (only 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, or dual-band).

In the Tanaza platform, radio selection is automatically set to ‘standard channel selection’. However the user can edit it manually, allowing the individual radios to be turned off.

As the interference sources can change over time, it is recommended to use remote channel management tools to change the channel when needed. The Tanaza dashboard includes a tool to easily change the channel automatically.

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

https://www.tanaza.com/blog/how-to-optimize-wifi-network-infrastructure/

How to choose the best access point for your restaurant’s WiFi network (part 1)

by Marketing Team | Oct 31, 2017 | Classic Hotspot, WiFi Networks, Wireless Hardware

How to choose the best access point for your restaurant’s WiFi network (part 1)

Are you planning to deploy a new Wi-Fi network in restaurants? Read this article to find out the three main requirements for a successful Wi-Fi deployment.

When setting up a new Wi-Fi network, you need to make sure you choose the right access point depending on the environment in which it will be deployed and your project’s budget. As for Wi-Fi projects targeting restaurants, you need to consider the following aspects: the size of the network’s covered area, the number of concurrent users and internet usage.

1. Location size

The first step to consider is the size of your Wi-Fi network’s location: is the size of your restaurant big, medium or small?

On average, a large restaurant can hold from 80-200 people, a medium-sized restaurant from 30-80 people and a small restaurant from 10-30 people. Depending on the size of your venue, you will need to choose one or more access points to cover the area. Also, should your restaurant include a terrace or a small garden, consider that you will need to install not only indoor but also outdoor devices for your deployment. Check out the list of Tanaza’s supported access points: by being multi-vendor, Tanaza offers a wide range of devices, both for indoor and outdoor environments.

2. Number of concurrent users

Based on your location size, the number of concurrent users connected to your network will vary accordingly. The network of a large restaurant may host approximately a maximum of 30 concurrent Wi-Fi users, the network of a medium-size restaurant may host a maximum of 12 concurrent users, whereas the network of a small deployment will likely handle an average maximum number of 5 concurrent users.

3. Internet usage

Lastly, it is important to pinpoint what kind of online activity your Wi-Fi users will do while being connected to your Wi-Fi network. Indeed, some applications consume more bandwidth than others: for instance, the rate of data transfer in your network – measured in bits per second (bit/s) – will be lower when users message and chat on Facebook, Whatsapp or Telegram, check their emails and browse the web. On the other hand, a higher number of bits per second will be transmitted across your network when users share or download/upload pictures and files on Dropbox and Google Drive, stream Youtube and Netflix videos, make VoIP calls or video calls on Skype.

Read the second part of this article by clicking here!

Maximum number of concurrent users per Wi-Fi access point

https://www.tanaza.com/classichotspot/blog/how-to-calculate-wi-fi-bandwidth-need/

6 must-have Wi-Fi hotspot features for restaurants