So much of our daily business lives run through wireless networks that any issues with them can have a frustrating impact on employee and business productivity. While the end result of these issues usually manifests itself in similar ways, the underlying cause of the network issue can vary. Knowing exactly what is causing the problem with your wireless network is vital to determining a solution. Let’s take a look at three main sources of wireless connectivity issues.
1. Not staying connected
We’ve all been there. You’ll be in the middle of downloading a file and, all of a sudden, your wireless drops its connection. While it’s usually easy enough to re-establish the connection to the network, these drops in connection are usually indicative of an underlying weakness or problem in your wireless network system.
2. Dead spots in your workplace
This issue can be particularly frustrating for companies that work with handheld wireless devices. For instance, warehouse workers who are dealing with inventory often have to travel around large spaces to complete their work. Having and maintaining a strong wireless connection throughout their movements is a vital factor in their productivity to ensure the data collected are maintained and able to be recorded within the company’s database.
3. Low performance
Today’s abundance of high quality, fast internet and network connections has allowed businesses to achieve more than ever before. That’s why it can be a great hindrance to have a network that does not perform as quickly as it should. While it may only be a minor annoyance that quickly dissipates, those delays incurred spread company-wide add up to an enormous amount of time lost.
All of these issues can be addressed, but taking the time to work with an IT company to find the exact underlying cause can mean your wireless connectivity issues are quickly resolved and your business is back running as it should. Now, let’s examine two approaches to addressing these issues to find wireless connectivity solutions to solve these three main problem areas.
Professional troubleshooting of your wireless connectivity issues
Businesses experiencing any of the above issues have the option of working with an experienced IT company to troubleshoot their problems. Depending on the underlying cause of the problem, solutions can vary significantly in scope. Any solution reached by the IT company needs to be founded in the specific needs of the client. For instance, if a business uses VOIP phones, they require a much stronger wireless signal that merely browsing the internet on a smartphone or else they drop the call.
Through completion of a wireless assessment, consultants are able to detect specific locations within a business’s workspace. Wireless survey software creates a complex heatmap of signal strength in addition to providing information regarding other networks in the location and any interference generated by other electronic devices in the workspace. This can be particularly useful in a setting such as a hospital where a lot of equipment is around. By detecting exactly which signal is being generated by which machine on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz spectrum, the wireless survey software is able to identify ideal areas for access points, ensuring a strong wireless signal is available exactly where it’s needed.
By interpreting this data and formulating and understanding of the needs of the client, an IT service company is able to make the appropriate suggestions to improve the performance of any wireless network.
Planning to avoid wireless connectivity issues
By incorporating an IT company into the process of planning your business’s workspace, it is possible to avoid wireless connectivity issues ahead of them being manifested. Taking account of load-bearing walls, the height of ceilings, the presence of concrete, and metal shelving, wireless survey software can assist consultants in making recommendations. By setting the number, type, and location of access points, planning with connectivity in mind can reduce or eliminate connectivity issues before they begin.
Performing multiple surveys and comparing the results can show changes in connectivity patterns over time. Whether a before and after consulting project with an IT company, or a periodic assessment to ensure no changes in surrounding factors, incorporating proactive planning can yield positive results. Whatever the issue, involving the services of an IT company utilizing wireless survey software can ensure your business has minimal issues with wireless network connectivity and keeps on working as well as it should.
If you would like to learn more about wireless network planning and troubleshooting or have any other questions about IT as part of a comprehensive IT support strategy, don’t hesitate to contact us today to speak with an IT expert.
