Choosing the Right Wi-Fi For Your Business
Whether you are starting a business from scratch or are already up and running, chances are you already have Wi-Fi. We all love Wi-Fi because it is so easy to connect to and we don’t have to run those pesky wires all over the place to connect up our devices. In fact, a lot of devices can only connect to the internet using Wi-Fi, so it has become an essential piece of equipment for the office.
The bad news is that if you have the wrong Wi-Fi device it can easily become a huge problem for the office, especially as your begin to add staff. Let’s take a quick look at the device that makes Wi-Fi possible in the office, and why it’s important to invest in a quality piece of hardware for your office network.
What is Wi-Fi Anyway?
A Wi-Fi router takes a hardwired connection from your internet service provider (ISP) and connects all of your devices to the world using short-distance radio signals. Most modern Wi-Fi devices contain at least two different radios that can transmit and receive data using different frequencies, which allows you to connect multiple devices to your device at the same time. Wi-Fi routers can connect with devices hundreds of feet away, although the quality of that connection will decline as you add distance and barriers between the router and the device that is trying to connect to it.
What’s the difference between a home Wi-Fi router and a business-class one?
The business class Wi-Fi router is going to cost you more, but there are several good reasons for that.
- First, a business-class Wi-Fi router can connect to a lot more devices simultaneously without a problem.
- Business-class Wi-Fi routers provide better cybersecurity and are more stable than cheapo home routers.
- You can set up a separate guest Wi-Fi access for visitors, keeping your customers happy while also keeping their devices isolated from your company files.
- Business-class Wi-Fi routers can securely establish connections to devices outside the office, enabling remote workers to connect just like they were in the office.
This means you won’t need to worry about them locking up or breaking down in the middle of the workday, which can be a big deal since most offices come to a complete halt these days when the internet stops.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
For starters, it’s important to understand that the speed of your network depends on several things, with your Wi-Fi router being one link in the chain. When everything is working correctly, the only limit to how fast you can transfer information is the speed of your office internet connection. But, the wrong Wi-Fi router can slow the whole system down, especially if you have some applications that use a lot of data like automatic backup systems or video streaming services.
It’s also good to think carefully about where you place your Wi-Fi device. Placing the hardware on the floor or in a closet can limit the quality of the data connection, which will slow everything down.
As a final thought, while those cables people use to make hardwired connections can be a little unsightly, they are significantly better at providing fast, stable, and secure connections to the internet. Wi-Fi signals traveling through the air are fairly easy to intercept and interrupt, two things that don’t happen much with hardwired connections.
Do I really need to upgrade my Wi-Fi?
Maybe, and maybe not. If you’re not sure whether you have the right device for your office, I’m always happy to schedule a free consultation to give you a second opinion on any aspect of your office IT environment.