Technology is a fantastic tool—when it works. No matter how expensive or high-tech your digital devices are, they can only perform as well as your network infrastructure.
Think about WiFi network architecture like a high-end sports car: You get greater performance when you fuel up with premium gas instead of regular unleaded. Similarly, installing your community WiFi and internet on sub-par network infrastructure can leave you stalled out on the side of the road. Inferior network architecture can lead to poor user performance and data security risks in the short term—and a lot of headaches down the road.
How do you know if your WiFi signal is weak?
Look for some of these warning signs:
- Some rooms in your home get a stronger signal than others.
- Webpages load slowly when kids are playing games online or watching TV.
- Your wireless signal fluctuates from strong to weak for no apparent reason.
- You can’t stream your movies or shows when you’re sitting on your balcony.
So, how do you ensure a secure, cost-efficient, high-performance network connection in every home or unit? How do you find a network solution that will keep up with evolving technology? It comes down to choosing the right technology and service provider for your community.
Start with a robust network infrastructure.
Network infrastructure refers to all of the resources that make network or internet connectivity and communication possible. It includes hardware and software, systems, and devices. Your network infrastructure not only enables connectivity between users; it supports everyday applications like web surfing and streaming and powers security technology like smart doorbells and security systems.
Fiber is the best technology for network infrastructure.
Fiber is the industry’s best practice for network infrastructure: Fiber-optics deliver the fastest operating speeds, transmit data over longer distances, and are more secure. In addition, fiber is lightweight and pliable, so it’s easier to install and is more durable than cable—it stands up to our extreme Florida weather and salty environment, so it’s an excellent long-term investment for communities.
How WiFi frequency-mapping technology impacts digital performance.
Only a few channels or frequencies are available in the United States—2.4g and 5g spectrum. Using a frequency plan and mapping the WiFi frequencies throughout your property, you can ensure that adjacent homes (side-by-side, across the hall, or above-and-below) don’t interfere with each other.
Here’s why that’s important: WiFi is only as effective as the SNR, or Signal to Noise Ratio. Imagine you’re at a big family dinner…everybody is talking so loudly you can hear it from the driveway. This is “Background Noise.”
Imagine a young girl at the table trying to speak with her grandmother across the table. The girl’s voice is the “Signal.” If there is very little background noise, then grandma will hear and understand the grandchild just fine. But if everyone is talking, there’s no chance that grandma will be able to listen to her.
With little or no background noise, the SNR is powerful. With a lot of background noise, the SNR is very weak. In this metaphor, the adults are the WiFi Access Points, and the little girl is each mobile device—such as a laptop, mobile phone, or Smart TV—that’s trying to “talk” to the WiFi Access Point. The mobile device has big ears—in other words, it can hear all the WiFi Access Points. But it has a tiny voice or transmit strength to be heard by the Access Point.
Frequency mapping essentially makes each Access Point use its frequency, so each adult can only be heard by those tuned into that specific frequency, which hushes the crowd overall. By minimizing the background noise by mapping each home to use a different frequency, you can ensure that each mobile device has a strong connection to the Access Point with which it’s trying to converse. Because the background noise has been hushed, the effective range of the WiFi coverage increases, so there are no WiFi dead zones in your home.
Here’s why strong WiFi matters.
Superior WiFi infrastructure is a must for high-density residential properties like condominiums and apartments: It provides a continuous digital connection that puts you in control—and gives you peace of mind. If you’re a snowbird and you’re up north, you can connect to your smart-home devices like security cameras, sensors, or thermostats. And when renters or family are using your home when you’re not there, they still have access to WiFi for internet and streaming. It’s the essential connectivity that makes life better.
If you’re interested in learning more about WiFi mapping solutions, reach out to QXC. We’re here to help.
