Enterprise Wi-Fi networks — installation, coverage and management
Most enterprise Wi-Fi networks were not designed: access points were simply added as complaints arose. The result is too much coverage in some places, too little capacity where people are, and nobody looking after the network once it is installed.
Measured coverage
Site survey on-site before deciding where each access point goes.
Capacity, not just token
Four bars are no use in a room with 80 connected devices.
Separate networks
Visits, operations and equipment on distinct networks, with their own policies.
Managed later
Centralised console and monitoring — we don't just stop at installation.
Coverage is not the same as capacity
It is the most expensive mix-up in enterprise Wi-Fi. An access point can cover an entire room with excellent signal and still stop responding when fifty people connect at the same time. In a training room, a crowded hotel or an open-plan office, what is almost never lacking is signal — it is capacity and channel distribution. That is why we measure on-site, with the space in use, rather than calculating from a floor plan.
How do we do it
1
Site survey
On-site measurement, including the walls, the materials and the people who are there.
2
Project
Number and position of access points, channels, power levels and networks to be created.
3
Installation
Assembly, cabling and PoE, with the points where the design placed them.
4
Validation
New measurement after installation, to confirm what was promised.
5
Management
Centralised console, alerts and continuous tuning under contract.
Equipment we installed
Ubiquiti UniFi
We are a certified Ubiquiti partner. Access points, gateways, PoE switches and management of all locations in a single console, with local control that keeps the network running even without internet. No recurring mandatory licenses: the cost is the equipment and management in IT Unlimited. It is the usual choice in offices, hotels, clinics and education.
Cisco Meraki
For larger facilities — campuses, multiple locations, advanced security requirements — with management in the cloud.
Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7
The current standards, with real gain where it matters most: high-density environments, where many devices compete for the same channel. Operation in 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz, with automatic channel and power optimization.
Guest portal with your company's image
Hotels, clinics, offices and meeting rooms receive visitors every day. We configure a network of guests that is isolated from the internal network, with an access portal featuring your brand's logo and colors, terms of use, speed limits and access validity. The visitor connects easily and their work network is protected.
All the seats in one console
With multiple locations, the network no longer consists of a collection of isolated facilities. Managed from a single console, all locations share the same policies, real-time visibility, and security standards. Since DataRoad is responsible for maintaining and managing the installed network under the IT Unlimited contract, changes, updates, and troubleshooting are done centrally and without unnecessary travel.
Integrated security
VLAN segmentation, isolated guest network, threat detection and access control, all in the same platform.
Continuity of service
Automatic failover between internet connections and redundancy at critical points to ensure the network does not stop.
Monitoring and management
Visibility of each access point and each connected client, with alerts and updates managed by DataRoad.
Environments where the network has to cope
Hospitality
Coverage in all rooms and common areas, guest network separate from operations, and an access portal.
Clinics
Clinical equipment, stations and visits on separate networks, with permanent availability.
Warehouses and logistics
Multi-floor and corridor coverage, with roaming that does not drop terminal connections.
Offices and coworking
High density in meeting rooms and open-plan areas, with visitor management.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you carry out a survey before providing a quote?
Yes. Without an on-site survey, there is no serious way of telling how many access points are needed — and that is how oversized and undersized networks are born.
Do they make use of the equipment we already have?
When it makes sense, yes. If the existing equipment doesn't allow centralised management, we state as much — but the decision is up to the client and is recorded in the report.
Do new cables need to be run?
There are almost always some running through, because the access points end up where the design puts them and not where there was a socket. We do the cabling in the same job.
Will you manage the network afterwards?
Yes, in IT Unlimited contracts. The network is managed via the centralised console, with alerts and continuous tuning.
Are there recurring licenses on the equipment?
In the Ubiquiti UniFi solution, there are no recurring mandatory licenses. The cost is for the equipment and for the management and maintenance of the network, which DataRoad ensures within the scope of the IT Unlimited contract.
Can you build a network of guests with our brand?
Yes. The guest network is isolated from the internal network, and the access portal carries your company's logo and colors, along with terms of use and access limits.
Do they operate from multiple locations from a single point?
Yes. All locations are on a single console, with the same policies and real-time visibility, and DataRoad handles management and maintenance.
Wi-Fi in Lisbon, by type of venue
Each space has a different coverage issue:
See also: Networks and structured cabling · Firewall and perimeter security · IT Unlimited