HOW TO FIX Wi-Fi DEAD SPOTS WITH Wi-Fi MESH TECHNOLOGY
#wifi, #configuration
One of the most common concerns people have when figuring out Wi-Fi coverage in their solutions is dead spots that emerge due to weak or no wireless network signal at all. The name might sound ominous, but fear not, as these connectivity voids are far from fatal. In fact, they can be easily fixed with the right networking equipment and technologies like Wi-Fi mesh.
As the name suggests, Wi-Fi dead spots are nothing more than areas where a wireless network signal is absent. These areas prevent you from web browsing or sending and uploading data files to another destination.
Although Wi-Fi dead spots are generally associated with smart homes and offices, they’re equally prevalent in industrial applications. There, they present a significant challenge when Wi-Fi is needed for data transmission between machinery.
In all their diversity, IoT solutions can deal with unique and nuanced troubles that might cause Wi-Fi dead spots. Interestingly enough, both home and industrial IoT sectors tend to face similar obstacles when it comes to Wi-Fi dead spots.
WHAT CAUSES Wi-Fi DEAD SPOTS?
Among the common issues causing Wi-Fi dead spots, the conditions surrounding the router are generally the most significant. This includes the router’s location and the presence of physical objects that could interrupt or even completely absorb the Wi-Fi signal.
Brick or metal materials are notorious for disrupting Wi-Fi spread. This is unfortunate, as those are widely used as reinforcement in building constructions for walls and structural integrity.
This factor strongly affects the strategic placement of a router within a building. A poorly-considered location could result in an almost nonexistent wireless signal, owing to problems with signal distribution and interference of physical objects.
Much like individuals, networking devices are all different, with each having limitations on how many devices it can support simultaneously and what type of network performance it can manage effectively.
So, if you want to avoid Wi-Fi dead spots, it’s crucial to consider the capacity of your networking device to manage network traffic, handle device congestion, and ensure equal distribution of the network among connected devices.
HOW TO OVERCOME Wi-Fi DEAD SPOTS?
While we aren’t in the position to offer advice on permanently altering your building’s structure, trust us – there’s absolutely no need to resort to such measures. The technology of Wi-Fi mesh and compatible networking devices can distribute Wi-Fi signals throughout your entire building just as efficiently.
In conjunction with networking routers or access points, Wi-Fi mesh technology creates internal communication between network endpoints and enables an even network coverage throughout the entire building. However, this internal communication holds a multitude of additional functionalities behind it.
WHY SHOULD I USE Wi-Fi MESH?
With devices like the Teltonika Networks RUTX10 industrial router, the Wi-Fi mesh technology allows you to configure Wi-Fi nodes and use backup configuration to apply the same settings across multiple connected devices within the mesh network. This not only ensures uniform settings across different nodes, but also simplifies the overall management process.
It also enables you to have greater control over your network’s continuous performance by establishing a network architecture that facilitates alternative traffic rerouting in cases where one or more devices go down.
At the same time, Wi-Fi mesh allows devices to automatically select the most optimal channel for each endpoint to operate, minimizing the chances of interference and congestion.
HOW TO CONFIGURE Wi-Fi MESH ON TELTONIKA NETWORKS ROUTERS?
First and foremost, nearly all Teltonika Networks routers feature Wi-Fi mesh technology, with the exception of RUT300, RUTX08, and RUTX09, which don’t support this technology.
Our Wiki Knowledge Base provides a comprehensive example of Wi-Fi mesh configuration. Complete with step-by-step instructions, this guide showcases how you can enable this technology using RutOS, our in-house operating system that powers all our gateways and routers.
This example covers a configuration for both mesh gateway, a primary node that acts as a DHCP server and bridge between WAN and LAN networks, responsible for managing and routing traffic between the two networks, and the rest of the routers involved in the mesh, acting as regular nodes.
The configuration is then followed with a couple of examples of how you can test whether you did the configuration correctly. First is “ping testing”, where an ICMP echo request is sent from the mesh gateway to a device connected to one of the nodes. The second is the tried-and-trusted stroll around the coverage area with a connected device, checking for consistent and robust Internet signal strength.
Wi-Fi MESH IN ACTION
If you want to envision how Wi-Fi mesh technology works in practice, we have two great use cases covering smart offices and industrial sectors. The first use case presents how this technology empowers a sustainable office and ensures all network-dependent equipment is supplied with robust and uninterrupted network connectivity.
The second use case presents how Wi-Fi mesh technology helps automize industrial and remote warehouses while sustaining each machinery’s flawless performance.
