At first glance, the wide-open spaces of a warehouse may seem like the perfect environment for a wireless network. You might think that long aisles and high ceilings should allow Wi-Fi signals to propagate farther with less attenuation. However, the latest Wi-Fi technologies (802.11n and 802.11ac) actually rely on signals being bounced around for the multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology to be effective. With no interior walls unless wireless Access Points (APs) are mounted high up on ceilings, there is less “multi-path,” or signals bouncing around, making MIMO technologies a bit less effective. Additionally, the high-mounted access points require increased transmit power, but there is a fine line between too much and too little power. Too little can cause dead spots, while too much can generate interference between access points on the same channel.
Further complicating these conditions, the expectation for wireless access points has evolved from simply connectivity and coverage to the requirement of supporting high-capacity access to as many wireless clients as possible, including systematic software updates and continuous data exchange, without network interruption.
Given those challenges, designing a successful Wi-Fi network for a warehouse environment is determined by a several important factors, so let’s take a deeper look:
1. What Kinds of Devices Does the Warehouse Wi-Fi Solution Need to Support?
Understanding what company – and personal – devices will be residing on the network is essential. For low-powered devices, such as smartphones and tablets, the challenge often lies in getting their signal back to the access point. If there is an abundance of these types of devices, more APs may be needed.
2. What Concentration of Users is Expected?
Another challenge in a warehouse is the fluctuating number of users. Seasonal shifts and corporate visits may cause exponential growth in demand for bandwidth. The types of applications users access also plays a role, so it is important to plan for different capacities and be able to manage multiple Wi-Fi devices with varying bandwidth demands.
3. Is Bandwidth Prioritization Important?
Some APs are capable of prioritizing certain network traffic/devices, so critical tasks don’t compete for bandwidth.
4. Are There Outdoor Areas (Docks, Break Areas, etc.) that Need Wi-Fi Coverage?
If you need to deliver Wi-Fi access outside the confines of the warehouse walls, you will probably need to invest in additional AP’s. Further, outdoor break areas, docks, and other outdoor environments present their own Wi-Fi challenges, not the least of which are heat, humidity, and contaminants.
5. What Indoor Conditions May Impact Coverage?
Understand indoor conditions and roaming requirements. Use the floorplan to mark out the areas where there will be high network usage. Additional considerations should include marking off areas where high shelving or automated vehicle paths may cause network interference.
6. How Much Does Stock Vary Over Time?
The wireless network should be able to change when the environment changes. Take into consideration what the warehouse looks like when stock is at its highest. One common mistake in warehouses is to maximize the power settings to try to get a higher signal out to the workers. Unfortunately, this is not the best solution, because low-powered devices (like smartphones and tablets) can receive the signal. The challenge is they cannot get their signal back to the access point. This causes more interference than it does signal improvements.
Final Thoughts
Creating a stable and reliable Wi-Fi network is crucial to the productivity and operations of any large facility. Choosing the right equipment with the right features can be a determining factor in the success of the business.
** Content for this blog was inspired by Grandstream. CM3 proudly deploys the Grandstream product line.