Optimize Your Wireless Network Installations

In the past decade, wireless has grown from an obscure and expensive curiosity to a practical and necessary networking technology for the home. But most custom installers don't like the lack of reliability and the low profit margins associated with residential grade wireless products.

So should custom installers offer it and how can they make money on it?

Unreliable "Big Box" Equipment

The problem, in a nutshell, is that custom installers are accustomed to using big-box retailers' networking brands. While they are reluctant to put their reputations behind unreliable mass volume products, there were, until recently, few better options.

As noted by Martin Seelos, president of Creative Concept Sound Solutions in Aliso Viejo, Calif., clients "expect wireless, but often do not know the range of options and results that can be expected from a professionally-designed wireless home network."

Most consumers are used to getting a wireless access point for $100 with a rebate. This makes custom installers feel obligated to sell big-box networking products with low margins. This causes service calls to increase costs to both the installer and client when the network goes down or when the equipment fails.

Commercial Grade vs. Residential Grade

In comparison, products for the commercial market are designed and built to be more reliable. Considerably more testing is done on a commercial grade product to ensure it meets certain performance levels.

This is especially important for wireless devices, where RF characteristics can vary from unit to unit. Nevertheless, manufacturers can only perform cable testing on a mass volume product and attempt to simulate RF characteristics, hoping the majority of their products will meet user expectations.

Commercial products also have a longer life span. The chipset/semiconductor products are more stable because the manufacturer wants the product to be predictable and reliable. Commercial product manufacturers are not constantly changing chipsets to less expensive components because of competitive pricing.

Tackling Wireless Installs

Installing a wireless network is a great way to add to your bottom line and also a way to distinguish your company. But few custom installers have experience blanketing an entire house with reliable, uniform and virtually invisible wireless coverage.

Installation issues include layout, channels settings and interference from other devices and building materials. It pays to anticipate these challenges.

"Training audio/video technicians on home networking is beneficial to our company and clients," says Seelos. "One technician can install and service multiple technologies during a single appointment."

You should know how different building material and walls absorbs radio signals, how radio waves reflect off certain surfaces, which equipment and appliances cause interference and how building construction and layout can facilitate or interfere with wireless technology.

Things to Consider

Wireless networks come with an inherent set of problems ranging from security (anyone can pick up the signal) to varying coverage quality (depending on what interference is in the air at a particular time).

These problems can be exacerbated if the wireless access points are not selected properly, placed in the right location or configured correctly. Fortunately, these limitations can be overcome if they are considered when planning and installing a wireless network.

In most homes, the optimal place to install a wireless access point is in the ceiling and, as with a distributed audio system, the number of wireless access points installed should be based on the desired coverage area. Just as you would never place a speaker in the middle of the house and blast it, wireless access points should be placed in optimal locations.

In addition to appearance and location, consider the product's build. Look for a solid metal housing and quality components. The better wireless access points will even have heat sinks on key semiconductor components to improve long term reliability.

A variable high output power rating is another important feature. The higher output power rating is not so much for broadening coverage as it is for providing quality coverage and security. Just as with a stereo amplifier, if you push the amplifier to its limits, undesirable characteristics like distortion appear.

The variable power aspect of the wireless access point allows you to limit power to the intended area of coverage (i.e., within the house). After all, if no signal is present outside a house -- perhaps on public sidewalks or streets -- there is virtually no chance that the wireless network will be penetrated by unauthorized users.

Victor Pak is president of Pakedge Device & Software. Pakedge creates innovative networking, designed for professionals to install and consumers to enjoy. For more information, visit http://www.pakedge.com.