Networking
Planning a Reliable Office Network: Cabling, Wi-Fi and Power
Slow Wi-Fi and dropped connections are usually design problems, not internet problems. What to plan for when setting up or upgrading an office network, from cable categories to backup power.
SAG Encoders · · 2 min read
When the network is slow, people blame the internet provider. Often the real causes are inside the building: one consumer router trying to cover several rooms, unlabelled cables, everything on one flat network, and equipment that switches off every time the power does. A little planning avoids all of these.
1. Start with a survey
Count the people and devices today and in three years, note which applications matter most (video calls, cloud accounting, CCTV), and walk the building to see where coverage is needed and where walls, metal and distance will cause problems.
2. Cable what does not move
Wired connections are faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi, so cable desktops, printers, CCTV cameras and, above all, your Wi-Fi access points.
- Cat6 comfortably supports gigabit Ethernet and can carry 10 Gb/s (10GBASE-T) over shorter runs, typically quoted as up to 55 metres and less in dense bundles.
- Cat6A supports 10 Gb/s over the full standard Ethernet channel of 100 metres, which is usually made up of up to 90 metres of fixed cable plus patch leads at each end.
Terminate cables on a patch panel, label both ends, test every run and keep a simple map. Future you will be grateful.
3. Design Wi-Fi with several access points
A single powerful router in a corner rarely covers an office well. Several ceiling-mounted access points, connected by cable and powered over Ethernet (PoE), give stronger, more even coverage and let devices roam between them. When buying, look at the standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the sensible baseline today, Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band where the local regulator permits its use, and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is the newest generation. Use WPA3 security where all your devices support it, and WPA2 with AES as the minimum.
4. Separate traffic with VLANs
Virtual LANs divide one physical network into isolated segments. Put guests, staff computers, CCTV and smart devices on separate segments so a visitor's phone, or a compromised camera, cannot reach your accounting computer. A guest Wi-Fi network should only reach the internet.
5. Plan for internet failure
If the business stops when the internet does, use two connections from different providers, for example fibre plus a 4G or 5G backup, with a router that fails over automatically.
6. Protect the power
Where grid power is unreliable, sudden outages and surges damage equipment and corrupt data. Put the router, switches and any server on a UPS sized to bridge the gap until your generator or inverter takes over, use surge protection, and make sure the installation is properly earthed.
7. Secure and maintain it
Change every default password, keep firmware up to date, disable features you do not use, and choose equipment that can be managed and monitored centrally. Finally, document everything: the cable map, device list, IP addresses and admin accounts, stored somewhere safe.