Wi-Fi planning in 10 steps

Poor Wi-Fi planning creates a weak network that isn't just annoying; it's a major drain on your bottom line. But don't worry, we've got you covered. This guide will walk you through the ins and outs of Wi-Fi planning, helping you create a network that'll keep your team connected and productive.

Continue reading to find out:

• Why proper Wi-Fi planning matters
• Our 10-step solution for effective wireless network planning
• How Meter simplifies the Wi-Fi planning process

Why proper Wi-Fi planning matters

Poor wireless network planning often results in weak signals, slow speeds, and connectivity issues. Security risks also rise as more devices struggle to connect. Without proper planning, you might end up with more dead zones than a horror movie, slower connections than a snail race, and security holes big enough to drive a truck through. Not exactly the recipe for a productive office, right?

Wi-Fi planning is like being the architect of your office's digital highway. You're mapping out where the roads go, how many lanes they need, and making sure there are no traffic jams. It's about creating a network that's fast, secure, and covers every nook and cranny of your office.

Solid Wi-Fi planning builds a foundation for a network that can grow. You can’t afford to ignore the basics and end up with coverage gaps, interference, and wasted resources. Follow these 10 steps to create a wireless network that meets your needs today and is ready for tomorrow.

Step 1: Identify business requirements

First things first: what does your office actually need? It's time to play detective and gather some clues:

• How many devices will you be connecting? Don't forget about that smart coffee maker!
• What are your VIPs (Very Important Programs)? Think video calls, cloud apps, or anything else that needs priority treatment.
• What's your definition of "good Wi-Fi"? Fast downloads? Lag-free video? No more "Can you hear me now?" moments?

Wireless Network Design: How to Create the Perfect Wi-Fi Plan suggests starting with these basics to build a solid foundation for your network.

Step 2: Conduct a site survey

Now it's time to get up close and personal with your office space. A site survey is like giving your office a Wi-Fi health check. There are three ways to do this:

1. Predictive surveys: Use fancy software to create a virtual model of your office.
2. Passive surveys: Sneak around measuring existing Wi-Fi signals without broadcasting.
3. Active surveys: Actually connect to access points to test real-world performance.

Mix and match these methods to get the full picture. It's like using X-ray, MRI, and ultrasound to diagnose your office's Wi-Fi fitness.

Look over the floor plan to find the best spots for access points. Make sure you cover the whole area without too much overlap. Heatmapping tools can show you the signal strength. This lets you adjust before setting everything up. Doing a survey now saves you trouble later and keeps your network running well.

Step 3: Evaluate building materials and layout

Did you know that your office walls could be sabotaging your Wi-Fi? Different materials can mess with your signals:

• Drywall and wood? No problem.
• Glass and concrete? They're like Wi-Fi kryptonite.
• Metal? It's the fun house mirror of Wi-Fi, bouncing signals all over the place.

Don't forget about those pesky interference sources. Microwaves, cordless phones, even your neighbor's Wi-Fi can all crash your signal's party.

Start by identifying physical barriers, such as walls, ceilings, and large pieces of furniture, which can obstruct signals. Areas with metallic objects should be noted since they significantly weaken Wi-Fi transmission.

Next, identify sources of interference. Common culprits include other Wi-Fi networks, microwaves, Bluetooth devices, and fluorescent lights. Analyzing these will help later when planning channel usage.

Step 4: Assess capacity needs

How much Wi-Fi juice does your office need? It's time to do some math:

• How many people will be using the network?
• What kind of bandwidth-hungry apps are you running?
• Are you planning to grow your team?

Plan your Wi-Fi network with NetSpot Wi-Fi site survey tool recommends using tools to help balance the load across your network. Think of it like air traffic control for your data.

Step 5: Design for coverage and performance

Use what you've learned to create a heat map of your office. Your goal? To blanket every corner in sweet, sweet Wi-Fi goodness.

Begin with a detailed examination of all areas requiring Wi-Fi. Go beyond the obvious workspaces—consider high-traffic zones, outdoor areas, conference rooms, and any places where coverage might be necessary. Mark these spots on a map to gain a more detailed view.

Some pro tips:

• Keep a clear line of sight between access points and devices when you can.
• Avoid putting access points near metal–it's not their friend.
• Got long, narrow spaces? Use directional antennas to beam Wi-Fi down those corridors.

Step 6: Address security concerns

Let's talk security. You wouldn't leave your front door wide open, so don't do it with your Wi-Fi. Here's what you need:

• Strong authentication and encryption. WPA3 is your new best friend.
• Solid security policies. Password rules, guest access, the whole nine yards.
• Extra security goodies like intrusion prevention systems and next-gen firewalls.

Note: WPA3 is the top choice because it offers better security and protects your network for the future. It uses advanced methods like Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) to prevent attackers from guessing passwords. This makes it much harder for anyone to access the network. Compared to WPA2, WPA3 is safer, especially for networks with sensitive data or in areas where hacking attempts are common.

Step 7: Plan for network integration and scalability

Your Wi-Fi network isn't an island. It needs to play nice with all your other tech toys. Think about:

• Will it work with your current switches and routers?
• Do you need Power over Ethernet for your access points?
• Can it grow with your business?

Design with the future in mind. You don't want to be replacing everything in six months because you forgot to plan ahead.

Choose the right Wi-Fi technology

Choosing the right Wi-Fi technology directly impacts the network's overall performance and adaptability to future demands.

Wi-Fi standards

The right choice between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 will shape your network's capabilities and long-term viability. All have distinct advantages.

Wi-Fi 6 is fast and reliable. It offers better speeds, lower latency, and supports many devices. It works well in busy environments and uses both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. For most businesses, Wi-Fi 6 gives the right mix of performance and reliability.

Wi-Fi 7 promises faster speeds and lower latency, but real-world performance isn't proven yet. Despite the hype, Wi-Fi 7 is still in development, so it's best to rely on Wi-Fi 6 for now. Wi-Fi 7 is expected to be widely available by Spring 2025. Meter plans to offer Wi-Fi 7 access points starting in May 2025, letting you upgrade to the latest wireless technology when it's ready.

Frequency bands

The 2.4 GHz band covers more distance but deals with more interference. The 5 GHz band is faster but doesn’t reach as far. Using both helps balance coverage, especially when devices have different needs. With Wi-Fi 6, moving to the 6 GHz band means faster speeds and cleaner channels, especially in crowded areas.

Mesh vs. traditional networks

Traditional networks are fine for smaller spaces but often fail in large or complex areas. The signal weakens, and dead zones become an issue.

Mesh networks solve this by using multiple access points to evenly distribute coverage. They keep the signal strong and reliable, even in big, multi-floor spaces. When you need consistent coverage in a large area, mesh networks are the better choice.

Select the appropriate access points

Access points are critical for enterprises, as explained in our other guide to picking network access points. Figuring out how many access points you need isn’t about guessing or using a basic formula. It’s about turning your site survey data into real decisions.

Determine the number needed

Start by analyzing your space:

• How dense is the device population?
• Where are the high-traffic zones?

In a smaller open space, such as an office under 1,500 square feet, you might need just one or two access points (APs) to get full coverage. For larger, open office spaces up to 5,000 square feet, expect to need around three to four APs. For environments divided by walls, such as a multi-room office or a warehouse, more APs will be necessary to ensure there are no dead zones.

Picture each AP as a transmitter with its own range of about 1,000–1,500 square feet, depending on obstacles and building materials. Overlapping their signals is important to avoid dead zones and to keep coverage strong across the entire space.

Now imagine a large warehouse with many dividers and shelves. It's typical to need an AP for every 1,000 square feet to maintain steady connectivity. This becomes especially when accounting for interference from walls or large structures.

Here's a summary to help you estimate:

• Small open spaces (up to 1,500 sq. ft.) would need 1-2 APs
• Medium open spaces (1,500–5,000 sq. ft.) would need 3-4 APs
• Large divided areas may need 1 AP for every 1,000 sq. ft. or for each major room or section

Using these estimates, you can better gauge how many APs your network will need for strong and reliable coverage.

Indoor vs. outdoor access points

Not all APs are created equal, especially when considering indoor versus outdoor needs.

High-capacity APs work best indoors, especially in busy spots like conference rooms or open offices. They’re built to handle lots of devices at once, keeping things running even in crowded areas. Meter sees this as key for maintaining strong performance in high-traffic spaces.

For outdoor areas, weatherproof APs are a must. They’re tough enough to handle rain, wind, and heat, making them perfect for places like courtyards or parking lots.

Choosing the right AP for each environment means your network stays solid, no matter where people are.

Power options: PoE vs. AC-powered APs

Power over Ethernet (PoE) and AC-powered options each have their advantages, but PoE often offers greater flexibility. With PoE, you can put access points where outlets are hard to find, like ceiling corners or outdoor walls. It cuts down on cables and makes installation easier, especially for larger setups.

AC-powered access points work fine in places with nearby outlets, like small offices or hallways. But sticking to AC power can limit where you place them, which might hurt coverage in tricky layouts.

Meter's insight

Access points are the heart of your wireless network. They guide signals across your space. Every choice—from how many you install to how you power them—affects the user experience. At Meter, we make these decisions simple. We help you choose and place access points that offer full coverage while handling your environment’s specific challenges.

Step 8: Utilize Wi-Fi planning tools

Why make life harder than it needs to be? There are tons of great tools out there to help with Wi-Fi planning. They can help you:

• Create virtual models of your Wi-Fi coverage
• Spot interference before it becomes a problem
• Generate fancy reports to impress your boss

9 Steps for Wireless Network Planning and Design recommends using these tools to take the guesswork out of planning.

Step 9: Document your Wi-Fi network setup

Good documentation makes your wireless network clear and easy to manage. When issues come up, you’ll have a detailed guide to troubleshoot and make adjustments quickly. 

Create a network map

Note the exact location of each access point, the cabling routes, and all the equipment settings. This map becomes your go-to for troubleshooting and any upgrades down the road. Without it, you’ll waste time trying to figure out what went where. Having everything mapped out upfront saves you from bouncing your head off the wall in frustration later.

Record device configurations

Keep a record of your device settings. Write down configurations, firmware versions, and passwords. It makes upgrades and troubleshooting much simpler. Skipping this step only creates more work down the road.

Maintain an issue log

An issue log is the final piece of the puzzle. Document every connectivity problem and how it was fixed. Over time, you’ll spot patterns that help solve issues faster. Plus, it helps prevent the same problems from happening again.

Step 10: Monitor and maintain your Wi-Fi network

You've built your Wi-Fi empire, but the work's not over yet. Now it's time to make sure it's actually doing its job:

• Test, test, and test again. Check signal strength, speed, and coverage.
• Keep an eye on things. Set up monitoring to catch problems before users notice.
• Stay on your toes. Wi-Fi tech is always changing, so keep learning and updating.

When problems pop up (because they will), be ready to tackle them:

• Play musical chairs with your channels to reduce interference.
• Tweak your power levels for better coverage.
• Keep your firmware up to date. Those updates aren't just for fun, you know.

Follow these steps, and you'll be well on your way to a network that keeps your team connected, productive, and maybe even a little bit impressed. Remember, good Wi-Fi is like oxygen in the office–you only notice it when it's not there. 

Meter makes Wi-Fi planning easy with NaaS

Meter’s NaaS removes the hassle of network maintenance and Wi-Fi planning. We manage network monitoring, firmware updates, performance checks, and all aspects of network design and installation. Our goal is to keep your network stable and adaptable as your business grows while freeing up your IT team to focus on more strategic tasks.

How Meter makes wireless network planning easy:

• In-depth site surveys: Meter will analyze your environment to find ideal access point locations, accounting for obstacles and device density.
• Scalable network design: Our network designs adapt to changing demands, providing room for future expansion.
• Expert installation: Skilled technicians handle setup, ensuring reliable, uninterrupted connectivity.
• Ongoing monitoring and optimization: Regular checks keep your network performing well without constant IT oversight.
• Security management: Advanced DNS security encryption and firewall settings protect your network from threats.
• Intuitive dashboard: The Meter Dashboard offers real-time insights, making network management straightforward.

Ready to simplify Wi-Fi planning?Contact Meter today for an end-to-end wireless network solution.