We live in a wireless world. Laptops often don't even have Ethernet ports anymore. Your team expects to walk from the boardroom to their desk to the lunchroom without their video call dropping. Yet, many businesses try to run an office of 20 people off the standard ISP-provided black box modem provided by Bell or Rogers.
The "ISP Modem" Problem
That modem is designed for a home. It is built to handle:
- 2-3 Laptops
- 2-3 Phones
- A Netflix stream.
In an office, you have:
- 20 Laptops
- 20 Smartphones (everyone connects their mobile)
- Printers, Smart TVs, IoT sensors.
The result: The processor in the modem crashes. It's not a speed issue (you have fiber); it's a density issue. The router simply cannot track 50 simultaneous conversations.
Understanding the Standards
Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
The standard from 2014-2019. Good speed, poor density handling. If you have this, it's time to upgrade.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
Designed for Efficiency.
- OFDMA: Allows the router to talk to multiple devices at the exact same time (like a multi-lane highway vs a single lane road).
- Target Wake Time: Saves battery life on devices.
- Speed: ~30-40% faster than Wi-Fi 5.
Wi-Fi 6E (The "New Lane")
Wi-Fi 6E adds a whole new frequency band: 6 GHz.
- 2.4 GHz is crowded (microwaves, bluetooth).
- 5 GHz is crowded (neighboring offices).
- 6 GHz is empty. It's a wide-open superhighway. If you have compatible laptops (newer Dells/Lenovos), it is incredibly fast.
Wi-Fi 7 (The Future)
Just arriving in 2025/2026. Extremely fast but expensive. Overkill for most SMBs right now unless you are doing uncompressed 8K video editing wirelessly.
Enterprise Wireless Access Points (WAPs)
You don't need a "better router"; you need Access Points. A WAP system (like Ubiquiti Unifi or TP-Link Omada):
- Roaming: As you walk, your device hands off seamlessly from AP-A to AP-B.
- Controller: A central brain manages the traffic, ensuring one user doesn't hog all the bandwidth downloading a Steam game.
- Guest Networks: Secure isolation. Guests get internet but cannot see your servers or printers.
Stop fighting with the modem. Install a proper wireless fabric.
Ready to take the next step?
Poor Wi-Fi is a productivity killer. We specialize in building enterprise-grade wireless fabrics that provide seamless roaming and Gigabit speeds across your entire facility, from the front desk to the warehouse.