Antenna vs Disc?
Wireless access points come in different shapes and sizes, but the most common ones are antenna and disc shaped. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your needs and environment.
- Antenna: This type of access point has one or more external antennas that can be adjusted to direct the Wi-Fi signal in a specific direction. This can improve the signal strength and coverage in a certain area, but it can also reduce the signal quality and coverage in other areas. The signal from each antenna is a torus shape (shaped like a doughnut).
- Disc: This type of access point has no external antennas, but instead has a circular shape that radiates the Wi-Fi signal in cone shape in front of it. This can provide a more uniform and consistent signal quality and coverage in a wide area, but it can also be less customisable as you need to move the entire access point to adjust the signal.
Antenna Theory, Gain & Bands (draytek.co.uk)
To get the best Wi-Fi signal from your wireless access point, you should choose the type that suits your home or office space.
5GHz vs 2.4GHz?
Wi-Fi signals operate on two main frequency bands: 5GHz and 2.4GHz. Each frequency has different strengths and weaknesses.
- 5GHz: This frequency offers faster speeds, lower latency, and less congestion, as it has more channels with fewer devices using it. However, it also has a shorter range and is more easily blocked by walls and other objects. Therefore, it is ideal for high-bandwidth activities, such as streaming and video conferencing, in a small or open space.
- 2.4GHz: This frequency offers longer range and is less effected by walls and barriers, as it can travel farther and pass through solid materials. Is has slightly slower speeds, higher latency, and more interference, as it has fewer channels and more devices using it. Therefore, it is ideal for low-bandwidth activities, such as web browsing and emailing, in larger spaces.
You should pick the frequency that works best for your environment. You can also use both frequencies simultaneously if your access point and devices support dual-band Wi-Fi. This way, you can assign different devices and activities to different frequencies to get the benefit of both.
Additional considerations
There are a few additional technical considerations to make when choosing and configuring a wireless access point.
- Gain: A measure of how well a wireless access point can amplify and focus the Wi-Fi signal in a specific direction. The higher the gain, the more concentrated the signal is, and the farther it can reach. However, high gain also means that the signal coverage is narrower, and the access point may need to be adjusted achieve the best connectivity.
- Channels: The sub-frequencies within the main frequency bands of 5GHz and 2.4GHz. Each channel has a certain bandwidth, which is the amount of data that can be transmitted on that channel. The channel that a wireless access point uses can affect the Wi-Fi performance, as different channels may have different levels of interference, congestion, and compatibility with devices. It is important to choose the best channel for your wireless access point.
How to Position Your Access Point
Taking all the above into consideration, the most important factors that affect your Wi-Fi performance is the location and orientation of your access point. Here are some tips to optimise your Wi-Fi signal by positioning your access point properly:
- Place your access point in a central and elevated location, where it can cover the most area and avoid interference from other devices or appliances.
- Avoid placing your access point near metal objects, mirrors, or windows, as they can reflect or absorb the Wi-Fi signal.
- Adjust the antennas of your access point, if it has any, to point in different directions and angles. This can improve the signal strength and quality in different areas of your space.
- If you have a disc-shaped access point, make sure to place it on a flat surface, facing the area where most of the devices connecting to it are situated. This positioning will ensure that the signal is distributed evenly in the necessary directions.
- If you have a large space, consider using multiple access points or a mesh network system, which can extend your Wi-Fi coverage and eliminate dead zones. It is important to make sure to use the same SSID and password for all the access points so that devices can move about and seamlessly connect to them.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi can be a brilliant way to introduce convenience and versatility into any space that needs network connectivity. Although there are some considerations when installing a wireless access point such as positioning, interference, and frequency, if you follow the steps in this guide, you will stay connected and enjoy a fast and reliable Wi-Fi experience.
Want to learn more about connecting wirelessly? Read our blog on Setting Up A Mobile Hotspot in iOS and Android
