Do's and Don'ts for Industrial Wi-Fi

Some practical guidelines for Wi-Fi connection issues.

For many industrial applications, Wi-Fi communication offers a potentially easier and more cost-effective way to connect devices to an IP-based network compared to physical connections to an Ethernet switch.

However, Wi-Fi connection issues are notoriously tricky to diagnose and troubleshoot. Industrial users often struggle to find the right combination of hardware, configuration, and placement that produces good coverage in a complex environment.

• Do install access points based on site analysis. 
  
• Do make sure that access points are at least 10 feet from nearby metal objects.
  
• Do avoid obstructions between your access points and your client devices. 
  
• Do set performance standards and establish coverage areas with enough access points to meet those standards. 
  
• Do make sure that all equipment is properly grounded. 
  
• Do use surge suppressors and other measures to protect outdoor antennas and equipment from lightning strikes and power surges.
  
• Do pay attention to antenna and cable ratings and use the appropriate gear for your situation. 
  
• Do conduct a systematic site survey and determine the impact of other existing wireless deployments.
  

• Don't simply pick the most convenient and accessible spot for your access point.
  
• Don't install access points near or behind metal objects.
• Don't expect top performance from access points that are placed behind objects for aesthetic reasons. 
  
• Don't simply assume that you have good placement and enough access points for your desired communication performance.
  
• Don't forget to ground your equipment properly.
  
• Don't forget about the possibility of lightning strikes and electrical surges on your outdoor access points and antennas.
  
• Don't use a long antenna cable run to connect an external low-gain antenna.
  
• Don't rely on gut instinct and logic in place of a site survey – there are often factors that you cannot see or have not considered.

Related Topics

• 4 Common Issues With Legacy Devices and Ethernet Communication
• 8 Common Industrial Network Deployment Mistakes