My business is based on the Internet; my phone is an IP phone, it uses the Internet. If the internet goes down, so does most of my business until it’s back up in a few hours or days. It doesn’t stop there though because even my TV uses the internet these days and then there are all those cloud services which means some of my data may not be on any of my computers. I have a wired internet connection and it’s pretty fast, especially when it comes to downloads. The faster broadband is, the more we can do with it and the more we will depend on it. And… it doesn’t even stop there either! Laptops, mobile phones, tablets, TVs, set-top boxes, NAS drives, stereo systems, cameras, etc. They use wireless technology, so wireless technology is also very important.
If you have a business that relies on the Internet or would really miss your Internet connection at home, you never want it to go down! Well, maybe when you’re on vacation… oh oh, you have a remote security camera connected to your phone via the Internet or some other device, maybe an Internet-connected pet feeder or something.
I think most of us want reliable all 9 uptime for our internet, but of course that’s not always easy to achieve. Make it 100% trustworthy. I can’t actually promise that even all 9 aren’t that easy, but I can probably show you how to make your internet faster, have higher capacity, make it more reliable, and improve your wireless connection while keeping costs reasonable.
a common problem
Most homes and small businesses have 1 Internet connection, 1 line, and 1 router that functions as a router, switch, and wireless access point…right? If any of those items fail, so will your Internet access. You can go ask the neighbor if you can run a cable to your business from their supply or ask for their wireless password and maybe sometimes this is fine, it’s kind of a temporary solution. If you want to be self-sufficient, you’ll probably need a better solution.
What if…
Your router fails
Simple, find another router, set it up (hope you know where your broadband login details are), or better yet, have another router on standby, just in case! In my experience, most people or companies do not have spare parts. Your current router may be a bit special, but anything will do to get it working again if a direct replacement isn’t available.
Your Internet connection fails
It could be your ISP, a line fault, or a JCB digging outside. Either way, it depends on your provider’s service level agreements. It will probably be down for a few hours, maybe a few days, and if you’re really unlucky, a few weeks, it will happen, especially if the road needs to be dug up.
flaky wireless
Wireless technology has come a long way, but it is still an unstable service. It depends on a lot of things, how many people are already connected, what’s in your building, atmospheric conditions, the type of wireless network you have, and the capabilities of the devices you’re trying to connect to, etc.
It’s also not so good when you have more than 1 wireless access point but your device stays connected to the access point that was nearby 2 minutes ago and is now almost out of range. You could be standing next to another access point on the same network but still not connect to it unless you do it manually.
Does any or all of this sound familiar?
A solution
There are very fast internet connections with high uptimes and great service level agreements meaning if your internet connection goes down it’s fixed quickly but of course that can cost a lot of money and a JCB going through cable is probably going to mess up even that plan for a while. There’s WiMax, line-of-site links, and even satellite connections, but hey, it’s a bit pricey and maybe a bit over the top for many.
The solution I suggest below is not new, but it has improved over time and costs less than before. Not all makes and/or models will allow you to do this, but the right devices are readily available and affordable.
more than 1
Broadband is pretty cheap, so how about 2 outdoor wifi extender on different networks, so if it’s the ISP or just 1 line that goes down, the other is likely to continue to work? Just to be a belt and suspenders, how about powering a mobile broadband supply in case that bumbling JCB crosses your path and cuts all the cables to your facility.
