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Our client reported that the network connection dropped intermittently between their POS (iPads) and the cloud server in one of their branches in London. They also reported the same issue for their PDQ card terminals.
In current infrastructure, they had 3 access points in different store locations, including 1 downstairs and 2 upstairs. They also have a business firewall, network-attached PDQ terminals, receipt printers and three wireless POS devices.
The loss of connectivity on the iPad(s) caused the business to stop taking orders from their clients and managing them. Customers could also not pay by card from time to time when the PDQ machines were disconnected from the local network. Fibre IT Solutions had to understand why this was happening and apply a permanent solution.
Solution
Simplification is one of the energy-efficient strategies being used in this project.
This strategy allowed our clients to drastically reduce the complication of connecting their wireless devices to multiple access points. However, we discovered that too many Access Points were used for the location. The equipment needed to be updated. We have retired their old equipment and installed a single Long Range Unifi Access Point upstairs in the middle of the store.
Multiple access points can cause signal interference, especially in densely populated areas with many wireless devices. This can result in slower speeds and reduced overall network performance.
On the other hand, we noticed QoS (Quality of Service) was not configured at all. This has resulted in customers using too much data in the busiest times and resulting in connectivity issues between the devices, causing PDQ terminals to disconnect.
We have configured proper Bandwidth management in the store and applied security controls such as separating customer devices into different segments. We made sure there was enough bandwidth for the main devices to operate and run.
Results
By upgrading the Wi-Fi environment with one of the latest devices, "Unifi LR-6", the performance and security were maximized. In addition, the devices no longer jump from one station to another, which results in excellent stability.
The wireless devices' security was improved, and bandwidth limitations were applied. This has provided a secure and fast environment for our client to manage their business. As a result, all of the devices remained stable in the wireless network, including their PDQ terminals.