Venue Wi-Fi Requirements

Venue Wi-Fi Requirements

There are many factors to consider when taking Wi-Fi quality.

Wi-Fi infrastructure Requirements, Info & recommendations:

Decal Operation Modes
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The Digital Decals have been designed to work in two scenarios

  1. WITHOUT Wi-Fi INTERNET:
    For Decals displaying a ‘locked beer’ . The decal only requires internet to load the beer. Once loaded the decal can operate indefinitely without internet. Wi-Fi is only required in order to update content. We can ship the decal to you with the beer / content preloaded, or, you connect the decal to internet and update content (requires licencing).
  2. WITH Wi-Fi - For Decals displaying frequently changing beers, or content:
    If content updating is required for the Digital Decals, the venues Wi-Fi infrastructure must meet our requirements.
    If the requirements are too problematic for your venue, use of our pre-configured Access Points is required.. you just need a active ethernet port near the bar.

How many connected devices will your system handle?
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Wi-Fi equipment often has either a hard or soft station limit, which is the maximum number of clients that can be connected to a given station. Hard limits are common in ISP provided equipment, while soft limits are common in cheap home user grade equipment. The primary difference between hard and soft limits are that hard limits are a fixed number while soft limits are the ability of the modem to keep track of total data.

Your system / AP will have a limit of how many devices can wirelessly connect. This is very important as before installing new equipment, you want to make sure your system will handle the expansion. To start with you want to know how many devices are connect to a specific Wi-Fi name (SSID)
If you don’t have easy access to your router, you can use the Net Scan app by Nick Circelli.
Please note similar apps will be available for APPLE devices.

Config Access Point (AP)
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Accesss Point config requirements.
A dedicated access point is required for each bar of decals.):

  1. Ensure you have a ‘NON PUBLIC’ SSID assigned.
    The more devices connected to this SSID, the more chance of complication.
    For 'less stress' have a dedicated AP for each bar that has Digital Decals.
  2. No captive Portals:
    The Digital Decals cannot connect to open networks with ‘captive portals’ . Captive portals means that when a device connects to the internet, a webpage opens that requires the user to accept terms in order to proceed. The digital decal has not keyboard / mouse to be able to accept these terms.
  3. Roaming:
    IF you have a large mesh network, ensure you have the capability to bind the Digital Decals to a designated Access Point(s) in the event you need to prevent roaming (e.g. devices repeatedly jumping between access points).
  4. Connected Device Limit:
    Each access point has a hard, technical limit of the number clients per radio. See more information here
    If you have many connected devices at your venue - best to have a designated AP for the Decals. It is best to have a designated AP JUST for the Digital Decals (i.e. “Digital Taps - venue name”). It allow allows easy logs and management from your end to see how the decals are performing. Prior to install, run the CRAWL CONNECT APP - venue Wi-Fi scan tool..
  5. Multiple bars with Digital Decals in the venue:
    If the Digital Decals cannot connect to a singular dedicated AP, you may require a separate AP for the additional bars (location of other decals). If this is the case NO NOT use the same SSID. Use a different SSID or the Digital Decals may ‘hop’ in between the two Access Points. If this has been done, the following process is required:
    - Contact us and we will clear Wi-Fi on the decals.
    - Turn off all decals.
    - Turn on only one decal and reconnect the decal to the new/correct SSID.
    - Once connected, repeat with the next Digital Decal.
    - Repeat until all are connected .
  6. What Channel to use:
    The decals should be a different channel than other SSIDs in your venue. Ensure the channel is at least two channel apart from others - Further away the better.
    This is very important for the Gen 1 decals - as thay only use 2.4gHz
    “For best results, it is highly recommended to keep the 2.4 GHz channels to 1, 6, and 11, as these channel settings will allow for virtually no overlap in the Wi-Fi signal.”
    Read more
    Be mindful of drop-outs and ‘channel hopping’.

Dedicated Access Point (AP)
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Whether you are a beginner or expert in Wi-Fi mesh networks, the core consideration is how your Wi-Fi environment when up to 100 addititional devices are added that ping for update and report back every 15 seconds.

Not sure what an AP is? Click here

Requirements:

  1. Over 8 decals in a venue = SHOULD run a dedicated AP
    Failure to do this will likely cause connection issues at the worst possible time.
  2. One Access Point per bar
    A dedicated access point is required for each bar of decals.
  3. GPO within 3 meters of font
    A General Power Outlet (GPO) is required within 3 meters of each font

Additional Benefits of a dedicated AP:

  1. No worries when power cycling is required
    Keep in mind, Access points occasionally need to be power cycled. Having a dedicated Access Point means you can get connection back up and running for your decals – without affecting any of your other equipment (tills / tablets etc).
    Your I.T. person will not likely be available 24/7 – keep things simple for bar staff to be able to resolve.
  2. No limit worries
    All it takes is one to many devices added to a network before things start to fail. Having a dedicated AP makes it simple to manage connected devices to a physical AP

Do not treat the Digital Decals like other wireless connected devices. They ping for content change every 15 seconds so need to have consistent QUALITY internet connection.
Keep in mind at busy times, you have more electronic devices in your venue (patrons phones for example ) these can cause extra interference (wireless noise). Even your Wi-Fi printer can potentially be an issue if not setup correctly.

If you do not run a dedicated Access Point, a service fee may be required to assist with connection.

During our trail period, we limited sales to 10 venues. This was so we could we could gather data and from a range of different environments. The pilot venues were all very different in respect to their network and wireless infrastructure. Some used a single modem/router, others had a complex mesh network with multiple Access Points. All installions were successful, after our Wi-Fi recomendations were met.

Crawl Media Access Point (AP)
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If you need want a stress-free solution without potential assistance from your I.T. Provider / venues I.T., the simplest solution to provide internet to the Digital Decals is one of our pre-configured Access Points (APs).

Benefits:

  1. Instant, hassle free connection.
    The access point has a key installed so the decals will automatically connect, meaning setup is not re-quired to connect to the internet with the decal.
  2. No IP conflicts .
    The more devices connected to this SSID, the more chance of complication. All it takes is adding one wireless device to your venue to potentially cause an IP conflict.
    For 'less stress' have a dedicated AP for each bar that has Digital Decals. By adding a dedicated AP, you are giving the decals ‘standalone’ internet access so they won’t have conflicts with your other devices (existing and future).
  3. Remote Power Cycling.
    One of the most common issues with Wi-Fi connected devices are assignment conflicts. The quickest way to resolve this is by power cycling the AP. If you have other connected devices to the AP (Tills / EFTPOS / Tablets) – Power cycling the AP can be problematic to do at times..
    Your bar staff may not know where or how to do this also.
    Having a correctly installed Crawl Media managed Access Point means we can take all the hassle out of this for you.
  4. Remote Management.
    We have a commercial Unifi Cloud Management licence allowing us remote access to easily identify varying signal strength and problem solve issues.
    Remote management allows changing channel and managing limits of connected devices.

For more info and price of our Pre-configured Access points Click here

We only supply quality Ubiquiti UniFi products.
NOTE: This is the Quickest and most secure option and the easiest to manage. If there is excessive Wi-Fi noise in the area, this can still be problematic but quicker to resolve.


Q: Do the decals require your access point – or can we use our own?
A: You can use your own, however they should be dedicated APs (not connecting any other of your venues devices. ) Our APs are pre-configured to the decal for simple connection.

Placement of Access Point (AP)
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Our systems require excellent, consistent internet access. We have built in redundancies for internet drops, however these can only go so far. It is essential your venue has the correct setup of equipment and excellent consistent Wi-Fi strength at the taps where the digital decals will be installed. Kegs, glasses, metal walls WILL negatively affect Wi-Fi signal strength to the Digital Decals, so the position of the AP is critical.

The following should NEVER be done with the access point:

  • Placed under bar. The optimal place is on a ceiling, with direct line of site to the decals.
  • Metal (walls or beams) or glasses in between the AP and the decals. Optimally there should be line of site and within 5-10 meters of the decals.

Keep in mind at busy times, you have more electronic devices in your venue (patrons phones for example ) these can cause extra interference (wireless noise). Even your Wi-Fi printer can potentially be an issue if not setup correctly.

Dubiquiti / unifi have a fantastic tool that will assist in where to place your APs