Summary
A long-standing H&R Telephones customer was struggling with an antiquated warehouse network and old equipment, including Cisco and D-Link switches and Ubiquiti UAP-PRO access points. Warehouse employees who relied on mobile devices faced slow Wi-Fi, sluggish applications, and connectivity drops during clock-ins and inventory check-ins.
Rather than simply swapping access points, H&R Telephones assessed the full network and recommended a complete infrastructure upgrade: 8 Ubiquiti UniFi PRO 48 PoE switches with 20 Gb backbones, paired with 20 Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro access points replacing the outdated UAP-PRO units.
The results were immediate. Employees experienced more reliable timekeeping, smoother inventory management, and improved wireless coverage throughout the facility, backed by a switching infrastructure with far greater capacity.
This case study reinforces a key lesson: Wi-Fi problems aren’t always about access points or internet speed. Aging switches and limited capacity can be the root cause; illustrating that reliable wireless depends on the full infrastructure working together.
The Challenge: Eliminating Slow Wi-Fi and Improving Connectivity Across a Busy Warehouse
A long-standing H&R Telephones customer was experiencing increasing network and Wi-Fi performance issues throughout their warehouse and business operations.
The customer was relying on an aging network infrastructure installed approximately 11 years ago. The environment comprised 10 Cisco and D-Link switches, including both PoE and non-PoE switches, along with 17 Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-PRO wireless access points.
As the network and wireless equipment aged, the customer began experiencing noticeable connectivity and performance problems.
The issues were disruptive to daily warehouse operations, where employees relied heavily on mobile devices.
Employees were experiencing:
- Slow or inconsistent Wi-Fi connectivity
- Lag when using mobile applications
- Delays when clocking in and out using mobile phones
- Connectivity issues when performing inventory check-ins and check-outs
- Inconsistent wireless performance throughout the warehouse
- Increased frustration for employees relying on mobile applications to perform their jobs
In a warehouse environment where employees depend on real-time mobile connectivity, even brief delays can have a significant impact on productivity.
The customer needed a solution that would provide a faster, more reliable network while also improving wireless coverage and capacity.
The Solution
H&R Telephones performed an assessment of the customer’s existing network infrastructure and recommended a comprehensive network and wireless upgrade.
Rather than simply replacing the wireless access points, H&R addressed the network infrastructure supporting the wireless system as well.
The existing switching and wireless infrastructure was replaced with a modern Ubiquiti UniFi network solution consisting of:
Network Infrastructure
8 Ubiquiti UniFi PRO 48 PoE switches
The new switches provide the PoE connectivity required to power the customer’s wireless access points while also providing significantly improved switching performance and network capacity.
Each switch was deployed with a 20 Gb backbone, providing substantially greater capacity between the network switches and reducing the possibility of the network infrastructure becoming a bottleneck.
Wireless Infrastructure
20 Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro wireless access points
The new access points replaced the customer’s 17 approximately 11-year-old UAP-PRO access points.
The increased number of access points allowed H&R to improve wireless coverage and capacity throughout the facility while providing the customer with a significantly more modern wireless platform.
A Complete Network Upgrade
One of the important aspects of this project was recognizing that the customer’s Wi-Fi problems were not caused by the wireless access points alone.
The wireless network depends on the infrastructure underneath it.
Older switches, limited PoE capabilities, network congestion, and aging wireless access points can all contribute to a poor user experience.
H&R therefore approached the project as a complete network infrastructure and wireless upgrade rather than simply replacing the access points.
The upgraded architecture provided:
- Modern PoE switching
- Increased network capacity
- 20 Gb switch backbones
- Newer-generation wireless technology
- Increased wireless access point density
- Centralized UniFi management
- Improved network scalability
- Better support for mobile devices and business applications
The Result
Following the installation, the customer experienced a dramatic improvement in network speed, wireless connectivity, and overall performance.
The warehouse employees could now use their mobile devices more reliably for critical daily functions, including:
Employee Timekeeping
Mobile devices used for clocking in and out can now communicate with the customer’s applications more consistently.
Inventory Management
Employees performing inventory check-ins and check-outs experienced significantly improved connectivity when using mobile applications throughout the warehouse.
Wireless Connectivity
The increased number of modern wireless access points provided improved coverage and connectivity across the facility.
Network Performance
The upgraded switching infrastructure and 20 Gb backbones provided significantly greater capacity for the customer’s growing network and wireless demands.
From Aging Infrastructure to a Modern Network
This project illustrates an important point for businesses experiencing slow Wi-Fi:
The problem isn’t always the Internet connection.
A business can have a fast Internet connection and still experience slow applications, poor Wi-Fi performance, and connectivity problems because of aging network infrastructure.
In this case, the customer was operating with network and wireless equipment that was approximately 11 years old.
By upgrading both the switching infrastructure and wireless network, H&R Telephones was able to provide the customer with a modern foundation capable of supporting today’s mobile applications and future technology requirements.
Why Network Infrastructure Matters?
Today’s businesses rely on wireless connectivity for far more than simply accessing the Internet. Employees use Wi-Fi for:
- Inventory management
- Timekeeping
- Mobile point-of-sale systems
- Warehouse management systems
- Voice communications
- Tablets and mobile computers
- Cloud applications
- Barcode scanners
- Shipping and receiving
- Security systems
- Business applications
When the wireless network is unreliable, productivity suffers.
A properly designed network requires more than simply installing additional access points. The switching infrastructure, PoE capacity, network backbone, wireless coverage, device density, and application requirements all need to work together.
Author’s Bio
Jonathan Godley has over 20 years of experience in the telecommunications and business technology industry, helping businesses, schools, and organizations throughout the Delaware Valley design, implement, and maintain reliable communications, network, and security infrastructure.
As a technology professional with H&R Telephones, Jonathan specializes in assessing business technology needs and designing, configuring, and implementing integrated low-voltage solutions. His expertise includes UCaaS and business communications, structured cabling, network infrastructure, managed switches and routers, wireless networks, IP video surveillance, and IP access control. He works with organizations to identify technology challenges, develop practical solutions, and implement systems designed to improve connectivity, reliability, security, and overall performance.
Jonathan earned a Bachelor of Arts from Temple University in 2004. He holds manufacturer certifications in Hubbell structured cabling, Berk-Tek/Leviton structured cabling, Paxton access control, Brivo access control, and Hanwha Vision video surveillance. His combination of telecommunications experience, low-voltage expertise, and manufacturer-specific training allows him to take a comprehensive approach to business technology infrastructure—from the cabling and network equipment supporting a system to the communications, security, and access-control solutions operating on top of it.
H&R Telephones: More Than Just Phones
Projects like this are an example of how H&R Telephones has expanded beyond traditional business telephone systems.
H&R provides complete business technology infrastructure solutions, including:
Structured Cabling
Category 6/6A copper and fiber optic infrastructure, MDF/IDF build-outs, racks, patch panels, and network cabling.
Network Infrastructure
We manage switches, routers, network equipment, PoE infrastructure, and network upgrades.
Business Wi-Fi
Wireless network design, access point installation, coverage improvements, and wireless upgrades.
UCaaS & Business Communications
Hosted phone systems and unified communications solutions.
IP Video Surveillance
Commercial IP cameras, recording systems, remote viewing, and security system upgrades.
IP Access Control
Electronic access control, card readers, door controllers, and access management systems.
Is Your Network Keeping Up With Your Business?
If your organization is experiencing:
- Slow Wi-Fi
- Dead spots
- Dropped connections
- Slow mobile applications
- Poor warehouse connectivity
- Aging switches
- Outdated wireless access points
- Network congestion
- Increasing numbers of wireless devices
It may be time to evaluate the network infrastructure supporting your business.
H&R Telephones can evaluate your existing network, identify potential bottlenecks, and develop a plan to improve performance, reliability, and scalability.
Contact H&R Telephones today to schedule an audit: 610-640-0285
Business Communications | Network Infrastructure | Structured Cabling | Wi-Fi | Video Surveillance | Access Control