WiFi networks make up integral communication infrastructure for countless businesses in many
industries. As organizations grow, WiFi must expand to accommodate more users and clients. When
designing and maintaining networks, several choices may be deployed. A common choice pits a WiFi
bridge against a WiFi repeater.

Which is right for any given scenario?

The answer is found in understanding the technical differences between the two. While many WiFi
networking devices offer both functions, which is best for forward-thinking and efficiently solving
networking challenges? 

It starts with a concise breakdown of each type of technology.

Emergency vehicles utilize a variety of antennas for effective communication and operational purposes. Tucking companies use GPS to track their fleets. RV owners install mobile routers to stay connected to the Internet while traveling and camping in remote sites. Mobile connectivity is increasing as well as the proliferation of wireless devices. Selecting the best mobile antennas for your vehicle is crucial for ensuring reliability and performance.

When it comes to network management, outdoor applications present numerous challenges. It forces you to seek innovative technology in areas lacking connectivity or infrastructure. One powerful solution to poor connectivity is a rugged outdoor WiFi gateway. It connects remote WiFi devices to the Internet using the cellular network when wired Internet or access to public WiFi is unavailable. You can use them for continuous remote connectivity or short-term deployment. They are ideal for connecting WiFi-enabled devices like irrigation controllers, IoT sensors, and camera streams to the Internet.

Power over Ethernet, or PoE, is a popular Ethernet technology that transfers data and electrical power simultaneously over a single cable. Standard Ethernet can only transfer data and is ubiquitous in all networks from home, business, and data centers.

A single fiber optic cable is capable of carrying a signal for approximately 60 miles before a repeater is needed to amplify the signal. Standard Ethernet cables, though, are not nearly so efficient. In most cases, an Ethernet cable can transmit a signal about 100 meters before you run into issues. This situation is where an Ethernet extender comes into the equation.

Power over Ethernet, or PoE, has been around since the first standards were published, dating back to 1997. The technology has taken giant strides since those days.  An industrial PoE switch represents one of the easiest and most efficient ways to expand network capacity and range on demand. 

By running power through the Ethernet communication cables, you can skip laying costly power lines and significantly reduce cable management.

Antennas have various wireless applications, from vehicle fleets to control cabinets, machinery, base stations, and mobile hotspots. So, finding the best antenna for your network is critical. 

However, a high-performance antenna will only be effective if mounted correctly. Hence, it would be best to have a reliable antenna mount. 

As our use of interconnected devices increases, cost and complexity rise too. If you find your equipment set up in a space that doesn’t have ample outlets or network connections, PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology may be a convenient solution. Power over Ethernet technology transmits electric power and data simultaneously over a single network cable. This helps teams to install devices in places that lack power.

One of the biggest challenges in modern networking is spanning large distances while staying within a budget.

Unfortunately, cheap hardware usually fails to accommodate longer ranges or succumbs to harsh outdoor environments. This situation forces you into more expensive technologies, like fiber optics, which may not be affordable.

Point-to-point wireless bridge technology could be the perfect solution you seek. It allows Wi-Fi communication to reach spans further than the IEEE 802.11b/g/n standard of a few hundred feet.

Bridging helps networks transmit across miles using traditional Wi-Fi, cutting installation costs by magnitude. Likewise, it offers better performance than many competing solutions.

So, let’s explore point-to-point wireless bridging and all that it offers. You might have found the best way to solve your networking challenges with this device.

Industrial networking never stops advancing. There will always be new technologies and techniques to improve your communication, and it’s essential to keep up. One of the latest trends is industrial Wi-Fi mesh network systems.

While mesh networks have been around for a while, they have only recently been seen at an industrial scale. Now, products are available that enable large-scale industrial mesh networks, so it’s meaningful to understand what they can do for you.

Among the impressive features that 5G is bringing to the world of technology is the opportunity for improved network slicing. With 5G network slicing, operators can create very specific networks for very specific purposes with just a single physical network if need be. Learn how 5G networking slicing works, how it is set up, and most importantly, how to implement it for your own needs.

5G connection density is not just coming, it is already here. 5G towers and devices have been available for a few years now, and we are rapidly entering the “boom” phase of 5G deployment. 

Soon, industrial networks will need to have 5G capability to keep up with data-intense applications. Unfortunately, incorporating 5G is not as simple as replacing the old 4G radios and routers. 5G is a fundamentally new technology, and it will force you to think about network design in new ways.

One of the significant changes coming from 5G is a massive increase in connection density. A single 5G router can handle a magnitude more simultaneous connections than its 4G counterpart. The capabilities are mind-boggling, and it will take network engineers some time to maximize this benefit. Until then, a few best practices can help you think about utilizing and designing around this technology.