The art of networking
Wi-Fi sales may not be a category that you immediately associate with a Hi-Fi store, but the task of listening to music or watching video is rapidly changing. The end result is the same, but we are now dealing with technologies that we never considered to be part of this industry, and one of these technologies is networking – and in particular, Wi-Fi.
A large percentage of the products and technologies that we recommend and install today are reliant on a rock-solid home network, yet this is something sadly overlooked or misunderstood in many homes.
At Len Wallis Audio we spend an inordinate amount of our time troubleshooting and servicing installations utilising wireless technology (Sonos, HEOS, Bluesound etc.). This is time-consuming, and can be a source of annoyance and frustration for our clients. Yet I can guarantee you that in 99.99% of cases the problem has nothing to do with the product itself. It is, for example, extremely rare to find a faulty Sonos component.
Rather these are network-related problems. We have been installing network systems for a couple of years now, but not the usual ‘garden’ variety many are familiar with. We install only commercial-grade systems, a necessity in today’s high demand world. They cost a little more than solutions offered by the major outlets or your ISP provider, but they are robust, and they work. In the past you could get by with a low-cost off-the-shelf system – in most cases you were using your Wi-Fi simply to access your laptop. These days every home has multiple Wi-Fienabled devices, with various members of the household trying to access the network at the same time. More importantly we are demanding more from the network – streaming CD-quality music or highresolution video for example.
Our choice of Wireless Access Points (WAP) is Ruckus, which is the most robust Wi-Fi solution we have used. Initially developed for commercial environments – in hotels, stadiums, universities etc. – their transition into the domestic arena was a natural progression. They were recently commissioned to upgrade the wireless network for one of Sydney’s universities, and the project brief was that they needed to cope with 40,000 users, each with (on average) 2.7 wireless devices. If they can cope with this level of demand, managing your home is not going to be a problem!
If you are unsure of the capabilities of your existing network we offer an in-home survey service. This costs $330, you get a professional analysis of your network and suggested upgrades if considered necessary. The $330 is refunded against the upgrade cost if you go ahead.
Wi-Fi is a source of irritation for many of our clients, and the issue is only going to get worse as increased numbers of Wi-Fi-enabled devices find their way into your home. If you are looking for an upgrade for your audio or A/V system, it may make sense to include your network as part of that upgrade.