| Providing guest Internet access in your Hotel can be | | | | Mount the AP as high on a wall as possible. |
| a useful extra revenue stream and many customers | | | | Consider using an external antenna to increase signal |
| now expect Internet access to be available. Systems | | | | strength. |
| can be as basic as a $50 WiFi router in the Hotel | | | | Try to ensure a line of sight from the AP to the |
| lobby or as complex as installing network points in | | | | Hotspot area |
| each room and running an onsite server. | | | | Try to avoid placing APs near large pieces of metal |
| Guest Room or Lobby Access | | | | or behind metal doors |
| The first question you should ask yourself is whether | | | | Every property is different; in general if you have a |
| you want to provide access in every guest room or | | | | multi-story property you may consider an access |
| just in the lobby? Depending on the layout of your | | | | point in the stairway on each floor. For a more |
| property it could become a much larger project to | | | | spread out property you may require several APs |
| provide access in every guest room. | | | | per floor. |
| Wired or Wireless | | | | Wireless - Connecting APs with LAN, WDS or |
| Another important question is whether you want | | | | HomePlug |
| your guests to connect to the Internet via wired or | | | | Once you've figured out how many APs you require |
| wireless network connection. Generally speaking WiFi | | | | for your property it's time to look at how they will |
| is more popular and easier to set-up. Wired (LAN) | | | | connect back to your Internet connection. For just |
| access can work better in situation where WiFi | | | | one AP that's easy as you can choose to mount it |
| propagation is poor, such as buildings with very thick | | | | near your cable or DSL connection. For several APs, |
| walls. Unless you already have Cat5 wiring in place it | | | | especially if they are on several floors of a building it |
| can cause a lot of disruption to run new wiring to | | | | can be more work. One option is to use a wired |
| each guest room. | | | | network connection to connect each AP back to a |
| Wireless - How many Access Points? | | | | central router that is connected to the Internet - In |
| The easiest way to determine how many WiFi | | | | the trade this is known as a "backbone" connection. |
| Access Points you require is to carry out a site | | | | Another neat option is to use Wireless Distribution |
| survey. You'll need a WiFi router and a Laptop. By | | | | System (WDS). This is a protocol available on some |
| setting up the router in a likely area (At this stage it | | | | WiFi routers that allows them to connect to each |
| doesn't need to be Internet Connected) and walking | | | | other to provide coverage of a greater area. The |
| around with the laptop you can determine how far | | | | final option is to use HomePlug networking devices |
| the signal can reach. It's worth trying different WiFi | | | | that transmit data over electrical wiring from a |
| channels as that can sometimes make a big | | | | regular outlet. Two home plug devices could be used |
| difference to signal strength. Some tips to increase | | | | to connect a WiFi router on one floor of your Hotel |
| the range | | | | back to your central Internet router. |