1. ANTENNAS

Correct antenna selection can help define the direction & radiated power to the desired coverage area.

2. POWER LEVELS

Reducing power to smaller coverage areas, or “cells”, can increase throughput & prevent interference with surrounding AP’s.

3. CHANNELS

Use of the 5Ghz band instead of 2.4GHz, provides improvements with useable non-overlapping channels along with higher supported throughput rates. For high density environments 40Mhz or 20Mhz channel widths should be used, to allow for increased device count per AP.

4. UTILISATION

Air time utilization is how long devices are consuming the available radio bandwidth for. Dependent upon the end-user requirements, common maximum limits would be 70% for data alone, 60% for video and 50% for voice.

5. DATA RATES

By removing lower legacy supported data rates from newer Wi-Fi Standard AP’s, this will speed up transfers & the available airtime for ALL users. Setting a minimum data rate to 24 or 36Mbps is common.

6. LEGACY SUPPORT

2.4GHz devices are limited to three non-overlapping channels, but will allow around double the coverage area. Up to two thirds of any dual AP’s offering both 2.4 / 5Ghz should have the legacy radio turned off to prevent co-channel interference in dense deployments.

7. FRAGMENTATION AND AGGREGATION

In high-speed wireless, multiple packets are aggregated into and transmitted in a single large frame. If errors occur during transmission, only the corrupted fragments of the frame are retransmitted. By adjusting the fragmentation size, throughput efficiencies can be gained.

8. QOS MULTIMEDIA EXTENSIONS

WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) allows time sensitive applications to be given a higher priority over the Wi-Fi medium. Applications in decreasing order of priority are, Voice, Video, Best Effort & Background.

9. NON-WI-FI INTERFERENCE

Unlicensed band interference from microwaves, baby monitors, wireless cameras, Bluetooth, cordless phones etc. Spectrum analysis will help identify the source of the interfering hardware.

10. HIGHER LEVEL PROTOCOL

Wi-Fi is simply the medium for connecting resources together. Issues with applications often lie in misconfiguration of the layers in between. By using a protocol analyzer to capture data packets, it enables you to drill down the network OSI model layers & pinpoint the root cause of an issue.

If you need further help setting up or configuring your wi-fi for your office, school, university, or building, check out Syndeticom’s wi-fi and surveys services.

The post 10 Factors Affecting Your Wi-Fi Performance first appeared on Syndeticom.

The post 10 Factors Affecting Your Wi-Fi Performance appeared first on Syndeticom.

Web-conferencing has been around for a while now and given the number of out-of-the-box solutions available these days, you would think it’s simple. However, the reality is that getting web-conferencing right can be a challenge.

Although the many out-of-the-box solutions that provide simple one-click meetings with screen sharing and instant messaging have simplified some aspects of online conferencing, it has caused complications in the standard meeting room environment.

It’s not surprising then that we still hear a lot of web-conferencing related questions. We thought we’d shed some light by sharing the answers to some of the most common questions we hear from the market.

1. How can I optimise my meeting rooms for web-conferencing?

Not every room is suitable for high-quality web-meetings. Things like shape, placement of doors and windows and concave surfaces can significantly impact the suitability of a space. These are factors you want to consider when designing your office spaces.

There are other aspects of a room that you can change, even when the room is already built, in order to improve the quality of your web-meetings. They include

• Optimising the lighting based on the camera location
• Using absorptive materials to enhance the acoustics in the room
• Selecting furniture that allows all participants to see the screen and camera
• Choosing appropriate wall colours to allow a camera to see the subject clearly

For more details on how to get room lighting, acoustics, layout and wall colour right, download our free AV Buyer’s Guide.

2. What camera is best?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to that question. The best camera solution depends on the size of the room, the use case, the lighting in the room and other elements.

Generally, device cameras are the least ideal option and should only be used when no other camera is available. Beyond that, fixed in-room cameras are often a good choice for smaller meeting rooms while we would recommend auto-cropping cameras or pan tilt zoom cameras for medium and large spaces.

But choosing the right camera comes down to more than just the room size. We recommend getting advice from an experienced supplier based on your specific space and environment.

3. Which microphone and speaker are best?

As with the camera question above, there is no simple answer. Again, we would discourage the use of device microphones and speakers and would recommend a headset as the minimum solution.

Beyond that, there are many options, ranging from in-table microphones and speakers to those installed in ceilings and others.

As with cameras, we recommend working with a team of experts that check out your space and recommend the right solution for you.

4. Why do many organisations still struggle to make web-conferencing work seamlessly when it should be simple these days?

That is an excellent question. In a way, we think that the countless ‘simple’ solutions that are now available have maybe made things look too simple.

In the past, video-conferencing specialists were often engaged to help with the design of meeting spaces and the installation of hardware to make collaboration with remote parties possible. Now that the conferencing device is a PC, we’re seeing a worrying trend of businesses purchasing USB microphones and cameras for all of their meeting rooms without any consideration as to their suitability for the space – or even the space’s suitability for web-conferencing. This often leads to poor sound and video quality and frustrated employees when the technology is not working as they need it to.

It’s been our experience that when designed and implemented correctly with a trusted partner, web-conferencing solutions really are simple and seamless.

Are you interested in learning more about how to design web-conferencing solutions that enable seamless communication and collaboration? Then check out our free buyer’s guide to learn more about web-conferencing as well as video walls, another popular AV technology.

Learn more and download the guide here.

Download Guide Now

The post The Top Four Most Common Questions About Web-Conferencing first appeared on Syndeticom.

The post The Top Four Most Common Questions About Web-Conferencing appeared first on Syndeticom.

1. Headsets

If you are working from home, the last thing you want is a wired headset. Or—worse—trying to use your mobile phone while typing on your laptop. You need to be mobile and hands-free. Take a look at some of our headset options right here.

2. Video Conferencing

Stay connected with your team-mates and join meetings virtually. Video Conferencing allows that essential face-to-face time with colleagues while everyone is working from home, plus it allows you to keep your business going by turning any external meetings into virtual ones. Yet video conferencing doesn’t have to be difficult to set up, nor cost money to enable. There already is a free, easy-to-use platform available right now, and you could be hosting a meeting in just a few clicks.

8×8 Meetings. Anytime, Anywhere.

If you need a fast, easy and free video-conferencing option, then look no further. 8×8 is a tried and tested platform, used globally by more than 1 million business users.

Anyone can join an 8×8 meeting, even if they aren’t 8×8 users. Invite customers, collaborators and external partners to virtually meet at any time for free!

• Join via smartphone, online browser or conference room phone
• Call into meetings using dial-in numbers
• Jump into meetings without downloading an app

8×8 includes voice, video, chat and contact centre, so there’s just one platform handling all of your communication needs. Watch the video below to see how easy it is:

Jump into 8×8’s free online meeting portal and start meeting virtually with your team today.

Start Video Conferencing 

For longer-term more robust Video Conferencing or Remote Contact Centre models please contact our team:

sales@syndeticom.com.au

SYDNEY & CANBERRA: (02) 9430 9871

MELBOURNE: (03) 8375 7191

The post Your Fast-Start Solution to Working From Home first appeared on Syndeticom.

The post Your Fast-Start Solution to Working From Home appeared first on Syndeticom.

This shift in working and communication style has partly been enabled by the rise of cloud communication platforms, which are now considered the go-to option for many small and large organisations. As cloud systems take over the business communication world, it’s essential for business leaders and IT experts to understand when cloud is best.

Here are the top five signs that a cloud communication platform is the best option for your organisation.

1. You have many people who make and receive numerous calls throughout the day.

The more people you have using voice and video calls to do their job and the more calls those people make, the higher the chances that a cloud communication platform would be the most cost-effective solution for you. Therefore, if voice and video calls are a big part of your business, you probably want to take a closer look at implementing a cloud communication system.

2. You want to be able to use multiple different communication channels in addition to phones.

The second clear sign that a cloud communication solution might be best for you is if you and your team want to be able to communicate not only via phone but also leverage channels like chat, audio & video conferencing and collaboration.

3. At least some of your people work remotely and need to communicate while on the go.

Cloud communication systems remove the traditional requirement to be present in an office to work. Now, employees and managers can work anytime, anywhere – all they need is an internet connection. In addition, cloud systems make it seamless to hand over calls between desk phones and mobile phones. Therefore, if some of your people work remotely, a cloud communication system is probably an excellent option.

4. You pay a high maintenance fee for your current phone system.

One of the key benefits of cloud communication platforms is that they remove the need for on-site hardware and the hassle and cost of maintaining and managing them. If you are currently burdened with high maintenance cost for your phone system, a cloud solution might help you realise significant cost savings.

5. You are an innovative business and want to make sure your communication solution is up-to-date with the latest trends and developments – now and in the future.

Most leading cloud communication providers are innovative businesses themselves and continuously improve their products to keep up with technological advances and customer demands. Even better, the latest software updates and new features are usually pushed via automatic updates directly in the backend with no, or very minimal, impact for the end-user. That means no more scheduled on-site outages due to on-premise hardware or firmware upgrades. Therefore, cloud communication solutions are an attractive option for businesses who want to make sure they are at the forefront of communication technology.

Whether just one or all five of these signs apply to you, it probably means that it’s worth giving cloud communication platforms a closer look.

Learn more about cloud communication platforms

To learn more about cloud communication platforms, including the key benefits, how they are different from traditional phone systems and how to go about implementing one, download our free whitepaper, Migrating to Cloud Communications Platforms: a Buyer’s Guide

Get the Buyer’s Guide

The post Five Signs That a Cloud Communication Platform is Right for Your Business first appeared on Syndeticom.

The post Five Signs That a Cloud Communication Platform is Right for Your Business appeared first on Syndeticom.

Many businesses opt for cloud communication solutions because they realise that it can help them transform their customer and employee experiences. With one system of engagement for voice, video, collaboration and contact centre, as well as one system of intelligence on one technology platform, cloud solutions help businesses to communicate more efficiently and to exceed the speed of customer expectations.

However, the benefits of cloud communication systems do not end with exceeding customer expectation. The best-in-class solutions can offer both small and large businesses a whole range of benefits. Let’s take a closer look at some of these benefits.

Reduced cost

Cloud communication platforms are often less expensive than traditional on-premises phone solutions – a critical factor in today’s competitive business landscape where every penny counts. As new cloud services arrive, costs will likely reduce further over the next 5-10 years.

Easy to change providers in the future

Pre-2017 it was typical to have a premise-based solution for 7-15 years. The arrival of cloud means a cloud hopping behaviour will emerge where clients can chase new benefits or lower costs every 3-5 years. That means your decision to go cloud is not so scary!

No more on-site hardware hassles

As the name suggests, cloud phone systems are hosted in the cloud, removing the need for complex on-site hardware and the hassle of dealing with them. As a result, organisations also no longer need to pay maintenance fees, reducing the overall cost of the communications solution.

Work from anywhere

Cloud communication systems remove the traditional requirement to be present in an office to work. Now, employees and managers can work anytime, anywhere – all they need is an internet connection.

Increased security & reliability

While some businesses are concerned about reliability and security, both are proven to be better for cloud systems when compared to on-premise communication solutions, mainly because redundancy is usually included with the licensing fee. Some cloud solutions offer 99.99% uptime and encrypted communication.

Everything in one place

Access everything in one place: phone, messaging, chat, meetings and contact centre, enhancing customer and employee interaction, increasing productivity and reducing costs.

Easy to Manage

Cloud communication systems are easy to manage and don’t require a certified engineer for day to day administration.

Advanced features

Cloud communication platforms offer advanced features like HD video calling, the ability to stream live video as private or public YouTube stream, team collaboration with a simple button click, enhanced collaboration via virtual rooms IM, the ability to deploy remote offices anywhere in the world and to work from anywhere using softphone, mobile or physical handset.

Seamless integrations

Most leading cloud telephony solutions will offer either out of the box or easy to configure integrations or plugins for the leading software productivity applications like Microsoft Outlook and Office365, and G-Suite for emailing and click-to-dial. Many also offer direct integration with most leading CRMs like Netsuite, Salesforce, Salesforce Lightning, Bullhorn, MS Dynamic 365 and others, as well as APIs for custom integration.

Built to stay ahead

Latest software updates and new features are usually pushed via automatic updates directly in the backend with no, or very minimal, impact for the end-user. No more scheduled on-site outages due to on-premise hardware or firmware upgrades.

Learn more about cloud communication

To learn more about cloud communication platforms, including how they are different from traditional phone systems and how you know whether it is the right solution for your business, download our free whitepaper, Migrating to Cloud Communications Platforms: a Buyer’s Guide.

Get the Buyer’s Guide

The post Why You Should Consider a Cloud Communication Platform for Your Business first appeared on Syndeticom.

The post Why You Should Consider a Cloud Communication Platform for Your Business appeared first on Syndeticom.