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Networking & Wi-Fi

Business networking
and Wi-Fi.

We design and install Ubiquiti UniFi networks for businesses across St. Thomas, Elgin County, and London. This includes structured cabling, gateways, switching, full-building Wi-Fi coverage, secure guest access, and remote management. We also assess the internet connection serving the network and coordinate with your provider on your behalf.

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Overview

A network built for business use.

Many commercial premises still operate on equipment intended for residential use: a single router, inconsistent Wi-Fi coverage, a guest network shared with staff and point-of-sale devices, and no record of what is connected where. These installations are rarely planned and seldom revisited.

A UniFi network replaces this with a single managed system for the gateway, switches, and access points. It is administered from one console, segmented for security, and designed to expand as the business does.

  • Wi-Fi coverage throughout the building, including warehouses, shops, and outdoor areas
  • Separate networks for staff, guests, point-of-sale, and cameras
  • Business-grade firewall with threat management and content filtering
  • Remote monitoring, so faults are often identified before they are reported
  • Labelled structured cabling and an organized equipment rack
UniFi Network · Coverage plan

Access points

6

Clients

54

Uptime

99.9%

Networks

  • StaffWPA3 · VLAN 10 31 clients
  • GuestIsolated · captive portal 17 clients
  • POSVLAN 20 · restricted 4 clients
  • CamerasVLAN 30 · no internet 8 devices

Scope of work

From the internet connection to every device

Site survey and design

We measure actual coverage in the building rather than estimating from a floor plan, and position access points accordingly.

Structured cabling

Cat6 or Cat6A runs, patch panels, and labelled drops for workstations, telephones, cameras, and access points.

UniFi gateway and firewall

A business-grade gateway with VLAN segmentation, threat management, and VPN access for remote staff.

Switching and PoE

Managed switches with Power over Ethernet, supplying telephones, cameras, and door readers over the same cabling.

Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7 access points

Indoor, outdoor, and long-range models selected for the size of the space and the number of users.

Guest network and captive portal

Customer Wi-Fi that is isolated from your business network, with an optional branded sign-in page.

Internet provider coordination

We deal with your internet provider on your behalf and recommend a different plan or provider where the current service is inadequate.

Backup internet and failover

5G cellular, Starlink, or a second wired connection, with automatic failover configured on the gateway.

Remote management

We monitor, update, and troubleshoot remotely and maintain a documented configuration of your network.

Multiple sites

Additional locations are connected securely and managed from the same console.

Internet connection

We assess the connection and coordinate with your provider.

The quality of the internal network is limited by the internet service feeding it. A plan sized for residential use, ageing provider equipment, or an unreliable connection will affect every system on the premises. We therefore review the connection as part of every networking project.

We will give you a clear assessment of whether your current service is adequate. Where it is not, we recommend a better plan or an alternative provider available at your address, and we handle the arrangements with the provider directly.

  • Measurement of actual speed, latency, and reliability, not the advertised figures
  • Recommendations on plans and providers available at your address
  • We contact the provider, open service tickets, and coordinate installations and technician visits
  • Provider equipment configured correctly, with the UniFi gateway managing the network
  • A secondary connection, such as 5G or Starlink, with automatic failover where downtime is not acceptable
Connection review · sample

Plan

75 / 10 Mbps

Residential cable

Measured

41 / 6 Mbps

Weekday, 2pm

Outages

6 in 90 days

From gateway logs

Recommendation

Migrate to the business fibre service available at this address. Upload capacity increases from 6 to 500 Mbps, resolving the cloud backup and video conferencing issues. Retain the cable service as a failover connection for point-of-sale.

  • Order placed with providerSwitchyard
  • Installation scheduledTue, 9am · Switchyard attends
  • Failover configured on gatewaySwitchyard
  • Previous modem returnedSwitchyard

Illustrative example. We work with the providers available at your address, including cable, fibre, DSL, fixed wireless, and cellular.

Backup internet & failover

Secondary connections with automatic failover.

A single provider outage or damaged line should not interrupt point-of-sale, telephones, or cameras. We supply secondary internet connections, including 5G cellular and Starlink, and configure the UniFi gateway to switch to the backup automatically within seconds and to return to the primary connection once it is restored.

5G / LTE cellular

A business-grade cellular modem, with an external antenna where required, on a data plan we provide. Quick to install, independent of the wired providers, and available almost anywhere with cellular coverage.

  • Fastest to deploy
  • No external cabling required
  • Suitable for rural sites
  • Usage-based or unlimited plans

Starlink

Satellite service for locations without adequate cable or fibre, or as a backup that shares no infrastructure with terrestrial providers. We supply, mount, and configure the terminal and integrate it with the gateway.

  • Available wherever there is a clear view of the sky
  • Independent of local outages
  • Fixed monthly cost
  • Roof or pole mounting included

Second wired provider

A cable, DSL, or fibre connection from a different carrier than the primary. The preferred option where two providers serve the address and full speed is required during a failover.

  • Full-speed backup
  • Separate carrier and physical path
  • Suited to upload-intensive work
  • Load balancing available

Fixed wireless

A point-to-point radio link from a regional wireless provider, or a link we install between your own buildings so that a second site shares the primary connection.

  • Suited to locations outside town
  • Low monthly cost
  • Connects buildings on one property
  • No trenching required

How failover works

Automatic, tested, and monitored.

1

Both connections terminate at the UniFi gateway

The gateway has a primary and a secondary WAN port. The secondary connection may be a 5G modem, a Starlink terminal, or a second wired service.

2

The gateway monitors the primary connection

The primary connection is checked every few seconds. If it stops passing traffic, the gateway moves all traffic to the secondary connection automatically.

3

Critical traffic is prioritized

Telephones, point-of-sale, and payment terminals are given priority on the secondary connection, so a lower-capacity link still supports normal operations. Guest Wi-Fi can be suspended during a failover.

4

Notification and recovery

A failover event generates an alert to you and to us. When the primary connection is restored, the gateway returns to it automatically, and we follow up with the provider regarding the cause.

UniFi Network · WAN

WAN 1 · Fibre 500/500

Down · no response for 18s · provider ticket opened

Offline

WAN 2 · 5G cellular

Active · 212/38 Mbps · failed over in 4s

Carrying traffic

Priority on backup

Telephones High
Point of sale High
Staff Wi-Fi Normal
Guest Wi-Fi Suspended
  • Alert sent · owner and Switchyard14:02:11
  • Failover to WAN 214:02:07
  • WAN 1 stopped responding14:01:49

Illustrative. Failover times and backup speeds depend on the connections available at your site.

Selecting a backup connection

The appropriate option depends on your address, your upload requirements, and the cost of downtime to your business. We test cellular signal and confirm provider availability during the site visit and recommend accordingly. Some sites use two backup connections.

Retail, restaurants, and clinics in town

5G cellular. Economical, quick to install, and sufficient for payment terminals, telephones, and email during an outage.

Rural shops, farms, and yards

Starlink as a backup, or as the primary connection with 5G as backup, where wired service is slow or unavailable.

Offices with significant cloud use

A second wired provider, so that uploads, video conferencing, and backups continue at full speed during a failover.

Multi-building properties

A fixed wireless link between buildings, so the secondary building shares the primary connection and its backup.

Platform

Why we standardize on Ubiquiti UniFi

UniFi provides small and mid-sized businesses with enterprise-class networking without per-device licensing fees. The gateway, switches, access points, cameras, and door readers are all managed within a single system.

For the customer, this means one platform, one application, and one company responsible for it. For us, it means we can view the entire site remotely and resolve most issues without a site visit.

Networking equipment we install

UniFi Dream Machine and Cloud Gateways UniFi PoE switches UniFi Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7 access points UniFi outdoor and long-range access points Cat6 and Cat6A structured cabling 5G, Starlink, and fixed wireless backup connections

Frequently asked questions

Networking

Can you improve our existing Wi-Fi without replacing everything?
In many cases, yes. We begin with a survey to identify where the coverage and configuration problems actually lie. The solution is sometimes additional access points and correct VLAN configuration, and sometimes replacement of the existing equipment. We advise you which applies before any expenditure.
Do you install the cabling?
Yes. We run and terminate Cat6 and Cat6A cabling, install patch panels and racks, and label all drops. Where electrical work is required, we coordinate with a licensed electrician.
Can you assist with our internet provider?
Yes. We review your current service, advise whether it is adequate for your operations, and recommend a better plan or an alternative provider available at your address where appropriate. We handle calls, service tickets, and technician visits with the provider on your behalf, and we can add a secondary connection with automatic failover.
Do you provide IT support as well?
No. We install and support the network infrastructure: cabling, gateway, switches, access points, and the internet connection. We do not provide computer, server, printer, email, or end-user support. If you have an IT provider, we coordinate with them and supply full documentation of the network so they can support the systems that run on it.
Is there a monthly fee?
UniFi hardware carries no licensing fees. Optional managed support, under which we monitor and maintain the network on your behalf, is a monthly service quoted separately. The hardware is yours in either case.
Can telephones, cameras, and door readers share the same network?
Yes. That is the intended design. A single PoE switch powers all of these devices, and VLANs keep them separated for security and performance.
How quickly does failover occur, and are calls affected?
The gateway typically switches to the backup connection within a few seconds of the primary failing. Calls in progress at that moment may be dropped, but the telephone system re-registers on the backup immediately and new calls proceed normally. Point-of-sale and payment terminals generally retry and continue.
Is a 5G or Starlink backup sufficient to operate on?
For most small businesses, yes. A 5G connection or Starlink comfortably supports telephones, card payments, email, and web access. Large uploads or many simultaneous video calls may be slower until the primary connection is restored, which is why critical traffic is prioritized on the backup. Where full speed during an outage is essential, a second wired provider is the better option.
What does a backup connection cost?
There is a one-time cost for the modem, terminal, or antenna and its installation, plus a monthly plan that we provide. 5G plans may be usage-based, so a backup that is rarely used carries a low monthly cost. Backup connections are quoted as a separate line item.

Related services

Systems that share the network

Security cameras

UniFi Protect cameras powered by the same PoE switches.

Learn more

Door access

UniFi Access readers managed alongside the network.

Learn more

Phone systems

VoIP telephones on a network configured to prioritize voice traffic.

Learn more

Next step

Arrange a network site survey.

We will measure existing coverage, review your equipment and internet service, and provide a quote for a network suited to the premises.

Request a networking quote Contact us