Something is troubling you, but you don't know where to begin to diagnose the issue, or more importantly, how to solve it. 

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You've come to the right place. You have questions, we have answers. 

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 See below for some frequently asked questions we have answers for. If you've found the answer you have been searching for, the next step is to contact us.

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Jump to:  Cellular  •  Wi-Fi  •  Public Safety

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CELLULAR

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• I don't have cell service/signal in my building. What can I do?

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We can design and implement a distributed antenna system (DAS) that will provide optimal coverage throughout your building.

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• My employees are under different carriers (Rogers/Bell/Telus, etc.) How can I provide coverage for all?

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No problem! Coverage systems can be designed for a single or multiple carriers.

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• My establishment/building is very big. Can I provide coverage for all of it?

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Yes, coverage can be provided to buildings of any size. Linkwave has designed systems from single office floors to large malls, airports and whole buildings!

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• My signal is weak in only one room. How can this be fixed?

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This can be an easy fix. We have systems that are cost-effective to cover small areas.

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• I need cell service in a parking garage. How can we make that work?

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Coverage systems can be installed to cover parking lots, elevators, or any areas required.

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• Can I have a system that covers cellular as well as public safety?

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Yes, our coverage systems can provide both cellular and public safety coverage over a signal infrastructure.

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• Why can't a install a booster myself?

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Coverage systems should be designed to provide optimal coverage in the building and not cause any "noise" or interference on cellular carrier networks. Cellular carriers (Bell, Telus, Rogers, Freedom, etc.) pay billions of dollars for the rights to the RF spectrum on which they build their networks on. Any rebroadcast of their signals must be done with the permission of the carrier as well as a technically-vetted design. Rogue cellular boosters violate these rules and are subject to punishment by the license holder and the government.

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• Do I need carrier (Bell, Telus, Rogers, etc.) approval to install a DAS system?

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Yes, in fact, for most large systems, a written agreement will need to be executed to rebroadcast licensed frequencies on your system. For smaller systems, we have solutions that are carrier pre-approved.

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• How can I estimate the cost of installing a system?

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Linkwave can help you with this. Please contact us for a consultation.

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• How long does an installation typically take?

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This can vary depending on the size and type of the building, which carriers will be involved, etc. Please contact us for a consultation.

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• How can I support and maintain the system? Does it need an annual checkup?

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We do recommend annual checkups as the cellular environment near your building may have changed, causing degraded performance. Linkwave can help to support and maintain your system.

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• What is the hype about 5G?

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5G is the next generation of cellular technology that will offer faster speeds amongst other improvements. While there may be no immediate 5G advantage for your particular application, it may be recommended to include a 5G upgrade in your DAS plans as, historically, new technologies eventually phase out older ones.

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One of our consultants will be happy to discuss your particular needs and requirements and propose the most suitable solution for your needs.

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WI-FI

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• Why do I need a Wi-Fi survey?

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If you are investing in our wireless network, you want to make sure that you have a wireless solution that will deliver the coverage, capacity and security your company needs.

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Professional surveys will provide you with clear and concise information regarding your wi-fi network. By performing a Wi-Fi site survey before deployment, you can ensure that you're deploying the right number of access points un the right locations to keep your costs down.

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We will help you identify what type of survey you need (passive or active) and we will help you understand what needs to be done for your wireless network to meet your requirements.

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Only a Wi-Fi survey and proper channel/frequency planning can help identify and resolve issues related to channel conflicts and interference. Wireless site survey software can reveal rogue access points set up by malicious hackers to steal personal information from unsuspecting users. It can also help you limit the reach of your wireless network to ensure that it doesn't leave your building and allow someone who you can't even see to breach it.

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• Why is my connection not working in certain rooms/areas?

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There could be multiple reasons: poor coverage, insufficient capacity, interference, etc.

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Productive wi-fi site surveys can uncover areas where your coverage, speed, security and other settings can be improved to increase the quality f your wireless connectivity. Having a productive wireless connection plays a major role in your company's productivity. Because of the rapid rate that wireless surveys and deployment are advancing, there will always be room for improvement.

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• How does one design an optimal wi-fi network?

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Without professional design tools and years of experience, designing a wireless network can become a waste of time and money.

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Our design process starts with a detailed questionnaire that helps us understand customers' needs for coverage and capacity. We then use our knowledge and experience to manipulate multiple RF design coverage parameters (SNIR, RSSI, co-channel interference, sector overlap, coverage overlap, etc.) to help you investment in the network make your team more productive and successful.

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• I have a building that is not yes constructed. Can I still design a wi-fi system for it?

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Yes. The professional design tools we use (Ekahau, iBwave) can model the buildings and do predictive analysis based on just the floor plans.​

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• What is Wi-Fi 6/6E? Do I need to worry about upgrading my network?

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Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation wireless networking protocol It is synonymous with the 802.11ax protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance.

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Wi-Fi 6 offers several improvements that aggregate to offer a significant upgrade over the previous generations. There are many references on the web with details technical content about the improvements Wi-Fi 6 introduces, but do you need to spend hours trying to learn something that is not your area of expertise? Linkwave's professionals will help you understand in a clear, concise manner the importance of upgrading your network.

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Wi-Fi 6E is related to the new spectrum in 6GHz that already has been or is expected to be made available for Wi-Fi. This new spectrum is not available in all countries yet; it is not yet available in Canada.

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• When upgrading my wi-fi, do I need to change my access points only or should I consider replacing my structured cable infrastructure?

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It depends on your existing network infrastructure and your plans. Identifying your infrastructure upgrade needs is part of Linkwave's extensive Customer Questionnaire that helps us gather as much information as possible.

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Public Safety​

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• How do I determine if my building is compliant with the local In-Building Amplification By-Law?

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Have Linkwave conduct an in-building RF signal measurement survey to determine your building's compliance with any and all relevant by-laws.

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• What are the next steps if my building is non-compliant?

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Engage Linkwave's professionals to plan, design and implement an in-building public safety radio system.

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• Who are the project stakeholders and what are their roles in the permit approval process?

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The following are the stakeholders in the permit approvals:

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• Building owner

• Municipality

• E-Comm

• Linkwave Wireless

• Fire department​​

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• Is the involvement of a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) required to complete the design?

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Yes, a P.Eng. is required to vet the design and certify all test and compliance measurements.

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• What happens after the system is approved and installed? Who is responsible to maintain and monitor?

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A recognized organization that can monitor and action unexpected outages is responsible for the implemented system. Linkwave can provide the required monitoring and maintenance capabilities to meet the by-law criteria.

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• Are there any bylaws that require public safety coverage in my building?

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For an extensive list of by-law authority links, please see the Public Safety section. 

 

NEXT STEPS

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If the above has answered your questions, or if it has created any new questions, please do not hesitate to contact us to speak with a professional who can get you started on realizing the benefits of designing and implementing an in-building system that is both productive and compliant.