Case Studies > Hit the Bricks

Hit the Bricks

Company Size

1,000+

Region

America

Country

United States

Product

Datto AP60
Datto E24 Switch
Ekahau HeatMapper

Tech Stack

Mesh Networking
WiFi Roaming
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Customer Satisfaction
Digital Expertise
Productivity Improvements

Technology Category

Networks & Connectivity - Network Management & Analysis Software
Networks & Connectivity - WiFi

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Education

Applicable Functions

Business Operation
Facility Management

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control
Building Energy Management
Indoor Positioning Systems
Remote Control

Services

Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
System Integration
Testing & Certification

About The Customer

Paragon Housing is a housing facility located in Richland, WA, that accommodates government researchers and students. The facility comprises three buildings and two courtyards, housing approximately 300 individuals. These residents are heavy users of bandwidth-intensive streaming services such as Netflix and Roku, necessitating a robust and reliable WiFi network. The facility's older brick construction presents challenges for WiFi signal penetration, and the customer was not willing to run new cabling as part of the project. Paragon Housing required a solution that could provide consistent and reliable WiFi coverage without extensive infrastructure modifications.

The Challenge

The housing facility for government researchers in Richland, WA, faced significant challenges in providing reliable WiFi coverage. The facility, consisting of three buildings and two courtyards, housed approximately 300 students and researchers who heavily utilized bandwidth-intensive streaming services like Netflix and Roku. The older brick construction of the buildings posed a notorious problem for WiFi signals, as brick is known to obstruct wireless communication. Additionally, the customer, Paragon Housing, was not willing to run new cabling as part of the project, further complicating the installation process. These challenges necessitated a robust and flexible solution to ensure consistent and reliable WiFi coverage throughout the facility.

The Solution

Teknologize Inc., a WA-based Datto partner, deployed over 30 Datto AP60 Access Points throughout the housing facility. The installation leveraged mesh networking to address the challenges posed by the older brick construction and the customer's reluctance to run new cabling. Datto AP60s were installed every 20 to 30 feet in the hallways of each building, using existing fiber cabling. These access points acted as WiFi gateways, and additional AP60s were installed as repeaters to extend the WiFi signal beyond the coverage of the hardwired access points. This mesh network configuration allowed for seamless WiFi coverage without the need for extensive cabling or wall modifications. Additionally, a Datto E24 Switch was installed as part of the deployment. The network was planned using Ekahau HeatMapper, which created a WiFi heat map to strategically place access points for optimal coverage. The network was configured to ensure that repeaters were never more than a single hop from a gateway, ensuring consistent performance. The deployment also included Datto's native captive portal capability to create an Internet use terms and conditions page.

Operational Impact

The deployment of Datto AP60 Access Points and the creation of a mesh network provided seamless WiFi coverage throughout the facility, addressing the challenges posed by the older brick construction.
The use of existing fiber cabling and the strategic placement of access points ensured that the installation did not require extensive infrastructure modifications, such as running new cabling or cutting holes in walls.
The network configuration, with repeaters never more than a single hop from a gateway, ensured consistent and reliable WiFi performance for the residents.
The deployment included Datto's native captive portal capability, allowing for the creation of an Internet use terms and conditions page, enhancing the user experience.
The project demonstrated the effectiveness of Datto Networking products in providing reliable WiFi coverage in challenging environments, positioning Teknologize Inc. for future installations in similar settings.

Quantitative Benefit

Over 30 Datto AP60 Access Points were deployed throughout the facility.
The facility houses approximately 300 students and researchers.
Datto AP60s were installed every 20 to 30 feet in the hallways of each building.