Listen as senior product manager, Craig Blignaut, shares his insights on Vox’s recent successful WiFi 7 test that lays the foundation for future-proofed, robust and secure business WiFi networks.
Category: Wi-Fi for Home
Vox’s successful WiFi 7 test lays foundation for future-proofed, robust and secure business WiFi networks
Vox partnered with Samsung and Ruckus Networks to put the WiFi-7 enabled Galaxy S24 through its paces to learn about the latest generation WiFi benefits that can be applied to business networks today
JOHANNESBURG – As the world navigates what can best be described as the most exhilarating burst of technology innovation in human history, Vox ran a test with Samsung’s latest device and Ruckus Networks to demonstrate the revolutionary power of WiFi 7, as it works to refine solutions to empower businesses with future-proofed networking capabilities.
While not mainstream yet, WiFi 7 blows the speeds of current WiFi generations out of the water, surpassing WiFi 6 by a factor of three and WiFi 5 by a factor of 10. However, it is not the speed that is the most exciting, says Product Manager for WiFi at Vox, Craig Blignaut. “In fact, for now it isn’t about the speed as there are a number of factors in SA – which will change in the coming months and years – that hold this factor back. The excitement comes from the cutting-edge technology, including multi-link operation and advanced error correction that enables seamless connectivity for a large number of devices.
“There is a radically reduced latency and markedly improved robustness, with less downtime and disturbance. The test enabled us to get a taste of the immense potential of the technology. Let’s be clear, use cases will still emerge but WiFi 7 will power bandwidth-intensive applications such as 8k streaming, virtual and augmented reality and online gaming. For businesses, it opens up the possibility of radically reduced latency and increased capacity which will revolutionise wireless networks.”
This is one of the main drivers behind the WiFi-7 test on the Samsung device, as Vox’s highly successful partnership with Ruckus Networks is designed to build products and solutions that will radically improve their customers’ current connectivity. This is to future-proof businesses to withstand the influx of WiFi 7 devices and applications in the not-so-distant future, which will remove the need for further network upgrades down the line, explains Blignaut. “In other words, the reliability and robustness of Ruckus Networks’ infrastructure means Vox can effectively deliver tomorrow’s innovation to businesses today.”
Ruckus Networks provides networking solutions, specifically wireless access points and related products. Their products are designed to provide reliable, high-performance, and secure wireless connectivity for various environments. Samsung’s Galaxy S24 is one of a few devices in the world that are already WiFi 7 enabled, and so by collaborating, the teams were able to uncover valuable insights.
“Bandwidth from a speed capacity is currently limited in SA for a number of reasons, but this will change, no doubt. But where the WiFi industry is going is towards managing capacity better – in other words, shared bandwidth infrastructure and improved reliability. Automation cannot afford any drop in connectivity – it needs excellent throughput. There’s reduced interference and this is very important when we consider the new frequency bands that have been released,” explains Blignaut.
“This is the backdrop to the successful test. It was about testing tomorrow’s capability today, and then, equipped with our Ruckus partnership, to bring that robustness to businesses,” he explains. Elaborating more on their test, Blignaut explains that outside of the speed consideration, latency drops from today’s general discussion of 1ms to a latency of 0.1ms, on top of an ability to maintain consistency.
“In five years, WiFi 7 will be highly relevant. The question then becomes: If you are an organisation that needs to invest in networking infrastructure today, are you going to invest in technology that is made for today but will be irrelevant in a few years?
“Or will you invest in technology that is relevant for today, fully optimised and capable of handling the massive evolution that WiFi 7 will bring in a few years’ time, while still enjoying future benefits now, such as unparalleled robustness, vastly increased secure and seamless connections, and radically reduced latency with less disturbance? This is why we did the test and why we continue to innovate with our partners,” says Blignaut.
Maximising Your Home Wi-Fi Network: Not Modern-Day Magic, Just a Bit of Science
It’s not unusual for homes today to have up to 17 devices connected to the home Wi-Fi network. From phone calls to gaming, streaming, downloading music and being generally connected for work, school or college, today’s smart home can have multiple users connected in different ways at any given moment. So you need your Wi-Fi to be up to the task – loadshedding aside of course, which is a different story.
Thanks to today’s technology, we can stay connected with family, friends, work and the world in general without having to set foot out the door. Wi-Fi is a wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless high-speed Internet access. When you access it, you are connecting to a wireless router that allows your compatible devices to interface with the Internet: no cables, no wires, no worries – it’s the easiest, most flexible way to make use of your home broadband connection.
So Wi-Fi is not another word for the internet – it’s just one of the ways that you can access it.
Coming From a Network Near You: Fibre Optics 101
Let’s take a step back and look at how Wi-Fi brings the internet into your home so that you don’t need cables (by and large). It all starts with fibre optic cables that are laid outside your property in the general neighbourhood by the FNOs, or ‘fibre network owners’.
Fibre optic cables are made of glass threads, which transmit data at the speed of light in glass. Because the speed of light is the fastest speed known, data (in pulses of light) is transmitted faster than via copper wires or cables. It also – unlike copper cables – has no major resale value on the black market, so those looking to make a quick illicit buck tend to leave fibre optic cables alone – another plus.
The FNO companies, of which there are a few , are responsible for owning and managing your fibre optic connectivity infrastructure. They dig the trenches and lay the fibre optic cables initially, and then install the fibre boxes outside your property wall.
When you sign up for a Wi-Fi service, an internet service provider (ISP) – like Vox – will then take over from the FNO to provide you, the customer, with your internet service. This is done by linking the FNO fibre box outside your property wall – still using a fibre optic cable – to an optical network terminal (ONT) inside your home.
The ONT – also called the modem – is then linked via another short cable into your router, which then ‘translates’ internet data received via fibre optic cable into radio signals, to create your home Wi-Fi network.
And that’s how it all starts.
Moving Indoors…
However, there are times when our Wi-Fi networks don’t perform as well as we need them to, so let’s look at some simple things to help you make your home network perform optimally.
1. Location, Location, Location…
Wi-Fi signals work like sound, which means that distance and walls make it harder for your devices to connect. And so, although we think of W-Fi networks as virtual fields that fill our living spaces, they are actually composed of physical signals – and the physical devices that enable this.
Radio waves travel best through open air, so sight lines are a good clue: if you can see the router from far away, and from many different angles, you should be using it efficiently.
It’s therefore best to make sure that both the Wi-Fi router and the ONT / modem to which it’s connected are placed near the centre of your home.
2. Position Your Wi-Fi Router Correctly
Did you know that other electronic devices such as microwaves, cordless phones, Bluetooth products, alarms and surveillance equipment, and baby monitors, can interfere with your Wi-Fi signal? You should therefore position your router as far away as possible from such items.
Additionally, don’t place your router in an enclosed area (inside a cupboard or desk), on the floor, or near any other heat-producing devices. The higher up you can place it, the better. This is because most routers are designed to broadcast signals slightly downwards as they travel from the antenna, so you want to be able to maximise the efficiency of the trajectory.
3. Find Your Frequency
Different devices work according to varying frequency bands. Older routers work on the 2.4 Ghz frequency, while newer phones and laptops use the more stable 5Ghz range. A dual-band device that supports both frequencies is ideal – using a dual-band router can ease the congestion that happens when there are too many neighbourhood Wi-Fi networks.
Because most of the older Wi-Fi equipment operates on the 2.4GHz band, many people – especially in more densely populated areas – find that their neighbours’ Wi-Fi networks are interfering with their own, hindering its performance and range. It’s a bit like having too much traffic on a relatively small road. The problem can be solved with a dual-band device that operates simultaneously at 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
While the 2.4GHz band is necessary for supporting older Wi-Fi devices, being able to use the 5GHz range is almost like moving from that crowded, smaller road to a much larger and emptier highway, with much less congestion.
4. The Exception To The Wireless Rule
Sometimes, ensuring your connectivity through Ethernet cables is best, especially if the devices are stationary, for example gaming consoles, smart TVs and Internet of Things-enabled (IoT) security cameras. This will result in lag-free gaming, smoother streaming and more reliable home security networks.
At the same time, running cables to your fixed devices in turn frees up your radio-enabled Wi-Fi usage to the devices that you can’t plug in, such as your phones, laptops and tablets.
5. Your Home Network – Optimised
If your house is large, or has a layout that’s too intricate for a good signal, you could install Wi-Fi extenders to give you extra reach and take care of the proverbial ‘dead zones’. Extenders work by receiving your Wi-Fi signal and rebroadcasting it. However, at the same time, each one that you add will also reduce the speed of your network, sometimes by up to half.
An even better solution is the use of a meshed network to extend your Wi-Fi coverage. Mesh Wi-Fi extends the range of your network, but doesn’t sacrifice as much speed as an extender would. It also creates a single network while doing so, creating a seamless Wi-Fi experience throughout your home – instead of having different parts of your home running on different passwords to get into a new network. Vox Wi-Fi Home Mesh will extend your coverage without needing network cables.
6. Measure Your Signal Strength
There are a number of apps which allow you to map your Wi-Fi signal throughout your house and work out where it’s weak. This can give you some clues on how to better position your router.
Looking at just one app: you could try the Wifi Analyzer (for Android phones – available on Google Play), which shows the Wi-Fi channels around you and helps you to find a less crowded channel for your wireless router.
For more information on how to optimise your Wi-Fi – and especially if you want to change to Vox as your ISP – we’re here to help. Vox has a solution to fit your budget, both to buy or rent.
Bad cell reception? Try Wi-Fi calling
WiFi calling may behave just like a regular phone call but in the background it delivers superior call quality and reliability when you’re connected to a strong WiFi network.
Have you ever spotted ‘WiFi calling’ on your phone and wondered what it does? You’re not alone. This simple setting is available on most modern smartphones and makes it possible for a user to place and receive calls over a wireless internet connection rather than using a regular cellular network. By doing so, you’re essentially giving your chosen cellular network permission to use your WiFi to boost their network and provide a superior calling experience.
But isn’t that just Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), you ask. While they both allow users to place calls over the Internet, the two are quite different. In order to use VoIP, users have to download a specific standalone application or platform. On the other hand, WiFi calling is built into your phone and can be accessed by enabling a setting without you having to use another app.
Once enabled on your device, it will run in the background and make sure that your phone connects to WiFi rather than to a mobile network, whether you’re in a coffee shop or in your home office. Here, it’s important to highlight that if you move out of WiFi range while on a call, the call will drop because the network being used to enable this call is no longer available.
WiFi calling to beat loadshedding woes
As South Africans, we are all too familiar with experiencing disruptions in our mobile signal because of loadshedding. During these scheduled blackouts, cellular networks will actually reduce the capacity across their base stations to prevent total failure of their services. Unsurprisingly, this ‘rationing’ of base station resources results in less reliable connectivity and explains why loadshedding can have a negative effect on the strength and stability of the mobile signal in your area. By connecting your device to WiFi and enabling WiFi calling, users can mitigate this ‘drop’ in service and help network service providers better handle capacity when they reduce power to their towers.
Here, it’s important to note that if your WiFi runs off a mobile LTE or 5G router, you might not enjoy the same level of WiFi calling quality as you would with a fibre connection. This is because mobile or wireless networks are also affected by loadshedding.
In addition to this, WiFi calling can also extend battery life because your phone isn’t constantly on the hunt for the best signal. If you’re in an environment with good WiFi, your battery will last longer because it doesn’t have to work so hard to keep you connected.
WiFi calling is a particularly effective solution in areas where cell reception is hard to come by. And we’re not just talking about rural or remote locations. If you have cell reception dead spots in your home, switching to WiFi calling is a great way to boost your signal without having to invest in any additional connectivity tools and technologies. And while WiFi calling wasn’t designed to save customers any money, it can reduce costs by avoiding dropped calls and redials. If you’re in an environment with strong WiFi connectivity, it just makes sense to leverage this connectivity.
We like to think of WiFi calling as a way to maximise your resources so that you can always access the strongest and most reliable signal and enjoy the best call quality. Who wouldn’t want that, right?
Vox Wi-Fi: Endless Possibilities in the Palm of Your Hand
Let’s spit facts: Connectivity isn’t just a convenience—it’s the lifeblood of our daily lives. And when it comes to staying connected, Vox Wi-Fi is your passport to endless possibilities. With the world at your fingertips, you can work, play, and experience a whole new universe of connectivity that’s faster and more reliable than ever before. Let’s embark on a journey into the boundless world of Vox Wi-Fi.
Speed and Reliability: The Power Duo
In the realm of connectivity, speed, and reliability reign supreme. Vox Wi-Fi is engineered to deliver both, ensuring that you can work or play without interruptions. It’s like having the world’s fastest expressway right at your fingertips, enabling you to browse, stream, and connect with lightning speed.
A Whole New World: Work and Play Unleashed
With Vox Wi-Fi, the possibilities are limitless. Whether you’re working remotely, gaming with friends around the globe, or streaming your favorite shows in high definition, Vox Wi-Fi ensures that you can do it all seamlessly. It’s a whole new world of entertainment, productivity, and connectivity, waiting to be explored.
Connect with the Universe: The Magic of Vox Wi-Fi
Vox Wi-Fi isn’t just about browsing the web; it’s about connecting with the universe. It’s your portal to knowledge, entertainment, and inspiration. Whether you’re video chatting with loved ones oceans away or diving into the endless sea of information on the web, Vox Wi-Fi is your cosmic bridge to the world and beyond.
The Future of Connectivity: Vox Wi-Fi Leads the Way
As we hurtle into an increasingly digital future, Vox Wi-Fi is at the forefront of connectivity innovation. It’s not just about the present; it’s about shaping the future. From smart homes to IoT devices, Vox Wi-Fi is the backbone that keeps the gears of progress turning. It’s the engine that powers the revolution of connectivity.
Wi-Fi Makes the World Go Around
In our interconnected world, Wi-Fi truly makes the world go around. It’s the technology that fuels our global village, enabling us to connect, communicate, and collaborate across borders and time zones. Vox Wi-Fi, with its speed and reliability, stands as a testament to the ever-expanding possibilities that connectivity brings.
Vox Wi-Fi—Your Gateway to the World
In a world where connectivity is king, Vox Wi-Fi emerges as the crown jewel. It’s not just a service; it’s an experience. It’s the bridge that connects you to the universe, the engine that powers your digital adventures, and the key to unlocking endless possibilities in the palm of your hand.
So, whether you’re working, playing, or simply exploring the vast digital landscape, Vox Wi-Fi is your trusty companion. It’s the future of connectivity, and it’s here to stay. Welcome to the world of Vox Wi-Fi, where endless possibilities become your everyday reality. Connect, explore, and embrace the future with Vox Wi-Fi, because in the digital age, the universe is at your fingertips.
How can I improve AND get the most out of my home WiFi coverage? A Groot Ontbyt Interview
With South Africans spending more of their time on the internet to carry out a wide variety of activities, and now even increasingly working from home, they need to give more consideration to the WiFi networks in their home. How can one ensure that they get the best optimal Internet connection from their service provider?
Listen to Head of Wireless at Vox, Theo van Zyl, as he discusses how to best work with your ISP in order to get the most out of your home WiFi network.
Wi-Fi Security – A Groot Ontbyt interview
We hear the term “AI” or “Artificial Intelligence” being thrown around and it almost seems like something futuristic. But the reality is that AI is very real and very much a part of our daily lives and we are not even aware of it. Apart from smartphones, laptops and desktops, we are now seeing more connected devices making their way into the home, including TVs, fridges, switches and so much more. Its obvious that a reliable internet connection is required, but with so many connected devices, how does it impact the threat of security risks?
Listen to Nikita Appelman, Product Manager for Wireless at Vox, as she discusses the steps that the home user can take to safeguard against potential security threats.
