It is important to select an experienced wireless networking solution provider that fully understands the underlying technologies, knows all applicable government (FCC) regulations, and most importantly -strictly follows various safety standards governing the use of radio frequency devices on your property.

Here is a list of a few important things you should take into consideration before you hire someone to setup a wireless network at your hotel:

• Initial Site Survey: No two buildings/sites have identical radio frequency signature. It is essential to have a professional conduct a detailed site analysis before WLAN design specifications can be finalized.
  
• Check Qualifications: Unless extreme care is exercised, use of RF devices around people can result in serious injuries. Just as it would not be wise to let the guy who builds speakers (i.e knows how to use magnets) to oversee a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan, it is risky to let anyone who knows how to string/install telephone wires or Ethernet (LAN) cables to design/install a wireless (radio frequency) network.
  
• Ask about FCC Compliance: Many installers think that just because various devices (Radios, Amplifiers, Repeaters, APs, Bridges, and Antennas, etc) are FCC certified individually, so would be a wireless network that makes use of such devices. That is often untrue. For example, use of an antenna that provides excessive gain, or a pig-tail cable that may be shorter than needed could result in radiation signal levels that may be in violation of FCC rules, and also potentially harmful to you, your staff, and your guests.
  
• Use of Professional Grade Devices: Your guests expect your wireless network to be reliable, fast, and secure. The level of reliability and redundancy needed cannot be achieved using consumer rated products designed for low duty cycles, or for non-hostile/non-critical home environments. Usually the money that one could possibly save by using consumer-grade cheap components is far less than the cost of a network breakdown, and a couple of service-calls by repair technicians.
  
• Security: Your guests expect you to provide them a wireless network that is reasonably secure. Unless your wireless network solutions provider has incorporated the necessary security measures, it would be impossible for you to meet your guests "data security" requirements. If you cannot demonstrate that you have made reasonable efforts to provide a secure wifi networking environment, your attorney may have a hard time defending you should someone sue you claiming you were negligent in matters as important as security of your wireless network. In principle, someone can possibly argue that a guest's expectation of having access to clean/safe data-stream is not much different from one's expectation of having access to clean/safe air/water/environmental services.
  
• Redundancy: The last thing that you may want to deal with would probably be your wireless network being down late at night. Verify that your WLAN engineer has incorporated enough of redundant systems to prevent complete shutdown. Usually, the one time cost of doing so on an average size Hotel WLAN is well under $1500.
  
• Installation: Ask your WLAN installer to clearly specify if you are to provide them with any man-power during the installation phase. Require that installers are fully trained, fully aware of safety issues, and supervised any time they are working with high power RF devices.
  
• Post-Installation Signal Coverage/Strength Survey: Ask your installers to provide you with a written documentation/map of signal coverage throughout your property.
  
• Security Audit: It is important that your installers conduct a detailed post-installation security audit. It is essential to identify, and investigate if any rogue devices are found.
  
• Penetration Tests: Your WLAN security specialist should conduct a mock break-in attempt -commonly known as network penetration tests. It is important to test for, and plug any weaknesses found against known vulnerabilities -before the bad guys discover them.
  
• Network Monitoring: Ask if they provide remote WLAN network monitoring, and support services.
  
• Periodic Onsite Security/Performance Surveys: It is always a good idea to have your WLAN specialists check out your WLAN for time to time, fine tune it (change channels in case of excessive/new signal noise, realign any directional antennas, etc.), or to bolster it by installing new patches/upgrades for increased protection against any newly discovered vulnerabilities.

Operating a professional grade WLAN at your hospitality center is not a plug it and forget it one-time event. You have every right to expect that your WLAN solutions provider is well-qualified, fully aware of various technological and regulatory issues, and willing and available to provide you the ongoing support that you are likely to need from time to time.

Contact Wireless Room Service today to discuss your wireless networking needs.