Wireless Network Design & Optimization

The Problem / Why This Matters

Here’s a pattern we see regularly: a business moved into a new space, the ISP dropped off a router, someone added a few access points from a big-box store, and now half the office has bad Wi-Fi. The IT person buys another access point and moves it around until things feel better. Then more people join the office and the problem comes back.

Adding access points without a site survey often makes things worse, not better. Channel interference, overlapping coverage cells, and roaming issues compound. The more APs you add without a plan, the harder the problem gets.

The fix isn’t more hardware. It’s the right hardware, in the right locations, configured correctly.

What We Do

We build wireless networks on data, not assumptions.

• RF site survey: heat mapping with actual measurement tools. We walk the space with a spectrum analyzer and document signal strength, SNR, and channel utilization across the entire floor plan
• Capacity planning: we calculate how many users, devices, and traffic types your network needs to support, now and 2–3 years out
• Access point placement: APs placed based on heat map data, ceiling height, construction materials, and traffic density
• UniFi access points: Ubiquiti UniFi hardware across all deployments, consistent management platform, enterprise-grade performance
• VLAN segmentation: separate VLANs for staff, IoT, guest, and BYOD devices. Proper network isolation, not a flat network where everything talks to everything
• Guest network isolation: guests get internet access; they don’t get access to your file servers or printers
• BYOD policies: device limits, bandwidth caps, and authentication options for bring-your-own-device environments
• Roaming configuration: smooth handoff between APs so laptops and phones don’t drop calls when moving through the building

We deliver a post-installation validation showing coverage, signal strength, and throughput across the space.

Our Process

Step 1: Site Survey We walk your space with RF measurement tools. We document existing coverage (or the lack of it), identify interference sources, map construction materials that affect signal, and log your current AP placement and configuration. This is a real survey, not a walk-through with an iPhone app.

Step 2: Assessment and Proposal You receive a written assessment: what’s working, what isn’t, and why. The proposal includes a recommended AP layout on a floor plan, hardware specs, and pricing options. If phasing the project makes sense, we’ll show you that.

Step 3: Deployment We install and mount APs, configure the UniFi controller, set up VLANs and SSIDs, and integrate with your existing switching and firewall infrastructure.

Step 4: Validation and Handoff Post-installation heat map confirms coverage matches the design. You get documentation showing AP locations, VLAN assignments, SSID configurations, and access credentials for the management platform.

Why Gladiator IT

We’ve been designing networks for 14 years. Our UniFi deployments span single-floor offices up to multi-building medical campuses and multi-location law firms.

Most Wi-Fi problems we fix were created by well-intentioned but poorly planned installs (consumer hardware, random AP placement, and no network segmentation). We’ve seen the same patterns enough times to know where to look and how to fix it without replacing everything unnecessarily.

Because we use UniFi across all deployments, we manage everything through a single platform. That means faster troubleshooting and consistent configurations across locations.

For clients in regulated industries (healthcare, financial services, legal), proper VLAN segmentation and guest isolation aren’t optional. We build networks that meet those requirements from the start.

What You Can Expect

Timeline: Assessments and reports typically deliver within 5–7 business days of the site survey. Optimization work (reconfiguration without new hardware) can often complete in a day. Full redesigns with new hardware run 2–5 days depending on space size.

What you need to provide: Access to the space, a floor plan if you have one, and information about your current network hardware and ISP setup.

Communication: We send you the assessment report before any work begins. No surprises on scope.

Q: We already have UniFi access points. Can you improve performance without replacing them?

A: Often yes. We’ll assess whether your current APs are appropriate for the space and traffic load. If the hardware is right but the configuration isn’t, we can fix that. If the hardware is the problem, we’ll tell you specifically what needs to change.

Q: How many access points do we actually need?

A: Depends on the space: square footage, construction type, user density, and the traffic load per user. Consumer advice (one AP per floor) is not how we design. The site survey tells us the real number.

Q: What’s the difference between a Wi-Fi assessment and a full redesign?

A: An assessment identifies problems and gives you a documented plan. A redesign implements that plan: new hardware placement, reconfiguration, and validation. Some clients do the assessment first and then decide whether to proceed with a redesign.

Q: Can you handle multiple office locations?

A: Yes. UniFi’s management platform supports multi-site management through a single controller. We can standardize configuration across all locations and manage them remotely.

Q: Do you support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and what about Wi-Fi 6?

A: Yes to both. We configure dual-band and tri-band deployments as appropriate for the environment. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) UniFi APs are available and make sense for high-density environments, and we’ll recommend them where the density warrants it.

Get a Quote

Tell us about your space and the problems you’re seeing. We’ll follow up to schedule a site survey or ask clarifying questions.

Wireless Network Quote Form

• Building type (office, medical, multi-floor, etc.)
• Approximate square footage
• Number of users and devices
• Current issues (dead zones, slow speeds, drops, etc.)
• Current equipment (UniFi, Meraki, consumer router, unknown)