NETWORK

SYSTEMS:

Though ideally hidden out of sight, out of mind,  the network is the backbone    of any smart system. Investing in the proper network equipment is critical to fully support your system's needs, today and for years to come. 

MAVi works diligently to deliver reliable, high-performance networks that serve as a solid foundation for your entire smart home or business. While networks are often thought about in terms of WiFi speed, nearly all audio, video, and control devices rely on the network to operate and communicate. By planning ahead, selecting the right equipment, and installing robust infrastructure, you can enjoy effortless performance and peace of mind for years to come.

HOW DO NETWORKS WORK?





You can think of this as the gateway from the outside world to your internal network. The modem takes in a signal from your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and allows you to access it. 


This is the director of your network, as the name suggests, routing internet signals to many different devices within your internal network. The router manages inside IP Addresses, which are unique strings of numbers that identify various devices within the network. Every device connected to the internet inside your network is assigned an IP Address.


This optional device is set up to monitor and filter traffic from the outside internet to the inside network, aiming to provide a secure experience free from malicious activity. This can be built into another piece of equipment like the router, or separately wired in. 


This device plays a critical role in physically distributing internet signal to multiple devices with wired connections. A router often only has 4-8 data connections built into it. In order to connect more devices to your network, a switch (or multiple switches) is required to distribute to 8, 12, 24, or even 48 more devices each. In wired networks, every device needs a dedicated “homerun,” or direct connection back to the router or a switch. 


These devices generate the wireless signal we know as “Wifi”, distributing it throughout a property. In well-designed systems, multiple WAPs are strategically placed to provide a seamless transition between different areas of the property. Your personal devices will bounce between WAPs, latching onto whichever one is providing the best connection.

MODEM

ROUTER

FIREWALL

NETWORK SWITCH

WIRELESS ACCESS POINTS (WAPs)

We understand that most people don’t have hidden networking talents, and there can be a lot of lingo thrown around. Here’s a quick summary of how you can expect any basic home or business network to function.

Sample WiFi heat map used to calculate good wireless signal coverage across a home.

Fortunately, you don't need to worry about any of this.

Partner with MAVi to take care of your network needs in the background, leaving you to enjoy the content, functionality, and experience you're excited about.

YOU MAY ALSO BE WONDERING...

Who does what to handle my network?

Who does what to handle my network?

There are a few ways you can handle your network.

  • Basic: As a typical default, and the most basic setup, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) will provide a singular device that houses the modem, router, and a WAP all in one. Sometimes, the modem and router/WAP are separated into two devices. Regardless, this does the basic job of allowing you to have an internet connection and set up a simple Wifi network yourself. However, when it comes to running a custom smart system, this is typically inadequate to successfully manage the large quantity of devices and intricate network configurations required.

  • Managed by Others: Some homes and businesses choose to have a dedicated IT professional to manage their network, independent from the control and AV systems (and MAVi). This is best-suited for applications with extremely complex network setups, critical security needs, or large enterprise IT system requirements. When this is the case, MAVi collaborates with the IT manager to install and configure the necessary equipment to serve the smart system, interlinking into the larger network system as a whole. The disadvantage to this approach is that a great deal of collaboration is required to ensure the network settings are just right to enable intricate equipment to work properly. However, MAVi is experienced in working with a wide range of these professionals to successfully implement systems.

  • Managed by MAVi: The third option is for MAVi to design and construct your network, and maintain management of it. When this is the case, our system engineers will select a router, switches, WAPs, and other equipment needed to perfectly serve both our system needs and your personal device needs. We’ll configure everything to be managed within our accounts, ensuring every setting is just right. This is the smoothest experience in terms of implementing the smart control system, as we can pick highly-compatible equipment and control exactly how it is configured from the start, eliminating troubleshooting or hiccups in communication. Additionally, this method provides you a one-stop solution for any technology needs, expansion, or issues in the future.

Isn’t everything wireless nowadays?

Isn’t everything wireless nowadays?

No it isn’t! Though a constantly increasing number of devices utilize Wifi and wireless connectivity, we very much still need physical wiring, and we will for the long-term future.


Here are some things to know:


The best system will provide well-planned cabling distributed throughout the home or business, all run back to a centralized location. This allows us to interconnect everything how we need from the start, but also to modify or add to the system in the future very easily. We always try to strike the best balance of futureproofing and respecting your budget now. Always remember, it’s much easier and more cost-effective to run wire during construction than after the fact. 

A wired connection will always be faster and more stable than a wireless connection. Faster speeds can be achieved with physical signals rather than having to convert signals to a wireless means. Wireless transmission can be prone to interference and has limitations in how it interacts with physical space.

Wireless networks have limited bandwidth. This means that there is a limit to the rate of wireless data transfer, and the
more devices it is divided between, the less there is to go around. If we wire devices that can easily support it, that allows us to save wireless bandwidth for the devices that truly require it (phones, tablets, laptops, other consumer devices).

Many professional “smart” devices require a wired connection. When we’re building out your custom control and AV system, devices that rely on the network for constant robust connection with high levels of data transfer often require a wired connection. Additionally, many devices we use take advantage of wired connections for other means like providing power over ethernet (PoE) or casting audio and video streams over the network. This would not be possible wirelessly.

We wire for other things besides network cabling. As important as it is to run category (CAT) data cable for network, we also take advantage of other types of wiring for things like speakers, keypads, shades, fireplace control, garage door control, sensors, video, power, and more. 

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