Warehouse and Distribution-Centre Wi-Fi Design and Installation

Serving Local Warehouses and Distribution Centres

CloudCentric designs and installs Wi-Fi for warehouses and distribution centres. Large warehouses have recently been built in Pooler, Garden City and Effingham near the Port of Savannah, and in Summerville near Charleston. We serve operators in these areas, as well as in Ridgeville and North Charleston. You can reach us at (844) 422-7000 to discuss your facility.

Designing for Scanners, Forklifts and Aisles

Warehouse Wi-Fi is designed around the devices that use it: barcode scanners, handheld computers, forklift terminals, printers and labellers. High racking and stored stock absorb and block signal, so access points are placed for the aisles and not only the open floor. A survey of the building measures coverage before and after installation.

UniFi Wi-Fi supports Fast Roaming (802.11r) for devices that move between access points; Ubiquiti recommends it where there is a lot of movement. Older scanners may not support 802.11r, so a separate network can be set up for them.

Hardware for Indoor, Unconditioned and Outdoor Areas

The U7 Pro is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 access point (2.4, 5 and 6 GHz) rated for 300+ clients and temperatures of -30 to 40 °C. The U7 Industrial access point is rated IP67 and -40 to 70 °C, for unconditioned buildings, loading docks and cold areas. The U7 Industrial has a built-in 10 dBi directional antenna and optional reflectors (11 to 12 dBi) to cover a long aisle or yard in one direction.

The U7 Outdoor (Wi-Fi 7, IPX6, -30 to 60 °C) covers trailer yards and dock aprons. Bridges link guard shacks and outbuildings to the main network without trenching.

Network Separation and Management

Scanners and warehouse systems sit on their own network, separated from office and guest Wi-Fi. Where conveyors or sortation are automated, their controllers go on a separate OT network from the Wi-Fi. Cameras and door access for docks and gates run on the same UniFi console as the Wi-Fi. UniFi charges no licence fee for the Wi-Fi management software.

Scope and Safety Limits

Wi-Fi on a moving crane for control traffic is out of scope unless the crane maker approves the radio. Additionally, no UniFi product carries a hazardous-location rating (Class I Division 2, ATEX or IECEx). UniFi gear goes in unclassified rooms, never in fuel, dust or chemical classified areas.