If I needed 5G for a construction site

The problem

Construction sites need connectivity on day one, long before any fixed line could be installed, and the setup gets moved, knocked and powered off regularly.

Site cabins are steel boxes. Without an external antenna, signal inside can be very poor even on a busy network.

Here is what I would do

1. Survey the site, not the office Signal on a greenfield site can be very different from a mile down the road. Test before you mobilise.
2. Mount the antenna on the cabin roof A roof-mounted MIMO antenna gets clear of the steel box and any plant around it.
3. Use two networks Dual SIM on different networks covers one mast going down or getting congested as the site grows.
4. Separate the traffic Put CCTV, site office and staff Wi-Fi on separate networks or VLANs so streaming on breaks does not hit the cameras.
5. Manage it remotely Remote management lets you reboot, update and check data use without sending anyone out.
6. Plan the move Keep the kit in a single enclosure that can be lifted onto the next cabin and running in minutes.

The kit I would use

• RouterIndustrial or outdoor 5G router

  Dual SIM, wide temperature range, VLANs and remote management.

• AntennaRoof-mount MIMO antenna

  With a magnetic or pole mount so it moves with the cabin.

• SIMTwo business SIMs on different networks

  Or a multi-network SIM where available.

• ExtrasLockable enclosure and a small UPS

  Site power gets switched off more than anyone admits.

Panorama BATM4-6-60 Adhesive and screw mounted 4×4 MiMo 5G Antenna with optional WiFi and GPS£180.00In stockFullband® GXS606 4G/5G Antenna - Outdoor Mount Antenna 5dBi Peak Gain - Wideband Antenna covers 2G/3G/4G/5G LTE frequencies - 5m long cable with SMA/M£25.00In stockFullband® MIMORAD Outdoor 4G/5G MIMO Antenna 6dBi Peak Gain with 2 x 5m cables with SMA Male Connectors£49.00In stockTeltonika RUTX50 5G Router£379.00In stock

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What I would avoid

• Consumer routers left on a desk in the cabin.
• One SIM on one network for a site that runs for a year or more.
• Staff Wi-Fi and CCTV on the same flat network.

Not quite your job?

Every site is a little different. Tell us where it is, what needs connecting and what has already been tried, and we will tell you what we would do. Get in touch.

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