Office Network Setup: A Practical Checklist Before You Call Anyone

Your accountant can't print, the CCTV drops every afternoon, and half the team sits next to the router because Wi-Fi vanishes in the back room. It's the same story in many small offices: the internet connection is fine, but the network inside the office was never planned.

Here's how to think through a proper office or home network before anyone drills a wall. You can use it as a checklist even if you never hire us.

Step 1: List every device that needs a connection

Write down desktops, laptops, phones, printers, CCTV recorders, biometric machines, billing counters and any smart TV in the conference room. Mark which ones stay in one place. Fixed devices, such as desktops, printers and recorders, should usually use cables, not Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi is for phones, laptops and visitors.

Our standard network setup is designed for up to 15 devices. If you have more, say so up front, because switch size and Wi-Fi coverage change.

Step 2: Sketch the layout

Draw a rough floor plan. Mark where the internet line enters, where desks are, and where walls are thick. Concrete and metal shutters weaken Wi-Fi quickly. A hand-drawn sketch on paper is enough. It saves the engineer from guessing and saves you from paying for extra visits.

Step 3: Understand what each piece does

• Router: connects your office to the internet provider and manages addresses and security basics.
• Switch: a junction box that connects wired devices to each other.
• Cabling: the permanent part. Good cable laid neatly can outlast two generations of routers.
• Wi-Fi access: the router's built-in Wi-Fi may cover a small flat. A larger office may need extra access points.

A common mistake is buying an expensive router and ignoring the cables. A premium router can't fix a bad crimp or a cable squeezed behind a cupboard.

Step 4: Plan the cable routes

1. Choose paths along walls, ceilings or skirting trunking, not across floors.
2. Keep data cables away from power lines where possible, to reduce interference.
3. Label both ends of every cable. It sounds fussy until the first fault.
4. Leave a little slack and a spare port or two for growth.
5. Choose a single location for the router and switch, off the floor and with airflow.

Step 5: Set up the basics properly

Passwords and access

Change the default router login immediately. Use a strong Wi-Fi password and keep a separate guest network for visitors. That way a customer waiting in your lobby isn't on the same network as your billing PC.

Addresses and naming

Fixed devices like printers and recorders should have steady addresses, so they don't "disappear" after a restart. Keep a simple sheet listing each device and its address.

Backups of the configuration

Save a copy of router settings. If the device fails or is reset, you can restore in minutes rather than hours.

Step 6: Test before you sign off

Testing is the step most often skipped. A decent handover includes:

• Checking every cable port with a tester, not just plugging a laptop in once.
• Running a speed check at several desks, wired and wireless.
• Walking the office with a phone to find Wi-Fi dead spots.
• Printing from at least two computers.
• Restarting the router and switch to confirm everything reconnects.

What affects the cost

Cable length and the number of points are the biggest factors, followed by wall type (drilling through brick takes longer), extra Wi-Fi access points, and whether you need a rack or cabinet. Because of this, a flat price works best for a defined scope, which for us is up to 15 devices. Bigger or unusual layouts need a conversation first, and we'd rather quote them separately than squeeze them into the standard price.

Who this is for, and who it isn't

A planned LAN suits small offices, clinics, shops with several counters, coaching centres and home offices that have outgrown a single router. It isn't designed for a 100-seat floor, a server room or a multi-building campus. Those need a design survey and different equipment.

After handover, keep a one-page record: router login stored safely, Wi-Fi names, where each cable ends, and your internet provider's helpline number. Check the router for firmware updates every few months. And if a new person joins and brings a laptop, add them from the spare port rather than daisy-chaining a cheap switch under their desk. That habit alone prevents many mysterious slowdowns.

How we handle this at DegitalService

Our Office / Home Network Setup is ₹18,000 and takes about 5 days. It covers an end-to-end LAN with router, switch, cabling and testing for up to 15 devices. We plan the layout with you, set up the equipment, run and label the cabling, and test before handover. Details are on the network setup page, and you can order here. For offices beyond 15 devices or with odd layouts, contact us first with a rough sketch and we'll tell you what's realistic.