Out of Sight, Not Out of Range: Techniques for Hiding Wi-Fi

It might sound counterintuitive to want to hide Wi-Fi equipment. Indeed, we generally recommend installing Wi-Fi access points free of any obstructions to optimize signal propagation. However, in some cases, we may need to “hide the Wi-Fi”. This blog post will explore various practical options for hiding Wi-Fi devices without compromising the quality of service.

Use Cases

Often, there's a need to conceal Wi-Fi equipment to better integrate it with its surroundings. In other instances, the goal is to protect the equipment from potential damage or theft.

Here are a few examples:

Concealing Wi-Fi equipment in a high-end retail store to maintain the aesthetic appeal for customers.
Applying a black skin to Wi-Fi devices so they blend with a dark theater ceiling.
Embedding Wi-Fi access points within mall walls to enhance connectivity while maintaining a clean appearance and preventing damage.

Traps to Avoid

Before discussing the viable options available in today's market, let's address what to avoid when attempting to conceal Wi-Fi equipment.

The main error we often encounter is when Wi-Fi access points or antennas are hidden behind objects, out of sight. While the RF signal may still reach its intended coverage area, the quality suffers significantly due to this direct obstruction.

A classic example is placing an access point above a suspended ceiling tile.

We have also seen access points installed inside metal network cabinets. This is even worse, as the metal highly reflects the signal inside the cabinet.

As described in the next section of this blog post, the best option is to hide the antenna element that will be transmitting and receiving RF without unnecessarily obstructing it.

Options

Now, let's explore the options available for concealing Wi-Fi equipment without compromising signal quality.

Use of External Antennas

One of the best ways to conceal Wi-Fi equipment without compromising signal propagation is to use external antennas with specific form factors. Over the years, some antenna manufacturers have developed multiple ingenious designs that help us achieve this goal. Let’s take a look at some of them.

The Ventev pico patch antenna allows you to conceal access points while placing this tiny antenna under the ceiling. Users will find it difficult to spot, effectively hiding the Wi-Fi equipment from view.

The WAVEANTENNA from AGC embeds the Wi-Fi antenna within a glass panel. This innovative design allows it to be discreetly integrated into environmental elements such as exit signs. These antennas can be customized with any graphics. For example, if you manage a sports venue, you could incorporate your team's logo, further concealing the antenna.

The junction box antenna from Ventev allow you to conceal a directional antenna within drywall or a ceiling. This is particularly useful when mounting locations are limited. For example, in a mall, you could install these under benches in the center of an atrium and tilt the antenna upward using the integrated positioning screw.

When you change the type of external antenna used by an AP in Ekahau, the name of the AP model is not updated to reflect that new external antenna name:

Do you have a need to hide your Wi-Fi equipment while keeping good connectivity for the end users?

Use of Skin

Skins allow us to print various patterns and colors onto Wi-Fi equipment (access points and external antennas). This enables you to effectively camouflage the equipment within a given environment.

When applying skins or paint to Wi-Fi equipment, you must first ensure that the material doesn't interfere with signal propagation.

Here is an example of an access point with a matte black and glossy skin applied:

AccelTex offers a service called skins. They can work with you to apply the right skin with the right pattern or colours to your Wi-Fi equipment.

Here are a couple of examples:

Raised Floor Antennas

Raised floor antennas are Wi-Fi antennas designed to be installed beneath flooring, allowing for discreet placement of wireless equipment while maintaining signal coverage.

This antenna can be deployed in environment with raised floors such as offices, schools, libraries, museums, and casinos. This is especially useful when AP mounting solutions are limited.

Here is an example of a raised floor Wi-Fi antenna from Ventev:

Outdoor Options

Bollards allow us to conceal Wi-Fi equipment outdoors while also protecting it from the weather. They can also be very useful when no AP mounting locations are available. Installing a bollard can allow us to chose the best AP location outdoor.

They require additional work, as you'll likely need to run cables to the bollard's base and possibly create a concrete foundation.

AccelTex offers a standard black bollard that can house both access points and external antennas, effectively concealing the Wi-Fi equipment:

It's also possible to conceal Wi-Fi antennas inside outdoor lights. This clever approach allows us to repurpose existing outdoor infrastructure for Wi-Fi broadcasting. This can be an excellent option if you need to install Wi-Fi in an outdoor park or courtyard.

A prime example is the Wi-Fi Omni Antenna for LED Light Globes from Ventev: