Heavy Wireless

Ubiquiti is known primarily for wireless equipment for residential and small business use, but it can be a player in the enterprise world.  On today’s show, we talk with Darrell DeRosia, Sr. Director, Network & Infrastructure Services with the Memphis Grizzlies, about how he provides that connectivity for the FedExForum, home to the Memphis Grizzlies... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we welcome Francois Verges, who designed a database tool to help Wi-Fi engineers easily find client device capabilities. It provides quick access to key specs like data rates, Wi-Fi versions, and vendor documentation. It’s designed to be a go-to option when looking for Wi-Fi client specifications. We discuss why he developed... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we welcome Jerry Olla to give us details from his talk “Roaming Wars: How Wi-Fi Devices Handle 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz”. Jerry tested the roaming behavior of popular Wi-Fi clients across 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz. He explains his testing protocol and results, and answers questions such as whether tri-band... Read more »

If you've been looking for an interactive chart to visualize the Wi-Fi spectrum, look no further than guest Joel Crane's spectrum viewer. With the spectrum visualizer, you can pan across the spectrum, zoom in and out, and select specific regulatory domains. Joel shares his inspiration for the project and how he accomplished it with a... Read more »

Host Keith Parsons and guest Stephen Orr took time at the Wireless LAN Professionals Conference in Phoenix this past February to discuss the security implications of Wi-Fi 7. Stephen explains that new features in Wi-Fi 7 require specific security protocols such as WPA3 to function. Challenges with device onboarding and secure authentication are addressed next,... Read more »

Why can't we get a GPS signal indoors and what does that mean for modern wireless technology? Guest Luke Jenkins has answers. He starts with the history, functionality, and applications of GPS and GNSS technologies and the proliferation of satellites enhancing navigation accuracy. He then delves into the technical aspects such as atomic clocks, signal... Read more »

There are multiple avenues into a career in Wi-Fi. Today on Heavy Wireless, we explore different career paths  with guests Sam Clements and Tauni Odia. Sam shares his unconventional journey from working at a gas station to becoming a Wi-Fi networking professional. He emphasizes the value of certifications and seizing opportunities. Tauni, with a background... Read more »

The Flipper Zero is like a Swiss Army knife for wireless tech enthusiasts. Today's guest, Jason Beshara, is teaching a course on the Flipper Zero device at WLPC Phoenix 2025. He discusses its functions, including its ability to send and receive a variety of radio signals including Bluetooth, NFC, and sub-gigahertz frequencies. The conversation covers... Read more »

Wi-Fi Explorer Pro is a popular wireless scanner. On today’s show we dive into the tool with its creator, Adrian Granados. We also talk about the launch of the new book Wi-Fi Explorer Pro 3 – The Definitive User Guide, written by Granados and co-author Nigel Bowden. We delve into the history and features of... Read more »

NETGEAR is known for consumer networking products, but it also offers a robust porfolio of wireless and wired networking products designed for the enterprise. On today’s Heavy Wireless, sponsored by NETGEAR, we take a close look at the hardware, software, and services that NETGEAR offers to enterprise customers. That includes Wi-Fi 7 APs, a full... Read more »

OFDMA, or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access, was introduced in 802.11ax. This technology allows a radio to split a single channel into multiple sub-carriers, which in turn can be used to send data to multiple devices at the same time. OFDMA is meant to reduce congestion by allowing APs to allocate resource units among, and communicate... Read more »

In this episode of the Heavy Wireless podcast, host Keith Parsons interviews Brian Tuttle, co-founder of MetaGeek. Brian recounts the company’s origins, starting with the development of the WiSpy spectrum analyzer, and highlights key products like inSSIDer and Chanalyzer. The discussion covers MetaGeek’s mission to visualize wireless landscapes, the impact of their tools on network... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we dive into how to address power mismatches that can arise between wireless clients and APs. We talk about how to measure output from antennas and APs, regulations that affect your deployment, why cranking up the output on an AP doesn’t necessarily result in better coverage, and more. Guest Connor Burke... Read more »

Multi-Link Operation (MLO) is a major feature of Wi-Fi 7. At a high level, MLO allows a client and an AP to communicate using multiple radios and frequencies simultaneously. The result is an increase in throughput and resiliency. Today’s Heavy Wireless podcast dives into MLO with guest Jim Palmer, who presented on the topic at... Read more »

What is a private mobile network and how does it work? Guest Jeremy Rollinson, an expert in private cellular networks, joins host Keith Parsons to clarify misconceptions about private mobile networks, from terminology to spectrum allocations. They explore the differences between public and private networks, the evolution of private mobile networks, the importance of understanding... Read more »

Todd Thorpe is today's guest on Heavy Wireless joining host Keith Parsons to explain the evolution of Wi-Fi technology in Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) like apartments and condos. Todd, with over 20 years of MDU experience, discusses the industry’s transformation from early coax cable services to modern managed Wi-Fi solutions. The challenges of retrofitting older... Read more »

Wi-Fi 7 brings new features and capabilities to the market, including Multi-Link Operation (MLO) and airtime optimization, which can enhance throughput and reduce latency. In today's episode of Heavy Wireless, host Keith Parsons and guest Phil Morgan explore the advancements and practical implications of Wi-Fi 7. Phil shares his experiences testing Wi-Fi 7 with various... Read more »

In today's episode, guest Cheryl Connell joins host Keith Parsons to talk about the eduroam Visitor Access (eVA) system. Cheryl explains that eVA is a free add-on for institutions with an existing eduroam setup, allowing them to create temporary usernames and passwords for guests without needing a separate guest network. They discuss the challenges of... Read more »

In this episode of Heavy Wireless, host Keith Parsons and guest Tom Hollingsworth delve into the “experience paradox” in the tech industry: to get experience, you need to have experience. They highlight the disconnect between job requirements and candidates’ actual experience. Tom emphasizes the importance of hands-on learning, home labs, and making mistakes as essential... Read more »

In this episode of the Heavy Wireless podcast, we talk with Howard Buzick from American Bandwidth about the evolution and current state of wireless connections, particularly in guest network environments. We explore advancements in Wi-Fi technologies, the workings of Passpoint (formerly Hotspot 2.0), and the differences between Passpoint and Open Roaming.  Howard explains how American... Read more »

Today on Heavy Wireless we discuss the LATYS Focus device.This innovative RF technology amplifies and directs signals without traditional networking layers. Our guest is Artmiz Golkaramnay, Founder of LATYS. Artmiz explains the device’s functionality, which includes a directional antenna for focused signal amplification; its technical specifications; practical applications in industrial settings; cost benefits; and ease... Read more »

Providing Wi-Fi in multi-dwelling units (MDUs) such as apartments or dormitories is complicated. These environments require dense AP deployments, have to provide secure access to lots of users, must support myriad device types, and must offer good performance. Our guests are Kyle Leissner, founder of Wire Star; and Bart Giordano, president of the RUCKUS at... Read more »

The evolution of wireless surveys is the topic of today's Heavy Wireless podcast with guest Jussi Kivineimi of Hamina. We cover the transition from traditional on-site assessments to predictive tools, with an emphasis on the importance of a hybrid approach for accurate network design. We also tackle the role of APIs in network design, the... Read more »

Wastewater containers, conveyors, chemical reactors… Scott McNeil goes out where the carpet ends to do his wireless work. Today he joins the show to talk us through the basics of designing industrial wireless architecture. With advances in wireless technology, not only is wireless now reliable enough for production environments, but it's also much cheaper than... Read more »

Natural disaster responders, large event planners, and rural kids trying to do their homework all have something in common: they need a little extra help to get connected. COWs, COLTs, and WOWs can do just that. Mark Houtz joins Keith Parsons to explain how and why COW operators do what they do. First, he explains... Read more »

A cardboard box with a circuit printed on it that harvests just enough power to activate a radio and have it chirp something out a short distance: that's just one of the cool products and 802.11 standards that stood out at this year's Wi-Fi World Congress USA. Drew Lentz joins the show to recap the... Read more »

Evaluating wireless use cases at a nuclear power plant is a little bit different than your average industrial job, starting with the stripdown to put on plant-provided clothing. Ferney Munoz joins us today to talk about his experience working as a wireless consultant at nuclear power plants. Obviously, radiation interference is a heightened issue, as... Read more »

With the rapid growth of IoT across enterprise and industrial spaces, now is a good time to check in on the wireless training and certification landscape beyond Wi-Fi. Today, Tom Carpenter, the Director of Education for the Certified Wireless Network Professionals joins us to give a lay of the land. He explains how the protocols... Read more »

In 2016, a handful of wireless engineers got together and decided to create the portable tool they all wish existed. Thus the WLAN Pi was born. Jerry Olla, Nick Turner, and Jiri Brejcha join the show today to talk about the evolution of the open source WLAN Pi and its current capabilities. The latest generation... Read more »

Today we talk to Sam Clements, founder of Wi-Fi Pros Slack. This online community has 1,600 members who share information and technical tips, talk shop, and connect with peers. Sam tells us how he developed the community over time, how he structures topics and channels, the ongoing fight against bots and spam, and where it... Read more »

The Wireless LAN Professionals organization just had its 10th annual conference and who better to break it down than WLPC founder (and Heavy Wireless host) Keith Parsons and friend of the show Ferney Munoz. They review their favorite presentations as well as heartwarming moments. Episode Guest Ferney Munoz | Ekahau and CWNP Certified Wireless Network... Read more »

Thinking about a career in Sales Engineering (SE)? In this episode, you'll hear straight from an experienced SE, Stewart Goumans. Stewart talks about what kind of background you need to be an SE, what the day-to-day looks like, and what it's like to see a customer's eyes light up when they realize you have a... Read more »

Wi-Fi increases the GDP of entire countries, yet its tech community still has a grassroots feel. The COVID-19 work-from-home trend grew residential Wi-Fi like never before, yet it is still competing with 5G inside homes. Guest Claus Hetting, CEO of Wi-Fi NOW, joins host Keith Parsons to talk about the paradoxes, successes, and challenges in... Read more »

To understand the newest standard, Wi-Fi 7, it helps to look back at Wi-Fi 5 and 6, and even forward to Wi-Fi 8. What's the reasoning behind the updates? How have they been experienced at the ground level? Who should make the change and when? Host Keith Parsons and Wi-Fi expert Srikanth Subramanian touch on... Read more »

Host Keith Parsons and guest Kelly Burroughs from iBwave discuss the crucial need for collaboration between Wi-Fi engineers and architects to ensure optimal wireless connectivity in building designs. They explore the use of BIM file formats for better integration and the importance of considering wireless as a utility in the architectural process. The conversation addresses... Read more »

Wi-Fi consultant Rowell Dionicio shares his experiences and insights on building a successful consulting practice. He discusses the importance of niche specialization, creating educational content, and using his podcast and blog as marketing tools. Rowell highlights the need for continuous learning, effective communication, and networking. He also addresses the business side of consulting, including handling... Read more »

Studying for a certification exam is also about grasping real-world concepts. And that's exactly the approach David Coleman and David Westcott took when writing their CWNA study guide, now in its sixth edition. “The Davids” talk about the process of writing their book, the research involved, and the importance of making complex topics understandable for... Read more »

If you're not paying attention to mDNS traffic, it might be hurting your Wi-Fi performance. Bryan Ward shares his research looking at the mDNS protocol on a higher ed network and its dramatic impact on Wi-Fi airtime. Bryan shares his experience of identifying and resolving network issues related to mDNS traffic and client isolation. He... Read more »

Private LTE and Wi-Fi use a lot of overlapping skills but there are also some key differences that Wi-Fi pros need to be aware of. Dr. Avril Salter joins host Keith Parsons to highlight important distinctions between Wi-Fi and private LTE or 5G networks, including spectrum use and application suitability. They also discuss the complexity... Read more »

Two Wi-Fi engineers share their experiences automating wireless workflows, including the role of Python & tools like Postman.

On today's Heavy Wireless episode, Keith Parsons speaks with UMass Amherst CTO Jim Mileski on the history of Wi-Fi at the school. They discuss initial challenges of rolling out wireless, strategic placements of access points, ensuring a good student experience across a myriad of devices, and more. They also discuss how Jim and his team tested their incumbent vendor against a possible replacement, how the replacement won out, and how the transition is going.

LoRaWAN is a wireless protocol that's well suited for use cases that require long-range, low-power operations such as sensors, asset and livestock tracking, municipal "smart city" initiatives, and more. On today's Heavy Wireless, Keith Parsons welcomes Raymond Hendrix and Troy Martin to discuss the architecture of a LoRaWAN solution, its applications, and its pros and cons. They also share resources for further learning, including the Things Network and the LoRa Alliance.

The Wi-Fi Awards is an industry effort to recognize excellence and achievements in the wireless community. There are award categories for companies, products, and individuals. Award recipients are determined by a committee and by community votes. Today's Heavy Wireless explores the origins of the Wi-Fi Awards, discusses different award categories and the importance of recognizing individuals. We also discuss the nomination and selection process, and how listeners can nominate candidates.

Drones can be a useful tool for outdoor wireless surveys. Drones can help an engineer figure out the best place to mount a radio, get line of sight between points, confirm antenna orientation, and save a lot of climbing up and down ladders. On today's Heavy Wireless, Keith Parsons speaks with Mike Wade, a wireless design engineer who uses drones in his survey work, about the certifications and requirements necessary to add a drone to your toolkit.

In this podcast episode, Keith Parsons, Glenn Kate, and Lee Badman discuss the intersection of ham radio and Wi-Fi. Glenn and Lee share their personal experiences and involvement in both fields. They talk about how they got started in ham radio and Wi-Fi, the importance of joining amateur radio clubs, and the various activities and... Read more »

3D printing is a popular activity among wireless network engineers. Given that they deal with invisible, intangible radio waves all day, maybe it's no surprise they'd enjoy making things they can touch and feel. On today's Heavy Wireless we talk about why the wireless community enjoys 3D printing, and how engineers can make and use printed objects on the job--and at home.

Wireless pros sit at the intersection of networking and security. On today's Heavy Wireless, sponsored by Fortinet, Keith Parsons and guest Ben Wilson discuss this convergence, why visibility into the WLAN and device identity are essential, how Fortinet integrates its Fortigate firewalls with wired and wireless neteworks for unified management and policy enforcement, and more.

Today's Heavy Wireless episode explores building sustainable and efficient backhaul networks with sponsor Ceragon Networks. We discuss the challenges of backhaul, the complementarity of wireless and fiber solutions, the frequencies and protocols used in wireless backhaul, and the concept of disaggregated routing.

Have you ever wanted to build a community of professionals in your field, but didn't know where to start? In this episode of the Heavy Wireless podcast, Keith Parsons interviews Ferney Munoz, founder of the Tes@s en Wi-Fi community in Latin America, to learn how he built a successful community of Wi-Fi professionals.

Host Keith Parsons speaks with Peter MacKenzie, a trainer and course developer in the wireless industry, about the importance of vendor-neutral training.

On today's Heavy Wireless, Keith Parsons talks with guest is Mark Houtz about designing Eduroam for the future, including the 6Ghz band. Mark explains the challenges of filtering Internet access for K-12 students when they travel outside of their local high school and the technical requirements of Eduroam, specifically the use of WPA3 Enterprise on all frequencies when using the new 6 GHz band. Mark also shares his testing process for Eduroam's compatibility with 6 GHz radios.