Here Is Why Your Warehouse Scanners Keep Dropping Signals and What You Can Do About It
Picture this: you are using your warehouse scanners to scan a barcode, and suddenly your device disconnects or freezes. Sound familiar? Warehouses are notorious for connection issues, with warehouse scanners often exhibiting these symptoms first. Weak signals result in slower tasks and increased errors, ultimately affecting productivity.
But what exactly causes these connection issues in warehouse scanners? Read on to find out.
The Walls Are Interfering With Your Warehouse Scanners’ Signal
Warehouses are not designed with connectivity in mind. Mobile signals for warehouse scanners are weakened by:
- Steel frames
- Metal cladding
- Insulated panels
- Thick concrete walls
Although your warehouse scanners may show full bars outside, the signal can drop the moment you enter the building.
High racking makes it even more challenging. The tall metal shelving absorbs and reflects radio waves, creating pockets where signals do not penetrate. This is exactly where warehouse scanning typically occurs.
Lack of Coverage in Every Area for Warehouse Scanners
Certain spaces in a warehouse are deep within the interior structure, far from windows or exterior walls. Others are surrounded by inventory, machinery, or packed shelves. All these create dead zones. When warehouse scanners cross these dead zones, they lose connectivity instantly.
In such cases, a mobile signal booster warehouse setup can help. When properly implemented, these systems distribute the signal evenly, ensuring warehouse scanners maintain their connection throughout the space.
Network Congestion Affecting Warehouse Scanners
Even with good indoor network coverage, your warehouse scanners might fail if too many devices are sharing the same network. Consider the strain from:
- Smartphones
- Tablets
- Warehouse scanners
- IoT sensors
- Forklifts with telematics, etc.
All these devices require bandwidth, leading to slowdowns or dropouts, particularly during peak times.
Congestion is more significant in fulfillment centers, where staffing levels surge at certain times of the year. If warehouse scanners work well during low periods but fail when business picks up, congestion is likely the culprit.
Warehouse Scanners Switching Networks
If you use warehouse scanners in different areas, they might attempt to connect with various mobile towers, switching between 4G and 5G. Each switch causes a brief interruption. In challenging indoor conditions, interruptions can lengthen significantly.
Additionally, some warehouse scanners do not perform well when Wi-Fi and mobile data overlap. They may continue to bounce between networks if configured to switch automatically.
Warehouse Scanners May Need a Connectivity Checkup
Sometimes, the problem is not with the building but with the warehouse scanners themselves. Intermittent drops may result from:
- Outdated firmware
- Damaged antennas
- Old batteries
- Inadequate network settings
It’s crucial to check the hardware of your warehouse scanners before concluding that the problem is external.
The Takeaway
The issue of warehouse scanners losing signal often correlates with signal drop issues within the building. This can stem from the physical layout or the mobile network strength in the warehouse. Professionally designed mobile signal boosting systems can help eliminate weak spots, enhancing communication and productivity with your warehouse scanners.
