LAN, Wi-Fi & PoE installation
Build the network inside a building: switches, PoE, access points and structured CAT6 cabling. A business network ties all of it together.
Overview
Behind every router there's a local network. Switches add ports, PoE switches power access points and cameras down the cable, and access points spread Wi-Fi through the building. Good cabling makes it all reliable: runs under 100 m, terminated properly, labelled and tidy. A business installation is the full set: gateway, PoE switch, two access points and all the CAT6 between them.
Jobs this covers
net_switch, net_poe, net_wifi, net_cat6, net_business — certificate: Network installation (required)
The equipment — what everything does
PoE switch
Adds Ethernet ports and powers devices such as access points and IP cameras over the same cable, up to its PoE budget.
In game: Placed from /towers. Cable it back to the router; every device you plug in uses part of its PoE budget.
Wi-Fi access point (ceiling or wall)
Broadcasts the customer's Wi-Fi. Phones in range use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data.
In game: Placed from /towers and cabled to a PoE switch, or powered from a socket.
CAT6 cable & box
305 m boxes of network cable. Each run should stay under 100 m.
In game: 'Pull CAT6 from the nearest box', route along the walls, then crimp and terminate both ends.
Trunking
Plastic channel that hides and protects cable runs.
In game: Placed from the cabling menu along walls and ceilings.
Tools & PPE
RJ45 crimper & cable tester
Fits RJ45 plugs onto CAT6 and proves all eight cores are connected in the right order.
Cordless drill & fixings
Drills walls for cable entry and fixes brackets, cameras and boxes with the right plugs and screws.
Ladder
Reaches walls, ceilings and pole steps. Place it at a 1-in-4 angle on firm ground.
Label printer
Labels both ends of every cable and port so the next engineer knows what is what.
Engineer laptop & console cable
Configures routers, NVRs and servers, runs speed tests and opens OPS Hub.
Hi-vis vest & hard hat PPE
Makes you visible to traffic and protects your head from falling objects and low beams.
Safety glasses PPE
Protect your eyes from fibre shards, drilling dust and laser light.
Standalone servers: tools are in your van (OPS Work → My van & tools). Items servers: collect them — and the job’s parts — at an OPS depot.
Step by step
Walk the site and decide where the switch and access points go. Access points should be central and high; switches go near the router.
Place the (PoE) switch from /towers near the router.
Use the ladder to place ceiling or wall access points.
Pull CAT6 from the box: router → switch, then switch → each access point. Keep runs under 100 m and in trunking where people walk.
Crimp an RJ45 on every end and terminate it into the kit.
Test each run, then press Check on the job in OPS Work. Every device must be powered and linked.
Label both ends of each run and each switch port.
Health & safety
Working at height
Risk: A fall from a ladder or pole can cause serious injury.
Control: Use a ladder at a 1-in-4 angle on firm ground with three points of contact. Above 2 m on a pole, clip on your harness.
Trailing cables
Risk: Customers and staff trip over loose cable during the job.
Control: Route cable along walls, clip or trunk it, and never leave a run across a walkway.
Drilling
Risk: Drilling into hidden cables or pipes, and dust in your eyes.
Control: Check walls before drilling and wear safety glasses.
Electricity
Risk: Mains voltage can give a fatal shock and cause burns.
Control: Never open powered kit. Isolate and prove dead with a voltage tester before touching terminals.
In game you confirm these in a risk assessment before starting. Skipping them on risky work can cause a fall or a shock — and it’s logged as a safety incident.
When it’s not done correctly
Too many PoE devices on one switch
Devices past the PoE budget get no power and show as unpowered. Add a second switch or use sockets.
Access point not cabled back to the router
It powers up but has no uplink, so phones connect to Wi-Fi with no internet.
Loose or unterminated cable ends
No link. The Work check shows the device as not connected and the job can't be completed.
Fewer devices than the job needs
'All parts' checks need every item. The check lists what's missing and the job stays open.