Introduction
When a Wi-Fi network underperforms, the reflex is often to add another access point. But according to Gilbert Lira, a wireless and network infrastructure consultant at Blueprint Network Solutions, that instinct can make things worse. In this interview, Lira walks through a real-world case where extra hardware slowed a network down, explains what most "add another AP" advice leaves out, and describes what small offices tend to decide too quickly when coverage looks fine on paper.
When a Heatmap or New Access Point Can't Fix the Problem
Lira points to a soundstage where the issue wasn't signal reach. Two extra access points had been added to improve the connection, but their settings weren't working well with the existing equipment. Instead of helping, they crowded the airwaves and slowed everything down.
After testing onsite and adjusting the settings, download speeds went from about 1 Mbps to 150 Mbps.
That experience shaped his approach. He said "That's why I don't assume another access point is the answer. A heatmap shows where we expect the signal to reach, but it doesn't tell the whole story." When interference is suspected, Lira uses spectrum analysis, a way of checking what else is using the airwaves, to help investigate. Sometimes, he notes, the fix is getting the equipment you already have to work together.
What "Add Another Access Point" Advice Leaves Out
According to Lira, the usual advice tends to skip everything behind the access point. He asks: "Where's the cable coming from? Is the connection working properly? What's between the AP and the people using it?"
He also wants to know how someone actually uses the space. Maybe the router is tucked away in a corner, but the home office is on the other side of the house. Before adding anything, he'd rather understand what's there and why it isn't doing the job.
Lira is clear that he isn't against adding equipment. He said "I just don't like starting there." For readers planning a small office network, that means checking the wired backbone and the physical layout before buying more hardware. Resources like this guide to home and small office network setup cover some of the basics, but Lira's point is that the physical layer and usage patterns matter just as much as the wireless settings.
What Small Offices Decide Too Quickly
When office coverage looks fine on paper, Lira says people settle on the AP locations before checking whether those locations make sense in the actual building. A spot can look great on a drawing, but you still need to check the mounting height, walls, cable access, and what's around it.
He recently finished a predictive model for a commercial space where the drawings already had AP locations marked. His job was to check them, not automatically redesign everything. The model supported keeping the locations, so that's what he recommended.
The next step, he says, is getting onsite once everything is installed and running. The model gives a starting point. Walking the finished space tells you whether it holds up. That's a practical takeaway for anyone planning a small office network: treat the predictive Wi-Fi heatmap as a hypothesis, not a final answer.
Practical Takeaways
- Don't assume another access point is the fix. Interference and misconfigured settings can slow a network even when signal looks strong.
- Check the wired side first. Cabling, connections, and what sits between the AP and users are often overlooked.
- Understand how the space is actually used before placing equipment.
- Validate AP locations against the real building, not just the drawing.
- Plan for an onsite walkthrough after installation to confirm the design holds up.
For Lira, the work behind Blueprint Network Solutions is about planning, connecting, and building smarter, not just adding hardware. His answers suggest that the most useful wireless planning starts with questions, not purchases.