Choosing the Right Jobsite Connectivity Stack

Mar 11

Written By L B

Connectivity is the foundation of every digital workflow. The right mix of Wi‑Fi, LTE/5G, and mesh unlocks reliable daily logs, drawings, cameras, and sensors—without overspending.

TL;DR

Treat connectivity like a scope of work with clear SLAs
Blend options: wired backhaul where possible + LTE/5G for coverage + jobsite mesh for density
Design for mobility, power, and weather from day one

Requirements to gather

Site size and phasing, vertical vs horizontal
Trailer location, power access, and ISP availability
Devices: tablets, cameras, scanners, wearables, sensors
Bandwidth targets and latency thresholds

Options at a glance

Wired fiber/cable: Best throughput and stability. Use as backhaul when available.
LTE/5G hotspots or routers: Fast to deploy, variable performance, good redundancy.
Private LTE/5G: Strong for large or congested sites; more upfront complexity.
Wi‑Fi mesh: Cost‑effective coverage across floors/zones when backhauled correctly.

A reference architecture

Primary: Wired ISP to trailer → enterprise router → sitewide Wi‑Fi mesh
Redundancy: Dual‑SIM LTE/5G router failover
Edge: PoE for cameras and access points, battery backups
Security: Separate VLANs for subs/guests, MFA for admins, device management (MDM)

Deployment checklist

Precon: Site survey, spectrum scan, placement plan, mounting hardware list
Week 1: Backhaul live, core router configured, first mesh nodes placed
Week 2: Camera, tablet, and sensor onboarding
Ongoing: Weekly health checks and alerting

Cost bands (typical)

Small site: $1.5k–$5k setup, $100–$300/mo
Mid site: $5k–$15k setup, $300–$800/mo
Large/complex: $15k–$50k+ setup, $800–$2k/mo

Related services

Field Technology Upgrade Program
Software Selection + Implementation (device and MDM stack)
Ongoing Tech Lead Services

CTA

Download our Jobsite Connectivity Checklist and schedule a site survey.

L B