Venue WiFi & Network Upgrade: Starlink, Managed Access Points and VLAN Separation

The Challenge

The venue's existing internet connection was performing poorly. As a premises with staff, EPOS/operational equipment and visitor devices all needing to get online, an underperforming connection with no proper network structure behind it was limiting for day-to-day operation.

What Curly IT Planned

Given the connection issues, a Starlink internet connection was chosen as the primary link into the building — a practical alternative where a conventional fixed-line connection wasn't delivering.

Behind that connection, the network needed to support several different types of device without them interfering with each other: internal/business devices, EPOS and operational equipment, and visitor/guest devices. Rather than a single flat network, this called for a properly designed system built on VLANs, with centrally managed access points rather than a handful of unrelated routers and extenders.

A TP-Link Omada system was selected for this because it allows a gateway, switch, controller and multiple access points to be managed as one system, with each VLAN configured and monitored centrally rather than device by device.

The Installation

The completed system included:

• ✓Starlink internet connection
• ✓TP-Link Omada ER605 gateway/router
• ✓Managed PoE switch
• ✓OC200 controller for central management
• ✓Six WiFi 6 access points across the premises
• ✓Multiple VLANs separating device types

Internal/business devices, EPOS/operational equipment and visitor/guest devices were each placed on their own separated network, with the whole system managed remotely through the Omada controller rather than requiring a site visit for routine changes.

Technology Used