--- title: "Site Readiness Guide" canonical: "https://help.spoton.com/space/SK/5658084755/Site%20Readiness%20Guide" format: markdown --- # Overview Let’s get you set up for success. Before your installation, we want to make sure your location is ready for SpotOn. This guide will help determine your site readiness and provide a checklist of required pre-installation tasks. Quick checklist Detailed steps Installer guidelines Diagrams Glossary of terms Everything you need to know to get your new point-of-sale installed and working flawlessly. Let’s get started! --- **Quick Links ** > Macro (toc) --- # Checklist The following items must be completed before the installation of your new POS. | **Checklist:** don’t worry, we’ll explain every item further on in the guide. | | --- | | - [ ] Your restaurant is not actively under construction or undergoing renovations. | | - [ ] Your internet modem has a designated port for the SpotOn POS, plus Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables that are labeled and the correct length. | | - [ ] All network cabling has been professionally “home run” to the networking area (i.e., each POS station printer, KDS, Access Point has a direct line to the modem) | | - [ ] All bars and countertops are installed and finished. We recommend pre-drilling holes to accommodate the necessary cables for your POS station(s). | | - [ ] Any wall mounts for POS stations and/or KDS monitors are installed. | | - [ ] You have onsite internet service with speeds of at least 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads. | | - [ ] If your order contains access points, we recommend having Ethernet cabling in a ceiling-mounted area. | | - [ ] Your existing cables are organized—or you’ve hired a certified low-voltage technician to help organize if necessary. | | - [ ] An electrical outlet is within at least 5 feet of every location where you want a POS station, kitchen printer, kitchen display screen. | # Virtual Site Surveys --- ### :1_one_circle_blue: ** Is your location under construction?** We strongly recommend completing any construction or remodeling efforts** before** scheduling your POS system installation. This includes installing and finishing bars and countertops and installing wall mounts for your system. Ongoing construction can cause physical damage to the POS and network equipment, which may lead to costly fixes. Construction can damage network and power cables and create dust that damages equipment. If you require an onsite visit by a SpotOn Implementation Specialist to troubleshoot construction-related issues, additional costs will apply. We’re happy to assist with a walk-through while under construction so you can plan your wiring needs. Just use the site survey scheduling links on the previous page. ### :2_two_circle_blue: **Do you have the right network equipment and cables?** If you’re installing a POS station, kitchen printer, access point, or kitchen display screen, you’ll need wired Ethernet cables that can accommodate speeds of 100 Mbps or higher for each piece of equipment. The only hardware that runs on Wi-Fi is our handheld POS device. We recommend Cat 5e or Cat 6 cables. Your Ethernet cables will need: • To run from the desired location of each POS station, access point, kitchen printer, and KDS to the internet modem • To be terminated with RJ45 female jacks to the T568B wall scheme, ideally into a wall plate or a surface mount box. • Six to ten feet of slack at each end of the cable, to allow for last-minute adjustments • Labels with a unique matching identifier (color, name, etc.) on each end ### :3_three_circle_blue:** Is your home run terminated and secure?** Your home run cable begins at the internet modem and needs to be terminated without interruption to the POS system, KDS, access point, or kitchen printer.. If you only have a few cables, you can terminate the home run cable to a wall-mounted plate. To be PCI compliant, your home run needs to be secured with a lock or rack to prevent public access. ### :4_four_circle_blue: **Are your countertops pre-drilled?** Cut or drill cable holes into any counters or bar tops where you’re placing your new POS stations. Here’s what you need: • 1 1/4-2 inches in diameter • Placed next to your POS station, not directly beneath • No more than 2 feet away from your POS station ### :5_five_circle_blue: **Are your wall mounts installed?** if you want any of your POS monitors or KDS screens mounted, you must install the wall mounts before installation. > ℹ️ ### **Important note on on-site installers** > ℹ️ > ℹ️ If you choose an on-site implementation option, please know that SpotOn experts do not bring ladders or drills. That’s why it’s important to have your location prepared prior to installation day. ### :6_six_circle_blue:** Do you have high-speed internet access?** We recommend fiber optic of cable internet. You’ll need speeds of 25 megabits per second (Mbps) for downloads and 10 Mbps for uploads. You can test your internet speed by going to a free website like [speedtest.net](http://speedtest.net). If you will have 4 or more POS stations, handhelds, or KDS, you may require faster 50Mbps download speed. If you have a complex network, we recommend setting up a secure virtual local area network (VLAN) for your SpotOn POS system, preferably with quality of service (QoS), to ensure sufficient bandwidth. ### :7_seven_circle_blue:** If you’re using Handheld POS devices, have you set up wireless access points?** For handheld POS devices, you’ll need strong wireless signal quality (55-60 dBm) in all areas where you’ll be taking orders (even on the patio). Low signal quality (-60dBm) can lead to syncing issues, delayed kitchen tickets, and overall system instability. To ensure the best signal quality, place wireless access points on the ceiling in unobstructed central locations. Here are some best practices for placing wireless access points: - Each floor should have at least one access point - Each outside space (patios, courtyards, etc.) should have a dedicated access point - Concrete and metal can block WiFi & cellular connections, so keep this in mind when you’re placing access points - Larger spaces need multiple access points. Here’s a rough guide based on square footage: - < 1,000 square feet: 1 access point - 1,000 – 2,000 square feet: 2 access points - > 2,000 square feet: 3+ access points ### :8_eight_circle_blue:** Are your cables organized?** To prepare for the install, check that your existing cables are organized. They should be the correct length, accurately labeled, bundled if appropriate, and fastened to walls if necessary. If your cabling is disorganized, we recommend hiring a certified low voltage technician to help organize your network. ### :9_nine_circle_blue:** Does your space meet the electrical power requirements?** To install a SpotOn POS, you’ll need an isolated ground circuit. A separated grounding path will reduce electrical noise generated by other electronics in the building. Make sure there is a standard electrical outlet within at least 5 feet of each POS station, kitchen printer, and kitchen display screen. > ℹ️ ### **We’re always here to help!** > ℹ️ > ℹ️ **Before installation** > ℹ️ If this kind of thing gets your cables in a twist, reach out to the implementation team at [implementation@spoton.com](mailto:implementation@spoton.com). > ℹ️ > ℹ️ **After installation** > ℹ️ Access points not working like they should? Call our Restaurant POS Support Team at **(817) 814-4102** or email us at [support@spoton.com](mailto:support@spoton.com). We are available 24/7/365. --- # Network requirements ![image-20260923-204531.png](media://0e6cc517-d46b-410c-b3cc-8ddda056f69e) --- # Network diagram ![image-20260923-205439.png](media://9bcd7774-6e46-407c-a674-ee9e5803802f) --- # Glossary of terms | **TERM** | **DEFINITION** | | --- | --- | | **Access Point** | A networking hardware device that allows Wi-Fi devices (e.g., handheld POS devices) to connect to a wired network. As servers move through the restaurant, the handhelds automatically connect to whichever access point is within range. | | **Broadband Internet ** | A high-speed internet connection, which in most cases must be purchased from your cable or telephone provider. | | **Cable Drop ** | A connection point to your broadband network, typically a wall plate with an Ethernet jack | | **Cat 5e/Cat 6 Ethernet Cables** | The network cables used to hardwire your SpotOn Restaurant POS stations, printers, etc. | | **Internet Modem** | The device that is wired to your broadband internet provider’s source cable. SpotOn requires at least one dedicated port on the modem. | | **Kitchen Display Screen (KDS) ** | A digital screen that displays restaurant orders in the kitchen. | | **Home Run ** | The home run refers to all cabling dedicated to SpotOn equipment that is run to a location near your internet modem & which should be terminated with an RJ45 Female jack to the T568B wiring scheme, ideally into a wall plate or surface mount box. | | **Terminating Cables ** | Ethernet cables should be connected to wall plates with female connections, specifically RJ45 connections, using the T568B wiring scheme. | | **LAN / VAN ** | A virtual LAN (VLAN) is any broadcast domain that is partitioned & isolated in a computer network, allowing networks & devices that must be kept separate to share the same physical cabling without interacting, thereby improving simplicity, security, & traffic management. | ---