NorthField Church

Background

At NorthField Church in Gallatin, Tennessee, the core mission is clear: "Love God, love people, and make Jesus known." With an attendance of approximately 1,700 people each Sunday and a lean staff of 22 full-time employees, NorthField Church has experienced rapid growth, placing increased demands on their technical infrastructure. Managing this growth efficiently and effectively is critical, especially given the complexity of their operations and diverse technology needs.

The Critical Need for Network Reliability

Network reliability is essential for NorthField Church due to the myriad critical functions dependent on robust network connectivity:

Children’s Check-In: Planning Center Check-Ins rely on a stable network to ensure child safety and security.

AV and Production: The network is vital for Sunday morning services, controlling lighting, sound, video distribution, and live streaming.

Safety and Security: Door access control and security cameras run over the network, requiring uninterrupted connectivity for safe operations.

Guest Wi-Fi: Hundreds of devices simultaneously access guest Wi-Fi during events, significantly increasing network load.

Given these dependencies, even brief network outages can severely impact the church's ability to provide essential services and maintain a secure environment.

Why UniFi?

NorthField Church chose UniFi primarily for its combination of ease of management, cost-effectiveness, and stewardship:

Ease of Management:

• With only two dedicated staff members managing all AV and IT systems, a straightforward and intuitive management interface is vital.
• UniFi's Site Manager and integrated management tools simplify tasks such as configuring VLANs, assigning static IP addresses, and troubleshooting network issues.
• Tools like WiFiMan have streamlined identifying Wi-Fi coverage issues, ensuring reliable service throughout the campus.

Stewardship and Cost Efficiency:

• Churches have a responsibility to steward their resources wisely, making UniFi's absence of licensing fees particularly attractive.
• Unlike other platforms that charge expensive licensing or recurring fees, UniFi allows for predictable budgeting and optimal allocation of church resources.
• This cost efficiency enables the church to invest more directly in mission-critical areas of ministry rather than administrative overhead.

How NorthField Church Utilizes UniFi

Guest Wi-Fi

The church provides a robust guest Wi-Fi experience, crucial for Sunday services and events. UniFi's powerful access points, including U6 Pros and outdoor Flex models, effectively manage large surges in guest traffic.

AV and Production

Network stability is essential for the church’s sophisticated AV and production setup:

• Dante audio networking relies on VLAN segmentation, ensuring audio reliability.
• DMX lighting over SACN protocols require consistent and stable connectivity.
• Resi encoders for live-streaming services depend on uninterrupted network access.

Safety and Security

UniFi ensures security across campus:

• Door access control systems depend on constant network availability.
• Security camera footage and alerts, managed centrally, rely heavily on the robust network infrastructure provided by UniFi.

Building-to-Building Connectivity: UBB

NorthField Church uses UniFi Building-to-Building (UBB) bridges effectively, especially where laying fiber was prohibitively expensive:

• UBB connects buildings across parking lots, providing reliable and high-speed connectivity without expensive construction costs.
• This wireless link supports multiple critical functions, including access control, cameras, and Wi-Fi access points.

Leveraging UniFi Connect

UniFi Connect displays streamline communication across campus:

• Displays are used for digital signage, communicating classroom assignments and schedules clearly and automatically adjusting based on time and day.
• The simplicity and automatic scheduling capabilities of Connect greatly reduce manual intervention, further freeing up technical staff resources.

Looking Ahead: UniFi Talk

The church currently uses RingCentral but sees the potential for greater stewardship and simplified management with UniFi Talk:

• Transitioning to UniFi Talk eliminates costly licensing fees associated with their current system.
• Simplified management within the UniFi ecosystem aligns with their existing network infrastructure, providing unified oversight and reduced operational complexity.
• Expanded capabilities for mobile integration and streamlined operations are anticipated benefits, making this an attractive upgrade in the near future.

Summary of Impact

UniFi has provided NorthField Church with reliable and cost-effective solutions tailored specifically to their unique demands:

• Ensured critical operations like children's check-in, security, and live-streaming services remain consistently available.
• Significantly simplified network management for a limited technical team.
• Enabled superior stewardship of church finances by eliminating recurring licensing costs.

Looking forward, UniFi continues to support NorthField Church’s growth and ministry impact through innovative, scalable, and budget-conscious technology solutions.