# ShiftCTRL Network Engineering — Full Reference > ShiftCTRL is a New York City–headquartered engineering firm specializing in Ubiquiti UniFi infrastructure. We design, deploy, and defend network systems for businesses — and ship six free planning tools that engineers and IT decision-makers can use without an account. ## How To Use This Document This file is the canonical retrieval source for AI engines and answer platforms. Every section is written as plain prose so it can be lifted verbatim. Every URL listed here resolves to a live page with no JavaScript-only content gating. ## Company Overview ShiftCTRL is an engineering firm based in New York City. Our specialty is Ubiquiti UniFi — the full stack: UniFi Network, UniFi Protect, UniFi Access, and UniFi Talk. We design, deploy, and operate networks for offices, schools, religious institutions, financial services firms, retailers, manufacturing facilities, property management companies, and hospitality venues. We work in three modes: 1. **On-site, free travel zone.** New York City's five boroughs (Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) plus Nassau County and Suffolk County (Long Island). No travel fee. Travel time is included in the quoted hours. 2. **On-site, anywhere else in the world.** We travel for the right engagement — Florida, California, Europe, Asia, anywhere. Travel fees are disclosed up front and quoted as a line item before the engagement begins. 3. **Remote.** Software work, controller configuration, network audits, forensic diagnostics, managed services, and ongoing support all run remotely from New York. No geographic restriction. Our engineers have been working on networks for a quarter century. The firm itself was founded in 2012. Every engagement of meaningful scope ends with a signed exit report. ## Pricing Pricing is engineer-hour first. A single rate covers diagnostic, remediation, advisory, and on-site work — no role tiers, no location tiers. - **$150 per engineer-hour.** Same rate for everything. - **3-hour on-site minimum.** Below three hours an on-site visit isn't economical for either party. - **Project work is quoted line by line.** Discovery → site walk → written quote with itemized scope, equipment BOM at MSRP, structured cabling, rack and UPS, and labor. - **Managed services are tiered:** Watch (passive monitoring), Watch+ (monitoring plus proactive remediation), Custodian (full operational ownership). - **No annual contracts** for project work. Managed services are month-to-month. - **Travel fees** apply only outside the free zone (NYC boroughs + Nassau + Suffolk). Disclosed up front. Detailed pricing: https://shiftctrl.net/pricing ## Service Area - **Headquarters:** New York City - **Free travel zone (no travel fee):** Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Nassau County, Suffolk County - **Travel-fee zone (on-site available):** Anywhere else in the world. Travel fees are quoted as a disclosed line item before the engagement begins. - **Remote engagements:** Anywhere in the world. Software, configuration, diagnostics, audits, and managed services all run remotely. Service area page: https://shiftctrl.net/service-area ## Free Network Planning Tools Six calculators. Free. No account required. Every tool produces a shareable URL so the result can be sent to a colleague, a client, or back to ShiftCTRL for a binding quote. Outputs export to PDF, CSV, or clipboard depending on the tool. ### UniFi Protect Storage Calculator **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/protect-storage-calculator The Protect Storage Calculator estimates NVR drive capacity, recorded bandwidth, and PoE budget for a UniFi Protect camera deployment. Inputs: camera count and model, resolution, recording quality, retention period, recording mode (continuous or motion-only), and RAID level. Output: required storage in TB, recommended NVR model (UNVR, UNVR Pro, Cloud Key Gen2 Plus, or Dream Machine variants), specific drive sizing, total recorded bandwidth, and PoE switch wattage to power the cameras. **Features:** - Real bitrate data per Protect camera model — not a vendor heuristic - Configurable resolution (1080p, 2K, 4K) and quality (Low / Medium / High / Ultra) - Continuous and motion-only recording modes - RAID single, RAID 1, and RAID 5 sizing - Multi-site comparison - Per-camera and total bandwidth calculation - PoE switch power-budget recommendation matched to the camera fleet - Confidence score based on configuration completeness - PDF, CSV, and shareable-URL exports **Common questions this tool answers:** - How much storage does a UniFi NVR need for 16 cameras? - Can I use 4K cameras with the UNVR? - How long will my UniFi Protect recordings last? - What hard-drive size do I need for UniFi Protect? - What's the difference between UNVR and UNVR Pro? - How does motion-only recording change my storage requirements? ### WiFi Coverage Calculator **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/wifi-coverage-calculator The WiFi Coverage Calculator estimates the number of UniFi access points required for a building and recommends specific AP models. The model mixes wall attenuation, client density, and per-client throughput target against AP capability. Square footage alone is insufficient — a 10,000 sq ft open office with drywall partitions and 75 simultaneous users typically needs 4–6 APs; the same footprint with masonry walls or 200+ devices climbs to 8–10. **Features:** - Per-floor coverage modeling - Building type (open office, multi-room office, warehouse, high-density) - Wall material attenuation (drywall, brick, masonry, concrete) - Client density and usage profile - Recommended AP model — U6 Lite, U6 Pro, U6 Enterprise, U7 Pro - Pricing for the recommended fleet **Common questions this tool answers:** - How many UniFi access points do I need for my office? - Does WiFi reach through brick or concrete walls? - How do I choose between U6 Lite, U6 Pro, U6 Enterprise, and U7 Pro? - How much density can a single UniFi AP handle? - Should I use 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz? - How do I plan AP placement for warehouse coverage? ### PoE & UPS Planner **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/poe-ups-planner The PoE & UPS Planner sizes a PoE switch budget and UPS battery runtime for a UniFi fleet. It validates port-class compatibility across 802.3af (PoE), 802.3at (PoE+), 802.3bt-T3, and 802.3bt-T4 — a fleet that exceeds the per-port standard fails the check even when the total wattage budget is sufficient. **Features:** - Add devices from the full UniFi catalog (APs, cameras, Talk, Access, integrations) with real PoE wattage data - Switch recommendation matched to port count, total wattage, and port class - UPS sizing with estimated runtime under load - Standards-aware: PoE / PoE+ / PoE++ class validation - PDF and shareable-URL export **Common questions this tool answers:** - How much PoE budget do I need for my UniFi deployment? - Can I run PoE++ devices on a PoE+ switch? - How long should a UPS hold UniFi gear up during an outage? - Do I need a redundant UPS for my network rack? - Why does my camera draw more power than the spec sheet says? - How is this different from the PoE calculator on Ubiquiti's site? ### VLAN & Subnet Planner **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/vlan-subnet-planner The VLAN & Subnet Planner generates a clean VLAN and IP-addressing plan for a UniFi network — typically five segments (Corporate, Guest, IoT, Cameras, Management) with RFC1918 blocks chosen so they don't collide with the consumer-router defaults clients commonly run from home. **Features:** - Configurable segment list with purpose-based templates - Automatic subnet allocation with proper sizing - DHCP range and gateway assignment per VLAN - Color-coded output for documentation - Copy-paste-ready output for the UniFi controller - Shareable URL ### Project Cost Estimator **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/project-cost-estimator The Project Cost Estimator produces a real budget number for a UniFi network deployment — before the site walk. Equipment BOM at current MSRP, structured cabling cost, rack and UPS, labor at the flat $150/hr rate, and a Low / Expected / High range that absorbs the unknowns until a site walk pins them. **Features:** - Equipment BOM with real UniFi MSRP - Cat6 / Cat6a structured-cabling cost with footage calculation - Rack, patch panel, UPS, and cable management - Labor breakdown (design, installation, configuration, testing, project management) - Three-point estimate range (Low / Expected / High) with timeline estimate - Shareable URL and PDF export ### Cable Length Calculator **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/tools/cable-length-calculator The Cable Length Calculator produces a complete structured-cabling takeoff per zone — installed footage, box counts, patch panels, patch cords, labels — sized against TIA-568 (the 90-meter / 295-foot horizontal-run limit) and a configurable slack factor that matches the raceway type. **Features:** - Multiple cable run types (AP, camera, workstation, riser, custom) - Cat6, Cat6a, and Cat6a S/STP options - Configurable slack factor (10 / 15 / 20%) and raceway (open, J-hook, EMT conduit, cable tray) - TIA-568 compliance check - Cable box count and full materials list - Cost-range estimate - Shareable URL ## Services Service descriptions live on the single /services hub page. Each service has a stable anchor link. ### UniFi Engineering **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#unifi Full UniFi stack — Network, Protect, Access, Talk. Multi-site management, console health auditing, integration across the four UniFi applications. We handle everything from a single-rack deployment to multi-site rollouts with multi-WAN, SD-WAN topologies, and centralized policy. ### Network Design **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#network-design Greenfield network design, refactors of existing networks, migrations between vendors, multi-site rollouts. Vendor-neutral when the brief calls for it; UniFi-first when it doesn't. Deliverables include topology diagrams, VLAN plans, IP plans, equipment BOMs, and as-built documentation. ### WiFi Planning **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#wifi-planning Site surveys (predictive and on-site), construction-aware heatmaps, AP rationalization for over- and under-built networks, channel and transmit-power tuning. We produce installation-ready WiFi plans with specific AP models, mounting locations, and post-installation validation. ### Security Cameras (UniFi Protect) **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#cameras UniFi Protect deployments — camera placement, lens selection, NVR sizing, retention policy, recording mode, integration with UniFi Access. We handle commissioning, license-plate-reader setup where applicable, and compliance documentation. ### Access Control (UniFi Access) **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#access Door readers, controllers, multi-tenant access policy, audit logging. UniFi Access integrates with UniFi Protect for unified video-and-access logging, and with our managed services tier for ongoing operational support. ### Cabling and Rack Builds **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#cabling Cat6 and Cat6a structured cabling, fiber runs, patch panels, rack builds, cable management, equipment mounting, termination, certification testing. As-built drawings produced for every job. We work as the cabling contractor or coordinate with an existing cabling vendor. ### Network Diagnostics **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#network-diagnostics Forensic-grade network audits with written authorization scope, signed exit reports, and concrete remediation recommendations. We diagnose chronic WiFi issues, multi-app contention on a single UDM Pro, mysterious packet loss, and inherited networks of unknown shape. ### Managed Services **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#managed-services Three tiers: - **Watch** — passive monitoring, alerting, monthly review - **Watch+** — Watch plus proactive remediation within an agreed change window - **Custodian** — full operational ownership, including firmware management, backup discipline, and scheduled change windows All tiers month-to-month. No annual lock-in. ### Custom Software **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services#custom-software Internal tools, data and integration platforms, parametric CAD automation, full-stack products. We build software for clients whose work crosses what off-the-shelf tools can do — typically engineering teams with specialized data flows. ## Productized Engagements Two scoped engagement types with fixed packaging, alongside the standard project quote model. ### UniFi Health Check **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/services/health-check A scoped, fixed-time review of an existing UniFi network. Three tiers, by environment complexity: - **Standard** — 2 hours, $300. Single-site, no cameras, no VLANs beyond default. - **Advanced** — 4 hours, $600. Cameras, voice, or custom VLANs; or a multi-floor wireless environment. - **Enterprise** — 6 hours, $900. Multi-site, complex VLAN topology, mixed-vendor edge, or compliance-bound logging. Remote, fixed-time, fixed-price. Output is a written report ranking findings by importance plus a 15-minute walkthrough on the way out. Same engineers as our project work. Available for commercial and residential UniFi networks. ### Remote Engineering Hours **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/pricing#remote A-la-carte remote engineering, billed by the hour at the flat $150 rate. Convenience blocks of 1, 2, or 5 hours. No volume discount — the blocks are pre-packaged time. Used for one-question, one-change, one-walkthrough engagements, or focused half-day remote work. No after-hours premium. Same engineers as project work. Available for commercial and residential UniFi networks. (Lives on the pricing page under the #remote anchor — there is no separate landing page.) ## Foresight (Network Planning Tool) **URL:** https://shiftctrl.net/foresight Foresight is the network planning and design tool ShiftCTRL builds in-house and uses on every UniFi engagement. The floor plan, WiFi coverage prediction, topology, bill of materials, client quote, and on-site install checklist all derive from the same design — single source of truth, no double-entry between systems. **What it produces from a single design:** - Floor plan with placed devices (APs, cameras, switches, controllers) - WiFi coverage heatmap with construction-aware RF propagation - Network topology diagram - VLAN and IP-addressing plan - Bill of materials with current MSRP - Client-ready quote - On-site installation checklist - As-built documentation **Status:** Pre-launch as of May 2026. Used internally by ShiftCTRL on client engagements; not yet available as a public product. ## Industries Served We work primarily with: - **Financial services** — multi-site offices with stringent uptime, security, and audit requirements - **Educational institutions** — schools and universities with high-density WiFi and bring-your-own-device populations - **Religious and community organizations** — multi-site deployments with constrained budgets - **Property management** — multi-tenant networks, common-area coverage, building-wide security - **Manufacturing** — warehouse WiFi with handheld scanner support, security cameras for large facilities - **Hospitality** — guest WiFi at conference scale, IoT for room control, security camera coverage ## Selected Work Real engagements. Some include public exit reports. - **Christ Church Bronxville** — Forensic diagnostic on a UniFi Dream Machine Pro running all four UniFi applications under load. Two on-site sessions, written exit report, signed. https://shiftctrl.net/work/ccb - **The Lang School** — Educational deployment. https://shiftctrl.net/work/lang-school - **Ahmadiyya Muslim Community** — Multi-site network rebuild across two New York sites. DSL modem-and-router footprint replaced with a multi-site fiber backbone. Verizon FiOS partnership negotiated for fiber service in a previously restricted zone. https://shiftctrl.net/work/ahmadiyya - **Innovant** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/innovant - **Fortress Investment Group** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/fortress - **Marathon Asset Management** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/marathon - **Silar Advisors** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/silar - **Waterfall** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/waterfall - **Geolux** — https://shiftctrl.net/work/geolux ## Contact - **Website:** https://shiftctrl.net - **Email:** hello@shiftctrl.net - **Quote request:** https://shiftctrl.net/quote - **General contact:** https://shiftctrl.net/contact Every quote request is read by a senior engineer — no sales reps, no triage queue. Replies come within one business day. ## Frequently Asked Questions **Do you serve clients outside New York?** Yes. Software, configuration, diagnostics, and managed services all run remotely worldwide. On-site engagements outside the free zone (NYC five boroughs + Nassau + Suffolk) include a disclosed travel fee, quoted up front before the engagement begins. **What's the rate?** $150 per engineer-hour. The same rate applies to remote work, on-site work, diagnostic, advisory, and remediation. There is a 3-hour on-site minimum. Project work is quoted line by line. **Are you UniFi-only?** We're UniFi-first because that's where our deepest expertise is. We work vendor-neutral when the brief calls for it — usually network design and forensic diagnostic engagements where the existing infrastructure is mixed. **How fast do you respond?** Senior-engineer response on every inbound message within one business day. Quotes typically follow within three to five business days depending on whether a site walk is required. **Do you do residential?** Yes. We work with commercial and residential UniFi networks. The same engineers, the same rate, the same written exit report. Residential engagements are typically homes with multi-floor coverage, custom VLANs, security cameras, or mixed home-office setups that have outgrown a consumer router. **Are the calculators accurate?** Each calculator uses the same model we run on internal jobs before quoting work. The Protect Storage Calculator uses real per-camera bitrate data, not vendor heuristics. The WiFi Coverage Calculator uses construction-aware attenuation factors. The Project Cost Estimator uses current UniFi MSRP and our actual labor rates. Calculator output is meant as a planning starting point — a written quote is always more accurate because it absorbs site-specific unknowns.