A point of sale is only as reliable as the network it runs on. This article explains how Stackably handles networking for the businesses we serve: when a location needs our network, when it does not, what it costs, what it includes, how it gets set up, the 5G internet backup we offer, and what we mean when we say we do not offer offline mode.
The short version
The basic Ubiquiti network is $10 per month per location. It is listed as its own line on the merchant's proposal, separate from the hardware, so the merchant can see that their location needs a network.
It is required whenever a network printer is placed away from the terminal, and whenever a kitchen display screen (KDS) is used. "Away from the terminal" means anywhere a USB cable to the terminal cannot reach: a kitchen, a bar, a prep station, a back office, a second counter.
It is not required for a printer plugged into the terminal by USB. A network printer or label printer sitting beside the terminal on a USB cable needs no network. Neither does a label printer on the merchant's own router. Other locations get the network when our team decides it is needed for the hardware to work reliably.
Some locations need additional networking, at an additional cost. A large floor plan, a kitchen far from the counter, thick walls or extra stations can call for more equipment (such as additional access points) or onsite cabling. This is quoted per location.
It arrives pre-configured. Our team programs the network for the location before it ships. The merchant plugs it in and turns on the rest of the hardware.
Stackably does not offer true offline mode. Our terminals do not keep taking orders with no internet connection at all. For most retail and quick-service businesses this does not matter, and this article explains why.
What we offer instead is a 5G internet backup. A single 5G SIM card, in a Ubiquiti device we provide at no cost, powers the entire network coverage area when the internet goes down. $20 per month, unlimited data. We recommend it with every network.
We also offer SIM cards in terminals. A P3H or P3 MIX with its own SIM card runs on mobile service, so it works outside the Wi-Fi. $20 per month per SIM card.
When a location needs the Ubiquiti network
Whether a location needs our network depends on where its printers sit and how they connect, not on whether it has a printer.
A printer plugged into the terminal by USB does not require it. The network printer and the label printer can both sit beside the terminal on a USB cable. That is the standard receipt-printer setup beside a D3 Pro, and the standard label-printer setup at a retail counter. No network line goes on the quote.
A network printer away from the terminal always requires it. Whenever a network printer is placed in the kitchen, at a prep or bar station, in a back office, or anywhere else a USB cable to the terminal cannot reach, we require the location to use the Ubiquiti network we provide. Those printers receive tickets over the network, and the hardware arrives already configured for our network so nothing has to be set up on site.
Kitchen display screens always require it. A KDS, and an expo screen if there is one, runs on the Ubiquiti network we provide.
A label printer on the merchant's own router does not require it. The label printer can also connect by Ethernet to the merchant's existing router instead of USB, for example in a back room where stock is tagged. No Stackably network is needed, but our support team cannot see or remote into a printer on the merchant's network; if it drops offline, the merchant checks their own router first. Setup may recommend our network for that reason, and the merchant can opt in.
Other setups get it when our team decides it is needed. Multiple terminals, a larger floor plan, a building with weak existing Wi-Fi, or a business that cannot afford to be offline are all reasons we may include a network. If you are not sure whether a location needs one, ask our team and tell us about the business.
What it costs.
Basic Ubiquiti network: $10 per month per location. This covers the standard pre-configured network for a typical counter-and-kitchen setup. It is a separate monthly line on the proposal rather than being built into the price of the printer, so it is clear to the merchant that their particular setup needs a network.
Additional networking: additional cost, quoted per location. When the basic network will not cover every device reliably, for example a kitchen far from the counter, a large or multi-room space, or a building that needs cable run to the kitchen or back office, our team quotes the additional equipment and any onsite work before anything ships or is scheduled.
5G backup device: free. We always provide the backup device at no cost with the purchase of a $20 per month SIM card, described below.
Why we use our own network instead of the merchant's router
Every piece of Stackably hardware for a location is set up on our network before it ships. That means:
Nothing to configure on site. Terminals, printers and the network find each other out of the box.
Our support team can remote in. We can remote into any Stackably device and into any Ubiquiti network we place. If a printer stops responding or a terminal drops off the network, we can usually see the problem and fix it without a site visit.
Business-grade equipment. Ubiquiti is professional networking equipment, built for commercial locations rather than a home office, and it supports the 5G backup described below.
Coverage where the devices actually are. Because Stackably does not offer offline mode, the network is the solution. We work hard to make sure every device that will be used has solid Wi-Fi or hard-wired internet exactly where it sits. Getting the right Ubiquiti equipment into the right spots is what makes the whole system reliable, and it is why some locations need additional networking.
Consistency. Every location we support runs the same way, which makes support faster and troubleshooting predictable.
Offline mode: what it is, and why Stackably does not offer it
This is the question we are asked most often about networking, so it deserves a direct answer.
What "true offline mode" means. A point of sale with true offline mode keeps taking orders and payments on the device itself when there is no internet connection at all. The device stores the orders and sends them to the kitchen and the cloud later, when it is back in range. The classic example is a server carrying a handheld through a patio or a beer garden, walking in and out of Wi-Fi range all shift, and never noticing.
Stackably does not offer true offline mode. If a terminal has no network connection, it cannot take orders or process cards until a connection is restored.
Why that is fine for most of the businesses we serve. For the vast majority of retail stores and quick-service restaurants, the hardware lives in two places: on the counter and in the kitchen. Nobody carries a terminal out of range. Orders are taken up front, sent to the kitchen printer, and paid at the counter. In that setting, what matters is not offline mode but reliable coverage at the counter and in the kitchen, plus a way to stay running when the internet provider has an outage. We solve the first with the Ubiquiti network and the second with the 5G backup.
When true offline mode actually matters. There are two situations where a business needs true offline mode, and where Stackably is likely not the right fit:
A large operation with many rooms or outdoor areas that all need live coverage. Think of a venue with several dining rooms, a bar, a patio and an event space, all taking orders at once. A single 5G SIM card backup is not sized to carry that much coverage, and the 30 to 120 second gap between the internet going down and the 5G taking over would be a real problem at that scale.
Servers who continually walk in and out of network range. A large outdoor venue where staff take orders far from the building, then walk back inside, depends on devices that queue orders offline and release them to the kitchen when they reconnect. That is true offline mode, and we do not have it.
Both situations usually come with a bigger issue: they are full-service, order-at-the-table operations, and Stackably does not offer full-service table management. A business that needs true offline mode is almost always a poor fit for Stackably from the start, regardless of networking.
What we offer instead: 5G internet backup for the whole network
When a business loses its internet connection, the point of sale is usually the first thing that stops. The UniFi 5G Backup is a small Ubiquiti device that plugs into the Ubiquiti network we provide. It holds a single Stackably SIM card and gives the location a cellular internet connection to fall back on.
How it works. If the location's main internet connection fails, the network switches over to the 5G connection automatically. The switchover takes 30 to 120 seconds, and during that window the terminals are down. Once the 5G kicks in, every device on the network, terminals, printers and anything else, is back up and working through the outage. The connection will usually feel slower than normal internet, but it is more than enough for the point of sale, card processing, kitchen printing and online orders. When the main connection comes back, the network switches back on its own.
Sized for a normal coverage area. One SIM card powers the entire Ubiquiti network we installed. For a counter-and-kitchen setup, or a quick-service restaurant with a few rooms where ordering still happens up front, that is the right tool. It is not designed to carry a sprawling network across many rooms and outdoor spaces; see the offline mode section above.
What it costs.
$20 per month for the SIM card, charged whether or not an outage ever happens, with unlimited data.
The Ubiquiti 5G backup device is always free. When the SIM card's purpose is internet backup, we provide the hardware it plugs into at no cost with the purchase of the $20 per month SIM card.
It needs the Ubiquiti network. If the location does not already have our network, the basic network ($10 per month) is added along with the 5G backup.
Setup. Our team sets up the 5G backup as part of the network setup before it ships. The device arrives already connected to the network equipment and the SIM card is already activated. The merchant plugs in the network and the backup is live. There is nothing to install, activate or configure on site.
What the device is. It uses 5G RedCap, a version of 5G designed for reliability and low power rather than maximum speed, rated at up to 220 Mbps download and 120 Mbps upload. This is a backup connection, not a replacement for the business's primary internet.
Requires the Stackably-provided network. The 5G backup is a UniFi device, so it works as part of the Ubiquiti network we provide. A location that does not already have our network will receive one along with the 5G backup, at $10 per month.
Who should consider it. Every location that has our network. Any business that cannot afford to stop taking payments: restaurants and bars during a rush, retail stores on a busy weekend, and any location whose internet provider has a history of outages. For $20 per month, it removes one of the most common reasons a business ends up unable to take cards.
More details on the device: Ubiquiti UniFi 5G Backup product page.
SIM cards in terminals: taking orders outside the Wi-Fi
The 5G backup covers devices inside the network. For a device that needs to work outside it, we offer the second half of the SIM Card program: a Stackably SIM card installed directly in a P3H or P3 MIX, so the terminal runs on mobile service instead of Wi-Fi.
Why this matters. Stackably is entirely cloud based. An order taken outside on a P3H running on its SIM card is sent to the kitchen printer inside the building immediately, even though the printer is on the Ubiquiti network and the terminal is on cellular. They do not need to be on the same network, because everything goes through the cloud. This is the key distinction from offline mode: the device is never offline. It always has its own connection, so there is nothing to queue and nothing to sync later.
Good uses. A food truck, a trade show, a farmers market, a seasonal stand, a sidewalk or patio where staff take orders a short distance from the building, or any business where a terminal regularly leaves the Wi-Fi. A small dining room where a server carries a P3H to the table for pay-at-the-table also works well, with or without a SIM card, as long as the dining room is inside the Wi-Fi coverage.
What it does not solve. A SIM card in a terminal depends on the local cellular signal. It is not a substitute for true offline mode at a large venue, and it does not change the fact that Stackably does not offer full-service table management.
What it costs.
$20 per month per SIM card, unlimited data. Because a terminal on cellular tends to use more data than a backup line, this charge covers the service only.
The terminal is paid for separately. The SIM card price does not include the P3H or P3 MIX.
Setup. We install and activate the SIM card before the terminal ships.
Which setup fits which business
Retail store, salon, or any counter with its printers plugged in by USB beside the terminal. No network required. The T3 prints its own receipts; a D3 Pro's receipt printer or a label printer sits beside the terminal on USB. Add the network only if our team decides it is needed, or if the business wants the 5G backup.
Quick-service restaurant, cafe with a kitchen, pizza shop, bar with a service-bar printer: any network printer away from the terminal, or a KDS. Basic Ubiquiti network ($10 per month) for the counter and kitchen, plus the 5G backup. Additional networking if the kitchen is far from the counter or the space is large. This is the core Stackably fit. A large quick-service restaurant with several rooms is still a good fit as long as orders are taken up front.
Small dining room with pay-at-the-table. Same as above. A server can carry a P3H to the table on the Wi-Fi.
Mobile business, food truck, events, outdoor ordering a short distance from the building. SIM card in the P3H or P3 MIX. No network in the truck; a ticket printer for the cook can plug into a P3 MIX by USB. If there is a fixed kitchen back at a shop, orders flow to its network printer through the cloud.
Large venue with many rooms or outdoor areas, servers walking in and out of range, full-service table management. Not a fit. These businesses need true offline mode and table management, and Stackably offers neither. We can install a larger network for better coverage, but the single 5G backup is not sized for it and the operational model is not what we built.
Setup: what the merchant does
Setup is designed so the merchant does nothing other than plug in the network when it arrives.
Open the box of hardware and find the network equipment first.
Plug an ethernet cable from your current internet router into our router, and plug in our network equipment.
Turn on the rest of your hardware, including the printers.
That is it. The terminals and printers are already configured for this network, so they connect on their own. If the location also has the 5G backup, it is already set up and plugged into the network equipment, so there is no extra step. If any terminal has a SIM card, it is already installed and active.
If anything does not come up as expected, contact our support team. We can remote into the network and the devices to check them.
Additional networking and onsite work
Most locations are up and running with the basic network and the plug-in setup above. Some locations need more for every device to stay reliably connected, for example:
a kitchen or prep station that is a long way from the counter, or behind walls that block Wi-Fi
a large or multi-room space that needs additional access points
cable that needs to be run to a kitchen or back office
working through an existing building network
Additional networking equipment and onsite work carry an additional cost, quoted per location. Our team will confirm what the location needs and the cost with the merchant and their Stackably partner before anything ships or is scheduled.
Common questions
Does Stackably have offline mode? No. Our terminals need a network connection to take orders and process cards. For counter-and-kitchen businesses this rarely matters, because the devices never leave the network and the 5G backup covers internet outages.
Do I have to use the Stackably network? Yes, whenever a network printer is placed away from your terminal (anywhere a USB cable cannot reach), whenever you use a kitchen display screen, and in any other case where our team determines it is needed. A printer plugged into your terminal by USB, such as the receipt printer beside a D3 Pro or a label printer at a retail counter, does not require it. The network arrives pre-configured and works out of the box.
Does a printer next to my register need the network? Not if it is plugged into the register by USB. It needs the network only if it sits somewhere a USB cable cannot reach.
Does the label printer need the network? No. It connects by USB to your terminal or by Ethernet to your own router. On your own router, our support team cannot remote into it.
How much does the network cost? The basic Ubiquiti network is $10 per month per location. If your location needs additional networking, such as extra access points or cabling to a kitchen that is far from the counter, that carries an additional cost, quoted for your location. The 5G backup device is always free with the $20 per month SIM card.
Why is the network a separate line on my proposal? So you can see exactly why your location needs it. The network is what lets a kitchen printer or kitchen display screen receive orders reliably, and showing it separately is clearer than building it into the price of the printer.
Can I keep my current internet provider? Yes. Our network plugs into your existing internet router with an ethernet cable. We are providing the network inside the business, not the internet connection itself.
Do I need to set anything up? No. Plug in the network equipment, then turn on your hardware. If you have the 5G backup or a SIM card in a terminal, it is already connected and activated.
How much is the 5G backup? $20 per month for the SIM card, unlimited data, charged whether or not you ever have an outage. The Ubiquiti backup device is provided free. It runs on our network, which is $10 per month if your location does not already have it.
How much is a SIM card in a terminal? $20 per month per SIM card, unlimited data. That covers the service only; the terminal is paid for separately.
What happens during an internet outage? The network switches to the 5G connection automatically. Expect the terminals to be down for 30 to 120 seconds while it switches over, then everything on the network comes back, usually at a somewhat slower speed. When your main internet comes back, the network switches back on its own.
Can I get the 5G backup without the Stackably network? No. It is part of the Ubiquiti network we provide. A location that does not have our network yet will receive one with the 5G backup, at $10 per month.
Is the 5G backup fast enough to run my business? For the point of sale, card processing, printers and online orders, yes. It will feel slower than your normal internet, and it is designed as a backup for outages rather than a replacement for your primary internet.
I have a big restaurant with a patio and several rooms. Will the 5G backup cover all of it? No. One SIM card is sized for a normal coverage area, not a large multi-room and outdoor network. Businesses at that scale also typically need true offline mode and full-service table management, neither of which Stackably offers.
Can staff take orders outside and have them print in the kitchen? Yes, with a SIM card in the P3H or P3 MIX. Because Stackably is cloud based, the order reaches the kitchen printer inside even though the terminal is on cellular and the printer is on the Wi-Fi.
Do I need a SIM card for staff to walk around with a terminal inside? No. Inside the business, terminals run on the Wi-Fi. A SIM card in a terminal is only needed when the device leaves the Wi-Fi.
Do you come on site? We can. Onsite networking is available as needed and is quoted per location. Most locations do not need it because the network arrives pre-configured.
Not sure what your location needs? Contact our team and tell us about the business, including where each printer and screen will sit. We will put the right network together.