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Payments card terminals and POS software are cloud-based. A stable internet connection is required to process transactions, sync data, and receive software updates. For most businesses on a standard business internet plan, no special configuration is needed. If your business uses a managed firewall, a third-party IT provider, or has content filtering in place, review the Firewall & Domain Allow-list section below.

Connection Type

Payments card terminals support both wired and wireless connections. Use the table below to confirm your setup meets the requirements for a permanent installation.

Ethernet is strongly recommended. If you use the P5 card terminal, for most Quilt brands it ships with an Ethernet-ready charging cradle or dock that provides both a wired network connection and continuous power in one unit. For any permanent checkout installation, we strongly encourage you to configure it with an Ethernet cable instead of relying on wireless. While the card terminal supports Wi-Fi and battery operation for flexibility, Wi-Fi and battery are not recommended as the primary connection for standard daily checkout use.

Hotspot Connections

Dedicated 4G/5G hotspot devices are subject to carrier congestion and throttling and should be used only as a temporary backup measure. If fixed broadband is genuinely unavailable at your location, contact Quilt support to discuss options including a dedicated SIM device.

Phone personal hotspots are weaker than dedicated hotspot devices and we do not support them under any circumstances.

Speed & Connection Requirements

Speeds should be verified at the physical location of the register and card terminal station, not just at the router. Wi-Fi signal loss between the router and the card terminal is common, especially in larger spaces or areas with interference, so a speed test conducted at the router may not be indicative of our true connection speed. Run a speed test from a phone connected to the same Wi-Fi network, standing where the card terminal will be installed. You can use free websites through your phone's browser or your computer's browser (the same one you use for the system) such as speedsmart.net, speedtest.net, fast.com, and speedof.me to test your connection speed.

*You can check your signal strength via a computer or from a card terminal by calling into the Quilt Support team.

Dedicated Bandwidth

Where possible, bandwidth should be dedicated strictly to your Payments hardware. The most reliable way to do this is to place card terminals on their own network or VLAN, isolated from general business traffic. If a separate network is not practical, configure your router's Quality of Service (QoS) settings to mark the card terminal as a priority device. Sharing bandwidth with high-demand activity such as video streaming, large file transfers, or a busy guest Wi-Fi network can cause transaction delays even when overall internet speed appears sufficient.

Firewall & Domain Allow-List

For most businesses, no firewall configuration is needed. Payments card terminals communicate over standard HTTPS (port 443), which is open on virtually all business internet connections.

If your business uses a managed firewall, a content filtering service, or a third-party IT provider that restricts outbound traffic, add the following domains to your allow-list:

Why Domains Instead of IP Addresses

We do not publish fixed IP addresses for allow-listing. Payment's infrastructure uses cloud-based load balancers and redundant servers, meaning the underlying IP addresses can and do change over time. Allow-listing by domain name (as shown above) ensures your configuration remains valid without requiring manual updates whenever infrastructure changes occur.

Router & Network Equipment

The quality of your router has a significant impact on card terminal reliability. Consumer-grade routers sold at general retailers, particularly entry-level models under $50, are designed for light home use and often struggle in commercial environments with multiple simultaneous devices, longer operating hours, and higher traffic demands.

What to Look For

• Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 (802.11ax or 802.11be): These are current-generation standards that offer better speed, lower latency, and improved performance when multiple devices are connected simultaneously. Avoid older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) or Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) routers for new installations.
• Dual-Band or Tri-Band: At minimum, dual-band (2.4 GHz + 5 GHz) is sufficient. Tri-band adds a second 5 GHz or 6 GHz radio, which is useful if you have many devices and want to keep POS traffic on a dedicated band.
• Gigabit Ethernet Ports: Ensure the router has at least one (1) Gigabit Ethernet LAN port for each device you plan to wire in. Multi-gig ports (2.5 GbE or higher) are a bonus but not required.
• Cat5e or Better Ethernet Cables: As mentioned above, Use Cat5e , Cat6, or Cat6a cabling and avoid older cable types such as Cat3 or DSL phone line adapters, which cannot reliably carry the speeds required.
• VLAN or Guest Network Support: Look for the ability to create separate networks on the same router, one for POS, one for general business use. Most business-grade and pro-consumer routers support this; many budget consumer routers do not.
• QoS (Quality of Service): This function allows you to prioritize traffic from specific devices or applications. You will want to give priority to your Card Terminal devices. This is useful if you cannot create a fully separate network for your card terminals.

Mesh Systems (Recommended for Wi-Fi)

A 'Mesh' Wi-Fi system replaces a single router with two or more nodes that work together to provide seamless coverage across the entire space. For retailers with layouts that cause dead zones (multiple rooms, thick walls, L-shaped spaces, or outdoor areas, etc) a Mesh system is the most effective solution and avoids the reliability problems caused by range extenders.

Mesh systems also handle device roaming automatically: as a staff member or customer moves through the space, their device transitions between nodes without dropping the connection. For fixed card terminals, this is less critical, but it eliminates the dead zone problem entirely.

Checking Wi-Fi Speed on the P5 Card Terminal

If your store uses the P5, you can verify the Wi-Fi link speed directly on the Payments P5 card terminal without any additional equipment:

1. If the POS app is open, close it: tap the four corners of the screen, then select Close Application.
2. Open Settings by swiping up from the bottom of the screen (or swiping down twice from the top) and tapping the gear icon.
3. Select Network & Internet, then tap Wi-Fi.
4. Tap the network to which the card terminal is connected.
5. Scroll to the bottom and tap Advanced. The Transmit link speed and Receive link speed will be displayed.

Transmit/Receive connection speed should be 25 Mbps or higher. If you are not achieving that speed, you can use the Troubleshooting options below to increase your speed.

Card Terminal Connection Speed Troubleshooting

If you are experiencing slow connection speeds on one of your Payments Card Terminals, here are options you can try to fix the problem:

1. Switch to a Wired Connection: Connect the card terminal via Ethernet using a cradle or adapter and retest. This will immediately rule out Wi-Fi as the cause.
2. Move Closer to the Router: If speed improves significantly near the router, the original location may be a dead zone. If possible, reposition the router or add an access point.
3. Check for Network Congestion: Temporarily disconnect other devices and retest. If speeds improve, your internet plan does not have sufficient bandwidth for the combined load. Contact your ISP about upgrading, or move card terminals to a dedicated network.
4. Check Wired Speed at the Router: If wired speeds are also low, the issue is upstream of your equipment. Your ISP may not be delivering contracted speeds, or your modem may need replacement. Contact your ISP.
5. Contact Support: If you have worked through the steps above and speeds still do not meet requirements, reach out before your go-live date. Provide your speed test results and note whether the test was wired or Wi-Fi.

Transmit and Receive link speed measures the Wi-Fi connection between the card terminal and your router at that particular location. Wi-Fi signal loss between the router and connected devices is common, especially in larger spaces or areas with interference. 

If Your Speed Is Below Requirements

Work through the following steps before contacting your ISP or Quilt support:

Pre-Go-Live Network Checklist

Complete all items below before going live. If you are already live, complete all items below before contacting Support. If you are unsure whether your network meets these requirements before installation, contact our support team. It is much easier to resolve connectivity issues before go-live than during business hours.