New AP Mode Router/Mesh/other

kiddrizzy on 20/05/2024 - 11:26

Hey all

Currently living in a two story house where I have a bit of a weird network setup. So my house is still FTTN unfortunately, with FTTP supposedly coming sometime next year. I have an Archer VR400 v3 in the garage (where the DSL connection is) which I use as my router (Not very helpful location for WIFI, I know), from there I have patched cat5e to most of the rooms in the house. On the opposite side of the house I have a ASUS RT-AC59U running in AP mode. My problem is upstairs I have sh*tty, old Telstra Technicolor running in what I cant remember off the top of my head if it's in bridge or AP mode, either way the coverage upstairs is shit. I have them all running the same SSID and password, for them all, split into 5g and 2.4g, bar the shitty technicolor which does not have 5g for (not so) seamless switching between the access points.

I have done it this way, as this was just what I had already available to use.

I feel like I have two options, find another, better router/access point upstairs, or perhaps to for a mesh setup with ethernet backhaul to the router. The latter sounds to be the better but more pricier option. If I were to only replace the technicolor upstairs, I do potentially have access to a tenda v12 ac1200 I could try to put into AP mode.

Love to hear everyone's opinions. Feel free to correct any errors and assumptions I have made, I am no networking expert.

Ty

Computing Mesh Network Wireless Access Point Wireless Router

Comments

  • geekcohen on 20/05/2024 - 12:09
    +3

    Maybe look at some sort of Ubiquiti setup with a few APs around the place or even two Long Range APs. Especially if you have CAT5 running into most rooms etc. Whilst it most be a little more than a mesh system, I think it would be a lot more reliable for you.

    I have gone from a similar situation to what you have done with mixed hardware to Ubiquti and never looked back! I still need some more APs to replace other mixed hardware, but it is a WIP.

    Otherwise, you could go TP Link Omada type route, but its almost the same cost as Ubiquiti and isn't a reliable solution.

    • apple2016 on 20/05/2024 - 18:27
      +1

      Yep Ubiquiti + AP's would be ideal. If you can spend more, upgrade the ubiquiti to a UTM like sophos or fortinet.

  • bargaino on 21/05/2024 - 11:32

    I have them all running the same SSID and password, for them all,

    Could that be the source of your problems? I would not assume that clients will connect to the best signal. They just take the first they see.

    the shitty technicolor which does not have 5g

    How ancient is that??! The 10-year-old Technicolor TG799vac was quite decent.

    AP mode is not hard. You really just need to turn off DHCP, no? Folks, is there any harm if the router part is running but doing nothing?

  • opt on 22/05/2024 - 17:04
    +1

    A proper mesh system is far better than having a hodgepodge of routers and access points from different manufacturers. If you are getting FTTP soon, then investing a few hundred dollars in a good mesh setup is worthwhile. Otherwise, you won’t be able to utilize the higher speeds offered by an FTTP service.

    You can get a good 2-3 node WiFi 6 consumer-level mesh system (from Netgear, Asus, TP-Link, etc.) for around $500~$1000, or opt for a prosumer system with 2-3 APs (from Unifi, Omada, etc.) for around $1000~$1500. A good system can easily last 3-5 years, making it a small fraction of your ongoing monthly internet bill in the long term. For example, to get speeds faster than 100Mbps (250Mbps or faster) from a good provider, you have to pay around $120 per month. However, a $600 mesh system, when divided over 5 years, only costs $10 per month, which is less than 10% of your internet bill. This cost can be often offset by switching providers when there are discounts.

    Few months after we started working from home in late 2020 I spent a little over $1000 on a Netgear Orbi WiFi6 mesh system, back then I only had a 100Mbps connection, but soon after I moved to a 500Mbps 5G service and more recently switched to a 1Gbps FTTP connection, yet still using the same mesh after almost 3 years, and I’m still getting close to 1Gbps over WiFi near each of the nodes and around 500Mbps throughout the home, had zero speed issues since I upgraded, and I also still get regular security updates from Netgear. do it once and do it right.

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