Mesh WiFi Solutions

Lb0sanac on 22/06/2019 - 23:18
Last edited 23/06/2019 - 00:27

I'm looking to fix up my home wifi because there are some dead spots and spots that have a less than ideal connection strength and speed. My current setup is this(house distance from back to front is about 30-40m): main ISP router in the back of the house and it covers the three rooms in the vicinity and backyard.

I have an ethernet cable running underneath the house to the front which is connected to another router set as an AP with a second SSID which covers the kitchen, living room and front yard so those areas are covered however the middle of the house which has bedrooms and arguably the most important to wifi connectivity, the toilets. These areas are sort of a grey area and the connection struggles and I'd like to eliminate that.

I've been looking at wifi mesh solutions and am looking at the following products: Ubiquiti Unify AP-AC Lite, Ubiquiti ACB-ISP airCube, Ubiquiti Networks UAP-LR and the Tenda Nova MW3.

I'm looking for advice and/or any experience anyone has with the above hardware or some suggestions.

Computing

Comments

  • Davo1111 on 23/06/2019 - 09:11

    I'd run a cheap n router as an access point, put it into a dumb switch, and then a dedicated router like ubiquiti edgerouterlite (to handle firewall/dhcp etc)

    • b0sanac on 23/06/2019 - 18:01

      The whole reason I'm looking into mesh is because it's a pain in the arse to run cables underneath the house due to the way it was built so I'd like to avoid that if I can. It was a massive pain in the arse to run that one cable from one point to the next.

  • thatonethere on 23/06/2019 - 09:40

    Need an mspaint of your house and wifi aps

  • dotpom on 23/06/2019 - 10:39
    +1

    I used to have a similar setup to you with 2 routers pumping out different SSID's connected via ethernet back to a basic Netgear DM200 VDSL modem. Was fiddly at best to get devices to switch between SSID.

    I have kept on the DM200 but currently use a Netgear Orbi mesh solution (https://www.jbhifi.com.au/computers-tablets/networking/netge…) with 3 nodes (1 wireless backhaul and 2 connected via ethernet) and I have no issues with coverage now. I really appreciate how easy it is to setup and manage (can be handled via an app by my SO) and it is simple to block internet access to devices that do not really need access to the internet but you want to have on your wifi.

    Currently set up in a 3 BR split level weatherboard house with an external garage and we have excellent coverage in the house and even into the neighbours houses. We have ~40 active wifi IP address and 5 ethernet and never have any issues anymore.

    I have a friend with an Ubiquiti solution - 1 USG, 1 AC Pro and 1 AC HD and this also works flawlessly. However, this from a technical level definitely feels like an enterprise solution and offers some in depth reporting for activity on your network / and extra control that I personally find overkill for a residential solution.

    I guess it would depend on how much management time you are going to spend using it. For me the Orbi gives me all the information that I need, and if you have kids in the house you can utilise Circle to manage what net traffic can get to their devices.

    • b0sanac on 23/06/2019 - 18:00

      I was looking at the Ubiquiti line of products but I dont know whether I need an enterprise-grade solution. I'm looking for something that wont run up a high cost because it's not something I can afford to spend loads on unfortunately. I was thinking about getting a lone long range Ubiquiti AP but I read somewhere that those also need a controller to be used so I'm unsure. The Tenda MW3 is the most affordable for me right now but I dont know how good it is, being a budget product and all.

  • Mallard on 23/06/2019 - 18:10

    Mate, I read your OP as if it was my own situation. Long house, tried cabled routers etc.

    I got the Google Wifi. It's been amazing. Completely solved the problem. The go on special on here from time to time

    The others probably do the same.

    • John Kimble on 23/06/2019 - 18:19
      +1

      I have Google WiFi also and find it great too, but the OP sounds like he wants more control than Google allows.

      I might need the same when my kids get old enough!

      • Mallard on 23/06/2019 - 18:23
        +1

        Upvoted but I thought he wanted something cheaper.

      • b0sanac on 23/06/2019 - 18:33
        +1

        I'd like the ability to have control but at this moment it's not essential, I'm trying to find a middle ground between control and a price that would suit me.

    • adam on 23/06/2019 - 20:59

      Can you connect the satellite stations to the base (backhaul) using Ethernet cable with the Google Wifi Mesh solution?

  • Platinumtelecom on 23/06/2019 - 21:59

    Google Wi-Fi is awesome, easy to setup and efficient. I am intrigued though, why would you run Ethernet cables under the house instead of using Ethernet powerline adapter?

    • b0sanac on 23/06/2019 - 22:00

      I tried that initially, but the room that the router is in is on a separate circuit from the other side of the house, and it's a HFC cable connection so I can't exactly move the router around as I want.

      • Platinumtelecom on 23/06/2019 - 22:07

        Yep that make sense. I got the 3 Google Wi-Fi pack with 20% off eBay for $280.

        On Nbn FFTC with Aussie Broadband and consistently get 94Mbps down and 33 up over wifi throughout the house

        • b0sanac on 23/06/2019 - 22:15

          That's pretty good. If nothing I might look into Google Wifi even though it's a bit out of my price range right now. I've heard many good things about it but I wanted to also see what cheaper options are available.

  • sboy on 26/06/2019 - 20:26

    ;j

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