The suggestion from the builder is a total cost of $9,000.00 for installation of WAP's (Wireless Access Points) at the following locations:
- Gnd floor: x2
- 1st floor: x2
- 2nd floor: x3
- Attic: x2
I assume the WAP's are ethernet connected to the NBN router.
This seems to be quite expensive. Can anyone please suggest a cheaper and reliable option? Will a Google mesh network do the job?
Thanks!
/WT
Seems excessive to have 2-3 per floor unless it's a Beverly Hills mansion.
OP isn't doing a renovation anymore it seems, calling it downsizing..
Do you have CAT 5e between the floors?
Are the walls wood, cement or brick?
Are the floors wood or reinforced concrete?
It's a brand new house.
They proposed wired to WAP, not sure if it's CAT 5e.
Walls are cement.
Floors are reinforced concrete.
In that case run two CAT 5E cables to each room in the new dwelling and terminate them in a cabinet/small room out of the way (laundry or where the NBN will terminate is better). This will allow you to setup a 1Gbit networks between all of the rooms and in the rooms where you need wireless you can get some cheap mesh wifi devices.
It will be way cheaper than the WAP and will allow you to upgrade the devices going forward allot cheaper than WAP's.
If you want to splurge you could put CAT 6 cables, but in 99% of cases it's an overkill as it allows 10Gbit networks, but the equipment to run at 10gb are expensive. 2.5Gb networking equipment is starting to become reasonable and works on CAT 5e.
The two CAT 5E cables allows you to run a separate network that could be for video streaming from a NAS etc.
Ask the cabler to install the data cable and a power point . Don't ask them to provide the mesh/WAP equipment, you can do it yourself.
Unless you have a massive house, a mesh access point per floor should be good enough.
Google nest or eero … just keep adding nodes i think it would be better but you would need wallports with them, like datacabling done …. The builder wants to buy a boat 🛥. 😆
Jesus. How big is this house?
Stagger ethernet outlets, 1 per level, on the ceiling.
Look at something like Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LR for $160. Then a switch in the basement with POE.
I have 1 (UAP-AC-LITE) in my house, and 2 in the family home, double brick
It's only 200sqm, that's why it's built into three storeys.
Don't quite understand what do you mean by "Stagger ethernet outlets", could you please explain a little or share a link? Thanks.
according to google, my rental is 90sqm. My vacuum says its closer to 45 (of exposed floor), so i think it's going to be 60-70sqm.
I have 1 AP on one corner, aimed diagonally and dont have signal issues.
How many thousand sqm is the house? 9 WAP seems excessive!!
I’d suggest getting specs of all equipment and posting here.
Typically,
Each ethernet cable run should not cost more than $100, a decent WAP from Ubiquiti about $300, plus 1 POE switch say $500-800 depending on model, network rack maybe $300 plus fees for configuration and installation of access points. Using these super rough figures, that’s about $5000-$6000 cost. If getting builder to do, add 20% builders margin.
I recently bought the Google Nest with the router + 2 points for my parents' house.
It's double storey, thick double brick. about 300 sqm size on each level. The NBN box is just behind the front entrance on ground level, and I used to have a wifi extender on level 2. I would get no signals on both levels towards the back of the house including the balconies, bathroom, laundry and the backyard.
With the Google Nest, I have the router and 1st point placed in the same spots as before, and the 2nd point on ground level towards the back. No more dead spots. I even get signal in the garage (detached, free-standing in the backyard corner), although the speed is a little slow.
I'm not a tech person, but I after I bought the Nest, I also discovered Powerline Adaptors. You could also look into those. I have no experience using them, but I think I would have bought those if I knew they existed. Basically you pair these adaptors, connect the1st one to the router and plug it into the wall socket. You can plug the 2nd one into any other wall socket in the house. The data is transmitted via the existing electricity wiring in the house, so don't have to worry about walls. I think there are ones that come with wifi capability.
Personally I don't see why anyone would spend $9000 to get wifi coverage in a residential place. Maybe some tech nerd can provide better advice. I'm just going by personal experience.
We got a D-Link Audio Repeater for $10 on clearance at JB Hifi, its super slow for PC (as designed for Audio) but works good enough for Ipad and phones upstairs for youtube and such.
The quantum sounds excessive. 2 in the attic?!
Get an independent quote.
OP seems to post and then not respond. OP has done this for a number of posts!!!!!!
Does that include the 9 units? Which ones? Also are they hardwired going to an included switch unit?
Seems excessive to have 2-3 per floor unless it's a Beverly Hills mansion.