Mesh Network(s) Round Table
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- ideaist
Hey gang,
Working in an old house / office (multi floored) and hoping for some advice on the state of mesh networks and all y'alls experience with them.
I've been eyeing Googles Mesh offering(s) and see that they have a Nest Wifi system coming soon: https://store.google.com/ca/conf….
Are you cats all still hard wired? Most of my coworkers are moving around all the time so hard wiring is not ideal although I sit at a desk (old school) and as a result am putting on weight and will soon look like Comic Book Guy from The Simpsons:
Thanks (as always) for all relevant and irrelevant responses.
xo / Happy Halloween!!!
- mg330
At my office none of us are wired in. At home I use 3 Google WiFI routers around the house, the only thing that's plugged in physically is my Synology NAS. Within 10 feet of any of those routers I get over 100mb a second speeds on the Internet.
- kingsteven0
horrible huawei wifi-router that came from my ISP has about 5 meters range... tried everything to get it working but eventually got a draytek WAP upstairs in the office (wired to the huawei downstairs) my desktop and server are wired in to it (because why not) but the wifi network from it covers the entire house, garage, garden so just disabled the wifi on the huawei.
- would have just replaced the router but its FTTC so i like it to be close to where the copper line terminates and considering FTTH when my contracts up.kingsteven
- Which did you get @kingsteven?
https://www.draytek.…
Thanks!ideaist - 903 i think, it was £110 i think... one does for me but apparently really good for mesh network config too (and seems cheaper than the google ones!?)kingsteven
- Nairn1
Given how short-termist and quick they are to shed their investments, as well as how they've mismanaged Nest recently, I'd steer well clear of anything from Google that I might want to critically rely upon for mopre than 6 months.
How about somethign like this?
https://amplifi.com/
- evilpeacock1
On the pro biz front Ubiquiti makes great access point hardware, but they have a fairly pricey ecosystem because their APs need controller software on an available device or software that runs on a computer: https://www.ui.com/
Otherwise I'd consider the info from here:
https://thewirecutter.com/review…- Nice @evilpeacock; I think the 2nd mentioned of UI in the form of the amplifi might be the route we take; the low end of the high end of things.
Thanks!!!ideaist - Amplifi is a new offering and I've never used those. Still should be pretty solid given the excellent performance of the Unifi series. I admin 4 HD APs at work.evilpeacock
- Nice @evilpeacock; I think the 2nd mentioned of UI in the form of the amplifi might be the route we take; the low end of the high end of things.
- api0
Nokia Nokia WiFi Beacon look good (Set of 3) for small offices! There are 2 different typs out there. Did not test it yet and i dont know if you can add more than 3?
My Access points philosophy so far: Use more smaller ones than just one or two strong ones. Most of the Mesh things out there are not real clever for handing over traffic dyn.
- Static_Line0
Aerohive (now part of Extreme Networks) are fantastic - one of the best cloud based management consoles. Cisco Meraki - again great product. How much management do and what size of coverage area do you need though? Depending on that answer you can buck up and go with industry standard solutions or if looking for cheaper option ubiquitous as mentioned - or even your ISP may be able to provide additional WAPs.
Cheers- Fat thumbs typing on phone... ignore grammar and spelling!:)Static_Line
- elahon0
I went with the Google Wifi mesh system last year after our Apple router shit the bed. We had constant issues with having to restart the network. In the year we've had the Google mesh, I haven't had to reset the network once. We've got a unit upstairs and two downstairs. We get 400+mbs from every location in the house. Been very pleased.
- ideaist0
Thank you all for the informed thread; stay tuned for decision(s) and associated speed test(s)!
x
o
!
- monNom0
I'm also in the process of doing this. Am I right to think that I can just run some cat5e/ cat6 cable to a ubiquity access point somewhere in my house and plug it into my cable modem/wifi router and it will work seamlessly? Can I add additional APs for dead areas and smooth hand-off throughout the house? do I need to disable the wifi on my router?
This is the one I'm looking at:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B015PR2…Any advice would be helpful!
- Wired access points negate the need for "mesh" setups and generally perform a lot better. Get one good wired AP centrally located and that might cover your needevilpeacock
- The Unifi routers are really good. I use four "HD" versions of the one you linked at work, each wired to a switch (no mesh).evilpeacock
- nocomply1
The old router at my house was acting up so I took a chance with the TP Link Deco mesh system.
Holy crap! Super easy to set up, and my wifi speeds more than doubled from what my old router was providing.
As they say, YMMV, but for me it was amazing and everything "just worked."
Also, the coverage throughout my 1650 sqft home was increased significantly.
- Updating anything "old" usually has this effect; Antenna design on wireless routers got really good a few years ago.evilpeacock
- evilpeacock0
Ubuiquiti just announced this very Airport Extreme offering: