Help me buy a router/mesh system, please

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gcorgnet

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#243685 25-Dec-2018 17:52

Hi guys, I am on a @Degrees Gigabit connection, currently using the Frtizbox.

I have no complaints about this router except that I feel the wifi quality/speed is not great in some areas of the house.

I have been wanting to look at getting a mesh router but getting a little bit lost. I was tempted by Google Wifi but read since then that they didn't support VLAN tagging which meant that they weren't a great fit for the kind of connection I am on?

What are the downsides of keeping the Fritzbox as the router and using Google Wifi just for the wireless part?

Any other system I should be looking at? $400-500 tops, probably required 2 APs max (~120m2 house all on one level)

Would like to make the most of the Boxing Day sales if possible.

Cheers,

Guillaume

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#2150531 25-Dec-2018 18:48

Your Internet connection does not require VLAN tagging on your WiFi AP.

There is no downside to keeping your FRITZ!box as the router and using other wireless devices - only advantages.

I would recommend using multiple APs, not mesh solutions. For this type of setup, I would use a pair or APs from the Ubiqiuti UniFi range. I've not used the Google product, so can't provide a direct comparison.

freitasm

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#2150541 25-Dec-2018 19:09

You can now use multiple Fritzbox 4790 in a mesh system with all managed from the main router.

You can use DLink COVR but the 2202 model doesn't support VLAN yet.

I actually have a Fritzbox as main router with a Synology being used as AP in client mode only.

gcorgnet

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#2150738 26-Dec-2018 16:22

Ok. I have an ethernet run at a spot where another access point could make sense. Bonus points if this device also have a couple extra ethernet ports to plug in a couple of things.

Is there a device that would make sense there?
Thanks

Senecio

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#2150742 26-Dec-2018 16:45

For your exact use case above, two Amplifi HD’s would be perfect. One as the main router and the second as an extended mesh point on Ethernet back bone with additional Ethernet points. That’s exactly what I have in my place.

gcorgnet

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#2150748 26-Dec-2018 16:56

Cool thanks.
So you mean this?
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI0208/Ubiquiti-AMPLIFI-AFi-HD-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---3-Pack

cyril7

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#2150751 26-Dec-2018 17:01

Hi, no I think he means a pair of these

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI0207/Ubiquiti-AMPLIFI-AFi-R-Mesh-WiFi-Router-Dual-Band

Which is infact two of the base units of the one you posted. One is setup as a router and WAP, the other you setup as just a WAP with the ethernet backbone. Alternatively you could keep your Fritz as the router, and put both of these in AP mode (ie not routing).

Edit: this link below explains how you put it into bridge mode, ignore the limitations it talks about, as the unit (or Fritz) that you leave in route mode will provide that for the entire network, the bridged unit is just that a layer2 bridge.

https://help.amplifi.com/hc/en-us/articles/220979347-Does-AmpliFi-support-bridge-mode-

Cyril

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#2150807 26-Dec-2018 19:13

What he said above

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blakamin

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#2150839 26-Dec-2018 20:27

I've got 3 of these.

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9006/TP-Link-Deco-M5-AC1300-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-Syste

With 8 port switches plugged in to 2 of them, and wired backhaul.

I get good signal thru 35cm stone walls and 50m each side of the house, enough to be able to watch live video from my Ring wifi cams

gcorgnet

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#2151974 29-Dec-2018 18:37

cyril7:

Hi, no I think he means a pair of these

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI0207/Ubiquiti-AMPLIFI-AFi-R-Mesh-WiFi-Router-Dual-Band

Which is infact two of the base units of the one you posted. One is setup as a router and WAP, the other you setup as just a WAP with the ethernet backbone. Alternatively you could keep your Fritz as the router, and put both of these in AP mode (ie not routing).

Edit: this link below explains how you put it into bridge mode, ignore the limitations it talks about, as the unit (or Fritz) that you leave in route mode will provide that for the entire network, the bridged unit is just that a layer2 bridge.

https://help.amplifi.com/hc/en-us/articles/220979347-Does-AmpliFi-support-bridge-mode-

Cyril

Cheers for that. I see this Amplifi has 5 RJ45 in total (1x WAN and 4x LAN). Would I plug the ONT into the WAN port, therefore giving me 4 usable ports on the router, or (like for the fritzbox) will the ONT be plugged into one of the 4 LAN ports?

Similarly, if I buy a second one and wire it into the first one, would that cable go into the second router's WAN port or one of the LAN ones?

Thanks

Senecio

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#2151983 29-Dec-2018 19:04

i Can check how mine’s wired up but I’m away for the holidays, not due home until the 5th.

Jase2985

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#2151996 29-Dec-2018 20:24

WAN (Wide Area Network), the ONT should always be plugged into a WAN capable port, some use WAN/LAN ports, others use separate ones.

toejam316

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#2152002 29-Dec-2018 20:51

Just touching on what freitasm said earlier, another Fritz!box would probably do you well - you can pick up another 7490 on Trademe for very little, update it to the latest fritz!OS, and use it for an AP with the fritz!mesh software.

This would let you keep your existing network intact.

If you're looking at replacement equipment for the 2Degrees supplied router, bear in mind that the Fritz!box is required for their VoIP services, so you'd want to make sure you don't care about losing their VoIP service before you go replacing that equipment. Also, if you do need support from 2Degrees at all, unless you're incredibly well versed in what you're playing with, it's very likely you will be required to return the Fritz!box into the network before they can provide much help.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

gcorgnet

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#2152004 29-Dec-2018 21:05

I think you just saved me some grief, thanks.
The wife does require a landline so we are using VoIP...

I might try and pick up another fritz then.

Cheers

gcorgnet

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#2152245 30-Dec-2018 14:28

Strange question:
Could I just keep the fritzbox for VoIP (and dect, paired with a fritzfon) and plug an ampli hd into it as router / wifi?

If not, is it ok to have an amplifi hooked to my fritzbox router and use both as wi-fi access point? Will that give me seemless transition from one ap to another?

In other words: since I have a run of Ethernet between my 2 access points, I am ok to have 2 different ones or do they need to be the same? I don't think I need mesh arrive I have a cable run...

Thoughts?

cyril7

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#2152288 30-Dec-2018 15:19

Hi all those options are valid, my preference would be to use the amplifi for router and waps and fritz just as VoIP ata. But other valid option is to retain the fritz as router and VoIP ata, and almplifi's both in bridge as waps only.

Cyril

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