Access Points in 2019.. Whats the best?

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#2299520 15-Aug-2019 07:16

startupgeek:

I had changed it to 40mhz and 20mhz and it was worse speed wise.

I always thought mesh networks give you greatest speed or is it more coverage?

Maximum speeds will be less, that's what I explained in my post. Your SNR and overall performance will increase.

Mesh solutions are built around improving coverage, they will not deliver the best possible speeds. Apart from that I have nothing to really say about them because I don't use them, nor do I recommend any mesh based product as a solution for WiFi. That's my personal view, and clearly others will disagree.

cyril7

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#2299522 15-Aug-2019 07:39

Hi I agree with Steve, mesh is bad.

Cyril

sdavisnz

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#2299530 15-Aug-2019 07:59

I use a netgear orbi mesh for the single SSID but I have my second AP hardwired to the first,

Has been super reliable. And great coverage.

Voice gives context

noroad

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#2299538 15-Aug-2019 08:32

I'd recommend looking at these https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NAPGSM11110/Grandstream-GWN7610-Dual-Band-3x33-AC1750-4501300M I have two that are POE attached and one acts as the wifi controller. These things are cheap and reliable, I'm very happy with my pair, but even stand alone they work well.

ShinyChrome

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#2299543 15-Aug-2019 09:00

noroad:

I'd recommend looking at these https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NAPGSM11110/Grandstream-GWN7610-Dual-Band-3x33-AC1750-4501300M I have two that are POE attached and one acts as the wifi controller. These things are cheap and reliable, I'm very happy with my pair, but even stand alone they work well.

I'd also suggest even looking at a couple of the GWN7600 (2x2) or the upcoming GWN7630 (4x4) if you go down the quantity route, both have Wave 2 ac, MU-MIMO etc. Same as @noroad, while the GWN7000 might be a bit of a mixed bag, the pair of 7600s I have are damn good for SOHO for the price (got them for $99 each from Go Wireless over Christmas).

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#2299732 15-Aug-2019 12:25

From my experience, if you only need to cover a small space, get one really good access point like a ruckus 500 series.

Once you start adding more Access points you will have a bit more trouble getting the signal levels good. I have two Unifi AC Lites in my place, and I have everything cabled in that can be, PC / TV / Xbox etc. Then the rest is left to wifi, which doesn't have any issues what so ever simply because there are less devices connecting to it.

The unifi's work great btw.

nitro

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#2299734 15-Aug-2019 12:26

sbiddle:

startupgeek: Right,

pbtech has ruckus buy one get one free

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETRKS3232714/Ruckus-Unleashed-R310-Wave-1-MU-MIMO-2X22-Dual-Ban

Any good?

Great AP.. But I'm assuming you aware aware of how Unleased licencing works, right?

seriously consider this. at 2-for-1 it's a bargain. also supports 802.11k/r/v for proper roaming (assuming you have a device/s that also support them). very straighforward to setup - configure one, then add the second one to the same network, and it is automatically setup as a slave. no separate controllers required. note: i'm only using one as i find no need to deploy another (not yet on fibre, anyway).

not sure if @sbiddle is referring to support or deployment limitations for unleashed when he mentioned licencing. i got mine of ebay, so no support/service contract either... but i do get updates.

in my specific experience (house layout, obstructions, etc.) the r600 blew the ac pro off the map completely. in one location, i got a 10dB gain in signal (based on reported readings of WiFi Overview 360 Pro running on a P20Pro) in one location after replacing the ac pro. that is through 2 glass 'walls' with drapes and another wood/gib. needless to say, i am sold on ruckus' beamflex technology. in the rf world a 10dB gain is nuts, which is why i indicated it is based entirely on what the app reported.

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muppet

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#2299762 15-Aug-2019 12:59

I have three AP's at home.

I put the third one smack-bang in the middle of the 5Ghz DFS range and I've never seen a "RADAR Detected" message.

Is it ever a problem in NZ?

To answer OP's question: I would look at the Unifi AC AP models. I've got 3 AP LR's and there's not a corner of the house now that isn't bathed in 5 bars. 3 is overkill, I still get great coverage if I only leave the one smack-bang in the middle of the house on. They're robust, reliable and since moving away from the router+AP combo, we've had zero Wifi issues at home.

startupgeek

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#2299764 15-Aug-2019 13:01

okay thanks for that.

I have managed to get my hands on trials of those products

Lets see what the go is.

sbiddle

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#2299790 15-Aug-2019 13:47

muppet:

I have three AP's at home.

I put the third one smack-bang in the middle of the 5Ghz DFS range and I've never seen a "RADAR Detected" message.

Is it ever a problem in NZ?

Yes it is for those who are near one of the 9 weather radar sites sites. You're lucky you're not near one!

Obviously if you're indoors it's also much less likely to be an issue unlike outdoor usage where it can cause interference.

startupgeek

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#2299905 15-Aug-2019 17:50

Okay,

So I tried out google wifi and the TP Link Deco m4 mesh wise.

Google was just crap... average of 30mbps purely with mesh and there were 3 of them.

Deco m4 two pack, no issues whole property covered.. and speeds averaging 80mbps.

I've ended up deciding to go for m4 and backhaul the two units did not think TP Link was that good, they have upped their game.

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#2299910 15-Aug-2019 18:14

Installed two NanoHD's for our office to service 35 people depending who is in the office. I went down the full Unifi path with USG 4 Pro + POE Switch + APs. https://gowifi.co.nz/indoora/uap-nanohd.html

We have an average of 90 devices connected during the day with Laptops + Mobile(s) + various other devices in the office.

One AP would have probably been more than sufficient since I have had to wind down the TX to Low on both radios as there was too much spill from the APs. I am still able to get a reasonably decent signal about 70m away in the carpark.

With the exception of the USG stopping working after I applied the latest firmware upgrade but after I rebooted it there hasn't been any complaints since I put it in 2 months ago.

Ruckus are also excellent but not cheap, and if you are going for refurb gear you probably won't get the latest 4x4 as it will most probably be 2x2 or 3x3 MIMO. Also check out Grandstream and Cambium.

The areas that Unifi aren't good in is if you wanted to do anything clever. I think they are excellent in the basic internet access, but doesn't cut the mustard for advanced routing, IPS/IDP/L7 inspection with logging, controller tunneling and 802.11r fast roaming between APs.

But IMHO for home / small business use you can't really go wrong with Unifi.

Jase2985

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#2299990 15-Aug-2019 20:19

what you have to realize with a mesh system is the nodes need to be close enough to the master to have good signal to enable the best speed between the nodes and the master. so you might only get a 25% range increase over a single AP.

startupgeek

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#2300039 15-Aug-2019 20:50

Jase2985:
what you have to realize with a mesh system is the nodes need to be close enough to the master to have good signal to enable the best speed between the nodes and the master. so you might only get a 25% range increase over a single AP.

I understand this, the google mesh units were less than 10meters away and it was shocking

Jase2985

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#2300041 15-Aug-2019 20:56

10m is still quiet a distance especially if there are walls involved

remember 5ghz doesnt like going through walls and thats what mesh systems use as a backhaul, so any more than 1 wall and your speeds will suffer.

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