New WiFi Network Advice

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#2476505 4-May-2020 16:50

Hi if you mange them via the app they work as individual devices, the controller works them as a single network.

You obviously can run the controller on a local machine, it does not have to run 24/7, just required to adopt and configure then you can turn it off. The advantage of a 24/7 controller is you get continuous logging etc.

Cyril

michaelmurfy

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#2476509 4-May-2020 16:54

@MikeAqua Well if it helps, the UniFi controller has been running for almost 4 years now and as I personally use it myself, and it is fully sponsored I don't think it is going away anytime soon.

If you've got a Synology NAS, Raspberry Pi or anything else you can run the controller software on that also.

But to be perfectly honest your best option is to ask Spark for one of their "Spark Smart Modems" - you can even likely get one for free by committing for another 12 months. From here, grab a mesh unit from them and consider it job done. These routers are excellent with both WiFi and general performance.

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MikeAqua

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#2476519 4-May-2020 17:11

michaelmurfy:

But to be perfectly honest your best option is to ask Spark for one of their "Spark Smart Modems" - you can even likely get one for free by committing for another 12 months. From here, grab a mesh unit from them and consider it job done. These routers are excellent with both WiFi and general performance.

I did look at those, but I want ceiling mounted for ease of running cables and PoE will keep things a lot tidier for WAF purposes. Also I might add an outdoor AP one day.

I'll re-think the UniFi server based controller option. I generally like having management software running on something inside my house, but that does look like a very handy ad generous solution.

Mike

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#2476527 4-May-2020 17:32

The other option is the UniFi Dream Machine which has excellent WiFi built in along with the controller and a high performance router. I know @chevrolux said there is nothing "dreamy" about them but when you compare this option with the junk currently out there in terms of consumer grade routers I think for each person saved from buying garbage, the more "dreamy" it becomes. You can then add other UniFi gear on top of this.

Yes, this is an expensive option but also keeps everything hosted on your network and gives you excellent performance. UniFi works rather well with multiple access points. I've got a "mancave" that is separate from the house and have a UniFi NanoHD in here along with a UniFi IW-HD in the house and roaming between each access point when configured correctly is seamless.

MCD

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#2476533 4-May-2020 17:47

I can't recommend the GWN7000 if you ever want to have gigabit internet. Even with the latest firmware, it's still capping speeds to 300mbit.

Of course, if this does not bother you I could sell you mine for a good price!

PJ48

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#2476599 4-May-2020 19:41

MikeAqua:

michaelmurfy:

But to be perfectly honest your best option is to ask Spark for one of their "Spark Smart Modems" - you can even likely get one for free by committing for another 12 months. From here, grab a mesh unit from them and consider it job done. These routers are excellent with both WiFi and general performance.

I did look at those, but I want ceiling mounted for ease of running cables and PoE will keep things a lot tidier for WAF purposes. Also I might add an outdoor AP one day.

I'll re-think the UniFi server based controller option. I generally like having management software running on something inside my house, but that does look like a very handy ad generous solution.

I have high wall mounted our smart Modem as per attached link - it is upside down but looks quite good. You do need a power outlet as well as ethernet though.

95e93c03c90fe3c88dd80b1d34048b34.jpg

cheers

Peter

chevrolux

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#2476618 4-May-2020 20:25

So if you want ceiling mounted the Unifi's are the best in the price bracket. Connecting them to a controller is great as you then get updates, and new features. And for what it's worth, I would trust @michaelmurfy controller over most commercial "cloud services" - especially in the IoT space.
Fact is, if the controller was to go offline, you wouldnt even notice until you went to do something like update your wifi password. And then you can just spin up the software on your PC and re-adopt your AP... all you need is the SSH password that MM's controller set in the first place (which you should just backup in your own password storage for good luck anyway).

Grandstream have a product. Ceiling mounted, built-in web gui. Performance is fine. But i would still go Unifi any day of the week over a Grandstream product.

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#2476663 4-May-2020 22:30

MikeAqua:

OK, thanks I'll look into this option. Can I give them all the same SSID and password and rely on mobile devices automatically switching between them?

Yes

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#2476671 4-May-2020 23:30

MikeAqua:

I did look at those, but I want ceiling mounted for ease of running cables and PoE will keep things a lot tidier for WAF purposes. Also I might add an outdoor AP one day.

I'll re-think the UniFi server based controller option. I generally like having management software running on something inside my house, but that does look like a very handy ad generous solution.

The Unifi controller isn't exactly a heavy piece of software. I've got mine running in a docker on my Unraid server but you want something really light on prem it can run a Raspberry pi or similar.

MikeAqua

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#2476735 5-May-2020 09:33

Thanks all for the advice. I think I'll start with a couple of Unifi APs, switch off WiFi on my Spark router and go from there.

Mike

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#2476736 5-May-2020 09:33

chevrolux: Grandstream have a product. Ceiling mounted, built-in web gui. Performance is fine. But i would still go Unifi any day of the week over a Grandstream product.

Yeah, I'm using a couple of GWN7610 APs, and don't particularly rate them. The main reason I went with them was them not needing a server, but the hassles that came with the products more than took away from this supposed 'advantage'! For quite some time they were damn buggy, and Grandstream's helpdesk was particularly slow and unhelpful (sound familiar?). Wish I'd just gone with UniFi products.

I also used to have the HG659, and it worked fine in tandem with the Grandstreams (its own WiFi switched off); I ended up having increasing problems with the router due to its number of devices limitation, but this was resolved by swapping it out for the Fritzbox supplied by 2D.

Mehrts

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#2477199 5-May-2020 17:54

If you're leaning towards the Unifi range of APs, take a look at their in-wall options.

I know that you're after ceiling mounted ones at the moment, but for the future or if you're finding some wifi dead spots that need filling in, these are unobtrusive access points which also have either two or four Ethernet ports on the bottom depending which model you're looking at. Easy mounting too.

These are especially handy for putting in rooms with a TV & other AV gear, or office. From personal experience, the wifi coverage is quite good too. Will easily cover two or three rooms.

michaelmurfy

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#2477233 5-May-2020 19:39

I personally use a UniFi IW-HD in our living room. This pretty-much covers our whole house with 5G. They're very good units and the fact it also has a 4 port managed switch made it the ideal device for our living room as the Apple TV and gaming consoles are connected via Ethernet.

Seriously recommended for the WAF. Unless if I pointed it out, you wouldn't know there was an access point hiding in plain sight in our living room.

MikeAqua

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#2477608 6-May-2020 09:56

Mehrts:

If you're leaning towards the Unifi range of APs, take a look at their in-wall options.

I know that you're after ceiling mounted ones at the moment, but for the future or if you're finding some wifi dead spots that need filling in, these are unobtrusive access points which also have either two or four Ethernet ports on the bottom depending which model you're looking at. Easy mounting too.

These are especially handy for putting in rooms with a TV & other AV gear, or office. From personal experience, the wifi coverage is quite good too. Will easily cover two or three rooms.

Thanks for the suggestion. I did consider them. Although I titled the thread "New WiFi Network ...", it isn't a new house build.

Running cables down to a typical wall socket height, while avoiding power cables is going to be very difficult. If I had the cabling I place, they would be a great option.

Mike

MikeAqua

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#2477619 6-May-2020 10:04

Can anyone tell me how bright the LEDs on the Unifi ceiling mount APs are?

Or if the LEDs can be turned off?

Mike

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