The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › The router guide - what to look for and what is best.

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5 posts

Wannabe Geek
+1 received by user: 1

#2658847 18-Feb-2021 11:02

Hi All,

I'm currently using a Netcomm NFAC router in my home but with the additional demands of working from home and other users streaming/gaming I'm finding the signal strength isn't quite strong enough in our upstairs office. At the moment the speed is okay when it is connected but the signal strenth drops out frequently enough that it interupts work/gaming on the upstairs computer.

Our locations for the router are limited as there is only 2 ethernet ports downstairs to plug it into (either directly into UFB modem or through wall connection into lounge). We are on uncapped UFB so want to take advantage as best we can.

I'm hoping to spend $200-$300 (if that's even feasible) to upgrade to a newer router to hopefully boost the signal strenth a bit.

I've seen some things about wifi 6 and was wondering if one of those routers is a good option? Also open to a powerline adapter solution or mesh network if there are affordable systems available.

Any help or insight is much appreciated

Thanks!

froob

692 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2659001 18-Feb-2021 13:32

Instead of buying a new router, which would probably have range similar to your old one, the better options would be your suggestions of mesh WiFi, or a WiFi access point connected through a powerline network adapter. Even better would be if you could run another ethernet cable to a location for the second access point, but that might be difficult depending on how your house is constructed.

Guide: Installing Network Cabling in New Zealand Homes

rp1790

739 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2659004 18-Feb-2021 13:36

I'd second what #froob says. I use a Grandstream 7630 and mounted it on my ceiling, has much better coverage than any router with builtin Wi-Fi. You will need a POE injector as well.

Grandstream 7630 Long Range AP: https://www.gowifi.co.nz/managedaccesspoints/gwn7630.html

POE Injector: https://www.gowifi.co.nz/power/gspoe.html

PJ48

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2659123 18-Feb-2021 17:08

rp1790:

I'd second what #froob says. I use a Grandstream 7630 and mounted it on my ceiling, has much better coverage than any router with builtin Wi-Fi. You will need a POE injector as well.

Grandstream 7630 Long Range AP: https://www.gowifi.co.nz/managedaccesspoints/gwn7630.html

POE Injector: https://www.gowifi.co.nz/power/gspoe.html

Can you comment on how easy it is to configure and manage the grandstream device(s) for a non-technical person? I am also wondering about changing to something like Grandstream or Ubiquiti, but like the idiot-proof nature of the Spark system...I have the Spark modem plus 2 wired MESH units as well as a wireless MESH in the separate garage, so I would be surprised if a single AP could replace them due to all the lathe and plaster in our old house.

theUtmost

50 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 15

#2659127 18-Feb-2021 17:42

PJ48:
so I would be surprised if a single AP could replace them due to all the lathe and plaster in our old house.

They can't.
If you're in a house with laths & plaster walls, you need multiple WAPs.
I do planning for enterprise WiFi, and had heard dark mutterings online about how awful that building material was for WiFi signal propagation.
I'd always dismissed them "how bad can it be?".
Until I moved into a house with laths and plaster walls.
130m sq, 3x enterprise grade WAPS, and I STILL had a couple of dead spots. Have now moved into a standard construction timber framed gib lined house twice the size and double storey.
A single one of the same model wap covers the same house easily.
Run cables, do multiple WAPs, you have no choice.

PJ48

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2659136 18-Feb-2021 18:41

theUtmost:
PJ48:

so I would be surprised if a single AP could replace them due to all the lathe and plaster in our old house.

They can't.
If you're in a house with laths & plaster walls, you need multiple WAPs.
I do planning for enterprise WiFi, and had heard dark mutterings online about how awful that building material was for WiFi signal propagation.
I'd always dismissed them "how bad can it be?".
Until I moved into a house with laths and plaster walls.
130m sq, 3x enterprise grade WAPS, and I STILL had a couple of dead spots. Have now moved into a standard construction timber framed gib lined house twice the size and double storey.
A single one of the same model wap covers the same house easily.
Run cables, do multiple WAPs, you have no choice.

Thanks = that reinforces why I have ended up with my ethernet network and running wired APs.

To get back to my original question - could a relatively non-technical person setup a trio of grandstreams?

Tinkerisk

4261 posts

Uber Geek
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#2659155 18-Feb-2021 19:34

That depends of it's relatively technical skills. ;-)

- NET: FTTH, OPNsense, 10G backbone, GWN APs, ipPBX
- SRV: 12 RU HA server cluster, 0.1 PB storage on premise
- IoT: thread, zigbee, tasmota, BidCoS, LoRa, WX suite, IR
- 3D: two 3D printers, 3D scanner, CNC router, laser cutter

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Gurezaemon

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#2659166 18-Feb-2021 20:12

PJ48:
To get back to my original question - could a relatively non-technical person setup a trio of grandstreams?

As a not-particularly technical person myself, I have no idea how my Grandstream AP talks to my (non-Grandstream) router. It just works, after I set it up a few years ago, with the SSID and passwords I set then. I have no idea how to change these. I'm scared that it will reset and then I'll have to figure out how it all works in order to fix it, and trying to get networks (and in particular Wi-Fi) working smoothly is about as much fun as diagnosing printer issues.

If you're into that sort of thing, then all power to you, but messing around with "controllers" and the like is to my mind not as straightforward as some make it out to be.

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PJ48

299 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 105

#2659174 18-Feb-2021 20:28

Gurezaemon:

PJ48:
To get back to my original question - could a relatively non-technical person setup a trio of grandstreams?

As a not-particularly technical person myself, I have no idea how my Grandstream AP talks to my (non-Grandstream) router. It just works, after I set it up a few years ago, with the SSID and passwords I set then. I have no idea how to change these. I'm scared that it will reset and then I'll have to figure out how it all works in order to fix it, and trying to get networks (and in particular Wi-Fi) working smoothly is about as much fun as diagnosing printer issues.

If you're into that sort of thing, then all power to you, but messing around with "controllers" and the like is to my mind not as straightforward as some make it out to be.

Do they have a combined 5Ghz/2.4Ghz network with band steering between them?

Tinkerisk

4261 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2937

#2659302 19-Feb-2021 02:44

http://www.grandstream.com/products/networking-solutions/wifi-access-points/product/gwn7630

arnies

536 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 99

#2684506 31-Mar-2021 09:39

Has anyone used the Unifi U6-Lite APs? I'm looking at adding a second AP to my house. Currently have the AP-Lite.

The reviews seem pretty good & may even improve performance on Wifi 5 devices too vs the AP-Lite

michaelmurfy

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#2684576 31-Mar-2021 10:30

arnies:

Has anyone used the Unifi U6-Lite APs? I'm looking at adding a second AP to my house. Currently have the AP-Lite.

Yep I've installed them about a week ago - first impressions are good. WiFi performance improved and also we noticed range improved also compared to a UniFi AC-LR. Not to mention the new AP's are smaller also.

If you can find stock (sorry - I literally bought all the remaining stock at Go Wireless for this installation) then go for it.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

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mAYH3M

163 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 24

#2720446 8-Jun-2021 03:28

I would recommend Aerohive AP250 (now that I have got them working 😛).

They usually go for less than NZ$150(incl. shipping) on eBay US.Get in contact with the Extreme Networks Community to change the domain from US to NZ.

The free tier of Extreme CloudIQ has most of the basic functionality for setting and managing a home network.

I have used the second dual 5ghz radio for a single hop wireless mesh and it's solid.

Jiriteach

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#2720495 8-Jun-2021 06:37

arnies:
Has anyone used the Unifi U6-Lite APs? I'm looking at adding a second AP to my house. Currently have the AP-Lite.

The reviews seem pretty good & may even improve performance on Wifi 5 devices too vs the AP-Lite

Yup I just installed 4 of them at home. Awesome AP’s - small in size but powerful. Close range - I’m seeing ~ 850Mbps on the 5Ghz band running at 80Mhz. Great backwards compatibility - nothing bad to say about them!

Stock is an issue - Go Wireless and Ingrams are out of stock. PB have them but they are selling them at full retail!

-- opinions expressed by me are solely my own. ie - personal

rp1790

739 posts

Ultimate Geek
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#2729957 17-Jun-2021 08:56

I have a slightly different question to ask. Who has an ecosystem to give me a single management pane for a router, switch and AP's? An all in one solution, preferably cloud based and/or with an app, either way it has to be mobile friendly.

I currently have an Edgrouter ER4, EdgeSwitch ES-8 and a Grandstream GW7630 AP. All of them are brilliant but are configured and upgraded individually. What vendor out there has a solution for having a router, switch and AP(s) all managed together? Budget is not a major constraint here and like the Ubiquiti gear I have would tend to lean more towards Prosumer or even low level Enterprise class gear.

Note: I'm looking for the vendor with the single pan, assuming they'll then have a suitable router, switch and AP similar to what I have listed above.

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