Guidance on ceiling mount Wifi AP

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Rob8

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Topic # 185710 2-Dec-2015 14:19

Looking for recommendations on a ceiling mount wifi AP for home use.

Currently on VF UFB 100/50 with stock Huawei gateway. AP not in best position to cover all areas (and gateway not easily moveable).

Believe a single AP in upstairs hallway will do the trick. Ceiling mount required for WAF. Can run ethernet to roof, power difficult but not impossible.

Desired:
- ceiling mount/ 'smoke alarm' form factor (white)
- web gui (no CLI/ mgmt app)
- 2.4 + 5Ghz
- 802.11g/n (AC optional)
- POE preferred
- under $200 if possible

Ubiquity seems to get a few mentions here but some suggest it's overly complex for residential use case.

Appreciate your thoughts...

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Reply # 1439283 2-Dec-2015 14:26

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Define complex? I'd think a Unifi AP is your best bet. The UAP-AC-Lite from gowifi is in budget.

gcorgnet

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Reply # 1439285 2-Dec-2015 14:27

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I bought a cheap TP Link Wifi Access Point that had Power Over Ehternet feature and run a single length of Cat5 to somewhere in the roof and left my AP there. Got great coverage

xpd

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Reply # 1439294 2-Dec-2015 14:41

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I'm running a Unifi at home, theyre not complex at all if you have a basic understanding of networks/wifi.
Uses PoE as well so no hassles trying to find long enough power lead ;)

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Yoban

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Reply # 1439320 2-Dec-2015 15:23

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Been running 2 UAP-LR for two years now with them located in cupboards at either end of the house without any issues. easy to setup and have not touched them since - they just work and also have some great features if you want to go complex WLANs.

If the UAP-AC-Lite was available at the time I would have been a starter for those.

[edit] if mounting on the ceiling and visible do not forget about the nice glow from the central ring in terms of WAF. Having them in the ceiling should work well.

wasabi2k

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Reply # 1439323 2-Dec-2015 15:34

Yoban:
[edit] if mounting on the ceiling and visible do not forget about the nice glow from the central ring in terms of WAF. Having them in the ceiling should work well.

You can turn the light off in the admin console

networkn

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Reply # 1439327 2-Dec-2015 15:45

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My Uni-Fi Pro has been dead stable from an operational standpoint, but their management and software is completely stupid. I've had nothing but trouble. You can't have more than a single computer managing an AP, often the controller won't find the AP, I've had password issues. It's a mess.

I MUCH prefer a web interface for managing, though I do understand that Uni-FI isn't really designed for the home user environment.

It's range and stability is unbeaten in my 15 years of experience, but it's other side is the worst I've seen.

wasabi2k

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Reply # 1439329 2-Dec-2015 15:56

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networkn: My Uni-Fi Pro has been dead stable from an operational standpoint, but their management and software is completely stupid. I've had nothing but trouble. You can't have more than a single computer managing an AP, often the controller won't find the AP, I've had password issues. It's a mess.

I MUCH prefer a web interface for managing, though I do understand that Uni-FI isn't really designed for the home user environment.

It's range and stability is unbeaten in my 15 years of experience, but it's other side is the worst I've seen.

You're doing it wrong.

If you run their controller software on a server/box that is always on it is great. Remote access for management and a massive suite of tools to do cool stuff. Even if you only run it on a single PC and stop it when not in use it works fine. Managing multiple APs is easy.

If you try and use it piecemeal across multiple boxes like an admin utility - it won't work. Each PC will try and adopt APs and it will in general be miserable. Each installation of the management software is a unique setup and APs CANNOT be shared. This is why people say it "doesn't suit the home" and is "really complicated".

sbiddle

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Reply # 1439331 2-Dec-2015 16:01

You won't find anything that meets those requirements that I'd recommend for under $200

There is a new lower cost UniFi dual band AC coming out before Xmas that will probably be around $200 but as you're wanting this for what is obviously a large house I wouldn't recommend it.

networkn

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Reply # 1439332 2-Dec-2015 16:02

Doesn't AC have much less range than ABG and N?

sbiddle

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Reply # 1439350 2-Dec-2015 16:15

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networkn: Doesn't AC have much less range than ABG and N?

It's not do with AC - it's the fact 5GHz has less range than 2.4GHz. N works on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz.

networkn

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Reply # 1439352 2-Dec-2015 16:16

sbiddle:
networkn: Doesn't AC have much less range than ABG and N?

It's not do with AC - it's the fact 5GHz has less range than 2.4GHz. N works on both 5GHz and 2.4GHz.

So 5Ghz N has the same range as AC (Which is only 5Ghz if I am reading correctly)?

Jase2985

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Reply # 1439360 2-Dec-2015 16:30

yes N/AC is a standard, 5ghz is a frequency

Sideface

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Reply # 1439467 2-Dec-2015 19:16

At home I run a cable modem, a Ubiquiti EdgeRouter, a switch, and a single Ubiquiti WAP, located in a cupboard in the centre of our single-story wooden house.

I have recently upgraded my Ubiquiti UniFi AP (802.11n) to a UniFi UAP-AC (802.11n/ac) in the same location.
Both use PoE, and come with a simple power injector.

Although the UniFi UAP-AC costs three times as much as the UniFi AP, it gives only marginally superior performance on my laptop (using wireless n).

The user interface takes a lot of getting used to, but it works well.

For normal use, the cheaper UniFi AP would be fine for most people - unless you really, really want wireless ac - and are prepared to pay for it.

Sideface

michaelmurfy

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Reply # 1439554 2-Dec-2015 21:19

I run a Ubiquiti Edgerouter Lite and the Xclaim XI-3 access point and find this really good. Can be ceiling mounted but the access point comes in at $300. Range and reliability is very good however. It is cloud managed so you don't have to have a central controller like the Ubiquiti products but has less features at the moment.

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raytaylor

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Reply # 1439657 3-Dec-2015 02:14

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Rob8:

Ubiquity seems to get a few mentions here but some suggest it's overly complex for residential use case.

Appreciate your thoughts...

I hate the unifi in residential applications. Such a pain in the x to reprogram them when needed as they are tied to the original programmer's laptop. You need to install some controller software to program them and the AP recieves its programming from the controller - there is no web interface on the AP you can just log into and program it.

I did try out some en genius ones a few days ago and I quite like them.
Check out the EPG5000 or the EAP600

Ray Taylor
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