Rethinking my network setup

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kaczor47

95 posts

Master Geek

#206137 11-Dec-2016 14:30

A couple years ago I picked up an Asus RT-AC68u wireless router with the hope that it would provide adequate wifi coverage at home. I use a few of its features (VPN server, access control (kids), guest network etc). The wireless devices are adding up - collectively our family has 12+. In addition we have a managed gigabit switch (HP 1810-24g v2) and over the course of renovating I have been wiring each room with Cat6. These are used to connect two media PCs, smart TVs, Synology NAS.

I am rethinking my setup for 2 reasons:
1) cannot get satisfactory wireless coverage in the whole house
2) hope to be getting gigabit fibre next year and I don't know if 68u will cope (given it is doing more than just routing)

To address 1) I was thinking about picking up a wireless AP (or a second wireless router to have as a backup). But given 2) I don't want to be faced with upgrading the 68u next year.

I see quite a few folks here using an edgerouter. Should I be looking at getting one of these and pairing it with my switch and a couple wireless APs?

My reservations are as follows:
- will it be easy to set up VPN, access control (kids), guest network, etc etc. The all-in-one solution of 68u is quite convenient (Merlin AC68u firmware has been great)
- I don't want to deal with command line config etc
- cost vs future proofing...

Thoughts? Recommendations?

Cheers!

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#1686608 12-Dec-2016 17:07

I have an EdgeRouter Lite connected to a Netgear GSS116E web managed switch and a UniFi UAP-AC-LITE access point (small house so only need one AP).

The performance of the EdgeRouter is very good. Most of the basics can be configured via the GUI, but some CLI can be required depending on exactly what you want to do.

Both the EdgeRouter Lite and EdgeRouter PoE are good value in my opinion.

I'm not on gigabit fibre thought (only 100/20) so can't comment on that side of it.

mdf

3516 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#1686680 12-Dec-2016 20:30

There's a couple of separate issues there. I'd tackle them one by one to make it a bit more manageable.

Start with a wireless access point (or two). Get decent ones (ceiling mount are great, I like Cambium E400s - on sale today only at Go Wifi) to add to your existing network. Placed correctly, this will increase your wifi coverage.

If the router can't hack gigabit/gigabit + your custom goodies, replace that as a second step. The WAPs and the router basically function independently (there are some WAPs with funky POE that need a special router if you don't want to use an injector, but I wouldn't get too concerned about that).

kaczor47

95 posts

Master Geek

#1686973 13-Dec-2016 11:28

Yes, I think I will do this in stages, also due to cost (although I will be able to sell the 68u)

I am leaning toward the Ubiquiti AP, just need to decide which one (and how many). I suppose the proprietary PoE of the UAP-AC-LR vs the 802.3 also enters the equation, unless I pair it with the Edgerouter?

I know these AP are designed to be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall, but how much of a performance drop would I see if I were to put it in the roof cavity? (ie, on the 'other side of a ceiling).

Paul1977

5047 posts

Uber Geek

#1687801 14-Dec-2016 16:59

kaczor47:

Yes, I think I will do this in stages, also due to cost (although I will be able to sell the 68u)

I am leaning toward the Ubiquiti AP, just need to decide which one (and how many). I suppose the proprietary PoE of the UAP-AC-LR vs the 802.3 also enters the equation, unless I pair it with the Edgerouter?

I know these AP are designed to be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall, but how much of a performance drop would I see if I were to put it in the roof cavity? (ie, on the 'other side of a ceiling).

I think if you got the EdgeRouter PoE then that will work to power the UAP-AC-LR or UAP-AC-LITE. Where the UAP-AC-PRO uses the proper 802.3 standard. I just went with the EdgeRouter Lite to save money and used the PoE injector that was supplied with my UAP-AC-LITE.

Hard to say what sort of performance drop you would get having them in the roof cavity, what would be the reasoning to do this rather than ceiling mounting them? If it's for aesthetic reasons, the UAP-AC-LITE is physically the smallest in the UniFi range and is only about the size if a standard smoke detector.

540trickzter

160 posts

Master Geek

#1687932 14-Dec-2016 20:20

Paul1977:

kaczor47:

Yes, I think I will do this in stages, also due to cost (although I will be able to sell the 68u)

I am leaning toward the Ubiquiti AP, just need to decide which one (and how many). I suppose the proprietary PoE of the UAP-AC-LR vs the 802.3 also enters the equation, unless I pair it with the Edgerouter?

I know these AP are designed to be mounted on the ceiling or on the wall, but how much of a performance drop would I see if I were to put it in the roof cavity? (ie, on the 'other side of a ceiling).

I think if you got the EdgeRouter PoE then that will work to power the UAP-AC-LR or UAP-AC-LITE. Where the UAP-AC-PRO uses the proper 802.3 standard. I just went with the EdgeRouter Lite to save money and used the PoE injector that was supplied with my UAP-AC-LITE.

Hard to say what sort of performance drop you would get having them in the roof cavity, what would be the reasoning to do this rather than ceiling mounting them? If it's for aesthetic reasons, the UAP-AC-LITE is physically the smallest in the UniFi range and is only about the size if a standard smoke detector.

Just confirming that the EdgeRouter PoE is capable of powering the UAP-AC-PRO over PoE as that's what I have got setup in my house. You change it to 48v on the EdgeRouter PoE. Just ensure that the ERPOE-5 you've bought came with the 48v power adaptor as the older shipments came with the 24v adaptor.