wifi in a Ak CBD office

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1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#208189 31-Jan-2017 10:18

Im looking for options to get wifi usable in a Ak CBD office
The wifi AP's from there old location just dont the job in the new office

It looks like the Business/Offices around them are really blasting high power, those other peoples wifi are at the same strength
as there own wifi , all 2.4G

They arnt interested in hearing about wifi congestion , layout of the new premises, etc etc . They just want it to work.
Any suggestions?

I tried a Unifi AP-LR, but the confif software couldnt detect/connect to it across their lan for some reason (I tested it before I took it out)
Would their LAN POE switch be causing issues with the Unifi POE adaptor (Their POE wouldnt power the Unifi AP, so had to use the Unifi POE adaptor)
That Unifi AP-LR I tried also has no 5.5Ghz, no wifi-AC etc. Just 2.4Ghz .

Would it be better off looking at something that supports 5.8Ghz (as less congestion) and supports beamforming etc, as new phones
are now starting to support that .
Its mainly for phones and guest usage, all PC's and laptops are cabled in

BlueOwl

85 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1713151 31-Jan-2017 10:36

Stick with the Ubiquiti AL-LRs - they'll do the 5GHz range just fine, and are well suited to small-medium business deployments.

Work on sorting out the LAN connectivity issues and get the APs talking to Unifi properly, maybe use temporary low-spec switches to help diagnose where and what the problem is.

Use either the PoE injectors -or- a switch that provides PoE on it's ports. Using both shouldn't technically be causing problems, but it's something I'd avoid if I was doing it.

BlueOwl

85 posts

Master Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#1713155 31-Jan-2017 10:43

Update: I just looked at the AP-LR spec - they're 2.4GHz only. You should probably use the UAP-AC-LR model, the extra cost will be worth it in the long run.

One unit should be enough for a small office with just a handful of mobile clients.

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#1713319 31-Jan-2017 15:33

BlueOwl:

Update: I just looked at the AP-LR spec - they're 2.4GHz only. You should probably use the UAP-AC-LR model, the extra cost will be worth it in the long run.

One unit should be enough for a small office with just a handful of mobile clients.

The AP-LR is 500mW
the UAP-AC-LR is only 250mW.
Im worried it will get swamped by the neighbouring wifi's .

One of the nearby business's is really blasting high power 2.4 & 5.8 , in fact the signal strength of that neighbouring wifi (afer going through wall & floors) is the same level as the local wifi AP .
I thinks thats what the problem is , simply being swamped by high power nearby wifi . Someone must be running illegal power levels ?

Oblivian

7296 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1713327 31-Jan-2017 15:51

Don't get hooked up on the numbers. It's all about EIRP.

Unless mistaken, A 250mW transmit with a 6dB antenna is coming in close to 28dbi (with some really bad loss cable) where the 1W EIRP limit in nz is around 30.

And as long as most of the APs are on their own channel. Separated by the 2 spreads either side (chan 1,6,11) and have a WPA tattoo, unless someone has an evil cross channel config or a high power microwave it could just be the placement/wall coverings. (lead paint anyone). I use to freak out about all the APs near home causing mine to be crud. Part the reason is their dumb channel hopping ignoring the separation. But at work we can have 8 or more APs on the same channel without too much impact

richms

28168 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1713345 31-Jan-2017 16:11

LR is for range, it wont help with overpowering other networks if that is what you are trying for, and its added sensitivity might make it hold off transmissions more than the lesser models would do.

Go 5GHz, put it on a DFS channel if your gear will connect to that, very few APs on those channels since they have the huge delay on powerup before they are active so most auto gear avoids them. Some client devices will not scan them because of confusion by vendors about what is and is not allowed.

Richard rich.ms

Dynamic

3866 posts

Uber Geek

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#1713346 31-Jan-2017 16:12

Client of ours renting a floor in a small tower in the Auckland CBD is running a dozen laptops off wireless APs. Throughput is far from wonderful even using new-ish Wireless-AC gear, and we continue to encourage them to use cable wherever possible. There are over 2 dozen SSIDs detected in the area, and not all of them will be set up to be good neighbours.

Next time we speak, I think I'm going to describe the wireless spectrum like the Southern Motorway. It will take a large volume of cars, but when you get past a certain point, you are destined for a go-slo.

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ANglEAUT

2320 posts

Uber Geek

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#1713364 31-Jan-2017 16:41

Dynamic: Next time we speak, I think I'm going to describe the wireless spectrum like the Southern Motorway. It will take a large volume of cars, but when you get past a certain point, you are destined for a go-slo.

Here we go again. Computers & cars analogy.

Very true though

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Oblivian

7296 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1713423 31-Jan-2017 16:53

IcI:

Dynamic: Next time we speak, I think I'm going to describe the wireless spectrum like the Southern Motorway. It will take a large volume of cars, but when you get past a certain point, you are destined for a go-slo.

Here we go again. Computers & cars analogy.

Very true though

:D Traffic flows OK if there are lots of cars going the same direction and keeping the same speed - everyone wins. Too many and it will crawl. But if some wally starts cris-crossing into the other lane and straddles the centreline, accordian and both sides lose :P

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek

Retired Mod

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Biddle Corp

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#1713479 31-Jan-2017 18:37

High power is a moot point because you should never ever be running a UniFi AP at auto/full power anyway.

My recommendation is Xclaim by Ruckus. Another 4 hours wasted spent dealing with UBNT's latest production that kills AP's on upgrade is yet further proof of the poor quality of their products and software.

vulcannz

436 posts

Ultimate Geek
Inactive user

#1713717 1-Feb-2017 09:43

Yeah ya cannot beat Ruckus. Some of this Unifi stuff seems to be consumer grade radios with a linux/enterprisey management platform (the chipset in the above mentioned AP is the same found in consumer devices from Netgear, Dlink, Fritzbox etc). Enterprise APs use enterprise radio chipsets = $$$.