New Fibre and now need to sort out WiFi

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craigw

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#237861 21-Jun-2018 10:09

Looking for some advice.

I have finally got my fibre installed and now have gigabit internet. This goes to a Spark HG659b router right down the end of my house by the TV. From there I have structured cabling back to the office at the other end of my house and also from the office to the bedroom. I have TVs, game consoles and Android TV spread between the two and I am keen for good WiFi throughout the house.

The Wifi from the HG659 does not reach to the other end of the house and so I setup another HG659b (they keep sending them) as an AP down in the office following the instructions on another thread here, disabled DHCP, give it an IP outside of the fibre router DHCP range and plugging LAN port to LAN port to the fibre router.

That worked OK for a while but every now and then it seems to stop working and instead of a web page I get the old router page telling me I need to connect to the internet. Refreshing the page a few times seems to solve it but clearly using the router just as a WiFi AP is not ideal.

So unless there is an easy fix, I was thinking about getting some of the Ubiquiti WiFi kit but I had a few questions.

1. Which Access points are best? Is it still the Unifi UAP-AC-Pro? IS that overkill?

2. If I get two am I right in thinking that I get one complete WiFi and the APs will hand off the connection to my mobile/tablet etc as I walk from one end of the house to the other?

3. I was going to get a Gigabit switch down the office/bedroom end of the house for cabling directly some TVs, consoles etc and to connect the AP but should I just get a Ubiquiti Switch with PoE?

4. Is the HG659b good enough for me on fibre or am I best going fully Ubiquiti and if so what router should I get?

It sounds like the Ubiquiti stuff just works and I have had enough messing around with WiFi in the house that I want to get this right this time. It seems like setting up with the Geekzone Community UniFi CLoud Controller by @michaelmurfy is my best bet.

Any thoughts or suggestions would be appreciated.

dclegg

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#2041561 21-Jun-2018 10:25

I purchased a Google WiFi 3 pack (RRP $589, but I got them for a price matched $529). I have the main AP wired in at the opposite end of the house from our router (and on the floor below), and it's giving 650Mbps+ download speeds from wifi connected devices at that end of the house. I have two more scattered throughout our house (2 story, 271m2), and wifi coverage is excellent, with 250Mbps+ from the other APs.

Only the main AP is currently wired, as my initial attempts to wire the others broke everything. But apart from that SNAFU, it's been a piece of cake to setup.

hio77

'That VDSL Cat'
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#2041577 21-Jun-2018 10:56

Being your willing to go to unifi, i'd certainly structurally install say two of these at each end of the house.

Then replace hg659b with a edge router.

if you have voice, that comes from the ONT so your not dependant on using the hg659b - Although it's always good to have it about just for testing if you have any issues :)

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

craigw

13 posts

Geek
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#2041768 21-Jun-2018 15:37

dclegg:

I purchased a Google WiFi 3 pack (RRP $589, but I got them for a price matched $529). I have the main AP wired in at the opposite end of the house from our router (and on the floor below), and it's giving 650Mbps+ download speeds from wifi connected devices at that end of the house. I have two more scattered throughout our house (2 story, 271m2), and wifi coverage is excellent, with 250Mbps+ from the other APs.

Only the main AP is currently wired, as my initial attempts to wire the others broke everything. But apart from that SNAFU, it's been a piece of cake to setup.

Thanks, This looks interesting but I am thinking it is best suited to someone without structured cabling. I can connect my APs to the router directly or via a switch. I guess I am losing half my bandwidth if the APs talk to each other over WiFi.

Still a decent speed but I really don't want to introduce a bottleneck if it can be avoided.

dclegg

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#2041770 21-Jun-2018 15:45

craigw:

Thanks, This looks interesting but I am thinking it is best suited to someone without structured cabling. I can connect my APs to the router directly or via a switch. I guess I am losing half my bandwidth if the APs talk to each other over WiFi.

Still a decent speed but I really don't want to introduce a bottleneck if it can be avoided.

All three access points can be wired directly. But it can get a bit hairy depending on where your existing modem/router is (these can't act as modems in their own right).

More details here.

craigw

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Geek
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#2041848 21-Jun-2018 16:57

Reading more on the Google WiFi, it does look very easy. I still need a switch down the other end of my house from the router though to connect some wired devices. Still leaning towards the Ubiquiti stuff.

GarryP

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#2041863 21-Jun-2018 17:48

Also consider the Grandstream GWN7000 router with one or more GWN7610 APs. Easy to set up and no extra software needed. Just add APs as needed for total coverage.

Check out this guide: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=66&topicid=197871

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craigw

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#2041867 21-Jun-2018 18:07

GarryP:

Also consider the Grandstream GWN7000 router with one or more GWN7610 APs. Easy to set up and no extra software needed. Just add APs as needed for total coverage.

Check out this guide: https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=66&topicid=197871

Thanks, I did check out the guide and saw @michaelmurfy 's note at the bottom of the first post suggesting the UniFi AP for WiFi and the HG659b as the cheapest option for Gigabit.

Just thought now was the time to spend some money on getting my setup sorted. Not sure I need advanced routing features and ease of setup is probably my main goal. I'll look into the Grandstream stuff, cheers.

GarryP

87 posts

Master Geek
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#2041878 21-Jun-2018 18:31

If you do go with Grandstream, then create an account with Go Wireless (https://www.gowifi.co.nz) and that will bring the price of the router down to $146 +gst, and the APs to $154 +gst.

The APs are controlled from the same browser window as the router so it is all in one place. Reminder: order a POE adapter ($21 +gst) or an ordinary power supply ($15 +gst) for each AP.

Also, there are some good YouTube videos on how to set it all up.