Is one wireless access point adequate (Cambium e410)

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Is one wireless access point adequate (Cambium e410)

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#240240 28-Aug-2018 13:55

Having a house built soon.

Will one wireless access point (Cambium e410) be adequate?

https://www.cambiumnetworks.com/products/wifi/cnpilot-e410/

It states that the range is 180m.

As you can see, it's not a big house. Only 146m2.

Also, this might be a dumb question, but would it be best to have it installed in the ceiling on 1st floor or ground floor?

1 | 2 | 3

12999 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

#2080280 28-Aug-2018 14:16

Personally i'd go one on each floor, ceiling mounted.

Should ensure decent 5ghz coverage throughout.

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

networkn

Networkn
32358 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2080282 28-Aug-2018 14:27

I'd mirror the already stated recommendation of 2 units.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#2080310 28-Aug-2018 15:06

Thanks.
If you had to go for only one, would you go first floor or ground floor?

networkn

Networkn
32358 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2080313 28-Aug-2018 15:10

danepak: Thanks.
If you had to go for only one, would you go first floor or ground floor?

Where do you want the strongest signal? I'd imagine ceiling of the ground floor would give the greatest overall impact.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#2080317 28-Aug-2018 15:13

networkn:
danepak: Thanks.
If you had to go for only one, would you go first floor or ground floor?

Where do you want the strongest signal? I'd imagine ceiling of the ground floor would give the greatest overall impact.

OK, so a wireless access point can spread the signal in an effective way behind it as well?

networkn

Networkn
32358 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2080320 28-Aug-2018 15:17

danepak:
networkn:

danepak: Thanks.
If you had to go for only one, would you go first floor or ground floor?

Where do you want the strongest signal? I'd imagine ceiling of the ground floor would give the greatest overall impact.

OK, so a wireless access point can spread the signal in an effective way behind it as well?

We have 1 AP centrally on the bottom levels ceiling and I have coverage above it. I still think you should spend the extra and get a second. In the grand scheme of things you won't care about the money in 3 months time but the coverage you will enjoy.

hio77

12999 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Lizard Networks

#2080323 28-Aug-2018 15:22

danepak:

OK, so a wireless access point can spread the signal in an effective way behind it as well?

can yes, the design of the antenna though means that's Quite difficult to propagate and will likely have signal loss, re-transmits etc.

@Crowdie is the man to really explain why this is.

#include <std_disclaimer>

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

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

rscole86

4975 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2080325 28-Aug-2018 15:24

Access points are generally designed to propagate the signal out from the unit, ie not towards its underside.

You 'might' get away with a single access point either between the living/dining or master/bedroom4. But as has already been suggest, get two. One for each level.

If you are interested have a Google for the antenna patterns for any access point.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#2080326 28-Aug-2018 15:26

networkn:

danepak:
networkn:

danepak: Thanks.
If you had to go for only one, would you go first floor or ground floor?

Where do you want the strongest signal? I'd imagine ceiling of the ground floor would give the greatest overall impact.

OK, so a wireless access point can spread the signal in an effective way behind it as well?

We have 1 AP centrally on the bottom levels ceiling and I have coverage above it. I still think you should spend the extra and get a second. In the grand scheme of things you won't care about the money in 3 months time but the coverage you will enjoy.

Thanks.

The reason why I was hoping for one AP, is that if we have one located centrally downstairs, it's in the dining room.

I guess I could place it in the garage, where the patch panel will be located (on wall close to the kitchen). Not central, but would still increase the coverage downstairs.

Basically, I want to avoid any capping, if possible.

Therefore, upstairs, I'll want a data connection. I'll be using a PoE switch to power the wireless AP upstairs.

If the 2nd AP is in the garage, it's not visible anyway, if it's in the patch panel cupboard.

I guess I otherwise could have the 2nd AP in the living room, near the dining room entrance.

coffeebaron

6235 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2080348 28-Aug-2018 16:33

On the wall in the stairwell perhaps??

Rural IT and Broadband support.

Broadband troubleshooting and master filter installs.
Starlink installer - one month free: https://www.starlink.com/?referral=RC-32845-88860-71
Wi-Fi and networking
Cel-Fi supply and installer - boost your mobile phone coverage legally

Need help in Auckland, Waikato or BoP? Click my email button, or email me direct: [my user name] at geekzonemail dot com

1101

3122 posts

Uber Geek

#2081237 30-Aug-2018 10:06

simple rule of thumb
look at your house diagram. Every floor or wall the wifi signal goes through will drop the signal 50% (3db)
My house is small, yet the signal had to go through 3 walls and a bookcase to get to the far bedroom .

Many houses wifi just seems to work in all rooms & in both floors
Some houses are just a nightmare for wifi , unusable in other rooms
Its a try it & see sort of thing.

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#2081245 30-Aug-2018 10:22

1101:

simple rule of thumb
look at your house diagram. Every floor or wall the wifi signal goes through will drop the signal 50% (3db)
My house is small, yet the signal had to go through 3 walls and a bookcase to get to the far bedroom .

Many houses wifi just seems to work in all rooms & in both floors
Some houses are just a nightmare for wifi , unusable in other rooms
Its a try it & see sort of thing.

As there are no walls downstairs between living room, kitchen etc, is it likely to work in my favour (by having just the one AP upstairs)?

(Please see house plan in my first post in this thread)

cyril7

9058 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2081267 30-Aug-2018 10:53

Hi, normally I would say two, but in your case I would say a single WAP on the top floor on the ceiling in the hallway directly outside the master bed/bed4 should suffice. Bed3 would be the only room to have potentially lower signal, but my guess is it would still be fine.

Cyril

gehenna

8518 posts

Uber Geek

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2081270 30-Aug-2018 10:58

If you do decide you need two, I've got a Cambium for sale with a PoE injector ;)

danepak

1112 posts

Uber Geek

#2081271 30-Aug-2018 10:58

cyril7: Hi, normally I would say two, but in your case I would say a single WAP on the top floor on the ceiling in the hallway directly outside the master bed/bed4 should suffice. Bed3 would be the only room to have potentially lower signal, but my guess is it would still be fine.

Cyril

Thanks

1 | 2 | 3