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Tzoi

424 posts

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#240669 19-Sep-2018 17:27
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Hello :)

 

I'll be moving to a new apartment in a couple of weeks.  I have a pretty good idea of how I should setup my network, but just wanted to sense-check my thoughts.

 

The apartment has four ethernet points wired back to a comms box in a wardrobe which houses the ONT.  I have two routers on hand - a HG659b and an Archer C2.

 

Currently we are with BigPipe so we use the Archer C2 (we had some problems with the HG659b which was originally my parents).  We are thinking of switching to either 2Degrees (because of the sign on discount & reputation on GZ) or Spark (because of the sign-on bonuses and netflix/lightbox etc.) but I understand the Archer C2 wouldn't work with the ONT because of VLAN tagging?

 

 

 

My thoughts are that I would put the HG659b in the comms box and turn wifi off on it and use the four ethernet points on it to wire the rest of the house.

 

In the lounge I would put the Archer C2 and use it as a wireless access point for phones etc. and as a switch for the TV and gaming consoles.  With the other ethernet points, I'd plug my pc into one of them and could expand the network if required with the others with extra access points (I also have an old DSL-N55U and some other old Huawei router I could use)

 

I know it's generally not recommended to use a router as an access point, but I am just flatting, it's not a huge apartment and I have these on hand anyway.

 

 

 

A few questions:

 

     

  1. Does this sound like a reasonable approach?
  2. Would the devices connected via wifi to the access point be on the same network as my PC which is connected to the wall ethernet points?
  3. Any other considerations?

 

Thanks in advance for your help!


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  #2093499 19-Sep-2018 21:39
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yep sounds reasonable

 

 

 

turn the DHCP server off on the C2 and plug it into the wall via a lan port as its acting as a switch and a access point.

 

the HG659 would be doing all the IP addresses so yes you PC would be on the same network

 

 

 

seems like you are pretty well sorted




hio77
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  #2093508 19-Sep-2018 21:51
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it would not surprise me if your issues with the hg659b was actually the 16/32 device limits around in it.

 

 

 

a cheap routerboard could do it fine for you, or even switchos to untag the interface





#include <std_disclaimer>

 

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

 

 


Tzoi

424 posts

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  #2093523 19-Sep-2018 22:33
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Thanks!

 

 

 

Hopefully moving from a 3 person flat to a 2 person flat helps with the device limit stuff - that does sound like a real possibility considering the number of things I have that connect to the wifi




Goosey
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  #2093562 20-Sep-2018 06:54
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Tzoi:

 

Thanks!

 

 

 

Hopefully moving from a 3 person flat to a 2 person flat helps with the device limit stuff - that does sound like a real possibility considering the number of things I have that connect to the wifi

 

 

 

 

 

remember devices will include the C2 AP you are thinking of connecting to the HG router and any switches you plan to also 'plug in'. 

 

 


trig42
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  #2093608 20-Sep-2018 09:01
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Switches won't count as a device, they don't get an IP address.

 

At least not normal 'consumer' ones.


MikeAqua
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  #2093622 20-Sep-2018 09:35
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Silly question: Do you have power in the wardrobe?

 

Only ask because the comms box in our apartment is in the robe and it (stupidly) doesn't have a power outlet.





Mike


Tzoi

424 posts

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  #2093765 20-Sep-2018 12:21
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Yea the comms box has two power ports in it - one for the ONT and one for the HG659b.

 

I have realised a problem however, in that the position of the power point means that the power adapter won't let me close the door, as the beefy part of the power adapter will stick out.  I presume I should be able to find some alternative power adapter or maybe I can find a multi-tap powerboard thing that will fit and that I can rotate to fit in the cabinet.

 

 

 

Also, I guess if I am signing up to the 2degrees 12 month contract, they will provide a router which might not have that problem and also might not have the device limit.  

 

 

 

If they do provide a router, would the HG659b or the Archer C2 operate better as an access point?


 
 
 

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Tzoi

424 posts

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  #2150493 25-Dec-2018 17:02
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If I wanted to upgrade this setup to proper equipment, would an edgerouter er-x and aircube acb-ac be a way to do this rather inexpensively?

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI1209/Ubiquiti-EdgeRouter-ER-X-Advanced-Gigabit-Router-5
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI50311/Ubiquiti-airCube-ACB-AC-airMAX-Home-Wi-Fi-Access-P

sbiddle
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  #2150546 25-Dec-2018 19:21
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My recommendation (based on having to support a hundred or so installs in a complex with a similar setup scenario) is to have a single WiFi router patched through to the main living area from the ONT and then a 2nd patch back to the cabinet with a switch in there for Ethernet.

 

 


Dunnersfella
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  #2150562 25-Dec-2018 20:02
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Your setup will work fine, as long as you do turn off the DHCP server on the C2.

 

Make sure you set your WiFi channels up carefully as apartment living results in a LOT of WiFi interference.

 

I can see around 15 different 2.4Ghz networks in my apartment, but only 2 5Ghz (it doesn't travel as far, obviously)... so consider whether you actually have any devices in your home that need to connect to the 2.4 spectrum. Maybe all your gear can work on 5Ghz - then you can have your own WiFi connection and your flatmates can live on the 2.4Ghz WiFi... just saying.


Tzoi

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  #2150566 25-Dec-2018 20:32
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sbiddle:

 

My recommendation (based on having to support a hundred or so installs in a complex with a similar setup scenario) is to have a single WiFi router patched through to the main living area from the ONT and then a 2nd patch back to the cabinet with a switch in there for Ethernet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately the cabinet only has 4 ethernet points to various parts of the apartment, none of them near each other


Spyware
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  #2150568 25-Dec-2018 20:54
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You can use splittters either end to create 2 x FastEthernet runs (from the single cat6 run).


  #2150569 25-Dec-2018 20:55
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what issues are you having that you think you need to upgrade?


Tzoi

424 posts

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  #2150716 26-Dec-2018 14:41
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Partly so that I am using the right stuff since I've been told using a router for an AP isn't the best thing to do.  And partly cos it does disconnect for a short period every few weeks.

 

 

 

But there's no real need for me to upgrade


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