New WiFi Network Advice

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MikeAqua

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#270327 4-May-2020 15:10

After about a year, I'm dissatisfied with the WiFi setup in our house. We have single HG659b router and Spark Fibre 100.

The house is a "T" shape with the router almost at the base of the vertical part of the T and the master bedroom and workshop forming the horizontal part of the T.

WiFi signal in the Master is poor (e.g. videos buffer or won't start).
It's also poor in the Workshop and just outside (e.g. Spotify drops out). I spend a lot of time in these areas doing projects etc.
The rest of the house is OK or good

So my solution is: -

Replace HG659b with a Grandstream GWN7000, in the same location.
Set up a PoE injector
Add a Grandstream GWN7610 AP (connected via LAN cable with PoE) in the hallway immediately adjacent to the Master and Workshop doors.
Give router and AP the same SSIDs and passwords
?Use Grandstream's idiot proofweb-interface to manage switching of devices between the router and IP based on strongest signal?

By positioning the AP outside the master and Workshop doors, it only has one wall to go through to get to each room (two to the area outside the workshop). Also the GWN7610 looks like it has blue LEDs, which I definitely don't want in the bedroom.

Criticisms/suggestions please?

Mike

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#2476376 4-May-2020 15:15

The GWN7000 does not have a WAP built-in. To be honest, I would not recommend the GWN7000; while I have heard that it has been un-gimped with the latest beta firmware, frankly Grandstream's attitude towards the whole problem doesn't give me confidence at all. Their APs seem to be fine though for the price, but doesn't help if you want single-pane management.

I would look at something like the UniFi lineup, specifically for your situation something like a UDM + AP(nanoHD or flexHD). It's a lot more money, but that shiz works. Most SOHO gear supports seamless roaming handoff between APs, can't remember the right 802 code though.

chevrolux

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#2476405 4-May-2020 15:18

Two Unifi AC-Lite's would be heaps nicer - use @michaelmurfy's controller to manage them.

I personally don't think there is anything "dreamy" at all with the UDM's... just pretty graphs and good marketing (oh I guess line speed IPS is cool, but do you really need that in a home?!).

Edit: Sorry yea, Unifi Nano-HD for good-ish future proofing at a great price.

antoniosk

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#2476409 4-May-2020 15:22

do you have ethernet wiring in the house? ie how will you connect one box to the other?

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Antoniosk

mdf

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#2476413 4-May-2020 15:28

If you have existing ethernet, or can get ethernet into the ceiling and WAFed, I would start by adding ceiling mounted wireless access points. Ubiquiti is popular, I have Cambiums and really like them. Unless you need more advanced routing features (e.g. VLAN), no need to upgrade the router.

If you can't/don't want to ethernet, Spark's new mesh solution sounds really good.

MikeAqua

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#2476424 4-May-2020 15:47

Answering all questions: -

I can easily run ethernet cabling. Plan to run some for a few devices

I didn't realise the 7000 didn't have WiFi. So if I went with it I would need two WAPs? Or I could use the Spark Router, with the SSID switched off and two APs.

I don't think the HG659b will hand off to an AP. I can't see anywhere in the admin controls that allow me to set a signal strength cut-off or similar.

Mike

cyril7

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#2476426 4-May-2020 15:51

The HG659 can most definitely be run with the wireless off, have not got one in front of me, so cannot say where you find the switch, but it most definitely does.

I also agree with others a couple of UniFi AC-Lites or Nano-HD's if you want to spend that muchwith a cabled backhaul to the router is by far the best way to go, if you are not exceeding the DHCP limits of the 659 then I dont see any reason to bin it.

Cyril

ShinyChrome

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#2476427 4-May-2020 15:52

chevrolux:

Two Unifi AC-Lite's would be heaps nicer - use @michaelmurfy's controller to manage them.

I personally don't think there is anything "dreamy" at all with the UDM's... just pretty graphs and good marketing (oh I guess line speed IPS is cool, but do you really need that in a home?!).

Edit: Sorry yea, Unifi Nano-HD for good-ish future proofing at a great price.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the UDM myself for the on-board controller limitation, or AIOs in general, but if you want something more akin to a AIO experience, it seems to be a neat idea. The DPI on my ER4 seems to be fooking useless, so I had wondered myself about the IPS myself. I must admit, I'm a sucker for a pretty GUI though. Typical lazy dev haha!

Good point though, it would make more sense in this case to keep the router and get a pair of better APs.

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

MikeAqua

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#2476436 4-May-2020 15:59

cyril7:

The HG659 can most definitely be run with the wireless off

Yes can be switched off via the admin interface or a physical switch.

cyril7:

I also agree with others a couple of UniFi AC-Lites or Nano-HD's if you want to spend that much with a cabled backhaul to the router is by far the best way to go, if you are not exceeding the DHCP limits of the 659 then I don't see any reason to bin it.

OK, thanks I'll look into this option. Can I give them all the same SSID and password and rely on mobile devices automatically switching between them?

Mike

antoniosk

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#2476437 4-May-2020 15:59

MikeAqua:

Answering all questions: -

I can easily run ethernet cabling. Plan to run some for a few devices

I didn't realise the 7000 didn't have WiFi. So if I went with it I would need two WAPs? Or I could use the Spark Router, with the SSID switched off and two APs.

I don't think the HG659b will hand off to an AP. I can't see anywhere in the admin controls that allow me to set a signal strength cut-off or similar.

This is probably the easiest option, with least amount of work, if its easy. The HG659, for all it's reported limits, is actually an ok device if you dont have lots of devices to connect to it. Stay within the 32 device limit and you're away. 4 port switch on it's back, turn the WIFI side off etc.

It sounds like you need 2 cable runs to wherever you want the AP's (or even 3... those dead spots....!). Set the AP to bridge mode, get your DHCP from the Hg659... and youre in business.

I don't know what AP is good these days, I replace my 10-yr old apple kit with some nice linksys velop's that PBtech did on deal 2 days before lockdown

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cyril7

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#2476439 4-May-2020 16:03

Hi, the 659 wireless on/off is a softswitch in the web managment console of the device, it will be under the WiFi setup.

As for the UniFi single SSID, yes absolutely this is how it should be and its the default way UniFi (or any other SME/Commercial solution) works. As has been suggested, get yourself a site on MichaelMurfys controller (or PM me if you want to use mine) and you setup a wireless network, this is then applied to all your APs, so you get a single SSID.

Cyril

BlinkyBill

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#2476458 4-May-2020 16:11

ShinyChrome:

Yeah, I'm not a fan of the UDM myself for the on-board controller limitation, or AIOs in general, but if you want something more akin to a AIO experience, it seems to be a neat idea. The DPI on my ER4 seems to be fooking useless, so I had wondered myself about the IPS myself. I must admit, I'm a sucker for a pretty GUI though. Typical lazy dev haha!

Good point though, it would make more sense in this case to keep the router and get a pair of better APs.

Disappointed with the paucity of 3LA’s in this post.

ShinyChrome

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#2476491 4-May-2020 16:37

BlinkyBill:

Disappointed with the paucity of 3LA’s in this post.

You got me good, I had to look that up. And paucity. And disappointed.

MikeAqua

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#2476495 4-May-2020 16:39

cyril7:

As has been suggested, get yourself a site on MichaelMurfys controller (or PM me if you want to use mine) and you setup a wireless network

No disrespect to Mr Murfy, but I prefer not to rely on a controller on a server. I've noticed that there is also a mobile App for Unifi. Will this achieve the same thing?

Otherwise why not another kind of AP with on-board controller?

Mike

richms

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#2476498 4-May-2020 16:43

Reason to not use APs with onboard UI to configure is that you will have to configure each one individually. You can install the controller on your PC (wired) and it will work fine, just run it when needed to change things. The APs will keep on working without it but there is nowhere for stuff to log to when the controller isnt running so you may miss them rebooting or warnings about rogue APs etc.

Richard rich.ms

mdf

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#2476503 4-May-2020 16:49

Or use something with a cloud controller (e.g. Cambium).

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