Router recommendations for a large house

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chaoscreater

69 posts

Master Geek

#270484 11-May-2020 23:52

Hi all,

I'm helping a friend set up her wifi network in her new house. She has 2 dwellings on a 2500 sqm land (there's a granny-flat behind the main house). Both dwellings share the same connection.

I only know just the basics of setting up a router, so I'm not sure what the best approach is here. I was thinking either using a powerline or using a mesh router. I haven't set up a mesh router before, so I don't have any experience with how well they perform and how good the wifi coverage is, especially for a large home. I was looking at these 2 options:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI0208/Ubiquiti-AMPLIFI-AFi-HD-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---3-Pack

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETTPL9005A/TP-Link-Deco-M5-Whole-Home-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---3-P?qr=showcase_popular

Would either of them be adequate for a house that big?

Or should I just use a decent powerline paired with a decent router?

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#2481602 12-May-2020 00:14

The following seems to be the geekzone go to seems to Unifi access points:

The ISP supplied router with WIFI turned off
https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/SWHUBI10081/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Switch-US-8-60W-8-Port-Gigabit-Mana
2-3 of these https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NAPUBI1121/Ubiquiti-UniFi-UAP-NanoHD-MU-MIMO-Dual-band-AC2033

Essentially ethernet cable (carrying both power and data) is run to the access point mounting locations. These runs can be anything up to 100M, and will generally outperform mesh systems with wireless backhaul.

You don't mention how big and close together the dewelling are, but there is a chance the normal mesh products could link between dwellings fine. With regards to power line. I think only the TP-link Deco P9 offers (hybrid) powerline backhall, and I don't think it is sold in NZ. So if you go the power-line route, you likely would need to get a stand alone powerline setup and use it to link either a mesh system with optional ethernet backhaul, or if you don't need devices to roam a stand alone access point in the second dwelling. Apparently power-line may or may not work between buildings.

michaelmurfy

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#2481608 12-May-2020 00:31

As you stated you don't know much about setting up a router I'm going to recommend the most basic option:

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/NETUBI0208/Ubiquiti-AMPLIFI-AFi-HD-Mesh-Wi-Fi-System---3-Pack

Also, if you're able to get Ethernet run out to the dwelling (depending on how far it is away it is) you can also purchase another mesh point to put out there (here) and connect it straight to Ethernet.

AmpliFi routers / mesh nodes are blatantly easy to set up as you just use the app on your phone. Who is their ISP / connection type?

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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chaoscreater

69 posts

Master Geek

#2481645 12-May-2020 08:24

Thanks for the replies!

Unfortunately, I can't run an ethernet cable through the 2 properties. They are separated by a section of concrete ground and the only option would be to run the cable underground, which isn't ideal and isn't something my friend would like to do.

The price for the Ubiquiti mesh system is quite pricey in comparison to the TP-Link Deco M5. Is it really that much better?

I found this article here and just wondering if any of the other options, like the Google or Netgear ones are worth looking into? Or should I just go with the Ubiquiti?

https://www.techradar.com/nz/news/best-wireless-mesh-routers

Also, is there any merit going with a point to point?

https://www.wifimax.nz/point-to-point.html

shk292

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#2481666 12-May-2020 09:10

I use the Deco M5 system in my house, which is quite large and sprawling, probably about the size you are looking at with no additional dwelling. I get very good coverage throughout the house and section. My system has the first two M5 units connected by ethernet, with the final one connected wirelessly. I'd say if you can position one unit in the main house within clear line of sight to one in the out building, it might work. Worth a try, and if it's no good you could get a more dedicated point to point link for that purpose.

michaelmurfy

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#2481733 12-May-2020 10:09

I have no experience with the Deco M5 so unable to recommend it. The AmpliFi is expensive but:
1) It's performance is great.
2) It is blatantly easy to configure.
3) It looks good.
4) It gets firmware updates with new features regularly.

Of the 2, I'll recommend the AmpliFi because of point 4 alone. Ubiquiti do have a good record of keeping their devices supported, and updated. You can also add more mesh nodes to the system at a later date.

Don't go with the Google rubbish. These don't support VLAN Tagging meaning you're quite limited here in NZ with what you're able to do with it.

darylblake

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#2481747 12-May-2020 10:23

Hey there.

I got a pretty neat setup with my sisters place next door.

Have a fibre connection into my house. With a EdgeRouter PoE just doing routing. This powers a nanostation m5 over to my sisters house. There is a receiving M5 at her place, and a mikrotik as the gateway for her network.

Then i have 2 Unifi AC Lite installed in the ceiling in my place, i get fantastic coverage throughout my entire property.
I also have a Unifi AP at my sisters place. All of these link back to the same controller so i can walk between both properties and we get great wifi everywhere.

Everything else is cabled into switch. So the performance on most devices is fantastic.

chevrolux

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#2481813 12-May-2020 11:21

If you can't do cabled Unifi's, grab Amplifi. I personally think it's the best home solution around at the moment - incredibly easy to set up and great performance.

I wouldn't say its THAT expensive either when you look at what it actually is - and how much did you TV cost? That expensive TV is pretty useless without a good network.

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cyril7

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#2481828 12-May-2020 11:50

Hi so the main house and the granny flat, how far apart are they and how far apart would be two mesh members if you were to rely on mesh to connect the two. Also is there any existing phone wiring between the main house and flat.

The Amplfi product from what I have seen of it is great, but as with any of these types of product if you rely on wireless as the backhaul and that is deficient (because its stretched to far) then its a complete fail

Cyril

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#2481848 12-May-2020 12:25

michaelmurfy:

I have no experience with the Deco M5 so unable to recommend it. The AmpliFi is expensive but:
1) It's performance is great.
2) It is blatantly easy to configure.
3) It looks good.
4) It gets firmware updates with new features regularly.

Of the 2, I'll recommend the AmpliFi because of point 4 alone. Ubiquiti do have a good record of keeping their devices supported, and updated. You can also add more mesh nodes to the system at a later date.

Don't go with the Google rubbish. These don't support VLAN Tagging meaning you're quite limited here in NZ with what you're able to do with it.

If I could go +2 on this post I would.

I have a medium to large house that is weirdly shaped. The ONT is in the lounge at one end so Wifi at the other end was very poor. I looked into many solutions and from the advice of this forum and in particular @michaelmurfy I settled on the Amplifi HD.

In my case I was able two main media zone in the house. The lounge and the games room in a spare bedroom at the other end of the house. I wanted ethernet in both and was fortunate that I could run a single run of Cat 6 cable under the house. I now have two Amplifi HD routers connected with ethernet backhaul shich gives me 3 cable devices in the lounge and another 4 cabled devices in the games room along with wifi across the whole and house and entire section outside (700m2).

I couldn't be happier, performance is fantastic, easy to manage (I don't have complex routing needs) and constantly updated.

chaoscreater

69 posts

Master Geek

#2481905 12-May-2020 13:46

Wow, just on my lunch break and just saw all your replies. Thanks everyone for your input, very much appreciated!

So it sounds like Amplifi is the most upvoted option. Awesome, I'll go with that then. I was reading some reviews about how the Amplifi doesn't perform as well as some other brands and how the firmware update can be buggy at times, so was a bit reluctant on going with it initially.

And just to answer some of the questions, the 2 properties are separated at about 40~50m or so. I will definitely need to pair the Amplifi with a powerline.

@michaelmurfy, I saw your post about the cloud controller for Unifi. Does that work with Amplifi as well?

cyril7

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#2481906 12-May-2020 13:52

Hi, I would not use powerline over 40-50m and its quite possible the flat is on a seperate phase to the main house so it will never work. You would be better with a one of these they come as a pair.

There is no way you could use the Amplifi wireless backhaul to cover that distance, just aint going to happen

Cyril

chaoscreater

69 posts

Master Geek

#2482222 12-May-2020 20:59

Thanks.

One last question, I couldn't find a definitive answer for this online, but would the meshpoints need to be plugged into a dedicated wall socket (just like powerlines)? Or can I plug them into a powerboard / socket extender?

Jase2985

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#2482225 12-May-2020 21:03

any power point will be fine

chaoscreater

69 posts

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#2495816 31-May-2020 17:28

Hi all,

So my friend went with the Amplifi HD route and after setting this up for her and having run a through a couple of tests, I must say the result is rather underwhelming....

Firstly, the router and the meshpoints are fully up to date (v3.3.0 firmware). If I stand in front of the main router and run a speedtest, I get 100 down and 20 up, which is pretty much the rated speed that my friend is paying for, so that's all good.

Downstairs, I get about 75~85 down and 20 up and this is tested on 2 different machines. Both are connected to the main router. If I then add a meshpoint downstairs and run another test, I get about 90 down and 20 up. So that's great.

But, if I add a meshpoint in the room that is in the far corner of the house (maybe about 25~30m away from the main router), I get about 25~40 down. I get about 4/5 bars of signal on the meshpoint in this room. Have tried setting the backhaul to use 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and the test result is the same. Tried adjusting the meshpoint to face the router and tried different spots in the room and none of them improved the throughput.

I've also tried putting a meshpoint in the middle between the router and the other meshpoint. Basicall, the meshpoint in the corner room should daisy chain the meshpoint located in the middle. This didn't improve the result one bit. I can't even tell if the meshpoints are daisy chaining off each other, because the app doesn't show that.

My friend bought the Amplifi HD when it was on special at around $699. But at normal retail price, it's like $800 or $900 and for that price, it is super disappointing. Everything is controlled through an app on your phone, rather than through a controller or through the web UI. The settings are lackluster and you can't really change much.

Considering that it advertised the coverage to be up to 20,000 ft and we've only tested this in a small environment (I'm talking like 4~5 rooms distance and at most maybe 50m away from the router), the result is super disappointing.

Jase2985

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#2495821 31-May-2020 17:46

every wall reduced the signal

It just sounds like your friends house isn't suited to a mesh type system. especially if its going through 4-5 walls. before hitting any sort of mesh point or device.

also dont buy into the marketing hype about coverage, thats in the optimal situation.

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