Suggestions for a good wi-fi access point?

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peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#319317 13-Apr-2025 09:21

So my current setup to provide wi-fi and ethernet at the back of the house is a Synology RT 1900ac router running in wireless AP mode, wired back to the main router, a Huawei hg659.

Wi-fi from the Synology is pretty poor and I want to get something that will give me better coverage. I also need something that has 4 LAN ports if possible.

Budget under $200 if that's realistic?

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.

RunningMan

8961 posts

Uber Geek

#3363506 13-Apr-2025 09:30

https://www.gowifi.co.nz/access-points/indoor-access-points/gwn7660e.html

You'd also need a POE injector if you don't have a POE switch

https://www.gowifi.co.nz/power/pt-pse100g.html

EDIT: Doesn't have 4 ethernet ports, but you could add a small switch. Otherwise, you're getting into having another router (mis)configured to run as an AP. Mikrotik certainly have some good hardware that would work, but the learning curve to config is fairly steep, especially the wifi side.

richms

28191 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3363596 13-Apr-2025 13:31

Generally actual APs do not have multiple ethernet ports, just the uplink one and in some cases a second one on some unifi ones.

Some routers will let you reconfigure them as an accesspoint where they actually stop the services that routers have on them. - Do not mess about with a router that you have just disabled DHCP on, it will still have things like mDNS and similar running which can cause problems. with ram usage and reboots after days/weeks.

I would suggest you get a 5 port gig switch ($20-25 or so) and an access point. Many of the "wifi extenders" can also be configured as access points and that is where you will find the lower cost options as consumers do not understand what access point means. PB tech seem pretty good about listing the ones that have AP mode.

But without knowing what you mean by "good" and what the "pretty poor" wifi on the synology means to you this is a hard thing to recommend.

Richard rich.ms

peejayw

1841 posts

Uber Geek

#3363646 13-Apr-2025 13:42

Thanks for the info. The current AP( Synology configured as AP) is not getting to the next room which is approx 5m away through gib.
Ill get a 4 port switch and also looking at the Grandstream GWN7760E.

I'm supposed to respect my elders, but it's getting harder and harder for me to find one now.