Wifi mesh systems

kala85

Just wondering if any one has any recommendations for WiFi mesh systems

sheepsh4gger

kala85 wrote: »

Just wondering if any one has any recommendations for WiFi mesh systems

The best recommendation is not to use wireless in the first place.


Virgin internet setup:
- uses a collision-based network where devices need try to talk over each other
- every device in neighbor's house (microwave oven, baby monitor, mouse alarm) talks on the same frequency and causes the signal to drop.
- People walking through the room block radio waves, metal surfaces reflect them basically creating an unstable connection

- places the wireless modem on the floor instead of mounting it to the ceiling, ensuring there is no line of sight to devices so nothing works
- pays for 300Mb/s bandwidth at the router, but only gets 6 Mb/s bandwidth at each wireless device due to limitations of wireless tech



Chad internet setup:
- connects every device in his house with a Cat.6 network cable.
- the connection is ROCK SOLID and never drops
- gets the full advertised bandwidth
- the few devices that need to have wireless (tablets, phones) have a ceiling-mounted router with LINE OF SIGHT to every device used.

sheepsh4gger

BTW I use Tenda APs in mesh setup. TBH it's overrated still, just use Ethernet. An Ethernet crimper is like 15 € on Amazon, spool of cable 60€, jar of crimps maybe 8€.

BailMeOut

Google Wifi mesh syetem is excellent and so simple to setup and manage.

https://store.google.com/ie/product/google_wifi_first_gen

davo2001

sheepsh4gger wrote: »

just use Ethernet.

OP asked for a good mesh recommendation, not this, which to be fair is less than useless advise.

How do you propose he uses ethernet for this phones and tablets?

OP, i use Unifi, and it's been rock solid.

Main AP: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-UAP-AC-PRO-UniFi-PRO-Enterprise/dp/B079DSTX99

"Repeater": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-Networks-UAP-AC-LR-802-11ac-Dual-Radio/dp/B016K5A06C/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=UniFi+AP-AC-LR&qid=1588089691&sr=8-3

Works a treat and 0 issues since setup.

BailMeOut

davo2001 wrote: »

OP asked for a good mesh recommendation, not this, which to be fair is less than useless advise.

How do you propose he uses ethernet for this phones and tablets?

OP, i use Unifi, and it's been rock solid.

Main AP: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-UAP-AC-PRO-UniFi-PRO-Enterprise/dp/B079DSTX99

"Repeater": https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ubiquiti-Networks-UAP-AC-LR-802-11ac-Dual-Radio/dp/B016K5A06C/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=UniFi+AP-AC-LR&qid=1588089691&sr=8-3

Works a treat and 0 issues since setup.

I also use Unifi and a huge fan and advocate of their tech however if I was doing something now I'd still do Google mesh. It's so stupidly easy as you just plug in the little pods where needed and it does the rest (with a tiny bit of config).

dilallio

I have a TP-Link Deco M4 (purchased on Amazon) for 7 months and I'm really happy with it.

Setup is simple and you can control it from an app on your phone.

The coverage is excellent, and it is great at quickly switching coverage from one router to another as I move around the house.

I have a lot of smart switches and devices around the house (approx 50 - 60). With my previous setup, I was constantly running into issues where my Virgin Media Hub was struggling with multiple connected devices.

With the Deco, I've not had any issues. You can add additional stations above the 3 that come with it, if needed, but 2 - 3 stations should be more than enough for a large house. It also allows you to prioritise connected devices so that their network traffic is prioritised above other devices.

Hope this helps.