I am considering reworking the home network. It was rather unworkable to run an ethernet cable to my wife's computer so I put in a WiFi PCIe card in it and moved the main wireless router from the basement to the next floor behind the TV. She can get the 2.4GHz radio there but the 5GHz radio is intermittent at best and it eventually switches over to the 2.4GHz. Our phones generally work on 5GHz but the signal is weak in the bedroom and garage so I'm just thinking of wiring up some WAPs to get better coverage.

Ubiquiti seems to have the best in the market. However, after their self-caused data breach and the requirement of configuring with their cloud service, I'm looking elsewhere.

The Netgear Orbi, while expensive, seems top-notch. Their Nighthawk with WiFi 6E seems nice, too.

What are you using now, what do you wish you'd have done differently and what's your general suggestion?

Although you may still want to look elsewhere, I just wanted to point out that you do not have to use Ubiquiti’s cloud service, you can stand up a controller on a pc/Mac internal to your network, which is what I did. Their APs and ecosystem are hard to beat from a price/performance perspective.

We use Orbi Mesh, it's solved problems with dead spots, improved the Ring Doorbell network connectivity, overall it provides better wifi than the other routers that were single point.

Costco has deals on the Orbi and other MESH network systems.

Ubiquiti user here, home & at work.

Mine did not require cloud setup. Direct connect to a computer & manual config.

quote:

Originally posted by Thingol:
Although you may still want to look elsewhere, I just wanted to point out that you do not have to use Ubiquiti’s cloud service, you can stand up a controller on a pc/Mac internal to your network, which is what I did. Their APs and ecosystem are hard to beat from a price/performance perspective.

I had heard that you have to do the initial install with an account on their cloud. I'll look into it better. Thanks.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
We use Orbi Mesh, it's solved problems with dead spots, improved the Ring Doorbell network connectivity, overall it provides better wifi than the other routers that were single point.

Costco has deals on the Orbi and other MESH network systems.

Thanks. I've had good luck with Netgear and I'll look into the Costco angle.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Ubiquiti user here, home & at work.

Mine did not require cloud setup. Direct connect to a computer & manual config.

I'm probably thinking about their other stuff like DreamMachine and NVR.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Ubiquiti user here, home & at work.

Mine did not require cloud setup. Direct connect to a computer & manual config.

I'm probably thinking about their other stuff like DreamMachine and NVR.

Yeah, we just have the regular mesh APs in our office (3).
I have just 1 at home, as the network terminates in an upstairs closet that blocks all WiFi signal, even with the top line (at the time) Netgear Nighthawk.
Put in the Ub AP in the living room & have good house-wide coverage.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Ubiquiti user here, home & at work.

Mine did not require cloud setup. Direct connect to a computer & manual config.

I'm probably thinking about their other stuff like DreamMachine and NVR.

Yeah, we just have the regular mesh APs in our office (3).
I have just 1 at home, as the network terminates in an upstairs closet that blocks all WiFi signal, even with the top line (at the time) Netgear Nighthawk.
Put in the Ub AP in the living room & have good house-wide coverage.

Has the data breach changed your opinion of them?

Excellent choice but forget about MESH unless you cannot run a cable or are technically challenged.
This is about true AP's not a "router with Wi-Fi built in.

Ubiquiti performance is fine but the control mechanism leaves a lot to be desired.
It is why I quit installing, using and selling them and teamed up with EnGenius.
I still use the Ubiquiti Edge Routers and switches but that is another conversation.

Some points to consider:
1. Physically locating the AP near the listening are will have a positive affect on performance.
2. You will need to adjust the power as not to overlap in another area.
3. The RSSI is the power received at the client and you want -67dbm or better (lower is better) optimum is -45dbm ~ -65dbm.
3. Adjustment can be achieved by the power transmission lever in the AP or by distance from the AP (relocation).
4. Wi-Fi 6 is the latest protocol but you need a Wi-Fi 6 client to maximize performance but it is not required. Sooner or later all will be Wi-Fi 6.
5. POE switches and adaptors make locating the AP anywhere you can run an Ethernet cable.
6. IF the AP has more than 4 radios (antennas) then the power for the AP will need an injector or POE switch that supports POE+ (802.AT) so check the switch or injector for support.
7. Use a program to measure the signal and interference from various points.
8. It is better to have more AP's with the power turned down or better said appropriate for the area than just one honkin' loud AP.

Like I said I do EnGenius and they have a full lineup of great AP's that are include indoor, outdoor, managed on premise or the cloud. Check them out. The also have switches but I find them to kind of noisy.

Your attitude toward any type of security/data breech should be a matter of when, not if. Its going to happen to everyone, eventually.

quote:

Originally posted by trickedtrix:
Your attitude toward any type of security/data breech should be a matter of when, not if. Its going to happen to everyone, eventually.

it's not that it happened. It's their handling of it that is sketchy.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

6. IF the AP has more than 4 radios (antennas) then the power for the AP will need an injector or POE switch that supports POE+ (802.AT) so check the switch or injector for support.

Great. Another thing I’ll have to look at when I get home. I have no idea if my switch is 802.3at and didn’t know to look when I replaced one of my Luxul XAP-810 WAPs with an EnGenius EWS360AP.

I relocated the Luxul to a more central location which really helped the signal in the rooms that were troublesome, but my wife objected:

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

Hahaha! Excellent!

We bough a house in October that was much larger than our previous homes and my WiFi router was getting old and the coverage was spotty.

After looking at many options, I settled on a ASUS AC2900 WiFi Router (RT-AC86U).

It works well and the coverage is good. I even connect to it nextdoor at our neighbor's house when we are watching their children.

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

forget about MESH unless you cannot run a cable or are technically challenged.

Why? Is there a problem with MESH? Something I should know before I spend the money?

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:

quote:

Originally posted by smschulz:

forget about MESH unless you cannot run a cable or are technically challenged.

Why? Is there a problem with MESH? Something I should know before I spend the money?

MESH is an alternative to running a cable and it is a compromise of performance.
It's easy to install as it's primary benefit.

I can also confirm that you can use Ubiquiti without their cloud nonsense.
I have the controller software running on a machine on my LAN and I login to it using local credentials.

Am currently using a 48 port POE switch to push power to the two currently running APs.

This is an on-going project tied in with moving into my new home.
Long term, I'll have 3 APs and over 2 dozen cameras getting power from this switch.
For what it's worth, the APs I'm using use 4-5 watts of power.

In most normal situations for household use, mesh is the way to go, especially if your house is less than 10,000 sq ft.

The newer mesh equipment is beginning to equal wired speeds.

There is equipment for almost any budget.

I mostly use TP-Link but there are other good ones out there.

Wired is still best for equipment that doesn't move. But mesh is catching up.

I recommend mesh over wap for home use.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:

The newer mesh equipment is beginning to equal wired speeds.

This is VERY dependent on the wifi saturation in your area.
The place I just moved out of (suburbs) had so much congestion that wifi was all but unusable.

quote:

Originally posted by sig2392:
In most normal situations for household use, mesh is the way to go, especially if your house is less than 10,000 sq ft.

The newer mesh equipment is beginning to equal wired speeds.

There is equipment for almost any budget.

I mostly use TP-Link but there are other good ones out there.

Wired is still best for equipment that doesn't move. But mesh is catching up.

I recommend mesh over wap for home use.

PLEASE? You seem to be indicating that MESH technology is a performance driven protocol > it is not.
MESH is not faster.
The primary purpose is where complicated installation where a wire (for data and power) cannot be achieved.
No question for the average Joe who does not want or can't do the work it is a better option, additionally budget comes into the picture here as well.
It is easier but it does not out perform wired AP'S.