Weapons-grade home WiFi suggestions

[dmsims]

A bit like saying an Aston is better than a Astra

[ecsrobin]

dmsims said:

A bit like saying an Aston is better than a Astra

I get that but when its only £60 more than what I paid for the Tendas I’m surprised by just how much performance difference there is!

Odd one though I have an appleTV as a HomeKit hub, if i connect it direct to either the Tendas or the Orbi it doesn’t work as a HomeKit hub but if I connect through a switch it works fine. Anyone got a suggestion?

[BigTZ4M]

ecsrobin said:

Odd one though I have an appleTV as a HomeKit hub, if i connect it direct to either the Tendas or the Orbi it doesn’t work as a HomeKit hub but if I connect through a switch it works fine. Anyone got a suggestion?

Your Tendas and Orbi are acting as routers in addition to access points. Thus things connecting wirelessly can connect to the internet but not to things on your wired network. Connect to the switch and you can see wired devices and the internet and HomeKit magically works again. With the Tenda you need to run them in bridge mode to stop them also acting as a router. I don’t know the Orbi but I imagine they have a similar setting.

[Burwood]

Purchased a TP-Link Deco 4 Mesh system. Very happy with the material WI FI improvement. Haven't dropped a phone call (wifi calling) since. The easiest thing ever to set up too.

[bmwmike]

/I've got a bit of ubiquiti kit but i'm not convinced - had a few issues here and there and mostly got it working ok until one of the AP's started shutting down for no reason. I think it was getting too hot as its in a south facing attic, but there was no alert back to the controller or any errors - just "disconnected".

We have 950MB incoming and i'm still using the BT router as I don't know what to replace it with. Assuming I ditch the existing investment in ubquiti, what would folks suggest?

- multiple access points required due to building layout
- central controller to manage it
- wired network ports (x8) with PoE
- WAN port for connecting to FTTP
- firewall would be great, with ability to VLAN off CCTV/IOT etc
- Already run my own DNS/unbound/pihole etc.

I keep trying to research and then get bored; so any suggestions welcome.

[Captain_Morgan]

bmwmike said:

/I've got a bit of ubiquiti kit but i'm not convinced - had a few issues here and there and mostly got it working ok until one of the AP's started shutting down for no reason. I think it was getting too hot as its in a south facing attic, but there was no alert back to the controller or any errors - just "disconnected".

We have 950MB incoming and i'm still using the BT router as I don't know what to replace it with. Assuming I ditch the existing investment in ubquiti, what would folks suggest?

- multiple access points required due to building layout
- central controller to manage it
- wired network ports (x8) with PoE
- WAN port for connecting to FTTP
- firewall would be great, with ability to VLAN off CCTV/IOT etc
- Already run my own DNS/unbound/pihole etc.

I keep trying to research and then get bored; so any suggestions welcome.

Unifi does everything you’re asking for, tbh you might be better served getting some consulting on why the current system isn’t performing as expected.
You should defiantly be able to enable notifications if a switch/ap goes down. Vlans and IoT are well documented the issue becomes if you breach the ability of the unifi firewall by needing more complex VPN’s for example then you’ll have to look to a separate fw/router

What is your current setup?


If you are determined to move away from unifi then you could look at pfsense or untangled for your firewall/router tp-link offer the Omada platform that does vlans and sdm the same as unifi but the firewall is a issue with managing traffic between IoT and trusted lans so you’ll need to look at my earlier suggestions, Cisco do the meraki range that I believe does what your asking but is quite expensive

[bmwmike]

Captain_Morgan said:

bmwmike said:

/I've got a bit of ubiquiti kit but i'm not convinced - had a few issues here and there and mostly got it working ok until one of the AP's started shutting down for no reason. I think it was getting too hot as its in a south facing attic, but there was no alert back to the controller or any errors - just "disconnected".

We have 950MB incoming and i'm still using the BT router as I don't know what to replace it with. Assuming I ditch the existing investment in ubquiti, what would folks suggest?

- multiple access points required due to building layout
- central controller to manage it
- wired network ports (x8) with PoE
- WAN port for connecting to FTTP
- firewall would be great, with ability to VLAN off CCTV/IOT etc
- Already run my own DNS/unbound/pihole etc.

I keep trying to research and then get bored; so any suggestions welcome.

Unifi does everything you’re asking for, tbh you might be better served getting some consulting on why the current system isn’t performing as expected.
You should defiantly be able to enable notifications if a switch/ap goes down. Vlans and IoT are well documented the issue becomes if you breach the ability of the unifi firewall by needing more complex VPN’s for example then you’ll have to look to a separate fw/router

What is your current setup?


If you are determined to move away from unifi then you could look at pfsense or untangled for your firewall/router tp-link offer the Omada platform that does vlans and sdm the same as unifi but the firewall is a issue with managing traffic between IoT and trusted lans so you’ll need to look at my earlier suggestions, Cisco do the meraki range that I believe does what your asking but is quite expensive

Yeah was getting notifications that the AP had disconnected just no rhyme or reason as to why it kept shutting off. I had to keep recycling the PoE on that port. It only happened on a couple of really stinkingly hot days and i'm sure the attic must have been like a furnace hence why i though it was overheating. Is only a Lite so no temp sensor, perhaps a better one would have told me it was too hot.

[Prawo Jazdy]

Burwood said:

Purchased a TP-Link Deco 4 Mesh system. Very happy with the material WI FI improvement. Haven't dropped a phone call (wifi calling) since. The easiest thing ever to set up too.

Forgive my ignorance to need to ask this, but do these units have LAN ports to support a wired network as well? I was looking at them online and couldn't work it out from the blurb. Our existing (free from the provider) router has four LAN outputs, which is useful as we have three network points wired into the house.

(If anyone knows why a Zyxel router might suddenly stop providing a 2.4GHz signal, while the 5GHz continues to work, then please shout up!)

Edited by Prawo Jazdy on Saturday 3rd July 12:22

[techguyone]

Prawo Jazdy said:

Forgive my ignorance to need to ask this, but do these units have LAN ports to support a wired network as well? I was looking at them online and couldn't work it out from the blurb. Our existing (free from the provider) router has four LAN outputs, which is useful as we have three network points wired into the house.

(If anyone knows why a Zyxel router might suddenly stop providing a 2.4GHz signal, while the 5GHz continues to work, then please shout up!)

Edited by Prawo Jazdy on Saturday 3rd July 12:22

Some decos have Lan ports too, my Deco M5's each have twin Gigabit ethernet ports.

[ecsrobin]

BigTZ4M said:

Your Tendas and Orbi are acting as routers in addition to access points. Thus things connecting wirelessly can connect to the internet but not to things on your wired network. Connect to the switch and you can see wired devices and the internet and HomeKit magically works again. With the Tenda you need to run them in bridge mode to stop them also acting as a router. I don’t know the Orbi but I imagine they have a similar setting.

Just had the time to dig into this. You’re spot on put the orbi into AP mode (access point) and now I can get rid of the switch. Cheers.

[illmonkey]

I am fed up of the st wifi-over power cable thing I have in my garage. My own fault, I just bought cheap.

So, I am going to get an outdoor access point. It can go on the corner of my house, wired directly to my switch, so no powerline funny business. As it's outside, should cover the garden, cameras, door bell etc.

I have a UniFi device, but not that impressed. So, do I go UniFi, or sell that and jump to TPLink with EAP225 or EAP245 (to give me Omada) or similar?

2 TPLink EAP225 is £120 (could sell my NanoHD for that probably).
Unifi wifi is £80

Anyone want to buy a NanoHD? 15 months old.

[FunkyGibbon]

I have the EAP 225 Outdoor. Works very well and fully integrates to the Omada ecosystem.

Comes with POE injector if you dont have POE switch.

[illmonkey]

FunkyGibbon said:

I have the EAP 225 Outdoor. Works very well and fully integrates to the Omada ecosystem.

Comes with POE injector if you dont have POE switch.

Good to know.

What kind of range do you get?

[FunkyGibbon]

illmonkey said:

Good to know.

What kind of range do you get?

Just tried and OK signal at 55m from AP.

AP is not actually installed outdoors just yet, so I would expect that to improve.

[illmonkey]

FunkyGibbon said:

illmonkey said:

Good to know.

What kind of range do you get?

Just tried and OK signal at 55m from AP.

AP is not actually installed outdoors just yet, so I would expect that to improve.

Thanks.

I've just purchased it, it's going to be better than what I have. It's so frustrating not having good garden wifi, so for £65...

Can go out from a bedroom (all have RJ45) and mount it on the back of the house.

It's going to work with the UniFi for now, will see how I like the TPLink stuff before getting the indoor one.

[Prawo Jazdy]

Does anyone know of any ISPs who provide a mesh router/system? I'm aware of Gigaclear, but I'd rather not go with them because it involves a lot of faff to get a cable to their underground connection point, whereas our Openreach connection comes from a pole.

We're not getting great VFM, and with a dodgy router and substandard coverage, it seems an ideal time to change to mesh. I was hoping I'd be able to get it for free if I picked the right provider.

[Sporky]

Not quite, but Zen do Fritz routers which have built in mesh capabilities - just add more of them and prod some buttons.

[.:ian:.]

Zen offer 'everyroom' mesh network, https://www.zen.co.uk/broadband/everyroom , its not free, in fact its £10/month!
I guess the actual devices are AVM FRITZ!Repeater 3000 which seem to be about £120 each.

[Gary C]

bmwmike said:

/

We have 950MB incoming and i'm still using the BT router as I don't know what to replace it with. Assuming I ditch the existing investment in ubquiti, what would folks suggest?

Be aware that with the PSTN switch off, and the subsequent transfer of BT customers to Digital Voice, you may end up having to go back to the BT router. Separating your home telephone number from your BT internet account to use with a third party VOiP is a minefield and impossible to negotiate without cancelling your internet and phone and starting afresh.

Maybe BT will eventually allow easy separation, but its not looking good at the moment.

[Mattt]

Toilet Duck said:

Sorry, I posted while you two gents were responding.

My current PC isn't good enough for gaming, it wasn't worth investing in as up until now I was only getting 1Mb download. However, I had planned to upgrade now I've got decent internet and maybe start getting into gaming. I don't know what "double NAT" is, but is it something that I can overcome?

Really appreciate that info on MESH. I was planning on a triple pack of Deco M9's, so I assume that they should be compatible?

Again thanks to everyone for all the help

How are you getting on with the FTTP service now from CBB? Is it fairly stable or suffering any outages?