Using access points (home networking)

[White Out 403]

Simple Q, from my understanding a wireless repeater picks up a wireless signal and repeats it to strengthen coverage. An access point is a router that you plug in by way of cat cable to the main router itself that then repeats that signal.

So my understanding is that... a repeater can degrade wireless speed, but an access point is a pretty good way to increase coverage with a lot less detriment to the signal.

Am I right on this so far, and, if so, what do people use as access points? Old routers? Stuff @ memory express?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Simple Q, from my understanding a wireless repeater picks up a wireless signal and repeats it to strengthen coverage. An access point is a router that you plug in by way of cat cable to the main router itself that then repeats that signal.

So my understanding is that... a repeater can degrade wireless speed, but an access point is a pretty good way to increase coverage with a lot less detriment to the signal.

Am I right on this so far, and, if so, what do people use as access points? Old routers? Stuff @ memory express?

You're right with this. Repeaters can cause more interference in the long run and are only good if the signal strength received from your router probably > 50% where they are set up. Also they will be limited to the wireless speed available at the repeater. APs on the other hand give you flexibility as the connection is wired and some of the smarter ones will steer your client devices to use the correct AP thus always ensuring you have the best signal strength and connectivity on your mobile device.

You could have the best signal from the repeater and still have crappy internet speeds because your repeater is in a bad location or is bandwidth limited due to poor signal from the router. APs are a better choice. Downside to all this is you need a wired connection for an AP and they tend to cost way more to set up multiple ones. You can use some old routers as APs to save money. If money is not a problem I'd recommend something like a pro setup with multiple Ubiquiti APs.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

You're right with this. Repeaters can cause more interference in the long run and are only good if the signal strength received from your router probably > 50% where they are set up. Also they will be limited to the wireless speed available at the repeater. APs on the other hand give you flexibility as the connection is wired and some of the smarter ones will steer your client devices to use the correct AP thus always ensuring you have the best signal strength and connectivity on your mobile device.

You could have the best signal on a repeater and still have crappy internet speeds because your repeater is in a bad location or is bandwidth limited. Downside to all this is you need a wired connection for an AP and they tend to cost way more to set up multiple ones. You can use some old routers as APs to save money. If money is not a problem I'd recommend something like a pro setup with multiple Ubiquiti APs.

My house isn't that big but I do have 3 floors to work with, so, signal can be an issue. I do live in a newer home so I have cat cable in all rooms, so I was thinking of having my router/modem in the basement, and, an access point in on the 3rd floor, prob something from memory express. Is any old AP ok or are there specific ones you'd recommend?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

My house isn't that big but I do have 3 floors to work with, so, signal can be an issue. I do live in a newer home so I have cat cable in all rooms, so I was thinking of having my router/modem in the basement, and, an access point in on the 3rd floor, prob something from memory express. Is any old AP ok or are there specific ones you'd recommend?

What's the square footage of your house? I live in an 2000 sq ft place and a single Ubiquiti AC AP I have set up in my upper floor closet ceiling covers the entire house and part of the playground outside.

My friends place has 2500sq foot and a single AP covered his whole house as well, but he was paranoid so he bought a second one for his basement. He uses the long range ones two so he is good all the way to his 2nd neighbours place
http://www.ncix.com/detail/ubiquiti-...-53-115455.htm
http://www.ncix.com/detail/ubiquiti-...-2d-115458.htm
https://www.mikescomputershop.com/item/5858530

ASUS AC routers are also easy to set up as access points if cost is an issue
http://www.nmicrovip.ca/asus-802-11a...u-refurbished/

[White Out 403]

oh, then a single AP is just fine. I have a smaller house than 2000sq foot... which model do you use?

[FlameOn]

The middle two in the links I posted above (Ubiquiti UAP-AC-PRO). Review for it in the link below that I based my decision on.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/...wi-fi-gear-is/

Just run some ethernet from one of the ports under the baseboards up to a closet and mount it there. What I did and it's out of sight and had zero downtime since I installed the thing a year ago.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

The middle two in the links I posted above (Ubiquiti UAP-AC-PRO). Review for it in the link below that I based my decision on.
http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/...wi-fi-gear-is/

Just run some ethernet from one of the ports under the baseboards up to a closet and mount it there. What I did and it's out of sight and had zero downtime since I installed the thing a year ago.

Would you just use this thing then, and, disable the radio on the default telus modem?

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

Would you just use this thing then, and, disable the radio on the default telus modem?

Those built in modems tend to be crap... its probably in some smart home distribution box in the basement as well isn't it? So limited signal strength in a crappy location i.e. your concrete basement.

I would disable it and just use the AP exclusively

[Stealth22]

You're right, repeaters aren't that great and end up interfering, as FlameOn said.

I have an ASUS RT-AC68U in the basement (Shaw modem is bridged) acting as both a router and AP. On the second floor, I have an ASUS RP-N53 in AP mode, with a CAT5e plugged into the wall.

All three floors get good coverage. Although I wish I had waited...there's an AC version of the repeater now.

But of course, that can be an excuse to buy an EdgeRouter Lite and one/two of the Ubiquiti AP's.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Stealth22

But of course, that can be an excuse to buy an EdgeRouter Lite and one/two of the Ubiquiti AP's.

That is my exact setup lol. ERL has insane performance and so do the APs. Bandsteering feature is also fantastic on the APs, you always get the fastest connection and band used.

Unifi Security Gateway is a much more user friendly solution though and I'd think it'd be better for the non technical people.

[Stealth22]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

That is my exact setup lol. ERL has insane performance and so do the APs. Bandsteering feature is also fantastic on the APs, you always get the fastest connection and band used.

Sigh...I wish I had known 5 years ago what I know now about networks.

Too bad I can't justify it right now. The Asus gear is working fine, don't get me wrong. But Ubiquiti's ERL and AP's are soooo much better.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Stealth22

Sigh...I wish I had known 5 years ago what I know now about networks.

Too bad I can't justify it right now. The Asus gear is working fine, don't get me wrong. But Ubiquiti's ERL and AP's are soooo much better.

ERL is by far one of the best performing and cheaper routers out there. The AP gear is a bit more expensive than your normal ASUS router/AP combo, but the wireless performance, routing, management features and the like are much much better.

I hear you it would be about a $100 odd premium for these though.

[Stealth22]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

ERL is by far one of the best performing and cheaper routers out there. The AP gear is a bit more expensive than your normal ASUS router/AP combo, but the wireless performance, routing, management features and the like are much much better.

I hear you it would be about a $100 odd premium for these though.

It's not even that. It's just that what I have now works, and there's no logical or justifiable reason to replace every piece of networking gear that I have.

[White Out 403]

ok so I got my new modem from TELUS this morning, it has dual band built in and provides nice coverage in my basement. however, it sucks otherwise because where the modem is located is right in my utility room so top floor gets bad bars.

i have a fairly decent AC router from D link i want to use an access point. should i put it on the main floor, or, 3rd floor to create more space between the modem and the ap?

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

That is my exact setup lol. ERL has insane performance and so do the APs. Bandsteering feature is also fantastic on the APs, you always get the fastest connection and band used.

Unifi Security Gateway is a much more user friendly solution though and I'd think it'd be better for the non technical people.

Exact same setup as mine. An ERL in the basement, and two AC-Lites on two floors. Great coverage, fantastic speeds. Ubiquiti makes good gear, and inexpensive. But slightly hard to configure. I love the setup though.

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

ok so I got my new modem from TELUS this morning, it has dual band built in and provides nice coverage in my basement. however, it sucks otherwise because where the modem is located is right in my utility room so top floor gets bad bars.

i have a fairly decent AC router from D link i want to use an access point. should i put it on the main floor, or, 3rd floor to create more space between the modem and the ap?

I would put it on the third floor. That way the second floor will have coverage from both. I would name the networks the same, and just keep the channels different.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

ok so I got my new modem from TELUS this morning, it has dual band built in and provides nice coverage in my basement. however, it sucks otherwise because where the modem is located is right in my utility room so top floor gets bad bars.

i have a fairly decent AC router from D link i want to use an access point. should i put it on the main floor, or, 3rd floor to create more space between the modem and the ap?

Top floor mounted upside down on the ceiling would be most ideal for an AP. Depends on how the router's set up for antenna configuration.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

I would put it on the third floor. That way the second floor will have coverage from both. I would name the networks the same, and just keep the channels different.

See this is where this stuff confuses me. I can keep the SSID the same, but, then how do my wifi devices get handed off?

[oilyfan]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

See this is where this stuff confuses me. I can keep the SSID the same, but, then how do my wifi devices get handed off?

The wifi devices will manage the handoff based on signal strength.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by oilyfan

The wifi devices will manage the handoff based on signal strength.

That's pretty nifty
Can't wait to go home and try it out