Quote:
Originally Posted by taxbuster
I'm yet to be convinced that WiFi 6 isn't just marketing garbage, but to be fair, have not yet tried it. (But I do have Telus Gig Fibre all the way out here in the middle of everywhere, BC.....but no "noisy" neighbours ha ha. Just frogs and loons.) I do have a Calgary condo, so if (when?) the Flames go deep, I'll be back there and maybe throw a U6 on in there ... overkill, but hey...
As far as the other gear, the UI store isn't too bad...but frequently out of stock at the moment. I get stuff there fairly regularly and check out r/UbiquitiInStock with a CAN flair.
|
IMO, the tech specs of WIFI 6 isn't garbage, but IMO it feels akin to the top speed of a car at 300-400 kmph and driving it on public roads. When on earth would you actually see the extra benefits of that other than maybe perhaps a few seconds shaved off to 150 kmph as a rule breaking lead foot? On top of that, it also depends on your device's processing power.
An iphone 7 might cap out at 110 Mbps no matter what you do because it cannot handle more.
An iPhone 11 might cap out at 250-300 Mbps.
A 13 is around 300-400.
Some newer flagship Androids might hit 400-450, but most apps are done downloading and updating before you even maintain over 200-300 Mbps.
Torrenting/VPN/remote login might get better stability/fewer drops/barely even notice a drop... but I cannot imagine data requirements/file sizes large enough to maintain insane leaps in download speeds over a long period of time. Additionally, anyone doing that is likely using wired connections anyways for even faster speeds than wifi.
For those looking to acquire Ubiquiti equipment, do your research. Amazon sells some, but at anywhere from 30-200% premium. I dug out and checked my Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Lite. $109 CAD new on Ubiquiti website (but unavailable), $99 used on Amazon, $230 each on some sellers on Amazon, 5 pack . Most other places sell of average price.
The Ubiquiti Canada website sells some at prices lower than anyone else and free shipping (I nabbed another AmpliFi HD modem on Wednesday for $179 CAD there vs $230-280 everywhere else; bundles are still within $10-30 premium). Strangely enough, I noticed that supply on the Ubiquiti Canada and USA are different. The AmpliFi HD was available on the Canadian website, but not USA and vice versa for the Dream machine.
Some companies like B&H have decent prices and will ship from the USA. Others are Canada only and/or brick and mortar might offer some decent prices in store because they save on the costs of shipping (easily $20-40 per these types of units including shipping costs, packing costs and employee labour).
Finally, I'd poke around some IT professionals/cleaners and demo guys to see whether there are some companies tossing out good ####. There are some old school companies out there that might have purchased some extra types of networking gear to facilitate WFH, but with hybrid and demands to return to the office, some of it might shake free. This might mean that stuff like POE routers and modems and stuff start to randomly appear from companies as they go back to using a lot of the fixed infrastructure in their buildings. There's also companies that did a lot of cuts/closed down/merged offices and this stuff might also shake free. But this isn't just for networking equipment. You'd find some decent desks and chairs that dudes are inexplicably tossing in the trash. There's some companies doing fantastic during the pandemic and some doing awful and folding. Both might have stuff that shakes free.
=================
And back to the utility room layout... IMO, a huge tip I will offer for an inexpensive but awesome way to organize stuff, buy something like this:
https://www.amazon.ca/SimpleHousewar...NsaWNrPXRydWU=
I wall mounted this in my place and I retrofitted an older one at my office where I do IT. Almost all techs that comes out to do stuff ask something like, "Can I steal the concept?" or I can tell they are impressed by it. I didn't invent the concept. I just saw it was a good fit for what I wanted to do. I originally used a floating TV shelf, but this was way better for what I wanted to do.
- simple, relatively inexpensive around $20-40, looks clean, great design: things can't randomly slide out like a flat tv mount, wall mountable (although depending what you have on it, you might want to use an L bracket to reinforce the mounting)
- mesh helps to keep airflow and reduce overheating/you can see through and know what is what without pulling things out all the time.
- slots are plentiful, great sizes and not oversized for switches, smart hub(s), raspberry pi, Google home/Amazon Alexa and storage for documents/manuals, spare parts etc.
- spacing is great for using patch cables of .5 to 2ft.
- can pull cables through the sides (longer cables, power cables etc.)
- Can easily mount this at the perfect desired height above a cabinet for expensive network gear that you won't want to wall mount and risk damage if mount fails (ie: Servers, NAS, audio gear, etc.)
- Strong enough, but not insanely difficult if you need to drill holes for mounting/cable etc.
I've actually be considering seeing if there's smaller versions of this that I can do the same to organize small switches, AP/mesh unit, cables, USB hubs for power etc.
I will say though, go with patch cables that are about .5 feet longer than you need. That way, if you have a component that you have to pull out momentarily to check/inspect/reset etc. you have enough slack to pull it closer to you rather than only a few inches from the set up.
Mine is still relatively messy, but maybe in the summer I'll throw $50-100 for better sized patch cables all around and wall mounting a power bar or two with USB and independent switches to facilitate reboots/power cycles etc.
https://www.amazon.ca/Smart-Protecto...s%2C131&sr=8-5
With around $200 ish, it could look ultra clean and sexy organizing wise:
- $40 for mesh sorter to store modem, router, switch, hubs, POE docs, cables etc.
- $30 worth of Cat 6+ 0.5-1 ft patch cables
- $30 worth of Cat 6+ 1-2 ft patch cables
- $5 zip ties/$5 of velcro organizers to bundle longer cables (ie: Power/USB etc.)
- $70-100 worth of power bars to wall mount and provide power (can push a button to turn off vs have to trace power and pull and re-plug)
https://www.amazon.ca/Ethernet-Highe...s%2C104&sr=8-6
I nabbed these patch cables, and IMO I think it's awesome for identifying certain devices/hubs/switch to patch panel (upstairs) by color. Inexpensive too.