Access Point Recommendation

[maklabouhlel]

Hi, I've just moved into a new three floor house with BT Smart Hub 2 on the ground floor and need a good single access point to attach to the ceiling of the middle floor. I've already got an ethernet connection there. Can someone recommend one please?

 

[ChrisD.]

UniFi APs are very good.

 

[maklabouhlel]

UniFi APs are very good.

Yeah someone else recommended them. Any particular model? Preferably WiFi 6.

 

[ChrisD.]

Yeah someone else recommended them. Any particular model? Preferably WiFi 6.

What's your budget?

 

[ChrisD.]

Bear in mind 6 doesn't penetrate walls too well.

 

[covenantuk]

If it's an old house (solid walls) and needs to cover the whole floor, you'd be better buying the older 5ghz Unifi AP - upside they're cheap on eBay because people are buying WiFi6.

 

[Glanza]

Aruba AP22

 

[Gabby]

Not cheap but excellent quality and coverage. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ubiq...750-dual-band-poe-access-point-nw-011-uq.html

 

[maklabouhlel]

What's your budget?

Around £150. Don't mind going up to £200.

 

[maklabouhlel]

Not cheap but excellent quality and coverage. https://www.overclockers.co.uk/ubiq...750-dual-band-poe-access-point-nw-011-uq.html

The BT engineer recommended this model. Is it not worth going for WiFi 6?

 

[Gabby]

The BT engineer recommended this model. Is it not worth going for WiFi 6?

Somebody above suggested that WiFi6 has problems with walls. I don't have any WiFi 6 kit so cannot comment but I do have the predecessor to that AP and I get strong signal all over the house and the garden.

 

[Orcvader]

Bear in mind 6 doesn't penetrate walls too well.

Correction, 6E is the one that doesn't penetrate walls well due to being on 6GHz. Standard 6 is based on 2.4/5GHz so will be the same as AC/N.

@maklabouhlel Unifi 6 Pro can be found for £150, but if you want to save a bit of cash the 6 lite can be found for less. Main difference is the pro has better 5GHz performance, and the lite's 2.4GHz is limited to N.

 

[timmy85]

FYI, the only current Unifi AP that supports 6E, is the enterprise which is crica 300 big ones.

 

[maklabouhlel]

Decided to go for the WiFi 6 one (U6-PRO). Now just need an 8-port POE switch. Thanks for the advice, really appreciated.

 

[ChrisD.]

Decided to go for the WiFi 6 one (U6-PRO). Now just need an 8-port POE switch. Thanks for the advice, really appreciated.

UniFi do PoE switches, be warned, their ecosystem becomes addictive. You'll need their controller software on your PC, Phone etc to set up the AP.

 

[Ad_Augendae]

could have got a cAP ax for £120 with Injector no need for all the controller headache.
So the U6Pro Has 4x4 but only 1GB Ethernet I would need to get the "ENTERPRISE" one should I want to take advantage Of my Mikrotik none PoE 2.5G 2.4G port switch then.

 

[WJA96]

Bear in mind 6 doesn't penetrate walls too well.

You mean WiFi6E? WiFi6 is the same 5GHz signal as WiFi 3/4/5.

6GHz WiFi6E definitely doesn’t penetrate walls as easily as WiFi6.

 

[eggbert]

I have been using UniFi for years. some of there kit, such as surveillance and phones seem hit and miss with longevity and support but their Wi-Fi and switching gear is pretty solid.

 

[Hyburnate]

You mean WiFi6E? WiFi6 is the same 5GHz signal as WiFi 3/4/5.

6GHz WiFi6E definitely doesn’t penetrate walls as easily as WiFi6.

This.

I'm glad this has been confirmed. In our testing though 6GHz isn't too bad in comparison to 5GHz.

Source: Wi-Fi consultant and currently writing this connected to 6E

 

[ChrisD.]

You mean WiFi6E? WiFi6 is the same 5GHz signal as WiFi 3/4/5.

6GHz WiFi6E definitely doesn’t penetrate walls as easily as WiFi6.

I meant to put GHz but forgot.