Home network Upgrade

mkelbie

mkelbie

mkelbie

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Joined
24 Jan 2012
Posts
231
I have been having some issues with my network lately so think it’s time to do some upgrades but not sure where to take things.

Wifi is used quite a lot and I do have some dead spots but I’ve also got home plugs being used that probably need replacing and maybe a better switch.

Current kit is a Sky Q Hub router on which I’ve disabled DHCP and I use my AirPort Extreme AC. This was fine but then as we got more wired and wireless devices things started to fail. I purchased a 2nd Apple router which I was using with a home plug to provide wifi down stairs but this strangely performed better just extending the wifi wirelessly.

I have a NAS and couple of home servers in the garage, the plan is to run a cable from the office to there to replace the home plug which is about the only upgrade I am sure of.

What I am not sure of is my existing 3 routers and if I should either invest in a mesh network or could I purchase a better extender and/or make use of existing Hardware. I only live in an average size 3 bed detached and would like to also reach the back garden (office is back of house) but I’ve seen well priced outdoor access points.

Wireless the performance is required in the living room for the nvidia shield, consoles and Xbox and this where I have issues. I would also like a good signal for my MacBook and iPad but anything else like phones will just be browsing and very little streaming. The garden doesn’t need streaming either, probably just for browsing and maybe streaming locally (Plex).

Anyone got any upgrade suggestions or configuration of existing kit. I am planning to run cables in the loft for the IP cameras I’ve not installed so would consider doing a drop from the loft down to the living room if a hard wired access point is required but ideally I want to get away with providing better wifi wireless.
 
I have looked at Ubiquiti a couple of times now, will give them another look now.

I’ve bought a reel of CAT6 so will probably have a go, I was thinking up to the loft to my PoE Switch and then come out the side of the house down the to lounge for AP1. The garage is at the front so it will just be another switch in there for NAS and server. Garden I will hopefully reach from the office.

Will this be a better option than upgrading my Router to one of the newer models? Otherwise I will sell both Apple routers and just use my Sky Q hub for DHCP.
 
Thanks to you both for the input, I think a mesh setup is £300+ and without selling my Apple routers I could get 2 x APs for almost half so I like this idea better.

Funds left as well should I really need a garden AP.

Do they all need different SSID names? This was one of the reasons why I looked at mesh because my MacBook would see one Airport but didn’t switch when going down stairs so had to disable wifi and let it pick again otherwise it just played up.
 
I am sold on Ubiquiti now, always been tempted by this kit.

It will be a few weeks before I can do the cabling so might just buy the one for now and then a 2nd when I can patch it in.

Do you think one on the loft above the bedroom with poor coverage would work? The only block would be the plaster board. I don’t think the Mrs will let me mount one in the bedroom ceiling.

Apple routers will be advertised today and going to try the LR model, pro looks quite a nit morre expensive and probably don’t have any 4x4 devices.
 
I am going to end up kitting my whole house out now with all Ubiquiti gear..... I get an OCD bug with Hardware and have to match it so no doubt my TP-Link switches will be replaced soon.

I just wish I could replace the Sky router.
 
ChrisD. said:
You can. Personally, I tried the Edgerouter-L and wasn't a fan. I've since switched to pfSense which works much better and is less 'beta'.
Click to expand...

I thought you couldn’t with sky? I read previously about getting your login details (which I have from wireshaek) but still didn’t work for me even trying to use an open 4each modem.
 
I have the login details already, didn’t know I could actually use them though.

What are you running pfSense on? I have got more than enough Hardware to spin up a VM for that but would still need a modem.

UAP-PRO ordered :)

Another addiction now I’ve probably just got hooked on.
 
I am going to have a go at installing pfsense now in preparation for my AP arriving tomorrow.

Would that be my best option over the edgerouter x?

I’ve just seen that it’s only around £60 so seems a good price to move all my networking to the same eco system
 
BigT said:
I have two LRs, each in a separate loft. One covers about 200sqm of house, half on the same floor as the loft (It's above a single storey extension so much of the coverage required is on the same upstarirs floor) and half the floor below it. Lowest signal, but still perfectly usable, is 20m away on the same floor through four walls. The other AP-LR covers 100sqm of the floor below it and well out into the garden to a distance of about 40m, but it's only got a set of roof tiles to go through to get out there.

Given you're putting a PoE switch up there (check it is compatible with the UAPs or else you'll need to inject some power somewhere along the line) then it's fairly low risk to get one and put it up there when doing the work and see how you go.

I'd sell the Apple routers (unless you're using them for airplay or something unique to them) and get the Sky Q back on routing duties. Soon enough if you get on with the Ubiquiti kit then you'll be lusting after an Edgerouter or USG to replace it.
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Already lusting :)

Thinking of ordering the edgerouter X, can’t find a USG in stock. This seems like the best option over pfsense for a home network.

I’m also reading I need a UniFi key, does this just replace running the software on another machine?
 
One step at a time I think. Will get the AP installed and working with just the Sky Q hub as my dhcp router (no wifi).

This should fix my wifi issues and then I will probably go through my spare Hardware to see if I can pull together a decent pfsense box or VM.

Thankyou to you all for the input, definitely got what I originally wanted from this thread just upgrading my wifi.
 
DIABLO said:
1. 4Gon and Broadbandbuyer have the USG instock, if you have OCD i would recommend getting it as half the dials in the controller software won't work else.
2. Yes the cloud key a dedicated little computer to a run the controller software on it's kind of like a Raspberry Pi.
3. The ER-X is a powerful little Router, a pfsense box is always going to be more flexible and powerful but do you need all those extra features 99% of people do not.
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1. Will have a look, I don’t actually have OCD (I don’t think) but I’m mental with matching. I bought a karcher the other day and had to get all their accessorie. Even the tap adapter which was about 4x the price.

2. The key I will manage without for now, got a few machines running 24/7 and I’ve also go a few unused raspberry pis so will see if I can get away with that.

3. I probably would some of the extra features, I run a home lab and also my own domain for business use but most of it is now moved to azure. I’m a developer but I always like to play with networking.
 
I’ve managed to power mine with my 48v PoE switch. The only thing that wouldn’t work was I install the UniFi software on my server 2016 box just as temp install but it wouldn’t let me do the cloud bit.

Range seems really good as well so don’t think I need a 2nd AP.

Can pick up a non AC version cheap, think I will get that for my 2nd AP on the other side of the house for guest wifi and mobiles/tablets that don’t need the high bandwidth. After that I am going to look at the edgerouter
 
Trusty said:
Thanks for your time, yes, i can run a cable, i already have a cable up to the 2nd floor, it's just not attached to anything, it was in the back of my xbox. Sounds like i should get one of these...
Click to expand...

I’m not sure if there’s a cheap alternative but I’ve been very impressed with mine. They have been recommend several times in the past and I wish I would have bought one sooner now. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed either with the performance and features.
 
What can I use for the cloud UniFi option then instead of purchasing the key.

Think I will run that and buy the edgerouter then because it will be a while before I can spend the time with pfsense
 
There is a nice UniFi container which I’ve got running on docker. I have a ESXI host which has a decent VM running XPEnology so thought I would give it a go.

This seems to work perfectly, have to change a few settings because of the ports but got cloud access now and that VM runs 24/7 anyway.

If I start to get more kit I will probably switch a dedicated VM but for anyone else looking to invest in ubiquiti and already own a synology this will probably cover your requirements and save on purchasing a cloud key.
 
bledd said:
Nice :)

I use a Pi3 for my Unifi, also does my WOL and PiHole DNS duties.
Click to expand...

Pi3 was my next option until I saw the docker container. The ubiquiti stuff has got me hooked though so probably going to order a key and Switch next.

This stuff is worst than crack and Apple.
 
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