Network change up - Move to APs

Firegod

Firegod

Firegod

Soldato
Joined
12 Sep 2003
Posts
10,995
Location
Newcastle, UK
Hi all

I currently have my entire network / WiFi kit setup in the loft. Property is a bungalow. The loft is fully boarded out with lights, electric - also the external 5G connectivity comes in through the roof to the loft. So it is a good place to hide all the kit, however, not ideal I guess when you think about WiFi dispersal patterns. It doesn't really go down over. I don't want to move my mesh nodes downstairs as the XT12's are monsterous so I thought I could maybes revamp and finally get some APs installed and a switch. I made a little diagram. :)

Network.jpg


It'll all be 2.5Gb apart from the External 5G Gateway which is still currently 1Gb but I do fancy changing that at some point so I thought best to future proof the rest of the gear. Price wise there was no downside to spec'ing kit that came with 2.5Gb ports. Cabling I have in place mostly already, which is Cat.6a. May need one or two extra short lengths to go from the extra POE+ injectors.

I want to go with Zyxel kit, that makes my network entirely Zyxel and means some of the stuff can be used with the Nebula cloud for management.

Switch
APs
POE+ Injectors

I figured this will cost about £500 but that I could sell my current Asus XT12 units and get maybes half of that back.

Will this work OK? Any snags or gotchas I may have missed? Is the distance between APs enough (The hallway is a straight shoot with rooms off to either side). I am right in thinking that with these APs spec'd that I can roam between them, just like now with the Mesh units I have? Sorry probably a dumb question but this would be my first network using APs. :)

Cheers.
 
I'm a bit confused on the PoE injector between the switch and the 5G modem, what is it supplying power to? If it's for the modem are you absolutely sure it can accept PoE power?
 
Orcvader said:
I'm a bit confused on the PoE injector between the switch and the 5G modem, what is it supplying power to? If it's for the modem are you absolutely sure it can accept PoE power?
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Hey, aye the external Router I have is PoE only. :) Zyxel NR7101.
 
Firegod said:
Will this work OK? Any snags or gotchas I may have missed? Is the distance between APs enough (The hallway is a straight shoot with rooms off to either side). I am right in thinking that with these APs spec'd that I can roam between them, just like now with the Mesh units I have? Sorry probably a dumb question but this would be my first network using APs. :)
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I have similar Zyxel APs (1xNWA210AX, 1xWAX610D) and they work great, I don't have any problems roaming between them. Mine are currently closer together (about 8m) so 12m should be fine.
 
SoundsGood said:
I have similar Zyxel APs (1xNWA210AX, 1xWAX610D) and they work great, I don't have any problems roaming between them. Mine are currently closer together (about 8m) so 12m should be fine.
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Hey! Oh that is great news, amazing. On the Zyxel forum they said the APs just need the same SSID and security settings for roaming o work between the units. Can I ask, do you know what about the channels, do I have to have both APs on the same channels or different channels to avoid interference and will that impact roaming?
 
Firegod said:
Hey! Oh that is great news, amazing. On the Zyxel forum they said the APs just need the same SSID and security settings for roaming o work between the units. Can I ask, do you know what about the channels, do I have to have both APs on the same channels or different channels to avoid interference and will that impact roaming?
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I'm using Unifi instead but for roaming to correctly work, you want them to be on the same channel. I only recommend different channels (even on the same SSID) if the access points don't support roaming.
 
Gotcha that's brill thank you so much. My big fear is splashing £££ of pounds and not being able to get them to work haha.
 
If I am reading the diagram right, the poe injector after the internet gateway is in the loft, and therefore you are getting power to that injector in the loft somehow. If that's the case why not do away with all 3 injectors and the unmanaged switch, replace all that with a POE switch to which you supply power, and it supplies POE-ed ethernet connections to the 2 wifi APs.
 
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tangey said:
If I am reading the diagram right, the poe injector after the internet gateway is in the loft, and therefore you are getting power to that injector in the loft somehow. If that's the case why not do away with all 3 injectors and the unmanaged switch, replace all that with a POE switch to which you supply power, and it supplies POE-ed ethernet connections to the 2 wifi APs.
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I couldn't find a suitable zyxel poe switch that had 2.5gb ports. So ended up with an unmanaged small 5 port 2.5gb switch and just specd poe injectors. I only need to buy x2 as I have one already in use with the gateway.
 
Just thinking, do I need to set my 5G Router outside (currently in pass through mode whilst in use with the Asus XT12 mesh nodes) back to full fat router mode to work with the new Zyxel APs? I guess the APs don't dish out DHCP etc so I'll need my Router to handle all that stuff again?

Managed to get both units mounted to the ceiling over the weekend. I was hoping the cable would be hidden by the AP but no way would Cat 6a. bend that far back on itself. So had to offset the hole and then used a small piece of D-line trunking to hide the cable which goes straight into the side of the AP. Looks pretty neat and keeps the cable straight. Just waiting on POE Injectors and Switch to arrive now (tomorrow).

Zyxel-AP.jpg


Thanks.
 
Firegod said:
I was hoping the cable would be hidden by the AP but no way would Cat 6a. bend that far back on itself. So had to offset the hole and then used a small piece of D-line trunking to hide the cable which goes straight into the side of the AP. Looks pretty neat and keeps the cable straight.
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Hence why Cat6 is still a much better option for the home :)
 
Firegod said:
Just thinking, do I need to set my 5G Router outside (currently in pass through mode whilst in use with the Asus XT12 mesh nodes) back to full fat router mode to work with the new Zyxel APs? I guess the APs don't dish out DHCP etc so I'll need my Router to handle all that stuff again?
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Yes, as all these APs are handling is just the wireless.
 
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