Soldato
Mikrotik router and U6-LR or similar would be my go to if I'm being honest
Router in the loft all day long.
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*** Official Ubiquiti Discussion Thread ***
- Thread starter RoyMi6
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Router in the loft all day long.
Soldato
Finally switched over to Ubiquiti for our network at home. Have a UDR in the office which does a reasonable job covering downstairs and acting as the gateway/router and have put an U6-PRO in the loft which covers upstairs, with a switch in the loft with it. Need to make sure channels and power are sorted as ring camera on the garage kept loosing the 2.4Ghz network and having issues with devices roaming, I suspect as their is overlap in some of the areas.
Soldato
The overwhelming positive of having everything in the loft is it’s really clean and takes up zero plugs or shelf space.
The biggest negative is you have to go in the loft to reset anything. I rarely find switches need a hard reset but routers can require manual rebooting after a firmware update.
And if you’re doing the loft route, then definitely consider a small patch panel, either a simple patching frame or something like a 6U cabinet that could also hold your switch and router. If you get a power distribution unit (a rack mountable extension lead) it also makes everything SO much tidier.
Soldato
Power on the access point won’t do anything for the Ring camera because it’s the Ring camera that can’t reach the access point, not the other way round. There are really only 3 WiFi channels, 1, 6 and 11 and you’re probably better speaking to your neighbours if you have issues. I managed to organise my whole street so that no-one overlapped. It does sound slightly as if you need another access point closer to the garage. Given that it’s only for the camera you could get away with literally any UniFi access point - stick up a wanted ad in MM and doubtless someone will have an old AC-lite they want rid of. The greatest strength of UniFi is if you need an extra access point, you just plug one in.
Soldato
[QUOTE="J1nxy, post: 36843389, member: 7867 ]having issues with devices roaming,
[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure what you mean by this. Definitely don’t turn on the ‘fast roaming’ feature. It doesn’t do what you think it does. If you mean that clients are hanging on to weaker signals longer than you’d like, the set the RSSI figure lower so the access points kick them off when the signal strength drops. Some folks can get a slightly irrational obsession about having all the WiFi bars lit up all the time. We all want the best WiFi possible, but ultimately the WiFi is the tool to deliver the content and as long as the users are happy with the content delivery, forget about the WiFi.
[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure what you mean by this. Definitely don’t turn on the ‘fast roaming’ feature. It doesn’t do what you think it does. If you mean that clients are hanging on to weaker signals longer than you’d like, the set the RSSI figure lower so the access points kick them off when the signal strength drops. Some folks can get a slightly irrational obsession about having all the WiFi bars lit up all the time. We all want the best WiFi possible, but ultimately the WiFi is the tool to deliver the content and as long as the users are happy with the content delivery, forget about the WiFi.
Soldato
I followed an optimisation guide, which suggested dropping the transmit power down on 2.4Ghz on both APs, which I did, and subsequently the camera kept disconnecting. Now I've reverted that setting and set fixed channels things have stabilised. I need to set the RSSI figure, I just hadn't had time to do it, just to push the devices to the nearer AP. Things have settled down its just taken overnight for it to do so and for most devices to shuffle to the nearer AP.
Soldato
Honestly from experience it depends on the client device whether it's more likely to roam or stick with the AP it's already connected to. Phones generally seem to more likely roam, laptops it depends on the network adapter, some even allows you to change roaming aggressiveness in the driver settings.
Soldato
This is correct, the client is always the decider when it comes to roaming. That is just the accepted way now.
Soldato
What're peoples thoughts on the best options here? In the past i tried going down the Unifi route (had a USG/Cloud Key and an AC Pro), but it was an old house with thick walls and i'm not sure i had much success.
We're in the process of building a house now and i'll have the benefit of running Cat6 around the house. Here's a general layout (might change slightly - but the configuration probably won't)
I'll have a server cabinet in the "Lavadero" which will be housing solar batteries and so will set it so all cabling terminates in there. We're also going to end up with Starlink and that'll be connected to that section.
I'm trying to decide what the best approach is and i know there's a lot of crossover with Unifi stuff. I did debate just sticking 2 dream machines in the main lounge and then the 2nd bedroom which will be my office to provide the router/networking. However i'm wondering if i should be looking at other/better options.
I'll want a couple of external AP's to make sure connection is good outside. The plot itself is around 12 acres and if we can cover as much of it as possible it'd be great. Although there will be some outbuildings and i plan to run cabling to those. We'll also have a couple of external cameras.
Am i best to just go with something like
Unifi Express
NVR (the cloudkey+ didn't seem to have much storage options)
24 port POE switch (probably not Unifi due to cost)
Access point on the terrace
Access point in the lounge area
Think that would provide enough coverage? My laptop will be hard wired, as will the TV. The only real wifi devices will be my wifes laptop, various phones and then any IOT devices (googles, smart plugs, hue bulbs etc)
We're in the process of building a house now and i'll have the benefit of running Cat6 around the house. Here's a general layout (might change slightly - but the configuration probably won't)
I'll have a server cabinet in the "Lavadero" which will be housing solar batteries and so will set it so all cabling terminates in there. We're also going to end up with Starlink and that'll be connected to that section.
I'm trying to decide what the best approach is and i know there's a lot of crossover with Unifi stuff. I did debate just sticking 2 dream machines in the main lounge and then the 2nd bedroom which will be my office to provide the router/networking. However i'm wondering if i should be looking at other/better options.
I'll want a couple of external AP's to make sure connection is good outside. The plot itself is around 12 acres and if we can cover as much of it as possible it'd be great. Although there will be some outbuildings and i plan to run cabling to those. We'll also have a couple of external cameras.
Am i best to just go with something like
Unifi Express
NVR (the cloudkey+ didn't seem to have much storage options)
24 port POE switch (probably not Unifi due to cost)
Access point on the terrace
Access point in the lounge area
Think that would provide enough coverage? My laptop will be hard wired, as will the TV. The only real wifi devices will be my wifes laptop, various phones and then any IOT devices (googles, smart plugs, hue bulbs etc)
I presume since this is Spain then all the walls are concrete, have a play with the Unifi designer and see what works. I can't think of a configuration with two APs that would adequately cover bedroom 1 if there's an AP in the lounge and bedroom 2. It might be worth looking at in-wall APs for the bedrooms which then give you some wired points if you need them.
I'd expect an AP covering the lounge and an in-wall in bedroom 1 to be more than enough for the terrace area.
I'd expect an AP covering the lounge and an in-wall in bedroom 1 to be more than enough for the terrace area.
Soldato
Cheers, the outer walls will be an insulated thermal concrete block, but the inner walls should be a standard basic brick.
My theory was bedroom 1 didn't "need" great wifi as i'd be wired in, but it probably makes sense to have decent coverage. Was aiming for an outside AP on the terrace, it's covered and won't get wet.
It's expensive but I think if I were building a home from scratch and running ethernet everywhere I'd use Ubiquiti's in-wall APs. More discrete than discs on the ceiling and great coverage in each room and an inbuilt switch to boot..
Outside is no problem for the terrace. Ubiquiti do a few weatherproof APs.
You know you'll not get 12 acres covered with WiFi though? With no obstructions I can get about 1/3 of an acre covered with some WiFi via a single outdoor AP.
When it comes to the outbuildings, depending on their distance from the home and if they already have power, do look into something like a point-to-point 60Ghz wireless solution as a potential cost effective alternative to burying and running a cable over long distances. Something like Mikrotik's wireless wire acts just like you'd laid a cable and can cover hundreds of metres (I forget the name of Ubiquiti's equivalent). Might not make sense if they are close by but for distance they are good value and work just as well.
Outside is no problem for the terrace. Ubiquiti do a few weatherproof APs.
You know you'll not get 12 acres covered with WiFi though? With no obstructions I can get about 1/3 of an acre covered with some WiFi via a single outdoor AP.
When it comes to the outbuildings, depending on their distance from the home and if they already have power, do look into something like a point-to-point 60Ghz wireless solution as a potential cost effective alternative to burying and running a cable over long distances. Something like Mikrotik's wireless wire acts just like you'd laid a cable and can cover hundreds of metres (I forget the name of Ubiquiti's equivalent). Might not make sense if they are close by but for distance they are good value and work just as well.
Associate
Any ideas when the Unifi Express is expected to release?
Seems like the no brainer option for a simple wifi router to replace the talktalk junk on a secondary 350/50 connection I have just had installed. Been looking at alternatives like the Mikrotik HAP AX 2/3 as they would be immediately available but thinking I should wait.
The short term usage of this line would be backup/alternative to a 900/900 connection I am currently using with pfsense but want to migrate away from. I have had Unifi gear before and didn't really gel with it, but just looking for something simple and discrete so the Express looks perfect.
Seems like the no brainer option for a simple wifi router to replace the talktalk junk on a secondary 350/50 connection I have just had installed. Been looking at alternatives like the Mikrotik HAP AX 2/3 as they would be immediately available but thinking I should wait.
The short term usage of this line would be backup/alternative to a 900/900 connection I am currently using with pfsense but want to migrate away from. I have had Unifi gear before and didn't really gel with it, but just looking for something simple and discrete so the Express looks perfect.
Soldato
Ubiquiti are legally required to ship them the UK with a UK charger, hence the delay. Which is annoying given its USB C. My supplier is showing a UK container arriving in the last week of January in Rotterdam. But they literally don’t know what is in the shipments. So who knows?
Associate
Ah yes that is annoying, would almost make sense to offer it without a supply! Thanks for the info anyway, gives me a ball park - just need to be patient.
Soldato
Pfsense with multi WAN option should work well. What’s the ultimate aim, seperate WAN circuits or just the 900/900?
I’ve waiting on them for parents for their Toob 900/900 setup, but for myself it’s prob not for me.
Soldato
Soldato
I wonder if it’ll be the same PSU for the Lite?
Associate
Not entirely sure what the ultimate aim is to be honest. I want to get the 900/900 setup onto opnsense, but have various things like VLANs and separate gateways for VPN that I want to redo.
Ultimately a dual WAN setup would make sense, but thinking it is more sensible to use this second line as a tinker free setup where if I mess soemthing up with the main setup, we still have a connection for kids and working from home.
To be honest there is a fair chance I will just end up with 2x opnsense setups!
UDM/UDM SE would allow multiple WAN in load balance or failover (which is pretty seamless), and you can define policy routes for certain traffic to use a specific WAN or VPN tunnel.