Recommendable wireless router?

[Cavallino]

As title folks. I quickly googled a few reviews but I'm still non the wiser.

So would welcome your feedback/advise/experience!

The key is range of transmission. Struggling with my current super hub2.

Willing to spend £100 or £200 if there is a marked difference in performance.

Also not sure about MUMIMO? Nice to have but not essential?

Typically 2 to 3 users at home steaming YouTube/browning and email.

Thanks.

 

[Cavallino]

Oh right, thanks Diablo, what makes this different to the usual stereotypical routers that I am more familiar with (e.g. the ones that look like they sit on a desk with antennas jutting out of it, looking like a spider?)

 

[Cavallino]

It's not a router it's a Access Point, a AP purely handles WiFi distribution any routing will be done by your SH. This is enterprise level gear so you get the almost guaranteed decent performance and comes with the support, features you'd expect not the usual tat that is made for as cheap as possible for the consumer market.

I see fully understood now, thanks.

Problem is that ideally I want to hook my router/AP next to the SH as wiring to another location via Ethernet would be a problem for me...

Could I perhaps stick this next to my SH and not necessarily mount it on the ceiling?

(ALso I assume since I will put the SH into modem mode, this means I need to buy a separate switch or equivalent next to it if I have a lot of hardwire Ethernet devices).

Thanks.

EDIT: sorry just one final question - are these ubquiti devices that much better than your consumer albeit higher end wireless routers like say your asus AC3200?

 

[Cavallino]

I edited my first post as i realized that the SH would need to do the routing so you would just switch the off the wifi on the SH or you could use the wifi on both depending on setup.

You can just stick it next to the router as you said but depending on the location of your SH it probably wouldn't be optimal as it is designed as you said to be mounted to wall/ceilings (the reason it's has not not external antennas). Have a read of the thread in this forum and ask some questions that would be my suggestion.

Do you not have any network cable running else where in the house at all?

Thanks for clarifying.

Regretably no Ethernet infrastructure in the house.

Is this an older version of the AC LR version you mentioned in your previous post?

Looks like it can be mounted against a wall as well as ceiling?

 

[Cavallino]

Well in truth Quartz, its predominantly two people and even then most of the time its not at the same time.

(E.g. wife on her iPhone, me on my main rig which is hard wired), or occasionally on iPad.

Id like to think with a 150Mbit connection that I can have a home WiFi setup that can support two users using YouTube

 

[Cavallino]

I'm sure you're right Q.

Just one final question if I may folks...

Why is the consensus that everyone is recommending the Uniquiti devices over same the usual "spider lookin" wireless routers from the usual players such as Netgear, Asus, TP Link and the like?

Are these Ubquiti devices that much better really?

 

[Cavallino]

Yes, IME they are better.

What is your problem though? Is it only YT viewing?

Thanks Dooksy.

Its predominantly range, in tandem with speed and drop outs.

For example currently the SH2 is located at one corner of my reasonable sized 4 bed house. If I go into the opposite corner on the top floor of the house, I barely get any signal/drop outs, hence I think the SH2 is not adequate to propagate the signal that far.

Hence looking for alternatives.

As I mentioned above, extra wiring etc is not a possibility, so I want to use something that is connected to the SH2 and put the SH2 in modem mode most likely.

ALTERNATIVELY, I could use a homeplug to then connect a Ubquiti or other device to a little bit more central location in the house (well its still at the edge but centre/edge). I have a 500Mbit rated homeplug which I am getting 499Mbit so I could theoretically use this.

But if these Ubiquitis are all they cracked up to be I think this is not necessary?

Would appreciate your experience Dooksy (and others!)

 

[Cavallino]

I have a 4 bed house and I get coverage everywhere with my Ubiquiti AC Pro.

You could keep your SH2 in router mode and turn wireless off, then point the AP gateway IP to the SH2's address.

Interesting, yes I could do that. Good idea.

If its not too much bother, could I ask you to describe (or better yet, illustrate?) where your AC Pro is located in the house?

They're not magically better. The 'USP' is they can be cabled in to some optimal location, e.g. ceiling-mounted somewhere centrally. Hardware wise I'm not aware of any substantial differences, software wise I think they do a bit of clever interference detection. Practically (AFAIK) they're more of a pain as they require a machine somewhere else on the network (or remote) to act as a management console. Great if you've got a whole building of them.

Arstechnica did a piece on them last year and explains the difference nicely:

That's very insightful, thanks. Will read the article in detail later.

Using powerline to an AP isn't a bad idea, as long as the wiring is conducive. Do you get that speed to the socket where you'd be positioning the AP?

Again, good point, I should measure this, whats the best way to measure throughput over a wired network?

Turning to the more conventional units that you can just sit by your modem:

There are some very futuristic looking units close to the £200 mark which have great reviews: Netgear R8000, D-Link DIR-890, ASUS RT-AC3200, TP-LINK Archer C3200... but they're probably overkill for you.

I'd suggest a NETGEAR R7000. Awarded #1 in the AC1900 category on SNB last year. Can be had for about £140. Seems to have very good range. http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...1900-first-look-netgear-r7000-a-asus-rt-ac68u

May I ask what you mean by overkill? Honestly, I don't mind shelling out a couple of tons on this, if it means I get good transmission range to all parts of my house. Was seriously considering the RT-AC3200, but want to investigate more about this vs the AC LR/ AC Pro.

 

[Cavallino]

It's downstairs and mounted high up on the wall in a little network/comms room I have. I get coverage in the garden and at the end of my road.

There's me and my lodger, we're both heavy internet users and most of his stuff is wireless. We both watch Netflix separately and use wireless devices without issue.

I really don't think you'll beat a proper AP with an all-in-one router. I have tried a few over the years and the AP just simply works. What's great is if you find it is lacking for your house (unless you have super thick walls it will be fine) you can just plug and play a second one.

You're really talking me into this now. I'm sold I think.

Incidentally, I saw some comments about DHCP setup and the like, are these not out of the box plug and play? Needs a little setting up?

I guess I can just plug this into one of the ports on the back of my Superhub2 and must turn on DHCP on the Ubquiti device?

 

[Cavallino]

You need to go on and set up the SSID and security. When in there point its default gateway to that of the Superhub.

I have DHCP on my router and on the AP. Any wired clients get their IP from the router, and wireless get it from the AP. You can do it whichever way you want but that works for me. Obviously it's wise to split the scope so there's no overlap.

CHeers, when you mean scope you mean the DHCP range I guess? Since the AP and the SH will be assigning independent of each other I guess?

You only need a controller permanently connected if you want to use some of the enterprise features otherwise you just connect with a PC or smartphone app for initial setup or to change settings.

I have the D7000 and the DSL-AC68U can't get WiFi signal with on the other side of my 3 bedroom house going though 3 brick walls and a floor so unless he is in a modern house with studwork walls I doubt either would cut it with the location he is using.

I see Diablo. Are you now using the Ubiquiti I take it?

 

[Cavallino]

Sorry, I'm chatting crap. The AP is forwarding DHCP requests to my router. You can just set the AP to DHCP and it will get what it needs from the router. If you need an IP so you remember it, set that on your router.

Excellent, many thanks Dooksy.

Incidentally, any reason the AC Pro over say the AC LR?