Router or Mesh

jaket · 16 Jan 2018 at 16:57

Sooo... I'm looking to replace my AC56U as it just isn't up-to the task of my household anymore.

We are roughly 2000sq ft over three stories in a new build, the VDSL comes in downstairs in the centre middle + centre of the house. The 2nd floor barely receives single, we struggle to stream 1080p content on the 1st floor. The ground floor is fine for obvious reasons.

We are connecting, 2 iPhones, 1 iPad, 2 Macs, FireTV, Xbox, Denon, Evohome plus guests. There are no ethernet cables to any rooms thus a wifi solution is ideal. I don't really want to pull cables over 2/3 floors, not even sure if its possible.

I'm on Vodafone and get full 80/20, swapping the Vodafone router out to a HG612 once I've unlocked it so looking to see what the best option is for multi 1080p streams plus solid connections for working from home

Thanks for help.

neil_g · 16 Jan 2018 at 17:27

Definitely a multi ap setup for that sort of property.

Whether a mesh (google, tplink or Orbi) or multi ap (Ubiquiti) depends on whether you can install a cable backhaul or not.

pcfarrar · 16 Jan 2018 at 18:50

Look at Ubiqiuti AmpliFi it’s the consumer version of UniFi. Support is excellent and it has the same reliability and performance as UniFi AP’s.

jaket · 16 Jan 2018 at 21:30

neil_g said:
Definitely a multi ap setup for that sort of property.

Whether a mesh (google, tplink or Orbi) or multi ap (Ubiquiti) depends on whether you can install a cable backhaul or not.

How easy is it to pull a cable through? Would two APs be ok, ground and 1st floor without cable backhaul?

pcfarrar said:
Look at Ubiqiuti AmpliFi it’s the consumer version of UniFi. Support is excellent and it has the same reliability and performance as UniFi AP’s.

Reports are other systems more performant but reports are older than six months... got any links to recent reviews with latest firmware?

pcfarrar · 16 Jan 2018 at 22:45

jaket said:
Reports are other systems more performant but reports are older than six months... got any links to recent reviews with latest firmware?

You probably won’t find any recent reviews, there have been significant improvements in the last few weeks in the beta firmware. The only real downside is the high cost.

jaket · 17 Jan 2018 at 06:46

pcfarrar said:
You probably won’t find any recent reviews, there have been significant improvements in the last few weeks in the beta firmware. The only real downside is the high cost.

Thanks, could I get away with router and 1 AP for Amplifi?

pcfarrar · 17 Jan 2018 at 08:12

jaket said:
Thanks, could I get away with router and 1 AP for Amplifi?

It's best to buy 2 AmpliFi routers, the 2nd router can operate as a mesh point but it also then gives you the flexibility of 4 additional network ports and also ethernet backhaul if required.

ChrisD. · 17 Jan 2018 at 10:52

If you can get cables through then look at the Unifi Access Points. They really are superb and will give more coverage than you expect.

Pyr0m@nI@]{ · 17 Jan 2018 at 12:59

jaket said:
Thanks, could I get away with router and 1 AP for Amplifi?

pcfarrar said:
It's best to buy 2 AmpliFi routers, the 2nd router can operate as a mesh point but it also then gives you the flexibility of 4 additional network ports and also ethernet backhaul if required.

I've just done exactly this. 2 Amplifi HD routers connected wirelessly, allowing me to use an ethernet port with full speed internet (200/20) upstairs along with faster and more reliable WiFi (than the virgin hub3) too

jaket · 17 Jan 2018 at 17:46

Not sure I’ve got use of Ethernet, everything connects via WiFi. I’ve got a thunderbolt dongle for the Mac when on client sites but don’t like cables hanging around everywhere.

I like the idea of Amplifi as it’s hidden from view when plugged into a socket but then I’ve got kids so they might play with the antennas.

I like the size of Google WiFi but want more control.

Orbi and Velop seem too big for me to sit on a surface!

Pyr0m@nI@]{ · 17 Jan 2018 at 18:35

In my case, the second Amplifi router is just connected wirelessly upstairs. I'm only connecting an ethernet cable to it to give network access to a PC

jaket · 17 Jan 2018 at 19:09

Hmm though choices. Google is a nice price point. Better than the £350 for Amplifi!

jaket · 22 Jan 2018 at 15:50

I decided on Google Wifi. All setup and done within 20 minutes including an update to latest firmware. Full coverage of 68/18 over the whole house, yet to check the garden.

bledd · 22 Jan 2018 at 15:58

How many units did you use out of interest?

jaket · 22 Jan 2018 at 16:18

bledd said:
How many units did you use out of interest?

I went for two units, one on ground floor in our cupboard bang in the middle of the house, then 2nd in master bedroom on 1st floor. Which gives me full coverage at full speed intersebs. I don't have anything local

RockSteddy · 24 Jan 2018 at 11:02

Apologies for jumping on to this thread but I'm after some similar advice. I'm moving to a new three story house in a couple of weeks so am looking in to possible ways to get connectivity throughout the home. I may just go the CAT6 route as long as it does not cause too much disruption (I hate re-decorating!) but I like the idea of a Mesh network as a cleaner/quicker solution. With cost in mind do you think I could get away with either Google Wifi or Amplifi routers on the gorund and top floors only or do you think another mesh point would be needed on the first floor to get the signal to reach the top floor?

Ace T · 24 Jan 2018 at 12:08

Has anybody used the Amplifi HD setup with Virgin Superhub2 and what is the general experience and feedback ? Looking to improve speeds all around the house. Also does it have both 2.4 and 5 GHz ?

Pyr0m@nI@]{ · 24 Jan 2018 at 12:15

Ace T said:
Has anybody used the Amplifi HD setup with Virgin Superhub2 and what is the general experience and feedback ? Looking to improve speeds all around the house. Also does it have both 2.4 and 5 GHz ?

I'm using 2 Amplifi Hd routers with my Virgin Hub3 with no issues. It was really easy to setup. I get much better speeds around the house due to having better coverage. Yes it has 2.4 and 5ghz

RockSteddy said:
Apologies for jumping on to this thread but I'm after some similar advice. I'm moving to a new three story house in a couple of weeks so am looking in to possible ways to get connectivity throughout the home. I may just go the CAT6 route as long as it does not cause too much disruption (I hate re-decorating!) but I like the idea of a Mesh network as a cleaner/quicker solution. With cost in mind do you think I could get away with either Google Wifi or Amplifi routers on the gorund and top floors only or do you think another mesh point would be needed on the first floor to get the signal to reach the top floor?

Personally, I'd put one on each floor

Ace T · 24 Jan 2018 at 13:43

So instead of buying the full kit with the magnetic antenna you went for 2 cubes ? So can you connect one router to another then ?

crinkleshoes · 24 Jan 2018 at 13:52

You guys would probably be surprised with the range of a single Ruckus R310 AP... likely to cover the whole house and garden with a single AP... although you can always add another meshed if you need more.

You can get them for decent prices on eBay. £150-180 each is a price I would be OK with.

They'll wipe the floor with any consumer-orientated product (and most enterprise grade units).