Setting up a couple of WAP's

d4ns

d4ns

d4ns

Associate
Joined
6 Mar 2010
Posts
150
I am needing to extend my wireless signal at work. I tried the Powerline adapters but due to the old wiring etc were next to useless. I have purchased 2 x Ubiquiti Unifi AP's. These came with PoE adapters so quite simple to run cabling for.

Wiring is straight forward i think. I shall be connecting both via separate cables to the BThub5.

Now what I am unsure of:

We have several handheld devices that connect throughout the building that I would like to roam. I want them to select the best signal rather than wait until they lose signal. From what I have read, I should set the same IP address for the hub and the WAP's (such as 192.168.1.200?), then select channels 1, 6 and 11 that should be in the settings? I could be completely wrong however. haha

Thank you for any help you can give. :)
 
You don't want the same IP on each, otherwise none will work properly :)

You want the same SSID on each and for them to be on different channels. Although the Unifi units are managed, so you connect them both to the router and then use the unifi controller software to find them and you then configure them as one unit (so setup a single SSID and password, just set it the same as is on the router) and they do all the rest themselves.
 
As above you'll need to configure those APs using the supplied management software. For all intensive purposes to can't configure them directly.

Install the software and get the APs adopted. You can leave the management software to handle most of the settings.

You'll probably want to disable the AP in the BT Hub.
 
With the unifi controller its pretty easy. Adopt the 2 APs to your computer.

They should find themselves as long as they are all plumbed in on the same network. Once you chose to adopt them you will have to wait for a little bit while they provision and update. Usually about 5 mins i would guess.

You can then set up a Wifi group, if you go to settings you can change the default wifi settings there or create a new group to, as you can have multiple APs on the same controller over different SSIDs and networks.

I think in the setup process you choose what SSID, Security and Password your want for the APs, so its normally all setup from the get go.

Now you can set each AP to have a static address, which you can do as long as they are on the 192.168.1.x range but are different numbers at the end. But since the controller will find them based on hostname it shouldnt be an issue.

The only other thing i will say, the APs can only be managed by the controller software, so its best to install it on a computer that won't move from the location.
I've installed them on my laptop before and the only way to make changes is to put your laptop on the network and open the controller. So if there is a cabled computer there i would recommend installing the controller on there.
 
Ah thank you all very much. I was just complicating things then. At least i learnt a few extra bits while searching. There is computer connected directly to the hub so will be perfect.

Thanks again. :)
 
Disable the wifi on your router and just use the wifi from the Unifi APs

If you need wifi near the router, get a 3rd AP.

They will hand off nicely to each other.


Personally I'd give them static IPs that are all outside the DHCP range.

IE...

If the router is 192.168.1.254, set the range as 1.1 to 1.240, then set the APs as.. 1.253 and 1.252
 
The auto-handoff is a bit hit and miss and will only work when the controller is on, as will any guest access portal. If you have any issues drop me a trust :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom