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  • #2140498

    Home network w/Wired Access Points?

    by spicedham78 ·

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    Hi! This is my first post after searching through the forum for some answers. A bit of background about me: I have little to no network experience. I’m somewhat technically savvy (front end developer, and I’ve worked from home going on 13 years now), but definitely not so much with networking/hardware. So the questions I’m about to ask might seem blindingly obvious, but I wasn’t sure where else to start.

    I have a very old, very solid and dense, 4-floor house that I was able to have wired with cat-6. All the cat-6 to each of the floors comes together in my first floor office. Two main goals: create a single house-wide WiFi 6 network that won’t cause a disconnect when moving around the house with a mobile device, and being able to hard-wire in some desktops and TVs to the network. I have a CentryLink 1 gig fiber connection to the house.

    Outside of creating a mesh network with Eeros or similar – of which I’m familiar with, but have some reliability issues with, what other options are there for something that should probably be dead simple? I don’t think I really need the “mesh” part since I can connect everything back to my router. Should I be looking at “Wired Access Points” or something else? I know I’ll need a switch or router for all the ethernet cables to join together in my office, but what goes on the other end?

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    • #2414993
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      That would be a mesh network.

      by rproffitt ·

      In reply to Home network w/Wired Access Points?

      Anything else and I’ve seen that drop as you connect to the next “Wired Access Point” or hotspot.

      I can’t guess your aversion to the mesh systems since that’s exactly why they were developed (to attempt to make that handover without the drop.)

      • #2414992

        Backhaul and reliability

        by spicedham78 ·

        In reply to That would be a mesh network.

        I’ve only had experience with 2 mesh networks, a 3 unit Luma system which I pre-ordered have not had any issues with in the 5 years or so I’ve used it, and a 6 unit Eero system which needs to be rebooted 5-10 times a week Both systems were easy to setup.

        My concern (besides the reliability with Eeros I’m having right now), is that I’m able to get as close to possible the maximum up/down speeds that my fiber connection provides. My understanding – and please correct my ignorance! – is that mesh networks are great for taking one connection and spreading it over a larger area that’s perceived as one large wifi hotspot by users, which is what I want. Much more efficient and effective than repeaters. I think I can either daisy-chain or have all of the mesh nodes connect to a switch which connects to another mesh node which connects to the router or modem. But is that any different than the sort of units used in schools or hotels? Maybe I’m not understanding the purpose or function of a wired access point, but I thought they offered a similar end result to users, but made a more efficient use of a wired-backend.

        Given all that, if mesh is still what’s going to provide that sort of coverage in my house, what systems would you recommend? Would you wire them all directly to the router? Or first to a switch, then a mesh unit, and then the router?

        Edited: Forgot to add a thank you! Also, while the Lumas have been great, they seem to be discontinued and I’m trying to future proof this new setup to last for at least 5 years.

        • #2414991
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          As to speed.

          by rproffitt ·

          In reply to Backhaul and reliability

          Sorry but the only way to get top speed is a classic design without the mesh features. For me I didn’t care about the seamless so many try to achieve and for our home we get by with two access points. Yes the speed drops with distance and more users but that’s how WiFi works. That’s not broke at all.

          As to reliability, that reboot almost daily means it’s either plain broken, has out of date firmware and needs to be packed up for return if the maker can’t fix it. We know other systems work. Go with someone else.

          https://www.cnet.com/news/best-mesh-wi-fi-routers-of-2021-asus-eero-netgear-orbi-google-nest-wifi-and-more/ mentions eero but it’s missing on the list as I read it today.

          As to configuration, go with the maker’s suggested deployment/configuration.

          Folk I know use Meraki as well for offices where down time is not acceptable. https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/WiFi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Wireless_Mesh_Networking

        • #2414990

          Got it

          by spicedham78 ·

          In reply to As to speed.

          Thank you for the explanation. At this point, eeros are out of warranty, but there very well be faulty hardware there.

          It sounds like mesh probably is what I really want – I’ve run into enough hassle where a device isn’t smart enough to switch to the stronger network after it connected to another one first.

        • #2414989
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          Last comment and advice on the eeros.

          by rproffitt ·

          In reply to Got it

          Be sure the firmware is up to date. And that the setup is as plain as it can be.

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