on 28-06-2021 12:15
Hi all,
Very new to all things networking so apologies in advance if this question lacks sense or substance.
Moved into a new flat and have VM Wifi, with a Hub 3. This works fine and speeds are totally acceptable, the only issue is that it doesn't reach one side of the flat. As such I am looking for ways to extend the range. Luckily there is wired ethernet that goes all around the flat.
My initial thought was to get a range extender (e.g. the Netgear X4S) and plug this into one of the ethernet ports on the side of the flat with no wifi. However in the description for this kit it mentions that this puts it into wireless access point mode.
So perhaps I should be getting an actual wireless access point instead? It seems that Ubiquiti Unifi products are well reviewed here. However these appear to be very complicated to set up and require additional kit as the Hub 3 has to run as modem-only.
Can anyone give me some advice as to what the best thing is to do here? Are there trusted wireless access points out there that are plug-and-play with the Hub 3? Or is the ranger extender acting like a WAP the best option?
Many thanks,
Sam
Answered! Go to Answer
on 28-06-2021 12:35
on 28-06-2021 12:36
A single Ubiquiti/Unifi Wireless Access Point does not require additional equipment. You can set it up from a phone/iPad. You only need to run additional software if you need any of the extra services it can perform, like issuing vouchers to use the WiFi! I use all Unifi equipment and it is excellent.
on 28-06-2021 13:08
Something like this would suffice for getting wifi and extra ethernet ports as well.
A single Unifi AC Lite or TP-Link EAP225 would also be a good bet, however as they are PoE you need to factor in the need for the supplied power injector.
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on 28-06-2021 12:35
on 28-06-2021 12:36
A single Ubiquiti/Unifi Wireless Access Point does not require additional equipment. You can set it up from a phone/iPad. You only need to run additional software if you need any of the extra services it can perform, like issuing vouchers to use the WiFi! I use all Unifi equipment and it is excellent.
on 28-06-2021 13:08
Something like this would suffice for getting wifi and extra ethernet ports as well.
A single Unifi AC Lite or TP-Link EAP225 would also be a good bet, however as they are PoE you need to factor in the need for the supplied power injector.
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on 05-07-2021 17:29
Thanks so much everyone for your help on this, seems clear that I can achieve what I want with another WAP without having to do anything to the Hub 3.
Does anyone know whether this solution will enable me to have one wifi name that devices automatically switch between? Or will there have to be two separate names that you have to change between manually as you move around the flat?
@Adduxi what do you mean by the supplied power injector? Is that another piece of kit that will have to be installed near the Unifi/TP-Link WAP?
Thanks,
Sam
on 05-07-2021 17:35
You can use one name, but devices, certainly iPhone, will switch between different named SSIDs without intervention.
on 05-07-2021 19:59
on 06-07-2021 13:49
@scollier95 wrote:@Adduxi what do you mean by the supplied power injector? Is that another piece of kit that will have to be installed near the Unifi/TP-Link WAP?
A PoE injector is a small piece of networking kit that "injects" power into an ethernet cable. They can be located wherever is convenient to both the cable and a power supply. However many people, including myself, would recommend a PoE switch. These switches can run power over ethernet to any devices connected to the switch, e.g. Cameras, Access Points. It's a tidier solution than using additional injectors, but is an extra cost.
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on 06-07-2021 15:35
PoE switches are definitely the best option. I have a 24 port and 2 x 8 port ones. If I happened to use all those ports for devices I would require 38 power plugs!