Access points for the new house – quantities and locations
Access points for the new house – quantities and locations
You're planning a new home with a larger space and want to ensure strong WiFi coverage. You've already ordered two UniFi 6 Lite Access Points, but you're considering whether five might be better based on the design center's recommendations. The house spans three stories—including the basement—with a total living area around 4,700 square feet. Sharing your layout sketches will help determine optimal placement and coverage.
When using the Design Center everything appears fine. Consider these aspects: ethernet uplink, PoE switch versus PoE injectors, central router/firewall, and UniFi Controller host.
Check out LawrenceSystems and CrossTalk Solutions on YouTube. They both offer MSP services and have numerous tutorials on Unifi, along with testing videos and WiFi guides. Tom from Lawrence System specializes in installing Unifi and pfSense, bringing valuable experience to setup configurations for stable performance.
You have the flexibility to set them up with separate channels for 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals. Be aware that broad channel widths (like 80MHz to 160MHz) can boost speeds but increase overlap chances. To mitigate this, lower the power on each antenna to narrow the signal spread, which also helps cut background noise. How many units are you intending to place per floor? For example, installing two APs on the second level and another pair in the basement might mean you skip the first floor—though this usually works best with wood floors and solid walls. If the network needs to push through concrete and steel, at least one AP is necessary on the first floor. Unfortunately, you won’t be certain until the equipment is installed and operational. I support both of these frequency bands. Great recommendations!
@Falcon1986 Here are some placement ideas for access points: First Floor and Second Floor have been noted. The basement remains blank until after moving in, then we can add an access point if needed. The 5 GHz coverage plans are outlined. On the first floor, the access point is set in the mudroom to serve part of the kitchen and bedroom; the second one would be better in the middle. On the second floor, one is positioned in the hallway to cover two bedrooms and another directly in the master room.
@PenguinMaster the setup looks good. The main change would be relocating the AP from the mudroom into the hallway near the hallway and bedroom areas. This should reduce interference from walls and improve signal strength in the kitchen. You're planning to install it on the ceiling, right? APs work better in open spaces, so positioning it as shown now should be ideal.
Do you believe the WiFi access point in the Family Room on the first floor is sufficient to reach the Master Bedroom, thus removing the requirement for another one there?
It’s possible, though maybe not at the fastest settings on 5GHz. Keep in mind the model is based on 5GHz predictions and doesn’t factor in nearby access points. Be aware that if your Wi-Fi speed exceeds your internet connection, even minor wireless slowdowns should be manageable. You’ll only know for sure after testing. Begin with one access point on the first floor and observe. There’s a chance you might get some vertical coverage from the second-floor APs, helping the master bedroom area on the first floor.