Choose a wired router paired with an access point for optimal performance.
Choose a wired router paired with an access point for optimal performance.
I've been using WiFi routers for some time now, but I'm moving into my own home and want to upgrade to something more stable and dependable. I'm relatively quick at learning but still new to networking overall. If you have any suggestions, clear guidance or recommendations would be really helpful. My plan is to place the router in the garage, run a 6A cable to five access points—three inside the house, one in the garage, and one outside. I might add a server and NAS later. I'm on a 1GB plan now, expecting an upgrade to 2GB next year. My budget is about $2000. Appreciate any advice!
I’m using an edgerouter 4 with Unifi APs plus a PoE switch for the APs, and everything works fine. You won’t have to invest a lot of money to reach your goals. I believe you’ve likely spent around $1,000 on APs, switches, racks, and adapters, creating a setup that’s more than sufficient for your needs. I often stream 4K Plex videos to different devices on the LAN without hitting network limits.
Didn't you check out Unifi? It seems you'd need a Dream Router Pro, a PoE switch, and five APs of your choice (AP6 LR?). Make sure the outside AP is weatherproof. The Dream router pro includes a 10 gigabit port, so upgrading to 2 Gbps should work fine. If you prefer not to stay tied to Unifi, you could switch to another router/switch and run the Unifi controller on a server or Raspberry Pi.
I thought 2k might be too much; but after checking prices on some commercial products, I wanted to ensure I have enough for something solid or just a bit more than needed for personal use. I haven’t decided yet. After reviewing the router listings online, Unifi seems like a great fit. I didn’t even think about security cameras—probably the router would handle that easily. I’ll explore the other options more when I have time (maybe tomorrow) since this looks promising enough to start. Thanks! Any tips or things to watch for as I begin?
the edgerouter is also from ubiquiti, but it doesn't fit into the same ecosystem as the udm and unifi products. to handle this with unifi ap devices, i run the unifi software in a docker container and start it whenever I need to adjust settings, though it's mostly automated.
Consider checking 2.5 gb to 10 gb switches and routers. With your internet speed potentially reaching up to 2gbps next year, installing them now will save you trouble later. A $2000 investment could be sufficient if you're aiming for the next-gen Wi-Fi 6E APs soon, though they remain expensive.
The house is quite spacious, covering around 3000 sqft including the garage and backyard. With three Wi-Fi access points at your parents’ place, it should work well. Adding one or two UniFi AP6 units for the house, plus possibly another depending on yard size, would likely suffice. The total cost is probably under $400. For the router setup, you can either purchase a PF-Sense box from Netgate or build your own on a server of your choice. I currently use a virtualized PF-Sense, though it comes with some minor issues.