Looking for guidance on choosing a new AP/router? Let’s explore your options and find the best fit.
Looking for guidance on choosing a new AP/router? Let’s explore your options and find the best fit.
Right now I rely on the ISP router and a "Fritz! Wlan repeater" placed two floors above it. The Wi-Fi performance in my home is poor. About half of the house (three floors up) doesn’t get a strong signal, and even close to the router/ap only reaches around 150 Mbps out of the gigabit connection. It’s also very uneven—sometimes there are brief outages lasting about thirty seconds, even when sitting right next to the AP. Another problem is that my phone always connects to the router when I get home, but on the third floor it stays on the same router because its signal remains weak instead of switching to the nearby AP. I’m exploring new options to improve this setup. I don’t think Wi-Fi 6 is necessary since we mainly use a few devices that support it. Two APs would be ideal, but I only have access to the first and third floors via Ethernet, not the second.
The easiest way is to add two APs on the first and third floors. I think UniFi offers strong access points for the prosumer segment. Do you already have PoE support in your network? Would you need injectors or an additional PoE switch? Regarding your issue, does your Fritz! repeater broadcast the same SSID as your main Wi-Fi, or is it a separate network? If it’s different, devices won’t automatically connect until the link to the previous network disappears completely.
These are the Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC Nanohd Wave2 models, compatible with PoE and Amazon.de stock. Currently there isn't a PoE option available; I would require an injector. The device I referenced includes one. My home wiring doesn't support it—there are no in-wall cables, only a single cable running from the router to the third floor where a switch is installed. All walls are solid, so I can't easily add extra cables. Both devices use the same Wi-Fi network name. I expected automatic switching to the stronger signal, but unfortunately they only change when they lose connection with the active device.
Essentially these are two AP AC Pros along with a USG, giving you coverage. If you already have a home server, you can save money by using a free network controller tool for Windows and Linux. https://eu.store.ui.com/collections/unif...ifi-ac-pro We’ve used these at work and really liked them. Edit. With the Network Controller, the USG features wouldn’t be required but the AP would still need PoE.
Yes, the router operates as an Access Point and can function as a proxy server.
Which router are you referring to? Is it the one at your home or the one in the USG? The USG does not have wireless features by itself.
We discussed the USG. Concerning your question, it might be worthwhile to test just one long-range AP alongside two 2-lite ones. You don’t necessarily have to rely on the USG feature; your existing router should work fine.
Based on my observations, the Pro variant already offers a solid coverage area. You might be able to adjust the firmware settings to indicate it's operating in the US rather than the EU, allowing for higher power transmission. The exact range of long-range APs isn't clear to me. In theory, you wouldn't need a USG or a manager if you're using just an AP, as configurations can be handled via SSH. For remote monitoring and control, a USG or Network Controller Software would be necessary. You'd likely need a PoE-capable switch or an injector, which sometimes comes packaged with the device. If you're interested in other manufacturers, Cisco and Netgear are options, though I don't have details on their software.
This setup uses a single primary access point while others function as repeaters, relying mainly on Ethernet for connectivity beyond the main AP. It’s not necessarily a waste of resources and could be a good option if you want more than two access points.