Need Assistance? Here are some wireless access point suggestions.
Need Assistance? Here are some wireless access point suggestions.
Hi all, I've just moved home from university and am struggling with the current network setup at home with super low speeds : - Ground floor: WiFi router (1Gbps from ISP) - 1st floor: Family's PCs etc. - 2nd floor (loft conversion): my PC All the devices in the house apart from the living room TV are fed through the router's wifi network, which i'm assuming, alongside the physical distance and blockers between my PC and the router, is what's causing the poor performance on my devices. Historically I've tried setting up powerline without much luck, and we already have range extenders set up, which also do little to help Networking knowledge isn't really my strongpoint so would appreciate some insight into what I should be looking for in an AP, and whether the setup will be as simple as just running an ethernet cable from the ground floor router to an AP in my room? Any advice/comments appreciated - thank you in advance!
It seems you're looking for ways to connect your network without relying on wired connections throughout the house. Many APs require a wired connection to function properly. If that's the situation, consider a mesh system, which is likely the most suitable alternative for avoiding wired backhaul. It offers improved performance over simple extenders while still using similar technology. Ideally, running cables would be best, but a mesh system can be a practical compromise.
That should function properly. Would you like to integrate it into the existing network? It could be beneficial to swap out the primary AP so devices transition smoothly between them. Check out the Unifi and Omada APs—they’re affordable, reliable, and don’t require a subscription.
The Unifi doesn’t require a cloud key for the console. It can be configured on a PC, though you should confirm whether it needs to stay active for the APs to function properly.
It works on a PC and adjusts settings such as the Wi-Fi password while only needing to be active in this session.
Unless there are updates in the new APs, keeping UniFi running somewhere is advised for smooth roaming, mesh capabilities, and remote management options. UniFi can automatically adjust settings during background scans, something not available in standalone mode. No longer do you need a Cloud Key or UDM/console, as Ubiquiti now offers more hardware like the UCG-Ultra (gateway, controller) and UX (gateway, controller, WiFi AP). The UXG-Lite and UXG-Max act only as gateways and need their own controllers. You can deploy two UX devices to complete a full UniFi configuration. Other options include Grandstream, which produces APs that can run the controller locally and manage other APs, and Alta, which supports setup via app, cloud, or local controller.
It's feasible to extend Ethernet coverage by adding another access point in a different location. If that doesn't work, consider deploying a meshing router with a 5GHz backbone. For recommendations, I favor Unifi products, though they can become costly quickly. A standard Wi-Fi 6 device like a Xiaomi or TP-Link should suffice.