Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home?

Posted by plg on Sunday February 09, 2020 @03:52PM
from the ask-hn dept.

Currently running an Apple Time machine in bridge mode from a ubiquity edgerouter lite. Would like better coverage (3 story house) and faster speeds. Big family lots of devices. Recommendations? Ethernet cabling on basement and main level but not upstairs.

( 9 comments | 7 points | on HN )

Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by dirktheman on Monday February 10, 2020 @07:47AM (#22288602)

I have 3 TP-Link EAP-245 access points, an Omada Cloud Controller and a simple 8-ports POE switch. The coverage and stability is up to par with the Unifi AP-AC-PRO and software is pretty good, also. I can highly recommend them: much lower price point and a lifelong warranty.

Having said that, without a cable you're not going to get a decent throughput on the upper floors. Don't bother with WiFi repeaters as they'll extend the range at the cost of bandwidth.

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by marvel_boy on Sunday February 09, 2020 @03:56PM (#22284240)

Have tried a simple Wifi repeater? It works quite good in most situations.

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by thepapanoob on Monday February 10, 2020 @05:33AM (#22287918)

wifi repeaters are the worst you can do...

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by plg on Sunday February 09, 2020 @04:00PM (#22284273)

have not tried it

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by yellowait44 on Sunday February 09, 2020 @04:24PM (#22284410)

Ubiquiti AP are pretty great. Have 3 of them at home and great coverage on a 3 level home.

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by plg on Sunday February 09, 2020 @05:14PM (#22284695)

Do you have to mount them upside down on a ceiling? Or can you do tabletop?

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by bradknowles on Sunday February 09, 2020 @06:22PM (#22285038)

They are intended to be mounted on a ceiling or wall, and have antenna radiation patterns designed for that use. Putting them in any other orientation will likely make them less effective.

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by alexgaribay on Tuesday February 11, 2020 @01:47PM (#22301297)

The Unifi FlexHD is an AP designed to sit on a tabletop. You'd have better luck with that if you aren't able to ceiling-mount or wall-mount.

https://store.ui.com/collections/wireless/products/unifi-fle...

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Re:Ask HN: WiFi Access Point(s) for Home? by msh on Monday February 10, 2020 @02:07AM (#22287013)

Ubnt amplifi is the easy (and well working) solution.

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