Author Topic: WiFi hardware recommendation  (Read 2921 times)

Offline DTF Seti_Sniper

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WiFi hardware recommendation
« on: January 26, 2019, 11:01:22 AM »
Howdy :)

Together with our newly Fiber connection, i upgraded our internal Lan/Wifi.
its always been a small problem having perfect WiFi coverage all over our small house so i decided to give it a small upgrade ;)

After reading allot of reviews, test setups, tech-studies i ended up with the Linksys Velop AC6600 (link here below) with 3 nodes
its a MESH tri-band system, one 2.4Ghz and two 5 GHz bands, all running in parallel on each node.
Each node has coverage of ~650m2 but one thing is theory, open air..... another is inside a building with walls and levels  8)
If u dont know the word MESH then heres a short (none tech) description LINK: https://www.linksys.com/dk/r/resource-center/whole-home-mesh-wifi/

Well order and got the box   8)
Nice box and no fancy stuff inside like 200million paper manuals in 200 languages and other commercial shitty stuff
In the box u find: 3 nodes, 3 powersupplys (wall type), 1 lan-cable (nice thin soft long one) and one paper-sheet saying "down load app to your phone or tablet for installation"... and thats it !
I dl the app on my phone (android version), Start....
it pops up with a guided installation procedure. Short, basics of installation:
make sure Bluetooth is ON (it prompts u if not)
setup first node with Lan cable to your router (or switch)
power on, phone app finds the node (via BT), it runs some tests and automatically install it on your lan, you name it eg: "office node" .....  done!
take next node, place it where u want it, power on, phone app finds it runs some connection tests and install it, u name it eg: bedroom node
take next node, same procedure, and so u continue with the number of nodes u bought.
Vola.... it runs, i pretty sure that even my mom could have install it !! (u need to be able to read english tho ;D )

If u place a node with bad signal to the others, it prompts u and recommend u to find better spot, or use as is (with poor signal=low transfer rate)

The app has other features after installation like: trafic control, uptime, visitor access, signal-speed check, whats online, and other config features !
If you regi an account you can also, with the app, access your system from anywhere in the world, so u can be at work and control your child's misuse of internet, close it down, and other status stuff... ect. (if your using a browser on PC you can login at the account/system via a link provided) (PS: u have 2 have fix ext. IP and firewall direction to get in from outside home)

Default the system sets up as a closed Wifi system with DCHP, which works for most "normal" ppl.  But if you need to connect to an internal LAN, NAS, servers and stuff which runs cabled, you can change it to "bridged" connection via the app.  one click and you are bridged (*|DTF|* HQ uses this, i had the closed setup running for a few days to check it out, perfect run :P )

okay... installation smooth and cheesy-peasy-easy !!  We have one node in office cable connected to the switch/lan.  U can, if u want (for bigger area coverage) connect the nodes to your existing wifi (in router), but then u limit your speed to that wifi speed, and that one channel !! (not recommended)
okay, we have one in office, one next to masterbed room and one downstairs next to the bathroom.
This gives us 100% coverage/speed anywhere inside the house.
*|DTF|* HQ The Barn great connection, and the hottube signal ~-65db
even up back in our garden, behind the barn u have connection ~-80db  :-\

Small WiFi test: kitchen PC, 2 phones, 3 tablets, 1 TV, 2 webcams (streaming), all connected to the WiFi and online
Phoebus surfing on one tablet, me on kitchen PC doing speed test ...... it shows ~80mb up & ~80mb down to/from Fibia server in CPH
internal speed "wifi2wifi" was 300mb

So are we happy  ??? yes  :P happy indeed !  :-\ :P

LINK: https://www.linksys.com/us/p/P-WHW0303/ (scroll down pass the sales commercial)
Note: it also comes in a two-band system, which in most cases would be enough, but beside the lower transferrer rate, the antenna gain is smaller which in our case would be a downside due to big area coverage.

You can buy single nodes or a two or three node box, depending of coverage needs, u can buy extra nodes later and set it up via the app, cheesy-easy  :D
So to give you an idea of coverage... example: for Blanco a one node system would cover 100% his apartment, plus neighbour up and downstairs  ;)
Kanto could have a two node system and cover 100% his house, and tri-band system @Kanto would give him, wife and son =100% speed each anywhere in house  8)

Another great thing was when i ordered it there was a "after Xmas discount" of 120eur, so price was same as the small system  :P 
typical DK price for 3 node-triband system ~400eur. Its not the cheapest, nor the most expensive set on marked, but what i could read and conclude... Good (maybe best) value for the money !  :P

Design: Well its a matter of taste ! u can get it in white or black version. I think its okay design ! slim, not to tall and with small LED on top (which u can turn on via the app)
cable connections is inside/under so no visible connectors and such
i think most ppl (including their none-tech wife) can find a spot to put it without being sad about its presents  8)

The node placed downstairs next to bathroom
« Last Edit: January 26, 2019, 12:28:28 PM by DTF Seti_Sniper »
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Offline Nutr4Sw33t

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Re: WiFi hardware recommendation
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2019, 02:47:45 PM »
Looks very snassy Seti, I will be testing porn download bandwidth next time :P

I also installed wifi mesh at home about a year ago, and never looked back. It was also with only app installation and very easy.
Sometimes I miss some of the more configurable brands, but all in all I can recommend AmpliFi HD from Ubiqity (https://www.amplifi.com/). The one thing that is different
to yours is that the mesh antennas/points is wifi, using a back channel to establish connectivity to the main hub, so you don't need ethernet cables
drawn to the extender units/antennas, but that of course takes away raw speed, but does make it easier to move around. I manage to get ~100/100Mbit on my phone.

Offline DTF Seti_Sniper

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Re: WiFi hardware recommendation
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2019, 03:13:33 PM »
@Nutr4: i dont need cables either !
i only cable the first unit to avoid the weak wifi in my router
if i use phone or samsung tablet i get ~110/110. The wifi card in our kitchen PC is the weakest point
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Offline Nutr4Sw33t

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Re: WiFi hardware recommendation
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2019, 04:37:11 PM »
Sorry, I just misread

Quote
okay... installation smooth and cheesy-peasy-easy !!  We have one node in office cable connected to the switch/lan.  U can, if u want (for bigger area coverage) connect the nodes to your existing wifi (in router), but then u limit your speed to that wifi speed, and that one channel !! (not recommended)

As if you connected your points to cable instead of Wifi

Offline DTF Seti_Sniper

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Re: WiFi hardware recommendation
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2019, 04:56:28 PM »
no worries... its also allot of text in one post  ;D
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Offline KOF Sp.Cows

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Re: WiFi hardware recommendation
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2019, 12:34:39 PM »
Looks good and the working sounds great.

And yes, a lot of text but good post :)  :P