Am I over engineering my home network?

[wayland1985]

I have been using my Xfinity gateway 3 for several years now, because I was too cheap to replace my aging Airport (10 years old now?). Honestly, aside from losing WiFi signal in my garage, or corners of my back yard, I haven’t had any issues with it.

Recently, however, I purchased an Arlo security camera setup (to monitor packages for the holidays). It works great, but the base station needs to be moved for better camera signals.

And now I’ve opened Pandora’s box (being the type to over research EVERYTHING).

I started looking at a WiFi extender to use as a remote Ethernet access point for the Cameras: but it seems to be an unreliable option: with bandwidth issues and many reviews of different models complaining of having to restart the extender frequently (not something I see as ideal when you’re looking for 24/7 cameras)

Then I researched buying a new Airport and using my old airport Router for roaming.... but Browsing some of the posts here I feel that maybe it isn’t the best option either.

Finally enter mesh: sounds great! I see Xfinity touts their new Plume-based Mesh pods that work nicely with my existing Xfinity Router.... at an attractive price.

Then I see Google WiFi, which has even more power than the Plume/Comcast solution, so maybe I can even get internet to my back yard (no more cell data usage when mowing the lawn and streaming music?!)

Seems perfect....

Then I decide to spend a few hours paroosing Macrumors, only to find hints of possible Apple WiFi solution updates in the coming years.... and I wonder if I should just spend $40 and get an extender....

It’s a never ending circle with me! So I ask: what would you all do? At the very least I need a reliable way to connect my arlo base station to a remote part of my home. But I’d love to have better internet connection through my home, and perhaps into the back yard

 

[techwarrior]

Not familiar with Plume, but my advice for the current situation is limit your spending. New generation WiFi will start to hit the market in the next year or so. 802.11ax will be faster than 802.11ac, deal with conflicts (overlapping networks), and offer better range. The standard is set for approval soon, and some manufacturers are tinkering with gear already. When it becomes available, it is quite likely the Mesh systems offered today will look unattractive.

The best way to extend your network might be to place an access point someplace in the deadzone connected via Ethernet. For example, depending on model, the Airport device might help. Airports are generally very reliable, and if it supports 802.11n (Dual Band), it should give you good service for cameras. What model is the Airport? Is it possible to connect it via Ethernet?

 

[wayland1985]

Not familiar with Plume, but my advice for the current situation is limit your spending. New generation WiFi will start to hit the market in the next year or so. 802.11ax will be faster than 802.11ac, deal with conflicts (overlapping networks), and offer better range. The standard is set for approval soon, and some manufacturers are tinkering with gear already. When it becomes available, it is quite likely the Mesh systems offered today will look unattractive.

The best way to extend your network might be to place an access point someplace in the deadzone connected via Ethernet. For example, depending on model, the Airport device might help. Airports are generally very reliable, and if it supports 802.11n (Dual Band), it should give you good service for cameras. What model is the Airport? Is it possible to connect it via Ethernet?

It’s an AirPort Extreme 1st gen (802.11n). Right now the antennas are off as the Xfinity Router was giving me better range.

There’s no way for me to add Ethernet to the remote location: and I’m wary of Powerline adaptors, given the amount of smart dimmers and what-not in the Home (plus the garage is a bit of a run from my router).

Sounds to me like Orbi would be a bad idea: given the price. Plume is nice in that Comcast does offer it as an add-on for the lowest cost of mesh options.

 

[DJLC]

I would agree with limiting your spend now given new hardware is around the corner. I don't know anything about the Comcast offering, but if the price is attractive to you and you're happy with your existing Xfinity gear, it doesn't sound like a bad idea to try their option.

My advice in an ideal world: get a Ubiquiti wired router, a PoE switch, and some Ubiquiti wireless access points. Place the access points strategically to provide coverage to all the areas you need, then connect them back to the PoE switch with Ethernet lines.

What I do in my own house for now: ASUS 802.11ac router of some variety is the main router, then I have an older ASUS 802.11n router set up as an access point by the back door to cover my deck (wired back to the main router w/ Ethernet under the house). Roaming works reasonably well, although I'm sure it's not as good as Ubiquiti's. The important bit is that with this setup, Netflix works on my iPad in the hot tub!

 

[techwarrior]

If you have CATV with coax throughout the home, you can create use MOCA (Ethernet over Coax). Some of the Comcast modem\routers have a MOCA port on them, so if you see 2 Coax ports, one is for the incoming signal, the other can connect other rooms via Coax. If you are leasing a modem from Comcast, you may be able to swap for one with a MOCA port at no additional cost.

Or, you can get two MOCA adapters, basically, they connect Ethernet to Coax on either end, using the inhouse Coax cabling as the medium. The "Bonded MOCA 2.0" adapters appear to get up to 1gbps in throughput.

What is the cost to add Plume devices?

 

[wayland1985]

If you have CATV with coax throughout the home, you can create use MOCA (Ethernet over Coax). Some of the Comcast modem\routers have a MOCA port on them, so if you see 2 Coax ports, one is for the incoming signal, the other can connect other rooms via Coax. If you are leasing a modem from Comcast, you may be able to swap for one with a MOCA port at no additional cost.

Or, you can get two MOCA adapters, basically, they connect Ethernet to Coax on either end, using the inhouse Coax cabling as the medium. The "Bonded MOCA 2.0" adapters appear to get up to 1gbps in throughput.

What is the cost to add Plume devices?

Comcast is selling their plume devices for $119 per 3 pack.

 

[techwarrior]

Comcast is selling their plume devices for $119 per 3 pack.

Not bad considering you would need to spend neatly that much to get Ethernet to the deadzones. Pretty modest investment if it works.

On the other hand, if you have a Comcast router, you are paying them $10 per month to lease that, so that plus the Plume 3 pack puts you in the $250 range for year 1, about the price of a good modem + a router. Tough choice amigo!

 

[hobowankenobi]

My advice in an ideal world: get a Ubiquiti wired router, a PoE switch, and some Ubiquiti wireless access points. Place the access points strategically to provide coverage to all the areas you need, then connect them back to the PoE switch with Ethernet lines./QUOTE]

This is my home setup, basically. Has been simple and rugged, very good coverage, no drops or WiFi lag, and no reboots besides updates.

Lowest cost:

1 - Modem
1 - UBNT EdgeRouter X SFP
2 - UBNT Unfi AC Lite

This model EdgeRouter can also handle the POE for the APs, no need for a switch or injectors. Simple, minimal, and clean, which is important as the router and modem are in a visible location. I still have a free port to add a third AP if needed. Pretty hard to beat for $79.

The router is not as full-featured as many new consumer units, but I consider most of those features bloat (parental controls, etc., or they are part of the wireless functionality, which would not be used anyway). Nor is it as easy to setup as most new consumer routers, so I would not recommend it for a user who doesn't know (or care to learn) some networking basics.

But aside from that, very solid low-cost POE router/switch.

 

[belvdr]

This is my home setup, basically. Has been simple and rugged, very good coverage, no drops or WiFi lag, and no reboots besides updates.

Lowest cost:

1 - Modem
1 - UBNT EdgeRouter X SFP
2 - UBNT Unfi AC Lite

This model EdgeRouter can also handle the POE for the APs, no need for a switch or injectors. Simple, minimal, and clean, which is important as the router and modem are in a visible location. I still have a free port to add a third AP if needed. Pretty hard to beat for $79.

The router is not as full-featured as many new consumer units, but I consider most of those features bloat (parental controls, etc., or they are part of the wireless functionality, which would not be used anyway). Nor is it as easy to setup as most new consumer routers, so I would not recommend it for a user who doesn't know (or care to learn) some networking basics.

But aside from that, very solid low-cost POE router/switch.

Good suggestion. Keep in mind the ER-X platform is currently limited to 1 Gbps total routing throughput.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Good suggestion. Keep in mind the ER-X platform is currently limited to 1 Gbps total routing throughput.

True. But I doubt I will ever get to that throughput in the life of this router...

 

[belvdr]

True. But I doubt I will ever get to that throughput in the life of this router...

But others might which is why I mentioned it. I am able to hit that easily on my internal subnets with backups and internet use.