I tried Eero and had a heck of a time getting some Nest stuff to connect so I gave up. But this new workaround sounds promising.
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Most 'Apple-like' mesh network with good throughput?
- Thread starter indychris
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Ubiquiti Unifi. Though hardwired is recommended, it does have the option to mesh. Upgrading my home network to Unifi was one of the best things I have done.
Linksys just announced (finally) HomeKit support for their Velop line. Linksys will be rolling out firmware updates in the USA starting today.
Guys - I am also looking to replace an older Apple system. I have a 2014 Airport Extreme connected to the cable modem in the middle of my house. It is connected over Cat 5 to two older Airport Extremes and either end of my house. All three create their own networks with the same SSIDs (one 2.4GHz and one 5 GHz). The older boxes are flaking out on me so need a new system. What is best if I am still planning to use the Cat 5 connections? I would add a few extenders (wireless) upstairs as well (unless the new signal from the three wired downstairs routers is strong enough. Note: my house has double brick walls.
Thanks for any help
JD
Thanks for any help
JD
Sounds like a perfect setup for a replacement mesh system. The fact that you have Ethernet drops to the sides of your home will really kick things up a notch. I have the eero system by Amazon with 8 eeroPro’s installed. There are others and each has certain pluses and minuses that you should evaluate against your physical home and needs. Note that WiFi6 is due out in commercial products shortly so you may wish to wait a bit if you can make it with the flaky systems you have for awhile. WiFi6 is touted as much “mo’ better” and likely better for difficult spaces like you describe your home. WiFi6 will require new hardware, not just a software/firmware update.
Wow, that's braindead. Deal killer IMO. I'd look to another brand.
Anyhow, I'm still on my AirPort Extreme setup, and it's working fine for me for the time being, mainly because all our mobile devices are Apple. If we had a mixed Apple, Android, Windows household for mobile, my AirPort Extreme solution wouldn't be ideal. Plus, all the units are hardwired, not extending WiFi via WiFi.
I'm up to 10 AirPorts now.
I've been collecting them, because they're cheap these days on the used market. However, 3 of them are just for AirPlay.Extreme overkill (AirPort mesh)
I've reached the magic round number of 10 units now. 🤪 However, the added three are all the last model A1392 AirPort Express for AirPlay and have WiFi turned off. The one with the red notification is just because I downgraded the firmware to 7.6.9, since 7.8.1 was causing a pop noise at the...
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I’m happy to report Eero fixed this a while ago. I’m using Eero now and have had zero problems.Wow, that's braindead. Deal killer IMO. I'd look to another brand.
Anyhow, I'm still on my AirPort Extreme setup, and it's working fine for me for the time being, mainly because all our mobile devices are Apple. If we had a mixed Apple, Android, Windows household for mobile, my AirPort Extreme solution wouldn't be ideal. Plus, all the units are hardwired, not extending WiFi via WiFi.
I'm up to 10 AirPorts now.
Extreme overkill (AirPort mesh)
I've reached the magic round number of 10 units now. 🤪 However, the added three are all the last model A1392 AirPort Express for AirPlay and have WiFi turned off. The one with the red notification is just because I downgraded the firmware to 7.6.9, since 7.8.1 was causing a pop noise at the...
Yes this looks amazing. Will be checking it out closely today and possibly picking one up.
For anybody following along, I am happy to report that UBNT Network Cntroller software has gotten continuous updates for years. The latest versions (6.1+) brings an easier interface and more features. It is fairly rare to have 5+ year-old anything that keeps getting substantially better over time with software updates. This alone will keep me a happy UBNT customer!
Happened on this thread - recently upgraded my home network to an Amplifi Alien setup (2 of the main module with the second acting as a mesh point) with MoCa-based backhaul.
Honestly, a week in and the UX is incredible over my aging Wifi-5 Orbi system. HomeKit specifically is incredibly more responsive and I can get 600+ down nearly anywhere in my house that matters on a wifi-6 device (1 gig down plan). My ethernet devices (even through MoCa adapters) are all 900+ down with <20ms pings on standard Speedtest sites.
I'm hopeful it is resilient as well. Not that this was cheap, but I had considered different routes, but so far I feel this was a good choice. I honestly didn't realize how bad off my last Orbi was until one of the mesh points finally died and I was forced to consider replacing the dead one at $250 off Amazon or just make the wifi 6 jump.
Honestly, a week in and the UX is incredible over my aging Wifi-5 Orbi system. HomeKit specifically is incredibly more responsive and I can get 600+ down nearly anywhere in my house that matters on a wifi-6 device (1 gig down plan). My ethernet devices (even through MoCa adapters) are all 900+ down with <20ms pings on standard Speedtest sites.
I'm hopeful it is resilient as well. Not that this was cheap, but I had considered different routes, but so far I feel this was a good choice. I honestly didn't realize how bad off my last Orbi was until one of the mesh points finally died and I was forced to consider replacing the dead one at $250 off Amazon or just make the wifi 6 jump.
I don't
I don't want to jinx you...but all the UBNT stuff I have installed or use has been rock solid. No brand is perfect, all models, all the time...but compared to my experience with consumer brands (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.) there is no comparison.
To be fair, UBNT has had a few dogs (their early Unifi gateway model was notorious), but most have been underpowered with inadequate CPU or RAM..that limited throughput or the interface performance. A different issue than gear that simply gives out or malfunctions in a few short years for no particular reason.
I don't want to jinx you...but all the UBNT stuff I have installed or use has been rock solid. No brand is perfect, all models, all the time...but compared to my experience with consumer brands (Linksys, Netgear, Belkin, etc.) there is no comparison.
To be fair, UBNT has had a few dogs (their early Unifi gateway model was notorious), but most have been underpowered with inadequate CPU or RAM..that limited throughput or the interface performance. A different issue than gear that simply gives out or malfunctions in a few short years for no particular reason.
Good question. I don't run any mesh/unwired APs so I can't say one way or another. I do see many reports from Amplifi users with mesh extenders that are very happy, and I don't think I have seen a negative report.
Mesh, in general, is inherently sensitive to signal strength. The extending APs need to be close enough to have a solid signal or everything connected to them obviously will not perform well. This opens all mesh systems to bad installation (weak or marginal signal) as well as changing environments that could cause intermittent interference.
Or to say it another way...mesh systems are more reliant on good, well-designed and monitored installs, and less tolerant of an inexperienced installer just plugging them in where it is convenient for the user.
That's a long way round of saying that I would expect an occasional bad report from unhappy users due to poor installs or bad conditions that are likely not a real product failing.