Seeking Recommendations for Reliable, Long-Term Home Wi-Fi Setup

RENERO on 13/11/2024 - 09:03
Last edited 13/11/2024 - 09:46 by 1 other user

Hi there, I’m looking for advice on setting up the ideal Wi-Fi system for my home and would appreciate any suggestions.

My house sits on an 800 sqm block, so I’ll need a router and at least two satellites to ensure coverage. My internet connection is a 1000/50 FTTP (via Leaptel), and I have a Synology NAS 920+ along with numerous wireless devices, including Eufy cameras.

I'm aiming to invest in a high-quality system that will last for years without needing frequent upgrades. Although I'm considering Wi-Fi 7, I'm unsure if it would be excessive, as I don’t play online games. My priority is system reliability over sheer speed, so a dependable and stable setup is essential.

I also need something relatively easy to manage but still customisable, as I use Pi-hole on my network.

Thanks in advance for any recommendations!

Computing Wi-Fi

Comments

  • Brotality on 13/11/2024 - 09:31
    +3

    You can't go wrong with a ubiquiti setup, especially if you already have Ethernet cables running in the house

    Router: https://www.centrecom.com.au/ubiquiti-ucg-ultra-cloud-gatewa…
    APs: https://www.centrecom.com.au/ubiquiti-unifi-u7-pro-wifi-7-6-…

    Simple enough to configure, just hook up the router WAN port to your HFC/Fibre modem and it will 95% automatically detect the internet. Adopt the APs to the router and you're off to the races.

    • RENERO on 13/11/2024 - 09:51

      Thanks for your message. Unfortunately, I’m not able to run wires through the roof, so the satellite/APs connections will need to be wireless. Is there anything else you think might be worth exploring?

      • Brotality on 13/11/2024 - 10:01
        +1

        Gigabit internet and mesh systems are not a good pair. Even if you go with the eero pro 6E , good chance you will be maxing around 500mb/s on the mesh units.

        It is the probably the best option you have if you decide on on mesh, unless you spend 3 times that on the eero 7

        Either way, if that's your decision, wait until black friday, these prices normally go down by 30% or so (check camel camel camel)

    • boomramada on 13/11/2024 - 10:19

      Probably need a POE switch as well?

      • Brotality on 13/11/2024 - 10:46

        Good catch. These APs are power hungry and are POE+

        with 3+ a POE switch might be more economical, otherwise the power injectors probably make more sense

        • RENERO on 13/11/2024 - 11:10

          Thank you again!

          Let’s assume I can pass two Ethernet cables through the roof.
          You're suggesting that I should use the Ubiquiti UCG-Ultra Cloud Gateway Ultra as the router, then connect a PoE switch (do you have any recommendations for which one?) to the router, and finally connect two Ubiquiti UniFi U7-Pro WiFi 7 (6 GHz) Access Points to the PoE switch. What would the purpose of the power injectors be?

          • boomramada on 13/11/2024 - 11:31
            +1

            @RENERO: Yep pretty much, just refer to the pretty picture on this https://www.centrecom.com.au/ubiquiti-unifi-u7-pro-wifi-7-6-…
            POE - Power over eithernet (power injectors ? ), so you don't need a dedicated power line to the access-point

          • Brotality on 13/11/2024 - 11:33
            +1

            @RENERO: Power injectors can inject power into ethernet to save you needing to get a full switch if you don't need a lot of POE ports.

            In saying that, something like this switch should do the trick and its cheaper than 2 power injectors. But bare in mind it only has 60w budget, so it can only handle 2 Access Points (they are 30w each)

            • RENERO on 24/11/2024 - 10:25

              @Brotality: I'm officially down the rabbit hole!

              So, I dove into specs, read documents, and so on, and I’d like to set up my home network this way to:

              1) Utilise the new 2025 NBN max download speed.
              2) Achieve 2.5 Gbps local speeds.
              To make this work, I’ll need:

              Ubiquiti UCG-Max, which has 4 usable 2.5 Gbps ports:

              Port 1: For my Synology NAS (I’ll need to buy a 2.5 Gbps adapter for this). I’m considering this one: Volans VL-RJ45 Aluminum USB 3.0 to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.

              Ports 2 and 3: For 2 APs (I’ll need 2 PoE injectors for these). I’m thinking of getting one U6-Pro and one U6-Pro Max, along with 2 injectors: Ubiquiti Networks 802.3at 30W PoE Injector.

              Port 4: For a 2.5 Gbps switch. However, does Centrecom not sell the USW-Flex-2.5G?

              I plan to use the 2.5 Gbps switch mainly to connect:

              1) Two workstations with 2.5 Gbps adapters installed.
              2) An additional switch I already own, which has several devices connected to my current router.

              Am I doing something wrong? Can you suggest a different setup that makes more sense or saves some money?

              • Brotality on 24/11/2024 - 14:55

                @RENERO: 2.5gig switches/routers are not cheap. Save your money and go U7 Pro on the APs.

                Even though I have 2x U7 Pro APs, I went with 1 Gbps since it was ridiculously cheaper.

                Do you have SSDs in your NAS? If not, don't bother with 2.5, there won't be any use cases where you max out 1Gbps

  • jugsy on 13/11/2024 - 09:53

    TP-link Deco for me, best value for money 3pack I could find with all the needed features. I think my model is X50 but you should probably go with the latest for future proofing. App is easy to use (ignore the premium features they do nothing), I also have pihole on this network.

  • mjae01 on 13/11/2024 - 09:58
    +1

    I thought pi-holes were next to impossible to setup with Decos. Any pointers?

  • geekcohen on 13/11/2024 - 10:05

    That fact you are using a Pi-Hole and cannot run cables is a bit of an issue.

    If you want Reliable and Long Term, cabling is the best and going down the Ubiquiti route. Plus you'll be able to achieve the speeds you want now and into the future.

    Otherwise, you are always going to be upgrading mesh systems to achieve what you want, and that's just a waste.

  • bazingaa on 13/11/2024 - 10:56

    I haven't yet found a solution to reach the speeds of my NASs ~2.5GbE. I have a dedicated wifi backhaul with cheap WAX206 <-> WAX202 but still maxes out around 400 Mbps most times. You will be better off with ethernet cabling for the long run.

  • kingsville on 13/11/2024 - 11:33

    My TP-Link Deco mesh died after 4-5 years.
    Replaced with Orbi mesh and it's been rock solid

    • boomramada on 13/11/2024 - 13:43

      I replace/upgrade my hardware after 5 years even they are rock solid haha

      • ShortyX on 13/11/2024 - 15:14

        Must be nice. :)

        My Netgear R8000 router will be 10 years old in Sep 2025.

  • MeesusEff on 14/11/2024 - 21:00

    I got a telstra gen 3 smart modem when they had the $1/month deal and tbh is pretty good. I had a google wifi set up because some $500 dlink modem was utter rubbish and couldn't reach upstairs at all. But after the Telstra one, I don't need the mesh anymore. And it comes with a 4g (25mbps) back up as well. If you're lucky you can find one on the marketplace with the sim still active

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join