You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
Lots of conflicting advice out there about this, any pros got any advice?
We've (finally!) bought our own chalet so I finally get to set up the wifi properly instead of being dependent on whatever horrific bodge the property owner installed. Setting up from scratch and want to do it right.
Spec is:
7 bedrooms + living/dining space + lots of outdoor space all over 3 floors
14 guests + 5 staff so at least 20 connections, probably more at times
Existing infrastructure:
Phone line comes into the building near the front door. This is split to 3 locations around the building, sadly using old-spec France Telecom cable, not cat5. This has 4 pairs, but they're not twisted. My understanding is that it's possible to use this for ethernet, but transfer rates will be slow (possibly still fast enough for basic email, web browsing, etc.).
Local broadband service is still somewhat behind the times (hey, we're in the mountains!) so likely to get around 20 Meg on a good day, often more like 10.
We're doing some renovation work at the moment, so I have the possibility of running some ethernet cables around the place. Still likely to be a ball-ache though unless I get incredibly lucky and can use the old FT cables to pull cat5 through.
Current thoughts are:
Separate the incoming phone line from the existing extensions. Install the modem-router here (near front door on bottom floor). Use something meaty and commercial, not the poxy box the service provider will provide. Use this to provide wifi coverage to ground floor. Run cat5 to middle floor and install a second access point. Hopefully be able to run cat5 to top floor or far-end of building, but if not then use either wifi extenders or (last-resort) use the old FT cable to reach any hard-to-reach spots.
Any advice? What router/access points should I buy?
I've recently started using the Devolo magic wifi 2 setup, which uses both mesh wifi and that 'sending stuff through power cables' technology. Its very effective.
Would that be a simpler option, as you only need to plug the first one in beside where the broadband comes in, then as long as the others are on the same power circuit, it works great. One per floor maybe?
I'm far from an expert however after renovating the house i've switched off the wifi from my BT router and have run a few CAT6 cables around the house to enable us to wire the PC in the office and a few TVs etc and allow wireless access points too if needed.
The sparky isn't finished yet but I have installed 1 Ubiquity Lite access point under the stairs (next to the BT router) and it is nearly powerful enough to get decent wifi throughout our L shaped house. I'm surprised the signal is so good considering the location. I'll be installing another WAP on the upstairs ceiling at the other end of the house soon which should ensure good coverage throughout.
Would definitely recommend Ubiquity gear....was what all my researched pointed me towards.
Run cat 5e (or 6 if you prefer) round the building to a few points. Have a PoE switch where your internet router is and then feed out to a small number (2 or 3) Ubiquiti Access points (I like the AP-AC-LR if it is mainly for phones). You can then run the controller software on your own computer as it doesn't need to be connected all the time.
For the modem - I don't know. I would go with whatever my supplier provides and then switch off any wifi in it and provide my own using the ubiquiti access points. The Ubiquiti stuff works well, isn't too expensive and should work very well with the number of clients you have. The most I have had is 50 clients moving around between 5 APs and that was just fine. Your biggest problem is of course your internet connection 🙂
But a mesh system would also work well if you can't be bothered running the Cat5. You then need power cables running up walls to the access points.
edit: these days I would just use a Ubiquiti PoE switch as well just to keep it all in the one controller rather than having to mess around with different interfaces.
I would also recommend the Ubiquiti equipment but go the whole hog with separate modem, firewall, managed switch and access point(s). The support from other users is great and around £400 will see you with a good system.
Another vote for Unifi stuff.
They have a decent range from SOHO to Enterprise.
Use dual band stuff, Minis are quite good. You’ll need to configure them though, they’re not plug and play and of course you’re based in the US or you won’t get dual band.
If you don’t want to / can’t configure them, there are better plug and play home solutions. Easiest solution would probably be using ‘home plugs’ to piggyback the chalets power cables to transmit data.
i've got a freind in the home automation industry and he only really uses Ubiquity kit.
(or 6 if you prefer)
Have been advised against using Cat6. You don't get the benefit unless you install it perfectly and routing stuff through walls etc is always going to be imperfect.
Your guests are likely to expect to be able to stream like they do at home. Fine if only one person is online but not as soon as more than one starts. 20Mb is nothing for that number of users. Complaints ahoy when they can't (have friends in a similar situation in Austria and this is exactly what happened). In my view you either need to severely restricted what each user can do (email, browse, no games or streaming Inc YouTube) or install a pay to use service with a much better connection.
"Have been advised against using Cat6."
Cat6 has the same basic installation requirements as Cat5 or Cat5e. There's no reason, other than cost (10p/m more), to avoid using it. Although the ability to run 5GbaseT or 10GbaseT doesn't sound important here!