Access point recommendations?

JonathanLee · May 22, 2024, 1:25 PM

Dobby_ · May 25, 2024, 6:01 AM

First test of my TurrisOmnia with TurrisOS (based on OpenWRT)
I got mine used for around 200 €, I added a WiFi and modem card.
SFP Glasfasermodem and two SFP to eth modules are on its way.

coxhaus · May 25, 2024, 1:44 PM

@JonathanLee
I am a Cisco fan boy. I use all Cisco small business networking equipment as you get firmware support for the life of the product. I use a Cisco layer 3 switch and Cisco APs.

I like the Cisco 150ax 2x2 WiFi 6 APs. They are cheap and they come in 5 packs. I think around $102 each at least the last time I bought one. They are so cheap you can add one to every important room so you have high speed WiFi. I use 3 and may add a 4th.

My old Cisco WAP581 APs were 4x4 and covered better but cost more. You can add more Cisco 150ax APs for less money and have better coverage.

PS
The Cisco 150ax APs download code from the cloud so it takes a few minutes if they go offline. It is not a problem for me as I have an APC battery smart backup. My Cisco APs never go offline if there is a power outage. I have 5 hours of backup.

coxhaus · May 25, 2024, 1:31 PM

@johnpoz
I had a Cisco AP run hot and it turned out it was the cable I bought off Amazon. I bought a different cable local and it did not run as hot. How I knew is my other Cisco AP was not running hot. I assume the CAT cable really did not meet spec. I don't buy CAT cables off Amazon any more.

I had run out of CAT6 cables and I needed a 50 footer. I bought it from Amazon

JonathanLee · May 25, 2024, 2:30 PM

@coxhaus like could cook eggs on it hot? Maybe you need to replace it…

JonathanLee · May 25, 2024, 2:33 PM

@coxhaus I was part of Cisco’s first group of Netacad students very early on, also first group to be trained on the CCNA track at college many years ago, I get the brand loyalty. My favorite Cisco product was the Cisco Mars appliance. They really were innovative years ago, today it seems they like to buy up companies like Meraki as an example.

coxhaus · May 25, 2024, 2:40 PM

@JonathanLee
I switched CAT6 cables and it ran much cooler. I was wondering if they are using too thin of copper? It was a no name CAT6 cable with CAT6 marking supposedly certified.
For some reason I can't seem to buy name brand CAT6 cables off Amazon. They always dump me on the generic CAT cables.

JonathanLee · May 25, 2024, 2:43 PM

I remember Dlink had some good stuff back in the day anyone line D Link? My parents let me set up and configure lots of Dlink stuff, I remember this one late 90s could extend the WiFi. The thing would extend around a city block it was like a repeater.

coxhaus · May 25, 2024, 2:59 PM

@JonathanLee
Their routers are full of bugs and they don't seem to fix them. I ran an old 100meg D-Link switch back in the day and it worked fine.

I run Cisco small business switches now so I can run layer 3 switches as Cisco has good code in their switches for home. When I worked I used all enterprise Cisco but it is too expensive for home use and you have to pay for IOS upgrades in enterprise networking equipment. Cisco small business comes with firmware support for the life of the product.

I have only setup 1 small office network since I retired. I used Cisco small business L3 switch with 10gig upload. I setup 19 IP phones using a voice VLAN for priority on the L3 switch. It worked well.
Cisco makes the IP phone setup easy in their small business switches.

JonathanLee · May 25, 2024, 2:45 PM

@Dobby_ I like the heat sinks