Netgate Discussion Forum
    • Categories
    • Recent
    • Tags
    • Popular
    • Users
    • Search
    • Register
    • Login

    The best 802n wireless accesspoint?

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Hardware
    80 Posts 28 Posters 48.4k Views
    Loading More Posts
    • Oldest to Newest
    • Newest to Oldest
    • Most Votes
    Reply
    • Reply as topic
    Log in to reply
    This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
    • M
      Mr. Jingles
      last edited by

      @NOYB:

      I use it exclusively in access point mode with both bands enabled.
      It's just been sitting there running since several months ago when I first got it with no problems.
      Have never had to reset it or anything.
      Have it configured with a static IP address.
      I know that the 5GHz band can fill a wired 100 mbit.  And do at least 50 mbit between two 5GHz band WiFi PC's.

      As a router … don't know.
      As a dhcp server ... don't know.
      As a DNS server and forwarder.  Would not touch it.

      I have been satisfied with it as strictly an AP.

      @rjcrowder:

      Asus RT-N66U running Tomato Shibby and setup as an access point. Kind of expensive but it's been rock solid with great coverage. If I'd have known that a wireless router could be this good, I would have spent the money a long time ago.

      Thanks both of you for sharing your experiences. Now I run into another problem: prices. Here are my local prices:

      https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/293739/netgear-wndr4500.html

      https://tweakers.net/pricewatch/293777/asus-rt-n66u.html

      Now, if one needs a full blown router with 4 ports giga-switch these prices could be considered fair. But I already have taken care of the routering and switching, I only need the wireless-part. And in light of that it seems wasting money on functionality I won't ever use. Since my current Pfsense is only installed to see if I could get it to work with my ISP, meaning: on a temporary old box (which actually is my drum computer, and since I like to drum I would love to have my drum computer back  ;D), I also still need to buy new hardware for my final Pfsense-appliance. I'd rather spend my scarce money on that, than on buying a full blown router/switch of which I won't use 90% of its functionality.

      And even more, with these prices, if I would have to pay these kind of prices, I perhaps better do buy something Apple, since that will keep its market value a little longer than the above models (given all the Apple fans out there  ;D).

      But still, I'd rather have something cheaper than these two models, because it only has to be an AP, nothing more.

      Thanks again for all suggestions  ;D

      6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • C
        cmb
        last edited by

        We use:
        http://store.netgate.com/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Long-Range-Single-Unit-P1683C139.aspx

        Great range. They work well and have the typical features in much costlier enterprise grade APs. And cheaper than some of the higher end consumer-grade routers.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • R
          rjcrowder
          last edited by

          I haven't tried it personally, but I've heard great things about the Asus EA-N66 Access Point. It's a little cheaper than than RT-N66U and you wouldn't be wasting money on features you won't use…

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • M
            Mr. Jingles
            last edited by

            @cmb:

            We use:
            http://store.netgate.com/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Long-Range-Single-Unit-P1683C139.aspx

            Great range. They work well and have the typical features in much costlier enterprise grade APs. And cheaper than some of the higher end consumer-grade routers.

            Thank you, CMB, actually, a brand like that would be precisely what I would be looking for, it doesn't appear to be the cheap plastic I can buy in the retail stores over here. But it appears it is PoE (?) I don't have any gear that could give power to the AP (the V1910-16G switch I have isn't PoE), so that would be a problem. I will have to dig further  ;D

            6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • M
              Mr. Jingles
              last edited by

              @rjcrowder:

              I haven't tried it personally, but I've heard great things about the Asus EA-N66 Access Point. It's a little cheaper than than RT-N66U and you wouldn't be wasting money on features you won't use…

              Thank you RJ, I will take a look at it  ;)

              6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • F
                fragged
                last edited by

                @Hollander:

                @cmb:

                We use:
                http://store.netgate.com/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Long-Range-Single-Unit-P1683C139.aspx

                Great range. They work well and have the typical features in much costlier enterprise grade APs. And cheaper than some of the higher end consumer-grade routers.

                Thank you, CMB, actually, a brand like that would be precisely what I would be looking for, it doesn't appear to be the cheap plastic I can buy in the retail stores over here. But it appears it is PoE (?) I don't have any gear that could give power to the AP (the V1910-16G switch I have isn't PoE), so that would be a problem. I will have to dig further  ;D

                http://dl.ubnt.com/guides/UniFi/UniFi_AP_AP-LR_User_Guide.pdf

                Says the package contains a PoE-brick, which you would plug in between the unit and your switch. The switch used doesn't have to be PoE capable.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • M
                  Mr. Jingles
                  last edited by

                  @fragged:

                  @Hollander:

                  @cmb:

                  We use:
                  http://store.netgate.com/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Long-Range-Single-Unit-P1683C139.aspx

                  Great range. They work well and have the typical features in much costlier enterprise grade APs. And cheaper than some of the higher end consumer-grade routers.

                  Thank you, CMB, actually, a brand like that would be precisely what I would be looking for, it doesn't appear to be the cheap plastic I can buy in the retail stores over here. But it appears it is PoE (?) I don't have any gear that could give power to the AP (the V1910-16G switch I have isn't PoE), so that would be a problem. I will have to dig further  ;D

                  http://dl.ubnt.com/guides/UniFi/UniFi_AP_AP-LR_User_Guide.pdf

                  Says the package contains a PoE-brick, which you would plug in between the unit and your switch. The switch used doesn't have to be PoE capable.

                  That's great, Fragged; thank you very much for this help  :P

                  6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • stephenw10S
                    stephenw10 Netgate Administrator
                    last edited by

                    If Ubiquity's control software webgui ever got turned into a package then the choice would be a no-brainer really.  ;) Especially for a deployment with a number of APs.

                    http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,46342.0.html

                    Steve

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • M
                      Mr. Jingles
                      last edited by

                      @stephenw10:

                      If Ubiquity's control software webgui ever got turned into a package then the choice would be a no-brainer really.  ;) Especially for a deployment with a number of APs.

                      http://forum.pfsense.org/index.php/topic,46342.0.html

                      Steve

                      A most stupid question from me, Steve  ;D

                      Being: why would I want to have a 'Unify server' running for an AP  ??? What does that need to do? I mean, I plug it into the switch, and both the Pfsense and the switch take care of the rest  ???

                      I know I will be the laugh of the day now  :-\

                      Ok, drinks on me, laugh away, I'll remain here, ignorant  :D

                      6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • F
                        fragged
                        last edited by

                        It's a system for managing a full network of those Ubiquiti AP's. For a single one you probably don't need it, you can just configure it via web gui or something. When you have hundreds of them, you want a centralized option :)

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • M
                          Mr. Jingles
                          last edited by

                          @fragged:

                          It's a system for managing a full network of those Ubiquiti AP's. For a single one you probably don't need it, you can just configure it via web gui or something. When you have hundreds of them, you want a centralized option :)

                          That makes a lot of sense; thanks for the explanation, Fragged  ;D

                          6 and a half billion people know that they are stupid, agressive, lower life forms.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • M
                            matguy
                            last edited by

                            @fragged:

                            @Hollander:

                            @cmb:

                            We use:
                            http://store.netgate.com/Ubiquiti-UniFi-Long-Range-Single-Unit-P1683C139.aspx

                            Great range. They work well and have the typical features in much costlier enterprise grade APs. And cheaper than some of the higher end consumer-grade routers.

                            Thank you, CMB, actually, a brand like that would be precisely what I would be looking for, it doesn't appear to be the cheap plastic I can buy in the retail stores over here. But it appears it is PoE (?) I don't have any gear that could give power to the AP (the V1910-16G switch I have isn't PoE), so that would be a problem. I will have to dig further  ;D

                            http://dl.ubnt.com/guides/UniFi/UniFi_AP_AP-LR_User_Guide.pdf

                            Says the package contains a PoE-brick, which you would plug in between the unit and your switch. The switch used doesn't have to be PoE capable.

                            Even if it didn't, POE Injectors aren't too expensive, $20 - $25 on Newegg.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • C
                              covex
                              last edited by

                              i'm looking for an AP that can deliver wifi from the first floor of the typical townhouse to the second and third floor. how good the range of these Ubiquiti AP's in this situation?
                              waf wouldn't let me install any equipment on the second and third floor :(

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • W
                                wallabybob
                                last edited by

                                @covex:

                                how good the range of these Ubiquiti AP's in this situation?

                                Probably depends on a number of factors including material between floors, interference from neighbours etc.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • stan-qazS
                                  stan-qaz
                                  last edited by

                                  Trying to hit three floors can be a problem depending on the antenna radiation pattern, some antenna setups give you a flattened dome pattern that sacrifices vertical coverage for extended range.

                                  Putting the AP on the central floor can help but finding an AP with a more even signal distribution would help too. Using a WiFi signal strength meter (or app) and fiddling with router placement and antenna angles can help to even out the signal.

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • ?
                                    A Former User
                                    last edited by

                                    the UniFi is OK but you would end up  mounting it on the upper most floor in your house on the ceiling…
                                    here again ive NEVER used a UniFi in a home enviroment. have used them in our commercial enviroment
                                    at work but ended up using a different product in the end for Reliable AP's in our warehouses and office space.

                                    now there is a custom compiled version of AirOS (ubiquiti regular software) you can load on these to avoid the
                                    Controller software situation, though i know it doesnt work on the UniFi Pro (dual band AP).

                                    now if you got the money to spend ($300ish) i wouldnt use anything OTHER than a Cisco 1252 AP.
                                    range on this particular AP just BLOWS away the consumer stuff... i can get close to .9 mile away from mine
                                    and still have signal and be able to surf and do my regular stuff.

                                    other ubiquiti products to consider Provided you DONT need dual band N capability is....
                                    Nanostation M series.... there reasonably cheap and work great (yes usually the POE adapters come with these)
                                    and DONT require the controller software.

                                    Good Luck

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • C
                                      covex
                                      last edited by

                                      @wallabybob:

                                      @covex:

                                      how good the range of these Ubiquiti AP's in this situation?

                                      Probably depends on a number of factors including material between floors, interference from neighbours etc.

                                      wooden structure, insulation, some plastic water pipes in the walls
                                      right now i'm using d-link dir-825 (open-wrt) as my ap and it's acceptable though i had to add wifi deflectors on each antena. i can even get 5ghz on the second floor, third floor only 2.4.
                                      but this setup looks ugly and sometimes slow and i was wondering if i can get something with higher power and better looks.

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • A
                                        acald
                                        last edited by

                                        ASUS RT-N16 - A serious workhorse but only 2.4ghz ~$70 refurb

                                        ASUS RT N66U - Dual Band workhorse ~140 refurb

                                        ASUS RT AC66U Dual band plus 802.11ac technology (may be one of the fastest routers available right now) ~$180

                                        would WAF allow you to place the WAP inside a 2nd floor closet above the door.  That may get you the coverage you need.

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                        • T
                                          tester_02
                                          last edited by

                                          @acald:

                                          ASUS RT-N16 - A serious workhorse but only 2.4ghz ~$70 refurb

                                          ASUS RT N66U - Dual Band workhorse ~140 refurb

                                          ASUS RT N66AC Dual band plus 802.11ac technology (may be one of the fastest routers available right now) ~$180

                                          would WAF allow you to place the WAP inside a 2nd floor closet above the door.  That may get you the coverage you need.

                                          I've owned many different wifi routers over the years of many differnent brands.  None beats my last upgrade of the N66U.  The range in my house is the best I've ever seen it, as well as performance.  Also configuring as an access point is a breeze.  I never knew it could be this good.

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • A
                                            acald
                                            last edited by

                                            @tester_02:

                                            @acald:

                                            ASUS RT-N16 - A serious workhorse but only 2.4ghz ~$70 refurb

                                            ASUS RT N66U - Dual Band workhorse ~140 refurb

                                            ASUS RT AC66U Dual band plus 802.11ac technology (may be one of the fastest routers available right now) ~$180

                                            would WAF allow you to place the WAP inside a 2nd floor closet above the door.  That may get you the coverage you need.

                                            I've owned many different wifi routers over the years of many differnent brands.   None beats my last upgrade of the N66U.  The range in my house is the best I've ever seen it, as well as performance.  Also configuring as an access point is a breeze.   I never knew it could be this good.

                                            And flexible . . .  They will use tomatoUSB and DD-WRT and are FAST!  I've only read specs and graphs on the AC66U but it looks amazing.

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • First post
                                              Last post
                                            Copyright 2025 Rubicon Communications LLC (Netgate). All rights reserved.