Recommend WiFi repeater setup

[Grant]

time to revamp and do a proper install.

signal needs to be strong in study, 3 bedrooms, lounge and outside patio.
so, going to need 6 good repeaters
or
i have seen - more specifically at hotels, - an antenna / repeater located at the edge of the property, facing the property, and pushing the signal into the building.

which may be the better option ?

i'm inclined towards the external repeater as that may cut down the multitude of cables running between router and rooms, and power to each repeater in every room - trying to avoid 2 cables (line from router + power) to each repeater in the various rooms.

also, any recommendation on a cape town based company for the job ?

 

[Mzezman]

What’s your budget? This will determine options

 

[Grant]

What’s your budget? This will determine options

i'm guessing about R1500 per access point "device" x 6 = R9000
labour incl cabling, conduit/trunking = about R5000

i suppose around R15 000 for multiple indoor access points, or for 1 or 2 outdoor access points.
i suspect 1 outdoor AP may not have enough reach, so perhaps 2 x outdoor AP, or 1 outdoor + 2 indoor.

my preference is to steer clear of superfluous indoor cabling and trunking - aesthetics plays a major role in all of this.
house is split over 2 levels, with a flat roof - so no option to run cabling within a ceiling and drop a cable into each room - everything will be exposed.

 

[Mzezman]

i'm guessing about R1500 per access point "device" x 6 = R9000
labour incl cabling, conduit/trunking = about R5000

i suppose around R15 000 for multiple indoor access points, or for 1 or 2 outdoor access points.
i suspect 1 outdoor AP may not have enough reach, so perhaps 2 x outdoor AP, or 1 outdoor + 2 indoor.

my preference is to steer clear of superfluous indoor cabling and trunking - aesthetics plays a major role in all of this.
house is split over 2 levels, with a flat roof - so no option to run cabling within a ceiling and drop a cable into each room - everything will be exposed.

With that budget you have a nice array of product options - from pre-configured "mesh" systems all the way through to a modular Router, Switch, Access point layout. For both options i would hard-wire ethernet cables to each AP - which you have already catered for in your requirement.

Pre-configured "mesh" systems
Pros - usually very easy to setup, more affordable
Cons - somewhat more limited in configuration options, usually no pure outdoor rated gear, you'll need power at each AP location

Examples

Device	Price
Cudy Dual Band WiFi 6 1800Mbps Gigabit Mesh 3 Pack | M1800 (3-Pack) Cudy's CD-M18003 is a 3 pack, dual band 802.11ax (WiFi 6) mesh system featuring 2x Gigabit Ethernet Ports, integrated antennas and an aggregate data rate of up to 1775Mbps. The router supports Cudy's whole home mesh system, seamless roaming and VPN. scoop.co.za	2350
TP-LINK Deco X20 AX1800 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi 6 System - 2 Pack Armed with Wi-Fi 6 technology, Deco whole home mesh Wi-Fi is designed to deliver a huge boost in coverage, speed, and total capacity. Get on the latest mesh Wi-Fi to enjoy the future network that loads faster and connects more computermania.co.za	3599

Modular systems
Pros - much more configurable with a wider set of options, APs can be POE powered, outdoor rated APs
Cons - costs can add up

Devices	Cost
	9400
	13.4

 

[Grant]

With that budget you have a nice array of product options - from pre-configured "mesh" systems all the way through to a modular Router, Switch, Access point layout. For both options i would hard-wire ethernet cables to each AP - which you have already catered for in your requirement.

thanks for that.
i want to try keep things as simple as possible.
aesthetics is a big factor - the design / architecture of the house does not lend itself to cables etc being exposed - and there is nowhere to hide them, unless i go to the extreme extent of chasing thru concrete for the purpose of installing trunking, something that's been in the back of my mind for the lounge dining room areas to hide audio cabling etc.

suddenly this project has taken a bit of a turn.
it may be time to finally bite the bullet and start carving up floors and walls.

oy vey !!

 

[Mzezman]

thanks for that.
i want to try keep things as simple as possible.
aesthetics is a big factor - the design / architecture of the house does not lend itself to cables etc being exposed - and there is nowhere to hide them, unless i go to the extreme extent of chasing thru concrete for the purpose of installing trunking, something that's been in the back of my mind for the lounge dining room areas to hide audio cabling etc.

suddenly this project has taken a bit of a turn.
it may be time to finally bite the bullet and start carving up floors and walls.

oy vey !!

Before you carve anything have you looked at the flat Ethernet cables? They are less conspicuous and if you use glue to attach them to the wall they might not look as unsightly

 

[Tim_vb]

There are a few options for wired backhaul
- skirting board often include grooves inside for cable
- small D profile trunking at blends in with existing skirting
- indoor low profile fibre that is mostly transparent

 

[yogidabear]

Some pro advice happening here! Running wires outside in trunking then back indoors also sometimes an option.

If you do use an installer its better, not saying you are not capable, but you will always walk in to a room and see that ugly bulge where you could have done better.

Well thats me anyway, and after having lived here 12 years I have to walk around with my eyes closed now.

Lastly you can use a combination of wired and wireless backhaul. It does not have to be all or nothing, but wired is always the unsightly performance winner.

 

[RedViking]

What does your neighbour use?

 

[rh1]

As stated above, Flat ethernet cables is less of an eyesore, its what I used for the downward cable runs into the various rooms, I crawled in the roof to lay the majority of the cables and then neatly glued the cable in the corner of the rooms and along the skirting till the termination point.

 

[AfricanTech]

I’m inclined to recommend a mesh system for what you need.

All you need is a plug point and they’re not ugly either.

Something like this and add additional mesh units.

Otherwise it’s proper APs with flat Ethernet cable for the backhaul.

TPLINK DECO X55 3 Pack AX3000 Whole Home Mesh WIFI 6 System

Takealot

 

[HartsockZA]

I just did this setup.
Works like a charm, only ran 2 cables. the 3rd AP meshes with the other 2 to fillout the dead spots (which there are 0)
Reyee Wi-Fi 6 1775Mbps Ceiling Access Point RG-RAP2260-G x 2
Reyee Wi-Fi 5 AC1300 Dual-Band Outdoor Access Point (RG-RAP52-OUTDOOR) x 1
Reyee 5port Dual WAN Gigabit Cloud Managed PoE Router (RG-EG105G-P-V3) x 1


I get internet all the way out here too for wireless IP camera's so yea, works well.



The Outdoor AP does about 150m 360 and indoors about 50m Important to note the roof is actually metal so technically they shouldn't work (only found out after the fact the roof was metal otherwise I'd have never done this for a customer) Just had to setup the primary router and it set itself up by itself. Uniterm - R6,771.20 At the time the wifi 6 outdoor AP wasn't available from Scoop nor Uniterm so will upgrade it if the customer complains.