Wifi AP

[AfricanTech]

I have a mikrotik hap router but the WiFi coverage is not enough for my house.

I have a network cable plugged into my switch with the other point in one of the bedrooms. I want to use a spare tp link w8980 as a access point but not sure how to do the setup at all or which settings to change.

I would like the mikrotik to keep wifi but the other devices should switch over if the coverage is not enough.

How would I go about this after I plug the tp link into the switch?

The answer you don't want to hear....

Look on Carbonite, OLX, etc for someone selling a Ubiquiti Unifi AP and throw that TP - Link into the bin.

Will cost you rands but save you huge frustration.

 

[The_Mowgs]

Tplink has a setting for transmit power. It has ranges in percentages, in a little drop down menu.

Cant remember exactly where it is in the menu, or even if all of them support it.

Changed it to 50% and will see how it goes.

Thanks for all the help guys, appreciate it.

 

[The_Mowgs]

So I thought things would be working as it should but the devices keep on disconnecting from the tp link and does not reconnect.

When selecting the SSID again it says the password is wrong (which it is not) and then you need to enter the password again.

This happens when I sit 1 meter from the tp link on different devices.

 

[The_Mowgs]

The answer you don't want to hear....

Look on Carbonite, OLX, etc for someone selling a Ubiquiti Unifi AP and throw that TP - Link into the bin.

Will cost you rands but save you huge frustration.

Will see how the tp link performs otherwise I will get one thanks.

 

[HeftyCrab]

So I thought things would be working as it should but the devices keep on disconnecting from the tp link and does not reconnect.

When selecting the SSID again it says the password is wrong (which it is not) and then you need to enter the password again.

This happens when I sit 1 meter from the tp link on different devices.

I had 2 tplinks at opposit

Will see how the tp link performs otherwise I will get one thanks.

I had two TP links at opposite ends of my house. It worked fine for a few months, but often had to turn wifi on and off on tue devices to connect to the other AP.

Eventually replaced it with 1 Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LITE right in the centre.

This is deviating a bit from the thread. The original sollution was fine, but the biggest reason I bought the Ubiquiti was for software updates. Google for the Krack wifi exploit. Ubiquiti were one of the first to release a patch for it. TP Link ummed and awwed for a long time about it. Not what I wanted in devices running on my home network.

 

[AfricanTech]

I had 2 tplinks at opposit


I had two TP links at opposite ends of my house. It worked fine for a few months, but often had to turn wifi on and off on tue devices to connect to the other AP.

Eventually replaced it with 1 Ubiquiti UAP-AC-LITE right in the centre.

This is deviating a bit from the thread. The original sollution was fine, but the biggest reason I bought the Ubiquiti was for software updates. Google for the Krack wifi exploit. Ubiquiti were one of the first to release a patch for it. TP Link ummed and awwed for a long time about it. Not what I wanted in devices running on my home network.

Can't remember how much time (hours and hours and hours) on using 'surplus' devices as AP extenders and then money I squandered on actual extenders until someone pointed me in the direction of a proper AP (ubiquiti in my case) - haven't looked back.

Did I mention the pain and grief from the wife when all those other sub optimal solutions didn't work?

 

[The_Mowgs]

Can't remember how much time (hours and hours and hours) on using 'surplus' devices as AP extenders and then money I squandered on actual extenders until someone pointed me in the direction of a proper AP (ubiquiti in my case) - haven't looked back.

Did I mention the pain and grief from the wife when all those other sub optimal solutions didn't work?

The grief is what I am currently getting. Which model should I go for?

 

[HeftyCrab]

The grief is what I am currently getting. Which model should I go for?

You can check this one out (I have it and am very happy).

https://scoop.co.za/ubiquiti-unifi-dual-band-ac-lite-ap-uap-ac-lite.html

It comes with a POE injector (you power it through the ethernet cable).

I see the price increased since I bought it, but you can shop around.

 

[AfricanTech]

The grief is what I am currently getting. Which model should I go for?

The AC lites are good balance between cost and function imo - they are dual band (2.4 and 5) so the newer devices benefit from them as well as the old.

Tbh, it depends on what you want to spend. I started off with the cheapest and gradually added (and upgraded) as the need arose.

Search for Ubiquiti Unifi on Carbonite and you'll see them for sale (not AC lites - they're a bit more) for around R600.

Eg

3 x Ubiquiti UniFi AP's
https://carbonite.co.za/index.php?threads/3-x-Ubiquiti-UniFi-AP's.209052/


Or

Ubiquiti Unifi Enterprise 802-11n-Long-Range-AP UAP-LR with PoE Adapter
https://carbonite.co.za/index.php?t...Long-Range-AP-UAP-LR-with-PoE-Adapter.209119/




Either of the above will do the job

 

[The_Mowgs]

The AC lites are good balance between cost and function imo - they are dual band (2.4 and 5) so the newer devices benefit from them as well as the old.

Tbh, it depends on what you want to spend. I started off with the cheapest and gradually added (and upgraded) as the need arose.

Search for Ubiquiti Unifi on Carbonite and you'll see them for sale (not AC lites - they're a bit more) for around R600.

Eg

3 x Ubiquiti UniFi AP's
https://carbonite.co.za/index.php?threads/3-x-Ubiquiti-UniFi-AP's.209052/


Or

Ubiquiti Unifi Enterprise 802-11n-Long-Range-AP UAP-LR with PoE Adapter
https://carbonite.co.za/index.php?t...Long-Range-AP-UAP-LR-with-PoE-Adapter.209119/




Either of the above will do the job

Thanks. I will buy one like HeftyCrab suggested. Is it easy to setup these units? I take it I can disable the mikrotik wifi when I install this one?

 

[AfricanTech]

Thanks. I will buy one like HeftyCrab suggested. Is it easy to setup these units? I take it I can disable the mikrotik wifi when I install this one?

Yup on both questions.

The level of control is quite liberating compared to the consumer stuff.

 

[The_Mowgs]

You can check this one out (I have it and am very happy).

https://scoop.co.za/ubiquiti-unifi-dual-band-ac-lite-ap-uap-ac-lite.html

It comes with a POE injector (you power it through the ethernet cable).

I see the price increased since I bought it, but you can shop around.

Whats the difference between this one quoted and this one?

https://shop.dbg.co.za/ub-uap.html

 

[HeftyCrab]

Whats the difference between this one quoted and this one?

https://shop.dbg.co.za/ub-uap.html

I think that one is older. The one I listed is this one:

https://shop.dbg.co.za/ub-uap-ac-lite.html

Your one only has 2.4 Ghz band (not 5Ghz as well), and it only has a 100Mb port, not gigabit. If you ever transfer anything over the local network that will be a bottleneck.

There might be other differences as well.

Here is a list of the Ubiquiti Access Point Generations.

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/235634387-UniFi-Hardware-Generation-of-UniFi-Access-Points

 

[The_Mowgs]

I think that one is older. The one I listed is this one:

https://shop.dbg.co.za/ub-uap-ac-lite.html

Your one only has 2.4 Ghz band (not 5Ghz as well), and it only has a 100Mb port, not gigabit. If you ever transfer anything over the local network that will be a bottleneck.

There might be other differences as well.

Here is a list of the Ubiquiti Access Point Generations.

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/235634387-UniFi-Hardware-Generation-of-UniFi-Access-Points

Ok thanks then it makes sense to rather go for the one you posted for future use.

Thanks again for all the help. I have ordered a Ubiquity AP.

 

[HeftyCrab]

Ok thanks then it makes sense to rather go for the one you posted for future use.

Thanks again for all the help. I have ordered a Ubiquity AP.

Awesome. yes its a bit more "future proof". You can either set the AP up via "ubiquiti controller software", or via their App (you just scan a QR code on the back of the AP). If you use the App, its binded to the AP, so I think that if you ever want too use the controller software afterwords, you have too reset the AP, before the controller can pick it up.

The beauty lies in the POE capability. You can place the AP exactly where you need to, as opposed to where a power source is.

 

[AfricanTech]

Awesome. yes its a bit more "future proof". You can either set the AP up via "ubiquiti controller software", or via their App (you just scan a QR code on the back of the AP). If you use the App, its binded to the AP, so I think that if you ever want too use the controller software afterwords, you have too reset the AP, before the controller can pick it up.

The beauty lies in the POE capability. You can place the AP exactly where you need to, as opposed to where a power source is.

I use the controller s/w on my pc and the app (ios) interchangeably - setup via pc first - no resets needed

 

[sajunky]

I use the controller s/w on my pc and the app (ios) interchangeably - setup via pc first - no resets needed

I think @HeftyCrab is right. Controller will not pick it up when AP is managed by the app, you have to reset AP. Once AP is managed by the Controller, you can use the app as you say.

 

[The_Mowgs]

Ok so I picked up the AP today. How do I connect all of this up now?

I have a mikrotik hap router which is plugged into a TP Link Gigabit Switch.

What do I do with the POE device as I see there's place for 2 network cables??? Was I supposed to get another network cable as well?

 

[AfricanTech]

I think @HeftyCrab is right. Controller will not pick it up when AP is managed by the app, you have to reset AP. Once AP is managed by the Controller, you can use the app as you say.

Sounds right. That's the order I did it in.

 

[AfricanTech]

Ok so I picked up the AP today. How do I connect all of this up now?

I have a mikrotik hap router which is plugged into a TP Link Gigabit Switch.

What do I do with the POE device as I see there's place for 2 network cables??? Was I supposed to get another network cable as well?

Yes. One from your Switch to POE injector - one from POE injector to AP.

Use the one from your old TP Link

If the switch can power the AP directly then you don't need the POE - most consumer grade Switches don't provide POE though