Need to expand wireless coverage

[t_ski]

I have an AC 1750 wireless router on the main floor of my home, but in the basement and far reaches of the home, the signal is poorer and connections sometimes drop. Is there a way I can add another access point (something like this one perhaps: https://www.netgear.com/support/product/wac120?cid=wmt_netgear_organic#docs) to my existing wireless network? I know I could add it as a new network, but I'd rather see it as one big network and have the same SSID(s) available.

I currently already have a wired connection from my wireless router & modem down to my office in the basement, where multiple PCs are wired in. I just want to add better wifi coverage for cellphone, tablet, laptop, etc. use.

 

[Kursah]

Depending on your budget, I highly recommend Ubiquity UniFi AP's.

The AC Pro is a great unit, and the one I'd suggest if you want more high-speed AC coverage.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PRO512/?tag=tec06d-20

If you want to save a few bucks go with the little slower AC Lite AP:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PR20GY/?tag=tec06d-20

You use a an application on your PC that runs on Java and in your browser to manage them, the app is very smooth and easy to use. Setup on your network, give it the SSID info and go. Even comes with a POE (Power Over Ethernet) injector, which allows you to power the device over the Ethernet cable. Keeps the installation that much easier and simpler. These are VERY effective units in SoHo environments, and for the price are tough to beat. They are set it and forget it in most cases too.

 

[t_ski]

But would I need to replace my existing wireless? I'm happy with that unit for the most part, but I just want to expand this.

EDIT: What I'm trying to ask is if I need to set up the second access point on the same SSID with a different and channel and I'm good, or is there more to it than that? I know the basics of networking and wireless, I'm familiar with the Ubiquiti and have worked on some Cisco devices, but networking is not my main focus at work. I'm just not familiar with how to configure this to make it happen. I'd like a mesh-type network, but I don't want to replace the whole thing in order to make something like that happen.

Hell, I even have a couple of these sitting around the house:

http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/wireless/aironet-1130-ag-series/index.html

 

[Kursah]

Adding an AP is going to extend your wireless as you're assuming.

It's job is to provide wifi, it is not a router, it doesn't host a network, it forwards packets between wireless devices and your router.

You'll just enter your SSID information into the AP, it'll relay the traffic to your router.

No worries that networking isn't your mainstay, I'm good with networking.

If you want to do mesh that's a different thing altogether and really I'd recommend against it if you already have a physical Ethernet run to the area you need better WiFi coverage. Mesh is fine for those that don't have physical runs, but setup issues can occur with improperly laid out and configured mesh networks. Also a loss of bandwidth can happen.

 

[t_ski]

Thanks. So the only special setup required is the different channel, right?

 

[Kursah]

Yep, it should be a piece of cake!

 

[t_ski]

Thank. I'll see if I can give it a try with one of those Cisco APs I mentioned early. If it works, then I'll grab something off the 'Egg.

 

[Kursah]

Keep me posted, I'll be glad to help out any way I can.

 

[t_ski]

I messed around with the Cisco access points yesterday. I think one of them is bad, or at least the power adapter is. The other one fired up fine, but is missing the IOS file to be able to boot correctly. I don;t have a Cisco account to download the file I need, and it looks like the saved copy at work was purged when these we decommissioned.

Going to have to come up with a plan B.

 

[Kursah]

Well grab a cheap UBNT UniFi AP for around $60, uses PoE and comes with a PoE adapter. That or use an old wireless router, many allow an Access Point mode...or you may need to install DD-WRT, Tomato, etc...if available to enable AP mode.

 

[remixedcat]

Depending on your budget, I highly recommend Ubiquity UniFi AP's.

The AC Pro is a great unit, and the one I'd suggest if you want more high-speed AC coverage.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PRO512/?tag=tec06d-20

If you want to save a few bucks go with the little slower AC Lite AP:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015PR20GY/?tag=tec06d-20

You use a an application on your PC that runs on Java and in your browser to manage them, the app is very smooth and easy to use. Setup on your network, give it the SSID info and go. Even comes with a POE (Power Over Ethernet) injector, which allows you to power the device over the Ethernet cable. Keeps the installation that much easier and simpler. These are VERY effective units in SoHo environments, and for the price are tough to beat. They are set it and forget it in most cases too.

I'd also recommend the Cloud Key, Just got one and now no need for an app on my pc and I can access remotely nicerly... Much worth it and uses PoE so no Adapters to a UPS... Was pretty easy to setup as well as migrate from the PC controller. Just gotta be sure to have a version under or the same version as the cloud key controller and not a newer one... also recommended to only backup 7 days or less from the PC controller to the CK migration or you're gonna have a bad time!!

 

[SnakeDoctor]

Your wired connection going to the basement I would just hook up a Access Point to the cable and setup a different Wifi ssid . easy as pie

 

[t_ski]

I made a drunk purchase of the Ubiquiti AC Lite, but didn't see it needed a "server" to run it off of (or the Cloud Key). I have a server, but I don't know if the OS is compatible, but I might be able to install it on a cruncher I have left. Just haven't messed around with it yet.

I was thinking of doing a different SSID in the basement, hide the SSID so only I know it's there (kids or wife won't see it). At least for testing for the time being.

 

[Kursah]

I made a drunk purchase of the Ubiquiti AC Lite, but didn't see it needed a "server" to run it off of (or the Cloud Key). I have a server, but I don't know if the OS is compatible, but I might be able to install it on a cruncher I have left. Just haven't messed around with it yet.

I was thinking of doing a different SSID in the basement, hide the SSID so only I know it's there (kids or wife won't see it). At least for testing for the time being.

You don't need a server to run it. You can use the software on your PC, and save the config to be loaded in another client. The deal is that only one PC can control it...and in a sense that PC is a server. But that software doesn't need to be up 24/7. Only when you want to access the device. Otherwise the AP does what you told it to. Set it and forget it.

 

[remixedcat]

Oh if you start out with the app on your system and then decide to go to cloud key w/o starting over:

Backup config on controller (no more than 7 days or you'll have a bad time!)
Make sure it's a version under or same version as the one that ships on the CK
Shut down the UNIFI software on the PC that was hosting it COMPLETELY! LEAVE NO TRACES BEHIND on task manager or services.msc BUT PLEASE DON'T UNINSTALL YET
Follow the instructions to get CK up and running
upload the config file from the UNIFI software, wait for it to restore

 

[t_ski]

Thanks. Still need to mess with it. I've been working extra hours at home trying to do some storage stuff outside of business hours.

 

[Kursah]

No worries. If you run into issues let us know.

 

[t_ski]

So, a month later, I finally got it up and running. It was pretty easy to set up, and it's currently bolting out an N network and AC network. In my office (where I would have a low quality signal), I'm sitting about 5 feet away from the AP and getting 200Mbps on my phone and 300Mbps on my laptop. Mission accomplished. The only bad part is when I hit the shitter (about halfway between my office and the router upstairs), my phone wants to jump APs, then might get stuck on the router when I come back to the office. A quick toggle off/on of the Wifi and it's back to the Ubiquiti.

Now I need to find a better solution for the router upstairs...