ᐅ Number of network outlets; how to plan Wi-Fi in a new build?

Created on: 22 Aug 2019 10:27
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Pamiko
Hello,

we need to decide soon on the number of network outlets required throughout the house.
Basically, we agree on where to place outlets (living room, office, children's rooms, bedroom...) for connecting stationary devices.
However, I am a bit unsure about what exactly needs to be planned to ensure good Wi-Fi coverage on both floors.
What I find online about this topic is beyond my current understanding.
Would it be possible to simply install one network outlet centrally on each floor and connect a device there to extend the signal? What kind of device would that be?
(I have often read about access points.)

Looking forward to some beginner-friendly advice. Thank you very much.
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hanse987
22 Aug 2019 18:55
Alternatively, you can use a small adapter ring between the access point and the ceiling. You can hide the cables inside this. Someone posted a photo of this just a few weeks ago. It looked quite decent.
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guckuck2
22 Aug 2019 19:27
hanse987 schrieb:

Where would you place the access point? The access point should not be positioned directly in a corner. Placing it centrally provides the best Wi-Fi coverage.

Exactly.
However, unless you are building a very complex mansion, central placement is simply not necessary. A 10m (33 feet) range through two walls is no challenge, for example, for the mentioned Ubiquiti APs. Therefore, I wouldn’t neglect the aesthetics and would rather hide the APs. On the ground floor, I would position it a bit towards the terrace or garden.
opalau schrieb:

Good that you brought that up. I wasn’t quite clear why a keystone module is needed instead of just installing an RJ45 adapter?

Because a standard RJ45 plug is not practical for crimping onto bulk cable. A field-attachable connector, on the other hand, fits poorly in the tight space near the access point. The stiff cable doesn’t make this any easier.
Fuchur schrieb:

To me, those are repeaters, but fine. Let’s be clear: every access point needs its own wired connection.

Repeaters are basically signal extenders. They receive the signal from the client or AP and duplicate it on the same wireless network.
That means every data packet travels twice over the Wi-Fi: from client to repeater, and from repeater to access point.
This halves the bandwidth for the entire wireless network.

That’s why access points are wired.
If that’s not possible, mesh can be used. In mesh Wi-Fi, the access points communicate with each other over a dedicated wireless network. The bandwidth of the Wi-Fi used by the clients then does not get halved.

But yes, mesh also promises seamless roaming. That’s probably what you expect or are referring to.
The involved APs also negotiate which one can best serve the client and hand over the connection. Although in a single-family home, with one access point on the ground floor and another upstairs, separated by reinforced concrete, I find this unnecessary. The client is intelligent enough to choose the stronger signal anyway, depending on the floor it is on.
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Fuchur
22 Aug 2019 19:48
guckuck2 schrieb:

The client is smart enough for this because the signal strengths of the two APs are significantly different, depending on which floor the client is located on.
That did not work in our current house. The phones stayed connected to the registered access point even when hardly any data was being transmitted, although there was better reception available from the hallway on the second floor. Only after a complete disconnection did the phones connect to the second access point. Since we installed two Unify access points with "roaming," it has worked flawlessly on all floors.
rick201822 Aug 2019 19:54
The seamless roaming feature on UniFi still doesn’t work very well and often causes more problems. You probably haven’t enabled it either. The client controls it. Therefore, adjust the transmit power for each WiFi network and access point accordingly, and the roaming will work smoothly.
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Fuchur
22 Aug 2019 21:12
Before, I used other access points, but the Unify devices have worked perfectly from the start. With all the features available, I find the Unify system quite complicated to set up if you only need basic functions for a private home. It’s clear that they were designed with a different market in mind.
Golfi9022 Aug 2019 21:54
rick2018 schrieb:

I would go with the NonoHD today.

Why choose the Nano and not the AC-Pro?