Hello everyone!
I am looking for specific recommendations for a home network where 2 access points will be powered via PoE.
Each room will have a double LAN outlet, which will then be connected to a patch panel.
However, I want to have 2 wall or ceiling outlets installed to provide Wi-Fi coverage for the ground floor and the upper floor.
Do you have specific recommendations for a PoE-capable switch and access points that perform well?
I am looking for specific recommendations for a home network where 2 access points will be powered via PoE.
Each room will have a double LAN outlet, which will then be connected to a patch panel.
However, I want to have 2 wall or ceiling outlets installed to provide Wi-Fi coverage for the ground floor and the upper floor.
Do you have specific recommendations for a PoE-capable switch and access points that perform well?
Definitely no power outlet at the access point since you will power it via PoE.
Use an outlet according to category 6a.
Either use an injector or a PoE switch in the server cabinet. With injectors, you will need more power outlets in the cabinet. Usually, a PoE switch makes more sense if you have multiple APs or cameras.
Unifi APs can also be configured using only the app. You don’t need their entire system. However, some features may not be available then.
For a friend’s holiday apartment, we are now using just a FritzBox + an inexpensive switch + one NanoHD with an injector.
The FritzBox Wi-Fi stays on, and the access point is on the other side of the apartment. This provides excellent coverage with relatively little effort.
Better to have more cables/outlets than to have problems later.
The APs should be mounted on the ceiling. Ideally, there should be no outlet there but rather use keystone jacks or connect directly to the installation cable (which is more difficult, so option one is preferable).
This way, no cables are visible.
Depending on where you place the outlets, consider how likely it is that you will need to connect additional devices. Double outlets cost a bit more, and require double the amount of cable or duplex cable. Laying and installation costs are the same.
Use an outlet according to category 6a.
Either use an injector or a PoE switch in the server cabinet. With injectors, you will need more power outlets in the cabinet. Usually, a PoE switch makes more sense if you have multiple APs or cameras.
Unifi APs can also be configured using only the app. You don’t need their entire system. However, some features may not be available then.
For a friend’s holiday apartment, we are now using just a FritzBox + an inexpensive switch + one NanoHD with an injector.
The FritzBox Wi-Fi stays on, and the access point is on the other side of the apartment. This provides excellent coverage with relatively little effort.
Better to have more cables/outlets than to have problems later.
The APs should be mounted on the ceiling. Ideally, there should be no outlet there but rather use keystone jacks or connect directly to the installation cable (which is more difficult, so option one is preferable).
This way, no cables are visible.
Depending on where you place the outlets, consider how likely it is that you will need to connect additional devices. Double outlets cost a bit more, and require double the amount of cable or duplex cable. Laying and installation costs are the same.
Since this is currently a relevant topic for us, I would like to point out that installing access points (APs) on the ceiling can be quite challenging from a cabling perspective.
We also use Ubiquiti access points (uap-ac-pro), and the available space to fit a jack or field-terminable connector is very limited, so this should definitely be done by a professional. Because the ceiling cable needs to be cut very short, there are not many opportunities to retry connecting the plug or jack.
We also use Ubiquiti access points (uap-ac-pro), and the available space to fit a jack or field-terminable connector is very limited, so this should definitely be done by a professional. Because the ceiling cable needs to be cut very short, there are not many opportunities to retry connecting the plug or jack.
A field-terminable connector is too large for the access points. Even worse for the NanoHD models. With a suspended ceiling, simply cut a hole about 3 cm (1.2 inches) in diameter, pass the cable through, and attach a keystone module. Then connect a standard patch cable to the module. The access point mounts on top. The cable can then be fully pushed into the ceiling. It’s not complicated; it just needs to be planned properly.
Directly connecting a plug to the cable is also possible, but only a standard one, which is not ideal. If the cable is plastered in and not running inside a conduit or in the ceiling, you will encounter length issues. But you wouldn’t do that without a conduit or inside the ceiling, would you?
Directly connecting a plug to the cable is also possible, but only a standard one, which is not ideal. If the cable is plastered in and not running inside a conduit or in the ceiling, you will encounter length issues. But you wouldn’t do that without a conduit or inside the ceiling, would you?
We are doing a wall installation as follows:
- Ground floor wall in the living room/terrace side
- Upper floor wall in the hallway leading to the bedrooms
This will supply the entire house. Plan for a double socket in the bedrooms and the living room for streaming via the TV; we don’t have and won’t need any other use cases. There definitely won’t be a LAN socket in the guest bathroom or the storage room 🙂
The rough-in electrical installation starts tomorrow, and we will go through the house again with the electrician, so I was genuinely happy to find this thread.
- Ground floor wall in the living room/terrace side
- Upper floor wall in the hallway leading to the bedrooms
This will supply the entire house. Plan for a double socket in the bedrooms and the living room for streaming via the TV; we don’t have and won’t need any other use cases. There definitely won’t be a LAN socket in the guest bathroom or the storage room 🙂
The rough-in electrical installation starts tomorrow, and we will go through the house again with the electrician, so I was genuinely happy to find this thread.
Always install conduits with some slack to allow for movement. Use keystone jacks for the access points (APs) and then connect them with patch cables to the AP. This way, you can mount the access point directly on the outlet and the cable will not be visible. It looks unprofessional in a new build if a cable runs openly from a socket to the access point. You also save the cost of the socket.
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