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

Scout schrieb:

"Access points should not be placed in the hallway area but where the highest speed is needed."

if this is the optimization goal. However, if the aim is to have full network coverage with the minimum number of devices, in many cases the hallway option is simply the most cost-effective.

What use is network coverage if I have 5 GHz in the guest bathroom but only 2.4 GHz with congested channels and possibly close to the range limit in the office and living room? At that point, you might as well use mesh or other solutions. When building new and investing in good hardware, I would want to make full use of it at least.

Let me guess: you make your living from this, not necessarily as a network administrator but indirectly?

To put it bluntly: not every household needs high-speed internet for bathroom breaks, wireless speakers, or streaming 4K on a smartphone while lounging on the sofa—especially when the TV just 4 meters (13 feet) away gets the same smoothly via a wired connection.

And half a dozen access points, cloud keys, and what-have-you, plus all their cabling, planning, configuration, and maintenance—that’s really for enthusiasts. It is definitely NOT the standard case you can assume. If it works for you or if someone needs it, go ahead, no problem. You deserve that!

But I haven’t heard such requirements from those asking questions—otherwise, they wouldn’t have asked in the way they did. They’re not interested in mesh networks, GHz frequencies, Ubi-whatever, and you can hardly convince them that a server rack makes sense.

Like most people, they just want an easy-to-use network that works throughout the house without much hassle—so they don’t have to call in a brother-in-law or nephew every time they set it up or when something stops working. For exactly these users, LAN wall outlets for the devices that really need high speed are extremely useful. Plug it in, it works. Unplug it, no connection. Everyone understands that.

The rest can be handled by a Wi-Fi network optimized for 95% of cases. For the effort you put into a 99.x% solution (hundreds of hours and euros), people will either think you’re a geek or just give you the bird.

So just try to shift from an ego perspective to a bird’s-eye view ;o) and you’ll understand that what you’re describing hardly applies to all home builders.

Thank you, I also believe that, as an average user, there’s no need to overdo it. I plan to install one access point on the ground floor (centrally located in the dining/living area), as well as one in the hallway on each of the upper floor and attic levels. The signals will then only have to pass through a double-layered drywall partition, nothing more. Otherwise, I have wired LAN connections in the living and bedrooms. If the access points don’t provide enough coverage, I can always add more at these locations later.

Thanks again for the valuable input.

rick2018 schrieb:

No, you don’t need a Cloud Key.
You can set up the access points as standalone devices or install the controller software on your computer. Once the controller is offline, some functions like VLANs will no longer work, and network monitoring will stop.
If you have a NAS (Synology or QNAP), you can also install the controller there. Since these usually run 24/7, the controller will always be online.
The Cloud Key is a small device that runs the controller software. It uses little power, and if you want to use some functions, the controller should always be online. It’s useful if you don’t run Docker or a virtual machine.

VLANs still work on the network without the controller once they have been set up, right?

@Scout I have to disappoint you. Your assumption is completely wrong. I have nothing to do with the IT sector.
I already mentioned that 5 GHz doesn’t work well in the bathroom but is more useful in the living room.
For me, three is not an odd number either. For two floors, two access points are enough. This is not extra effort, just a matter of positioning.
What I described is an optimized and easy-to-manage network. There are also good guides available. Once set up, usually nothing needs to be changed.
@fragg described it very well.
If someone is considering UniFi, they are no longer in the basic consumer range.
If you don’t want to deal with it and no one in your family handles it, just put a FritzBox in the center of your house or get an LTE cube… (Irony intended)
But if you invest more money, you shouldn’t ruin the advantages through poor positioning.

@ti-mar90
Good decision. You’ll have fast network in the dining/living area. Other less important areas will still have coverage.
On the upper floor and attic, you’ll have good coverage and depending on distance and obstacles, more or less fast Wi-Fi.
This way you are well prepared, and as you correctly noted, it’s also expandable through LAN wall ports.

As mentioned earlier regarding the Cloud Key question, some UniFi access points can also be set up as standalone devices.
Download the app on your phone or tablet, open it, scan the QR code on the access point, and configure the settings.
You need to do this for all access points. I don’t know offhand if the settings can be copied.
Some functions and centralized management won’t be possible, but since you are a casual user, this is probably not necessary.
You already have a switch for your LAN anyway. For the access points, use the PoE injectors that come with them.

@BigFoot Guest rules definitely only work with a controller. I cannot tell you if a USG (router) maintains VLANs when the controller is offline. In general, I would always try to keep a controller running.