Hello,
we are planning our new build with a developer and have an appointment with the electrician soon.
I am working on the LAN planning.
I will plan enough LAN connections for every room and also in the garage.
Should we use a mesh Wi-Fi router system, for example Netgear Orbi, Amazon Eero (one unit on each floor or in the most important rooms, which can be expanded as needed if there are coverage gaps) or something similar, or does it have to be an expensive PoE access point network?
I would say we are users with a higher-than-average standard.
I want to have good Wi-Fi coverage throughout the house so that I always have enough Wi-Fi on my phone for browsing.
A speed of 50–100 Mbps on the phone would be sufficient, but it should be stable (we will have a 500 Mbps or maybe only a 250 Mbps connection).
Do the access points have to be PoE devices mounted on the ceiling, or is that maybe a bit too much for us?
Or is a regular mesh router system (e.g., Netgear Orbi) enough for us?
Running the PoE cables will most likely be very expensive with the electrician (typical for developer projects :/ ).
we are planning our new build with a developer and have an appointment with the electrician soon.
I am working on the LAN planning.
I will plan enough LAN connections for every room and also in the garage.
Should we use a mesh Wi-Fi router system, for example Netgear Orbi, Amazon Eero (one unit on each floor or in the most important rooms, which can be expanded as needed if there are coverage gaps) or something similar, or does it have to be an expensive PoE access point network?
I would say we are users with a higher-than-average standard.
I want to have good Wi-Fi coverage throughout the house so that I always have enough Wi-Fi on my phone for browsing.
A speed of 50–100 Mbps on the phone would be sufficient, but it should be stable (we will have a 500 Mbps or maybe only a 250 Mbps connection).
Do the access points have to be PoE devices mounted on the ceiling, or is that maybe a bit too much for us?
Or is a regular mesh router system (e.g., Netgear Orbi) enough for us?
Running the PoE cables will most likely be very expensive with the electrician (typical for developer projects :/ ).
M
Manatarms1235 May 2022 14:42Thank you for your messages.
Sorry for the missing information.
We have four floors: basement, ground floor, first floor, and attic.
The router will be placed in the basement, where the connections will be.
Ground floor: open living and dining area plus open kitchen, hallway, and guest toilet (I think one access point should be enough here, with a LAN connection behind the TV).
First floor: children’s room, bedroom, and dressing room (possibly one access point in the hallway or children’s room, plus LAN connections in the children’s room and possibly the bedroom).
Attic: a large studio for various purposes (2 LAN connections and 1 access point).
I have planned at least one access point per floor (possibly one more on the back side of the garage for the garden; we will drill a hole for the cable and install it ourselves).
Which access points can you recommend?
Are mesh systems also considered access points? For example, Netgear Orbi, Amazon Eero, and similar systems (one main router like a Fritzbox, with the others amplifying and extending the signal).
Each device (whether access point or mesh router system) will, of course, be connected via LAN.
What is the best placement for access points? Mounting on concrete ceilings will surely cost more than on walls.
Is it sufficient to place access points behind furniture like cabinets or low boards, given my requirements?
That way, I wouldn’t need to have extra LAN cables installed for the access points. Then every LAN port would connect to a switch, and from the switch to the access point or other end devices.
Sorry for the missing information.
We have four floors: basement, ground floor, first floor, and attic.
The router will be placed in the basement, where the connections will be.
Ground floor: open living and dining area plus open kitchen, hallway, and guest toilet (I think one access point should be enough here, with a LAN connection behind the TV).
First floor: children’s room, bedroom, and dressing room (possibly one access point in the hallway or children’s room, plus LAN connections in the children’s room and possibly the bedroom).
Attic: a large studio for various purposes (2 LAN connections and 1 access point).
I have planned at least one access point per floor (possibly one more on the back side of the garage for the garden; we will drill a hole for the cable and install it ourselves).
Which access points can you recommend?
Are mesh systems also considered access points? For example, Netgear Orbi, Amazon Eero, and similar systems (one main router like a Fritzbox, with the others amplifying and extending the signal).
Each device (whether access point or mesh router system) will, of course, be connected via LAN.
What is the best placement for access points? Mounting on concrete ceilings will surely cost more than on walls.
Is it sufficient to place access points behind furniture like cabinets or low boards, given my requirements?
That way, I wouldn’t need to have extra LAN cables installed for the access points. Then every LAN port would connect to a switch, and from the switch to the access point or other end devices.
Hello everyone,
I’m joining this thread because my questions and thoughts are heading in a similar direction.
We are currently planning the network for our new build (basement, ground floor, upper floor). The router will also be placed in the utility room in the basement, with access points on the ground and upper floors. Usage is "normal." Devices (TV, PC, etc.) will mainly be connected via LAN. Two adults, two children.
The access points will be powered over Ethernet (PoE). Our electrician charges €30 for drilling through concrete and €6.50 per meter for channelling in concrete, both prices excluding VAT. I find that acceptable and plan to have the access points installed on the ceiling (there are only two). According to the electrician: ideally, the access points should be mounted centrally in the room/floor on the ceiling and not directly blocked by walls. Their signal distributes in a circular pattern.
Would you also install an access point in the basement, or should the router cover that area?
For the access points, I have chosen the UniFi Access Point Lite, which in my opinion has a sleek and simple design.
Regarding the router (which was the initial question): we are currently using an Easy Box 805. Is this suitable for our plans, or do we need a Fritzbox?
Thanks to everyone.
I’m joining this thread because my questions and thoughts are heading in a similar direction.
We are currently planning the network for our new build (basement, ground floor, upper floor). The router will also be placed in the utility room in the basement, with access points on the ground and upper floors. Usage is "normal." Devices (TV, PC, etc.) will mainly be connected via LAN. Two adults, two children.
The access points will be powered over Ethernet (PoE). Our electrician charges €30 for drilling through concrete and €6.50 per meter for channelling in concrete, both prices excluding VAT. I find that acceptable and plan to have the access points installed on the ceiling (there are only two). According to the electrician: ideally, the access points should be mounted centrally in the room/floor on the ceiling and not directly blocked by walls. Their signal distributes in a circular pattern.
Would you also install an access point in the basement, or should the router cover that area?
For the access points, I have chosen the UniFi Access Point Lite, which in my opinion has a sleek and simple design.
Regarding the router (which was the initial question): we are currently using an Easy Box 805. Is this suitable for our plans, or do we need a Fritzbox?
Thanks to everyone.
Mesh systems have no place in a new build. They are more suited for retrofitting.
Install a small network cabinet in the basement or utility room for the router, patch panel, and switch.
If you use access points (APs) with Power over Ethernet (PoE), either use a PoE switch or PoE injectors.
Fritz APs do not support PoE, so a power outlet is always needed.
A Fritzbox is sufficient for most people. It can do many things but none perfectly. It’s an all-in-one solution but not bad.
There are already several detailed threads on this topic here.
Connect all stationary devices (TVs, game consoles, printers, etc.) via cable, and use Wi-Fi only where necessary. Also pay attention to coverage for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
APs should not be centrally located but placed where most usage occurs and high speed is required. Therefore, one per floor might not be enough.
Use the NanoHD access points. They are much faster and more modern.
Install a small network cabinet in the basement or utility room for the router, patch panel, and switch.
If you use access points (APs) with Power over Ethernet (PoE), either use a PoE switch or PoE injectors.
Fritz APs do not support PoE, so a power outlet is always needed.
A Fritzbox is sufficient for most people. It can do many things but none perfectly. It’s an all-in-one solution but not bad.
There are already several detailed threads on this topic here.
Connect all stationary devices (TVs, game consoles, printers, etc.) via cable, and use Wi-Fi only where necessary. Also pay attention to coverage for both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands.
APs should not be centrally located but placed where most usage occurs and high speed is required. Therefore, one per floor might not be enough.
Use the NanoHD access points. They are much faster and more modern.
Thank you very much for your feedback @rick2018.
We plan to install everything in a 19" (48 cm) network cabinet. From this – and from your response – I conclude that even in the basement, an access point is necessary. It is likely that the cabinet itself will already affect the signal strength.
What I cannot assess is whether the Easybox is sufficient for this purpose or even suitable at all. We are not power users, and all our hardware will be connected to the LAN socket.
We plan to install everything in a 19" (48 cm) network cabinet. From this – and from your response – I conclude that even in the basement, an access point is necessary. It is likely that the cabinet itself will already affect the signal strength.
What I cannot assess is whether the Easybox is sufficient for this purpose or even suitable at all. We are not power users, and all our hardware will be connected to the LAN socket.
A network cabinet provides good shielding. Concrete walls do as well.
Therefore, a separate access point is advisable. In the utility room, you can simply mount it on the outside of the network cabinet. So, no additional outlet from the electrician is needed...
For technology like heating, mechanical ventilation systems, etc., slower Wi-Fi is sufficient. It doesn’t have to be the newest or best access point.
If you don’t have any special requirements, a basic router is enough. You just need to configure the access points yourself.
Therefore, a separate access point is advisable. In the utility room, you can simply mount it on the outside of the network cabinet. So, no additional outlet from the electrician is needed...
For technology like heating, mechanical ventilation systems, etc., slower Wi-Fi is sufficient. It doesn’t have to be the newest or best access point.
If you don’t have any special requirements, a basic router is enough. You just need to configure the access points yourself.
M
Manatarms1239 May 2022 09:52So, you would definitely recommend using PoE access points and accept the extra cost for the electrician?
Which access points would you recommend? I have mainly found Ubiquiti, TP-Link, and Netgear.
Do you think one access point per floor is enough?
Basement: centrally located in the hallway
Ground floor: central on the floor in the dining area (open-plan)
First floor: central in the hallway
Attic: in the studio in the middle of the room
What about the garden? It’s about 10 x 20 meters (33 x 66 feet). Is the access point in the living room enough, or should we install another access point on the back of the garage?
How do you configure the access points and how complex is it?
As I mentioned, we don’t have very high demands for the Wi-Fi.
It just has to be stable, and for example, if the phone gets 100 Mbps, that’s completely fine for me.
I don’t need 1 or 2.5 Gbps in every little corner.
If the guest bathroom only gets 50 Mbps, that’s fine too 😀
Which access points would you recommend? I have mainly found Ubiquiti, TP-Link, and Netgear.
Do you think one access point per floor is enough?
Basement: centrally located in the hallway
Ground floor: central on the floor in the dining area (open-plan)
First floor: central in the hallway
Attic: in the studio in the middle of the room
What about the garden? It’s about 10 x 20 meters (33 x 66 feet). Is the access point in the living room enough, or should we install another access point on the back of the garage?
How do you configure the access points and how complex is it?
As I mentioned, we don’t have very high demands for the Wi-Fi.
It just has to be stable, and for example, if the phone gets 100 Mbps, that’s completely fine for me.
I don’t need 1 or 2.5 Gbps in every little corner.
If the guest bathroom only gets 50 Mbps, that’s fine too 😀
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