Best solution for 4 storey house

[Adept PC Repair]

Looking for an affordable wifi solution for a brick built 4 storey house with extension and large garden.

The client is looking for a quote and my initial intention was to supply 2/3 routers and set them up as ap's to the virgin media router (set to modem mode).

I recently saw ubiquiti have released a product called "amplifi" which works very well with mesh adapters but it's not available here in the UK.

Anyone know of anything else I could use or is my initial thought the best solution?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

You could always do a few of their UAP Lites/Pros, like one per floor. You could also do an outdoor version if they need to cover the garden. This would require running cable so not as easy to setup as the amplify, however with the brick house it may have issues anyway.

 

[myleso]

Another vote for Ubiquiti. If it was us, we would quote a couple of UAP's, a Pico for outdoors and a Tough Switch

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

"I" at the end of Ubiquiti and Amplifi!

I'd avoid converting stand alone routers to run as a half hacked access point that are incapable of working together as a proper single wireless network....and I'd get individual access points that are meant to run together/with each other. Such as, Ubiquiti Unifi's or OpenMesh. Or Meraki powerline Mech, or Luma Surround WiFi, Eero, or Arris Ripcurrent G.hn

 

[Adept PC Repair]

There are rules in the UK regarding output power, so they won't be as powerful as in the US (they tweak the firmware).

Would the unifi be worthwhile knowing this?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

There are rules in the UK regarding output power, so they won't be as powerful as on the US (they tweak the firmware).

Would the unify be worthwhile knowing this?

Shouldn't matter. Most of the time with multiple AP's you turn down the power a little anyway.

 

[Adept PC Repair]

The client has a budget of around £250-300 for the work including my labour, which would be £75.

Looking for the whole package to cost around £200 in that case. 2 unifi's come within budget, but I'm concerned if it will fit the bill.

 

[Markverhyden]

What are the floors and interior walls made of?

 

[Adept PC Repair]

Interior walls are brick, floors are wood.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

The client has a budget of around £250-300 for the work including my labour, which would be £75.

I'll be honest...that's a very tight squeeze.

 

[Markverhyden]

A pair of UniFi AC AP LR's should do the job as long as you plan the placement correctly. You said 4 stories. Is this a cube or things sticking out here and there. A wireless survey would help a lot in placement.

 

[Adept PC Repair]

It's a cube but with a ground floor rear extension, I too think the budget is a bit tight. I will talk over with the customer again today.

 

[Diggs]

Powerline modules?

 

[SAFCasper]

Powerline modules?

+1

If everything is on the same power circuit then powerline wifi adaptors are by far the easiest to install and reasonably cheap.

We have used these on numerous occasions - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Devolo-Pow...d=1475099365&sr=8-7&keywords=devolo+powerline

That set comes with 2 AP's but you can purchase additional for around £40 each. So £180 and you could have one on every floor.

 

[Adept PC Repair]

That is how things are set up at present, sorry I forgot to mention that. She isn't happy as the depth of the house means wherever you plug them in, it doesn't reach the whole of the floor. Currently she is using tp-link things which aren't the budget ones either as they have dual band.

I said to have it done properly you need several proper access points throughout the house. I mentioned an estimate of around £250, so I dug myself a hole there. I really do think it needs to be done properly or not at all, as she is complaining about the current setup (which wasn't done by myself).

What about several Asus routers in tomato, with each setup as an ap? I know it is a hack job, but if it serves the purpose and does it well, thats all I need.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

What about several Asus routers in tomato, with each setup as an ap? I know it is a hack job, but if it serves the purpose and does it well, thats all I need.

I cannot see a single advantage to that approach, versus dedicated APs on a controller....or mesh'd APs on a controller.

Some questions you need to explore.....
*How will you connect an AP (or since you want to flip over a router)...on each floor?
*Ethernet? Moca bridges (coax)? Ethernet over Powerline bridges? Or are you hoping to repeat/Mesh them?

Flat out repeating sucks. Dual radio repeating is better...use 1x of the frequencies to backhaul, other to connect wifi clients.

 

[Adept PC Repair]

My approach would be to connect with powerline adapters on each floor as the whole house minus the basement (which doesn't require connectivity) is on the same circuit.

 

[Adept PC Repair]

An update for everyone. I quoted higher than I estimated, I feel the job needs doing properly.

Unfortunately she has decided not to go ahead, you win some....

 

[Your PCMD]

The client has a budget of around £250-300 for the work including my labour, which would be £75.

Say what? You are severely under-charging in my opinion.

Anyway, I 2nd, 3rd and so on the Unifi's. But if your going with just 2 for a 4 story, try a couple PLA's as well.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-reviews/33020-mesh-wi-fi-mashup

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/mesh-mashup-redux-netgears-orbi-checks-in.35147/

Some newer MESH-products for future quotes. I don't know if you took the time to quote some of them (that I mentioned above)....not much labor involved at all, so price could be low. Netgears Orbi just got tested at Tims site..it did VERY well. I know you mentioned Amplifi was not available in your region yet...but others might be.