Anyone using Orbi or Velop of the like?

[btrcp2000]

Looking to wipe out some deadspots once and for all, specifically with the goal of getting 5ghz into every corner reliably (3 floors, 5k sq ft) so Client will work wirelessly using Colossus sources. Right now it gets choppy and pretty much unwatchable, but it works well in the same room as a 5ghz source.

Two primary questions:

Do i need to be able to force 5ghz? Doesn't look like these new systems allow that, but then again if they are smart enough to make it work, i don't care how it happens

I have been watching this space since Luma was a thing, and thankful they cancelled my pre-order. Orbi vs Velop? something else?

[Fuzzy]

You really shouldn't need to go overboard to cover that space. A few AP's spaced 2/3rds from center on the 2nd floor should probably provide enough coverage everywhere with simple 2.4GHz routers.

[Monedeath]

I know for my plans on things, although the tech factor will be higher on my end, is I'll just be going for regular wifi routers that are on the supported list for DD-WRT and simply flash them with DD-WRT and then set them up as extensions of the wifi SSID.

Most of the options seem to think you're crazy for wanting to go wired infrastructure between nodes(and probably true for most users), and the ones that will let you do so, they want a lot more $$$ to buy their product than buying single wifi routers and going the power-user route.

That said, for ease of use, there seem to be a few people in here who have gone with such systems and setups. Depending on the brand, they're evidently pretty good, and much easier to manage, as well as providing you with feedback on network activity you'd probably never notice otherwise. So you do get what you pay for.

[Fuzzy]

I'd go tomato instead of dd-wrt... A bit more capable and refined.

[btrcp2000]

I feel like I have tried the simple route with shared ssids, but it just wasn't stable. I am surrounded by 2.4ghz on most of the channels, which is why I went to 5, but then lost coverage, but this was several years ago. I was thinking if I have to spend on multiple 5ghz APs, i may as well just get a new system entirely.

Whatever I do, I am hardwired to the router where the new access points would go

[KarylFStein]

Originally Posted by btrcp2000

I feel like I have tried the simple route with shared ssids, but it just wasn't stable. I am surrounded by 2.4ghz on most of the channels, which is why I went to 5, but then lost coverage, but this was several years ago. I was thinking if I have to spend on multiple 5ghz APs, i may as well just get a new system entirely.

Whatever I do, I am hardwired to the router where the new access points would go

I've been pretty happy with Ubiquity APs. They don't require a hardware controller or cloud configuration, do hardwired/PoE, support a 5G "recommendation" to devices that handle that and seem to do seamless handoff pretty well with my current clients, (my last tablet still required a manual WiFi toggle to get it to connect to the closest AP, but from release notes Ubiquity firmware has also improved with roaming--I don't have my old tablet anymore to see if that changed things). I did lower the Tx power on the APs to get clients to switch more frequently as they move about.

I have three APs, one on each floor, and am thinking about adding a couple more outside to better cover the front and back yards. While I can still stream music/WiFi calling while mowing the lawn, it does get a little spotty in the far regions.

[Fuzzy]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

I've been pretty happy with Ubiquity APs. They don't require a hardware controller or cloud configuration, do hardwired/PoE, support a 5G "recommendation" to devices that handle that and seem to do seamless handoff pretty well with my current clients, (my last tablet still required a manual WiFi toggle to get it to connect to the closest AP, but from release notes Ubiquity firmware has also improved with roaming--I don't have my old tablet anymore to see if that changed things). I did lower the Tx power on the APs to get clients to switch more frequently as they move about.

I have three APs, one on each floor, and am thinking about adding a couple more outside to better cover the front and back yards. While I can still stream music/WiFi calling while mowing the lawn, it does get a little spotty in the far regions.

There's a great android app (Wifi Switcher) that can manage the switching better than the stock android software does.

[wayner]

Originally Posted by KarylFStein

I've been pretty happy with Ubiquity APs.

Me too. I have a bunch in my house and an outdoor model on my pool cabana. My WAPs are several years old and only do 2.4 but that is good enough for me. I recently also added their USG router. Their controller software is excellent for managing your network and seeing what is on your WLAN. And there is a very good Docker container for the controller software so you can run that on your unRAID SageTV server.