I need networking help. Given what I have and need, which system?

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Liver

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Oct 24, 2005
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I apologize for making several threads in networking, only to realize I’m completely lost.

I have a large ranch style house that is under construction. I had them lay 4000 feet of ethernet cable to every place I could think of.

Its wired for a camera system but I’m planning on a boxed system for that. Just so I can plug and play that part.

The house has a tornado room centrally located, rebar concrete walls. The WiFi will not penetrate it. I currently have a similar system, it will not penetrate it.

Every location I need an access point is pre wired with cat6. I planned on POE, so no outlet power. Only POE for the AP.

Currently I have 2 Ubiquiti AP, but I’m willing to go with another company.

I looked at Ruckus and it’s too expensive. $600 for a single AP is too much for me.

I’m willing to NOT get WiFi 6 (802.11ax), 802.11ac is fine for me. What system would you design for me?

What APs and which POE switch?
 
Are the current APs WiFi 5? If they're working fine for you currently, bring the Unifi APs into the new house, pick up a third matching AP if you really need to for complete coverage.

Wait to upgrade until WiFi 6e is readily available in a year or two. Maybe by then there will be something that can compete with Unifi in terms of cost and controller/integration, hopefully with better software and QA/testing.
 
The current APs work fine and so can keep them there or move them to the new part of the house.

Or I can get an entire new system.
 
I would just add more Ubiquitis unless you are having trouble with them. It should be as simple as plugging them in and adopting them in the controller.

Regarding POE it depends on your AP models. Some of the older units use proprietary POE while the current ones will work with any POE switch.

(Ubiquity has wifi 6 APs now too)
 
The Ubiquiti 6 are sold out but the price point on the smaller one is good ($99).

I didn’t know POE was proprietary. Fortunately mine are not.
 
Only other thing I know of in the price range is Mikrotik but will require more advanced knowledge for configuration.
 
In anticipation of getting more APs. I bought the Ubiquiti Cloud Key Plus. Going to hook it up tonight. Over kill for my 2 currently APs, but I’ll need many more APs.

Currently I have a great Cisco switch, no POE. It’s a gigabit, LAG (for my Synology) switch that has worked and worked. No issues.

Is it ok to get a multi POE injector module and use my current switch? Or is a POE switch always superior to a non-POE switch with injector?

Assume in both scenarios that I size it correctly in regards to power requirements.
 
Installed the Ubiquiti controller today.

Any input on POE switch vs power injector? Only because I have the Cisco switch that’s still great for my uses.
 
Liver said:
Installed the Ubiquiti controller today.

Any input on POE switch vs power injector? Only because I have the Cisco switch that’s still great for my uses.
Click to expand...

If your present switch is fine and you only have one or two PoE devices, it seems a waste to swap it out. If you start collecting more PoE devices, such as additional APs, IP cameras, PoE-powered switches, etc. then the equation probably changes.

I use an injector for my Unifi AP and it's fine.
 
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I'd just get a POE switch if you're going to have 6-8 POE APs. Still have to plug all of those injectors in somewhere even if they are cheap.
 
Gotcha. It would be a POE rack injector. Only one plug to the outlet. The link is not for the one i would get. I’d get the gig version.

Texas POE
 
Liver said:
Gotcha. It would be a POE rack injector. Only one plug to the outlet. The link is not for the one i would get. I’d get the gig version.

Texas POE
Click to expand...

That solves the PS problem, but you're still adding another point of failure to the network and all the extra wiring like Shockey mentioned.
 
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