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Forum Discussion
Connect Satellite via Ethernet
I'm considering buying a 2 unit Orbi (router + 1 satellite). I have an existing home ethernet network, so I would connect the satellite to the router via 1 GB ethernet, giving a faster more reliable ...
st_shaw I just never quite managed to get decent roaming set up in my home. I can cover the ground floor and the basement without any problems and I even have an Unifi Outdoor AP out in the garage for the garden. However, I still haven't found a way to cover the 1st floor. I simply don't have a good position for an AP there as I don't want a WiFi AP in the bedroom and the kids' rooms. Another issue I've been facing with the AC Pros is how to mount them. I can't mount them on the ceiling as I don't have cable channels and Ethernet wiring there (reinforced concrete floors / ceilings) and the AC Pros really only perform well when mounted on the ceiling.
I now have a Unifi Amplifi HD system deployed which covers the entire house without too many issues (except that the main router's power cable is way too short). Great app with lots of functionality. The downside is that due to the reinforced concrete floor, the Amplifi only gets a 2.4ghz signal to the basement. Amplifi will receive Ethernet backhaul capability with the next firmware update, which is awesome. But there's no way to reduce the TX power so far. I'll try the Orbi as well on the weekend, in the hopes that its proprietary tech allows a signal to get down in the basement. I'd like to be able to reduce the TX power as 100mw is total overkill for covering individual floors
I now have a Unifi Amplifi HD system deployed which covers the entire house without too many issues (except that the main router's power cable is way too short). Great app with lots of functionality. The downside is that due to the reinforced concrete floor, the Amplifi only gets a 2.4ghz signal to the basement. Amplifi will receive Ethernet backhaul capability with the next firmware update, which is awesome. But there's no way to reduce the TX power so far. I'll try the Orbi as well on the weekend, in the hopes that its proprietary tech allows a signal to get down in the basement. I'd like to be able to reduce the TX power as 100mw is total overkill for covering individual floors
dawiz22 Sounds like a challenging setup. My Ubiquiti setup is in a single-level home. I'm currently using my APs resting horizontally on top of furniture, and they work fine like that so far. For best coverage, you're going to want your radios on the top floor, but it sounds like you have some challenges there.
I think you'll have good luck with Orbi. My Orbi is in a 3,000SF home with a walk-out basement and two above-ground floors. I initially had the Orbi router on the second floor and the satellite on the first floor. Coverage was fine everywhere, including the basement. I also measured 10 Mbps throughput with my MacBook outside, 500 feet away from the house. Pretty incredible. I just upgraded my DSL and had to move the Router to the basement. The satellite is still on the first floor. The satellite can synch OK through the floor and the coverage still seems good. I haven't retested the maximum outside range yet though.
Now even Amplifi are going to offer wired backhaul why does Netgear always have to play catchup after taking the lead? Competition always see to fly past Netgear even if Netgear starts ahead, just poor feature set and slow Firmware release plagues Netgear everytime they put out something promising, Orbi still has a lot of potential but features Must improve wired backhaul is one of them now every competitor is offering it!
JMU1998 I wouldn't necessarily call Unifi ahead with the Amplifi. It has some advantages (much better app) but the mesh points don't have ethernet ports, so in order to make use of the ethernet backhaul functionality (that is yet to be released), you need to buy additional routers. Also, I find the Amplifi mesh points extremely ugly - that's just my personal opinion, however. IMO they look like mini cell-towers (which they basically are, of course :-) The routers are pretty, though, and Unifi has big plans with them in terms of turning them into IoT hubs. We'll see where that's going.
As for ethernet backhaul: I believe that's pretty useless unless you can also adjust the TX power. So in that respect, it's a half-baked solution at best if Amplifi can't deliver the latter as well. Orbi already has that - so if the ethernet backhaul would be added, it'd be the perfect product.
well, we didn't anticipate the necessity for Wifi everywhere when our house was constructed. We have cat 6 ethernet wiring in every room, but we didn't put it in the ceilings (hallways etc.) where it would have been most useful. Unfortunately, in brick and concrete houses, it's almost impossible to retrofit ethernet cabling at new locations. I've just ordered a Ubiquiti Key controller, so I'll give this another go on the weekend before trying Orbi.
