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Forum Discussion
How to manage more than one access point (WAX620 - WAX630)
Hi everyone, I'm interested to buy some APs, mixed among WAX620 and WAX630. These models have "instant mesh" feature, but I don't understand if insight subscription is required. Can I join more tha...
I've found the answer in the WAX630 manual.
https://www.downloads.netgear.com/files/GDC/WAX630/WAX630_UM_EN.pdf
Now I'm wondering why on the consumer market mesh feature is free, while buying an enterprise access point (that costs much more, and in this case it isn't even router) I have to pay...
I have an old router (not Netgear this) I've payed literally a quarter of a WAX630, and I can manage the mesh network from local web-GUI for free.
Complete confusion by marketing terms here.
The Instant Mesh term applies only to the ability for defining one (or multiple) wired WAX6xx as root APs where one or multiple WAX6xx can be "connected" wireless making a wireless backhaul for each. What makes up a basic consumer Mesh (802.11k and 802.11v) can be configured (one by one) on each WAC or WAX. Or can you buy wireless routers with 802.11ax and three radios for just a few Dollars somewhere?
The Netgear WAC5xx and WAX6xx are definitively inexpensive business access points when I'm comparing with vendors even requiring mandatory support contracts for firmware updates (even for security), requiring per-device license fees (lack of local management options typically). Consumer Mesh is barely supporting a single VLAN, allows local management only (free single point of failure), does not include switch VLAN management, and much more. Last but not least, most consumer Mesh does not support PoE, does not support MultiGig Ethernet - figure.
With the Insight subscription, you pay for the cloud management, the ability of using 802.11r, full seamless roaming 802.11k/11r/11v) even for clients requiring authentication allowing dynamic VLAN assignment, and much more. Still incredibly inexpensive with some 10 USD per managed device (like WAX or switch) and starting from the second year (1st year is free currently with most new devices).
First of all, I wouldn't say that a consumer router is better than these APs, but just underline the mesh feature is free in consumer router and I thaught it isn't for these APs...
So, I think you've reason, confused by marketing terms. What is the "instant mesh" technology? From your reply, I've understood is the 802.11r protocol (BSS) added in order to obtain a better "seamless roaming". Then, always from your reply, I suppose that, without insight subscription, I can setup these APs with protocols 802.11k (RRM) and 802.11v, but I have to setup each AP. Let me know if is correct.
At the end, I'd like to explain what I'm looking for in my next APs. I DON'T need the cloud management, and possibly neither a controller (in 2021 the enterprise APs can do what I need without a controller). If I can setup once for all APs is better, obviously, but I need 3-4 APs, so I can setup each one if needed. These APs must be wifi 6 and PoE, with at least 8 spacial streams and 2.5Gbps ethernet port. As multi-APs configuration, it's necessary seamless roaming.
Pay these devices isn't a problem, but for me if I buy a product I have to be able to use all its potential. I don't want to pay forever, even if little, to be able to use MY device. And now I'm wondering if Netgear has a device for me.
Anyway, thanks for your answer and for the availabilityEnterprise grade APs with 8x8:8 stream come with massive higher costs - and all come with support costs, license requirements for updates and management. Calculate roughly at least 1000 USD per AP, 15..20% annual maintenance.
Friendly reminder: 8x8:8 isn't nessecarely better than 4x4:4. Oh and there is no 10G PoE++ required. It simply does not make much sense to squeeze that much WiFi into a single AP for most developments - except for consumers which want ot buy the absolute best geeky wireless router to be set-up in the middle of the house (with all physical disadvantages for free).
Netgear only offers affordable APs for this SMB and SOHO business: The WAX630 with three radios, two 5 GHz, one 2.4 GHz, each 4x4: for around 100 USD per radio (300 USD) [2.5G uplink, 802.3bt 60W PoE++], the WAX620 with two 4x4:4 radios for about 230 USD [2.5G uplink, 802.3at 25.5W PoE+], and the WAX610 to cover areas in the house where you rarely need WiFi for some 150 USD [GbE uplink, 802.3af <15.5W PoE].
Instant Mesh is _only_ where you have to extend the wireless coverage where no wired networking is available. Nice for coverage, barely comparable with wired network access points.
If you expect free centralized management - Netgear isn't your destiny.
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