Wifi, Gig Switch Questions.

I'm loving this thread and learning a great deal.

One would think that as a Network Engineer I would have a lot more knowledge about all of this stuff, but wireless and home networking is an area that I've not needed for my professional development.

Thanks to all of the input from you folks who do have experience in this area as it may help me later at home and adds to my overall knowledge base.

What Ginsue said, you guys have an amazing amount of knowledge !

Update:
Got a Netgear gig switch, works great.
Went with a new Xfinity package to reduce my current bill.
Have the Xfinity cable modem (Cisco DPC3914T) and am working on modem placement in the house for decent Wifi everywhere.
I'm using a Wifi Analyzer on my phone to track the signal, so far so good.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Grant H.

I would also suggest only one router.

For a 16 port gigabit switch, I would suggest this: https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unma...gigabit+switch

Cheaper than the two you posted, and just as capable. If you decide to go POE, that's a different story, but as Delfuego alluded to, it's better if you want to add cameras and such.

As for WiFi, I personally don't like the mesh systems, as they require wireless uplinking, which bottlenecks throughput behind subsequent uplinks.

Personally, for what you are asking for, I would suggest the following:

Router:
https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Edge...s=Edgerouter+x

Switch:
https://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Unma...gigabit+switch

WAP(s) - Maybe more than one depending on coverage:
https://www.amazon.com/Ubiquiti-Unif...eywords=UAP-AC



This router will out perform all the home routers from bestbuy or similar, hands down, and the WAP will provide good coverage and high speed being 802.11AC.

---

Why the edgerouter and not USG 3P for a small home user?

Also, why not a Ubiquiti PoE switch when all the rest integrates into UniFi?

I love me Ubiquiti stuff, I don't understand why you would mix in a different switch?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by WillysWagon

What Ginsue said, you guys have an amazing amount of knowledge !

Update:
Got a Netgear gig switch, works great.
Went with a new Xfinity package to reduce my current bill.
Have the Xfinity cable modem (Cisco DPC3914T) and am working on modem placement in the house for decent Wifi everywhere.
I'm using a Wifi Analyzer on my phone to track the signal, so far so good.

---

You might want to turn off the "guest" open "xfinity" hotspot.

Thanks Brutal, already shut off the hotspot.

What your guys opinion to broadcast or non broadcast SSID ?

Since I was out of promotion pricing, I went with a new package and am limited to what they offer for modems.
I have their 'voice' package, so the modem was one with an Emta port, even though I won't use it.
Crazy, but the package with all 3 was cheaper than just Internet & TV.

Leave the broadcast on. Easier for you and anyone that needs wifi at your place. It is not really a security thing. A real hacker or bad guy can find it a with a sniffer program.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by brutal

Why the edgerouter and not USG 3P for a small home user?

Also, why not a Ubiquiti PoE switch when all the rest integrates into UniFi?

I love me Ubiquiti stuff, I don't understand why you would mix in a different switch?

---

USG is 2-3X the price of the ER-X. I don't find the Unifi Controller Software compelling, so I use the ER/ES lines. As part of not going full unifi, I have a few of the UAP's, but for the most part I prefer other WAP's that have better radios in them. The UAP's work well enough for the price and for a home system, but they have issues in the industrial world where I work.

Price and need of the network. A 16 port Unifi POE+ switch is $300, vs the linksys I linked to (16 port POE+) at $122. As for need of the network, the Unifi POE+ switches are fully managed. For what Willys is looking for, that's a huge over shoot for no reason.

I also like the UBNT line of products, and I use them rather extensively for my house and business stuff, but I don't rely on them exclusively when they aren't the right fit (cost vs features vs need).