3-Pack Google Wifi Best Buy $399

Unless there's something special about the Google system I'd save my money and use a few Wifi extenders like this one: http://www.ncix.com/detail/tp-link-re20 ... omoid=1653

zero64 wrote: ↑ Unless there's something special about the Google system I'd save my money and use a few Wifi extenders like this one: http://www.ncix.com/detail/tp-link-re20 ... omoid=1653

Mesh network are seamless, with extenders your have to manually switch wifi points or when your devices disconnect from a wifi point.

Might be cheaper to buy 3x Asus or tplink onhubs.

People should stop mucking around with these crappy consumer solutions and just get one or two Unifi access points and flood their whole block.

supremekai wrote: ↑ Mesh network are seamless, with extenders your have to manually switch wifi points or when your devices disconnect from a wifi point.

Might be cheaper to buy 3x Asus or tplink onhubs.

That's not entirely true. The mesh network will just be useful to help on the configuration. But most extenders today will provide you a very simple "next next finish" experience that will configure the same way (Same SSID and configurations of main router).

I expected that because of the mesh network I would have a seamless switch between bridges, but it seems that that's not the case, it will be hooked to the first one until the connection drops, then the device will have the opportunity to find athe best repeater.

caio4686 wrote: ↑ That's not entirely true. The mesh network will just be useful to help on the configuration. But most extenders today will provide you a very simple "next next finish" experience that will configure the same way (Same SSID and configurations of main router).

I expected that because of the mesh network I would have a seamless switch between bridges, but it seems that that's not the case, it will be hooked to the first one until the connection drops, then the device will have the opportunity to find athe best repeater.

I am a noob with Wifi-Mesh. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. My understanding is a Wifi-Mesh is just a bunch of repeaters with the same SSID (to make the transition from one to the other seamless supposedly). Other than that, easy configuration and the built-in smartness in picking the fastest path are the selling points. My biggest question is whether the speed will still be cut into half like a repeater?

I bought one of these routers and ended up returning it the next day, you cant change the IP range and its set to some non-standard setting, no thanks, i have way too many static IP's to be messing with this.

caio4686 wrote: ↑ I expected that because of the mesh network I would have a seamless switch between bridges, but it seems that that's not the case

+1

There is a common misconception that a mesh system like Google Wifi will magically force your device to connect to the closest/fastest node in the network. However that's simply not true. Your device is solely responsible for determining which node to connect to.

For example, if you have a node in the basement and another on the second floor, as you walk up from the basement to the second floor with your phone, it's entirely conceivable that your phone will hold on to the basement connection if it decides it's strong enough, even though you're now next to your second floor node.

Features like 802.11k/r will help the device make more intelligent decisions about which AP to transition to, but those features need to be supported by both the AP and the device to work.

OH god, now you have me confused whether i want to get it. Maybe i'll try a repeater with best buy (with return policy).

I'm at my wits end with dealing with wifi.

osama1234 wrote: ↑ OH god, now you have me confused whether i want to get it. Maybe i'll try a repeater with best buy (with return policy).

I'm at my wits end with dealing with wifi.

Order a Unifi Access Point off Amazon. It'll do your whole house.

2 storey townhouse for the loss. I have a connection, but its 3-5 mbit often downstairs from a 15mbit internet connection (actually 15mbit upstairs)

AC lite or pro? and just one?

theastroboy wrote: ↑ I am a noob with Wifi-Mesh. Someone please correct me if I am wrong. My understanding is a Wifi-Mesh is just a bunch of repeaters with the same SSID (to make the transition from one to the other seamless supposedly). Other than that, easy configuration and the built-in smartness in picking the fastest path are the selling points. My biggest question is whether the speed will still be cut into half like a repeater?

Generally most of the mesh systems (and I don't know if it's true for this one) are using their own radio backchannel to communicate between the points and back to where your router is - so it's not simply repeating the signal like an extender. You should get much better speed with mesh than with simple extenders.

Just posting my own personal experience.
I have 1500 sq ft bungalow.
1400 sq ft downstairs.

Router is in basement. 150 speed.
I had 2/3 repeaters around. (all connected directly to router).
Including the tplink re200 posted above.

I could get internet in master bedroom on main lvl. But max was 25, and occasional drop.

I tried 2 tplink onhub because they were on sale for 80 each and rated to do 2500 sq ft.

I can now get 100 Mbps in my bedroom and never had a drop since.
Setup was a breeze. Definitely made for the novice user.
Mobile app to see data usage of individual devices is great. Real-time or accumulated in past week/month/etc. Eg. Know if someone is streaming at home.
I needed 2 static ip for my printer and Nas that was a simple setting on a device.
2.4ghz and 5.0ghz use same ssid. Devices just figure it out.

Google WiFi has 24/7 free phone support too.

Bottomline, I recommend the Google WiFi mesh system if you are thinking about repeaters. Personally will never go back.
I'm not sold on the Onhub vs WiFi pods though. Onhubs are cheaper, rated to do bigger area. Pods look nicer?

There are other mesh systems out there, but I cannot attest to them. They might offer more configuration that others need.

Dr. Grinch wrote: ↑ Order a Unifi Access Point off Amazon. It'll do your whole house.

Agreed. MUCH better than consumer stuff.

I have setup a few of these systems are they aren't bad at all.

Obviously if you want something with more options and customization you'll want a different product but this is one where you set it and forget it.

Great for a family who doesn't know how to setup networks and wants to schedule when the wifi can be on or off for the kids etc.

Have people over and want to share wifi? Scan a qr code and they are in.

I've also setup this product for a few people who had bought one and out of the 5 I've installed no one has called me with any issues about it.

foz240 wrote: ↑ Agreed. MUCH better than consumer stuff.

Can you recommend a Unifi for a house that is 3700 SQ and lots of devices need connection. EX xbox, ps4, work computer, cell phones, etc

Thanks

heres my experince. My house is about 2100 squarefeet not including basement, so with basement i am guessing around 3000?. Anyways the routing in my house is weird so my modem is in my computer room on the second floor, basically the the front or end of the house depending on how you look at it. I had a tplink ac3150 which covered the 2nd and 1st floor pretty good but basement near the opposite end had virtually no signal. With two onhubs the coverage was awesome.

i drew a diagram of how the setup worked. Needless to say i got rid of the tplink ac3150
http://imgur.com/a/l7TdK

*edit
forgot to add i had a repeater where the 2nd obhub was when i was using the tplink ac3150 but it was a cheap repeater so only 2.4ghz and speeds were cut in half there was many connection issues despite using the same ssid. I don't need to tinker i just need it to work and the onhubs have been great.

I ended up just getting 3 Archer C7 from bestbuy for $65 each. Set them up as access points and have 5Ghz speeds throughout the house. Seemed like the easiest and cheapest option considering my house was already wired with Cat5e. Yea it can get annoying manual connecting to a new SSID every time you go from basement to main level but I barely notice it.

Dr. Grinch wrote: ↑ Order a Unifi Access Point off Amazon. It'll do your whole house.

Aren't those quite tricky to set up if you are not tech-savvy?

i have the google wifi setup and could not be happier

30 second setup and flawless wifi since. the app is great too.

it's neat how it's always automatically changing channels and doing things behind the scenes.
it's the only router i've owned in 10 years that i have not touched once since i plugged in 9 months ago.

i've had repeaters in the past, an airport extreme and everything else. the google wifi is the best.