Wifi 6 and Misc.

[nevets23]

Hi All,

I'm installing a level II evse in my garage next week. The unit connects is accessible via wifi, but the wifi coverage in my garage is lackluster. As a result, I'm considering adding an AP to my garage. Currently, I have Luxul network. The Epic 5 router, along with two of the XAP-1510s and one XAP 1440 for the backyard. Overall, I've been very happy with the Luxul system. The network is very stable/reliable and I really don't ever have to restart anything. Speeds for the wifi are also very good over 5g (typically in the 290-300mbps range. If the router is rebooted, the 2.4 spectrum is fine, but quickly degrades, probably due to interference, making it pretty much unusable, although it doesn't really bother me too much, because the 5g is all I use. I have a 3600 sq. foot home, and the coverage with 5g is pretty good everywhere (other than garage). 

If I stick with Luxul for the new AP, I would get the Apex Wave 2 (xap 1610), as it's my only option, but it's not wifi 6. Therefore, my first question is whether or not I should take this opportunity to upgrade to wifi 6 or 6e (even though I know 6e won't provide much benefit over wifi 6 due to lack of devices that support 6e). I'm not sure why Luxul doesn't have a wifi 6 option available yet, as I would have thought they would have had something by now.

If I go with the wifi 6 or 6e option, I'm thinking either Ubiquiti (Unifi6 or Unifi6 Enterprise) or Ruckus. I've never used either of those brands, but the general consensus seems to be that they're some of the best. With that being said, it doesn't seem like Ubiquiti has a wireless controller, so I'm not sure how the setup would work. If I get Unfi APs, do I just connect them to a network switch and not use my Luxul controller? Also, I'm assuming I would need to upgrade my router to a wifi 6 router, but the only wifi6 router available from ubiquiti is the dream router (the dream machine and dream machine se don't seem to be wifi6).

Any insight/suggestions on any of this would be greatly appreciated. Just not sure what direct to head at this point.

Thanks!

[msgreenf]

You don’t need a wifi 6 router - that means it has wifi built in.  You can keep your router as is and upgrade to Ruckus APs.  I would go Ruckus unleashed - they are pretty amazing!

[nevets23]

2 hours ago, msgreenf said:

You don’t need a wifi 6 router - that means it has wifi built in.  You can keep your router as is and upgrade to Ruckus APs.  I would go Ruckus unleashed - they are pretty amazing!

Ok, so if I go ruckus unleashed, do I ditch the wireless controller, and plug the APs into the router or a switch? Also, one thing I’m curious about is how the handoff between APs will work. Luxul works pretty well, and it’s ny understanding part of that has to do with the controller coordinating everything between the APs. Will it still work seamlessly with the Ruckus APs, so a device doesn’t get stuck on an AP that’s not the best one if I move locations throughout the house?

Thanks!

 

 

 

[msgreenf]

Correct on the wiring. In terms of ruckus unleashed, one of the APs becomes the controller. So you have great handoff 

[nevets23]

1 hour ago, msgreenf said:

Correct on the wiring. In terms of ruckus unleashed, one of the APs becomes the controller. So you have great handoff 

Ok, so which one is recommended? It seems like a bunch are out of stock on the Ruckus site, and the prices I've seen are kinda nuts (even higher than Luxul).

[ejn1]

17 hours ago, nevets23 said:

Hi All,

I'm installing a level II evse in my garage next week. The unit connects is accessible via wifi, but the wifi coverage in my garage is lackluster. As a result, I'm considering adding an AP to my garage. Currently, I have Luxul network. The Epic 5 router, along with two of the XAP-1510s and one XAP 1440 for the backyard. Overall, I've been very happy with the Luxul system. The network is very stable/reliable and I really don't ever have to restart anything. Speeds for the wifi are also very good over 5g (typically in the 290-300mbps range. If the router is rebooted, the 2.4 spectrum is fine, but quickly degrades, probably due to interference, making it pretty much unusable, although it doesn't really bother me too much, because the 5g is all I use. I have a 3600 sq. foot home, and the coverage with 5g is pretty good everywhere (other than garage). 

If I stick with Luxul for the new AP, I would get the Apex Wave 2 (xap 1610), as it's my only option, but it's not wifi 6. Therefore, my first question is whether or not I should take this opportunity to upgrade to wifi 6 or 6e (even though I know 6e won't provide much benefit over wifi 6 due to lack of devices that support 6e). I'm not sure why Luxul doesn't have a wifi 6 option available yet, as I would have thought they would have had something by now.

If I go with the wifi 6 or 6e option, I'm thinking either Ubiquiti (Unifi6 or Unifi6 Enterprise) or Ruckus. I've never used either of those brands, but the general consensus seems to be that they're some of the best. With that being said, it doesn't seem like Ubiquiti has a wireless controller, so I'm not sure how the setup would work. If I get Unfi APs, do I just connect them to a network switch and not use my Luxul controller? Also, I'm assuming I would need to upgrade my router to a wifi 6 router, but the only wifi6 router available from ubiquiti is the dream router (the dream machine and dream machine se don't seem to be wifi6).

Any insight/suggestions on any of this would be greatly appreciated. Just not sure what direct to head at this point.

Thanks!

Are you trying to upgrade the wifi for the entire home or just add an AP to the garage?

[ekohn00]

The simplest thing is just add the same brand AP to the garage.

Now my mind works like your choice number 2....  Let's use this as an excuse to upgrade to WIFI6. (do not there's a possibility you will need less APs with WIFI6).

I personally went with Unifi. and yes you need a controller to do the setup, but this can be a simple unifi box, a pc, a pi, etc. or even one of their routers.