Access Points

Hi,

I recently had my house wired with cat5e for wireless access points. im looking for small Ethernet powered devices that i can put around the house

i need something that can be controlled from one spot, i dont want to have to configure each one

thanks in advance

I bought a couple of used Cisco WAP321 wireless devices recently. Once I figured out the Apple iPhone issue they run great. Using the WAP321 I was able to add an extra guest network throughout my house. The guest network runs on both switches as a guest VLAN which the WAP321 broadcasts 2 SSIDs one being guest. I can also plug in my Direct TV in the guest network to isolate it. The other reasons I run APs instead of a router wireless is my house is too long to cover with one wireless device. I also run a UTM second firewall which I want the wireless devices to flow through also so they are protected as well as the LAN clients. My house is long and one story and I have the 2 WAP321 at either end of my house. The back WAP321 being at the back of my house works well to cover my back yard and outside sitting area.

The WAP321 wireless devices have a Single point setup. So you set up one and can then add the rest to the cluster. When you add the second WAP321 you only need to set the password and add to the Single point cluster and the settings from the first are transferred to the second WAP321 automatically.

Other mesh options besides Aironet would be Ubiquiti UniFi, Open-Mesh and Meraki. Each are largely plug-n-play, but approach management slightly differently. UniFi's controller is LAN-based, while O-M and Meraki have cloud-based controllers.

Sam B said:

Hi,

I recently had my house wired with cat5e for wireless access points. im looking for small Ethernet powered devices that i can put around the house

i need something that can be controlled from one spot, i dont want to have to configure each one

thanks in advance

Click to expand...

POE can be a bit expensive, and options can be limited...

That being said, coxhaus and trip offered a couple of solution - I'll offer one more - Apple Airports - they're not POE, but they are centrally managed... and pretty unobtrusive, if you're worried about the spousal approval factor...

Cisco Meraki is awesome and it even has integration with Meraki Systems Manager.

remixedcat said:

Cisco Meraki is awesome and it even has integration with Meraki Systems Manager.

Click to expand...

Yeah but meraki WAPs starts at around $600 USD per access point. And don't forget the license. No license and the ap deactivates after 30 days.

I still use them and love them for businesses. I just feel its like using a machine gun to hunt squirrels.

Zyxel and Linksys also sell WAPs that are POE, dual band and can be set up from a single point.

If you didn't find anything yet for this install here are your options:
All devices are under $160
All devices use standard 802.3 POE power

XClaim: Configuration is through a tablet or smartphone using the Harmony application
$70 Single Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZ9IP6I/?tag=snbforums-20
$125 Dual Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OZB07IA/?tag=snbforums-20

Zyxel: Configuration is done on a PC using the ZON software.
$60 Single Band
http://www.amazon.com/802-11n-Celing-Gigabit-Support-NWA1121-NI/
$100 Dual Band
http://www.amazon.com/802-11n-Dual-Band-Ceiling-Access-NWA1123-NI/
$145 Dual Band AC
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I0F0I8Q/?tag=snbforums-20

Open Mesh: Configuration is done on a web site to which the Access points are joined.
$95 Single Band
http://www.open-mesh.com/products/access-points/om2p-hs.html
$135 Dual Band
http://www.open-mesh.com/products/access-points/om5p-an.html

Cisco Small Business: Configuration is done on one access point and the changes are pushed to the rest.
$80 Single Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007RB1O0K/?tag=snbforums-20
$150 Dual Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007R1SIY0/?tag=snbforums-20

Edimax: Configuration is done on a PC using the NMS Software.
$97 Single Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00VYZRKNA/?tag=snbforums-20
$137 Dual Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UCKZ7SI/?tag=snbforums-20

Engenius: Configuration is done on a PC using the EZ Controller software.
$70 Single Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005SSQHTM/?tag=snbforums-20
$138 Dual Band
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B009V17BYC/?tag=snbforums-20

I am happy with all my WAP321 running only on 5GHz. I ended up running 3 WAP321 wireless access points. I have 2 for the house and one I use in a window behind a curtain facing my picnic table and setting area. I am able to maintain 40 MHz bandwidth on 5GHz. My wife's iPad air is real quick and she is real happy. I don't run any 2.4GHz wireless any more as there are just too many 2.4GHz networks around me. I think we see more and more homes going to multiple wireless devices as the possible range decreases from the noise of other networks interfere.