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  1. #1
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    Default Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Just looking for some recommendations, I have a job where the main property has a Virgin connection and the hub there is doing a good job at covering the house. There is a garage that is separated from the house and has been converted into an office, outside the office there is a strong wireless signal but inside the signal is dead. We have been using homeplugs up until now but they are flaky, even using high end models.

    My plan was to install an external bridge onto the garage and have that run a cable into the office to a switch and wireless access point. I have been using more and more Ubiquiti kit but I am not sure if they can be used to connect to any WiFi and then bridge it as planned, it seems they want to use a sender and receiver to form the link but the house is in such close proximity I don't think this is necessary.

    Any recommendations on what branded kit to use? I want this to be reliable so doesn't have to be bargain basement but doesn't have to be high-end Cisco either

    Cheers


  2. #2
    DF VIP Member flipper321's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    What about a router indoors with an external antenna?

    Thanks to flipper321

    evilsatan (16th February 2018)  


  3. #3
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by flipper321 View Post
    What about a router indoors with an external antenna?
    That's a possibility, they have a TP-Link cable router that I replaced their old Virgin hub with but the new Virgin hub seems to be pretty decent so that's now spare. I could look at running and external antenna from there, ideally want to get this job done first time so also looking at external bridges.


  4. #4
    DF VIP Member Over Carl's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    I can't remember which particular flavour I used, but I'm sure I did this years ago using one something like DDWRT/OpenWRT/etc.

    Thanks to Over Carl

    evilsatan (18th February 2018)  


  5. #5
    DF VIP Member MHP's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Your GLi GL-AR300M should be able to do this if you dismount and extend the antennas.

    Thanks to MHP

    evilsatan (18th February 2018)  


  6. #6
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    I'll look into reusing their TP-Link first, I think the stock FW is pretty decent as when I compared the performance to OpenWRT/tomato it was about the same so this would depend on being able to get external extended antennas. I wonder if I can use one external antenna to bridge and use the other existing antenna to broadcast WiFi in the office...


  7. #7
    DF VIP Member Copex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    two Nano beams will do the job.. https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanobeam-ac-gen2/ or two Nano stations https://www.ubnt.com/airmax/nanostation-ac/ setup in PtP mode one station and one AP

    both will push 450mb or you could save cash on a 150mb Nano beam,.......

    hope is helps

    Thanks to Copex

    evilsatan (19th February 2018)  


  8. #8
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Cheers Copex, I really like Ubiquiti kit so have been using that for most jobs. Will weigh up the options.

    Thanks to evilsatan

    Copex (19th February 2018)  


  9. #9
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    I ended up buying an EnGenius ENS500 5Ghz and will try to bridge the existing virgin hub
    https://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-o...el-ens500.html

    For another job where the entire premesis is covered by Ubiquiti UAPs indoors/outdoors and a Ubiquiti switch I need to get wifi in/around an external building (30 metres clear line of sight) so I have ordered two UniFi mesh points to give those a try with a wireless uplink (and in the future may replace the UAPs with mesh devices).

    Will see how it goes and report back.

    Thanks to evilsatan

    piggzy (23rd February 2018)  


  10. #10
    DF VIP Member Copex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by evilsatan View Post
    ) so I have ordered two UniFi mesh points to give those a try with a wireless uplink (and in the future may replace the UAPs with mesh devices).
    this is only true when using the mesh devices with out a network cable but then there is no difference to uap

    stolen from community.ubnt.com

    Dave is correct (as usual) here - in order to get full throughput in a chain of radios you need individual pairs of radios for each link, with two separate radios at each "node" connected back to back so there is no need for "store-and-forward" behavior. The Mesh radios use 5GHz for their wireless uplink, and you therefore get zero drop in throughput in one hop if the end client is using 2.4GHz, or 1/2 if the client is also on 5GHz. Two hops get you 1/2 or 1/4 depending on the above, etc. The system works quite well even so since the total throughput of AC radios (assuming the signals are pretty strong) is fast enough that even at 1/4 throughput most things will still work fine. We have an AirMax version of this running for several Municipal groups to connect offices and Fire Stations together through a single AC AP, and they routinely can get more than 100Mb through the system. But with non-shared APs that would be more like 220Mb - that's just the way things work. But if you really need huge throughputs you need to build dedicated links to do it.

    Thanks to Copex

    evilsatan (24th February 2018)  


  11. #11
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by Copex View Post
    this is only true when using the mesh devices with out a network cable but then there is no difference to uap

    stolen from community.ubnt.com
    Cheers, they are out in the sticks so 2.4G is perfect and their bandwidth is under 100MB. This external building is the only one without a cable running back to the UBNT switch so in the future should be fine to replace the UAPs with mesh points for better roaming around the property.


  12. #12
    DF VIP Member Copex's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    you could use a UAP in repeater mode :-)

  13. #13
    DF VIP Member muttleymacclad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Solwise have just announced this mesh system. Looks excellent value for money.
    https://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-tn-nova3

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    "When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butchers knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross." - 'Dirty' Harry

    2 Thanks given to muttleymacclad

    evilsatan (27th February 2018),  piggzy (27th February 2018)  


  14. #14
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by muttleymacclad View Post
    Solwise have just announced this mesh system. Looks excellent value for money.
    https://www.solwise.co.uk/wireless-tn-nova3

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    I'll have a look into that for future jobs! I have tried the TP-Link Deco which was a cheap triple AP mesh system and was impressed so think mesh systems will be my go-to going forward.


  15. #15
    DF VIP Member muttleymacclad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    I'm thinking it's probably a better /more robust solution than home plugs and not necessarily too much more than 3 WiFi homeplugs in a property.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    "When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butchers knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross." - 'Dirty' Harry

  16. #16
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by muttleymacclad View Post
    I'm thinking it's probably a better /more robust solution than home plugs and not necessarily too much more than 3 WiFi homeplugs in a property.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    I'm finding myself having to replace more and more homeplug setups, the place I used the Decos was previously using homeplugs and WiFi extenders but since installing mesh they haven't called once and the app is decent too.


  17. #17
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    What are you finding is the issue with homeplugs ES?

  18. #18
    DF VIP Member muttleymacclad's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by piggzy View Post
    What are you finding is the issue with homeplugs ES?
    The only issue I've had with homeplugs is resetting themselves.
    I generally rename each plug to match it's location and keep the WiFi password the same throughout. Every so often one will reset itself to factory settings.

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    "When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butchers knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn't out collecting for the Red Cross." - 'Dirty' Harry

    Thanks to muttleymacclad

    piggzy (27th February 2018)  


  19. #19
    DF Super Moderator
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    Quote Originally Posted by piggzy View Post
    What are you finding is the issue with homeplugs ES?
    Connection drops but to be honest it's mainly in places where it was touch and go if they would work in the first place but they did work for years and now some are a bit intermittent.

    Thanks to evilsatan

    piggzy (28th February 2018)  


  20. #20
    DF Super Moderator piggzy's Avatar
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    Default Re: Recommendations for external WiFi Bridge?

    I have had issues with them but have always just assumed it was ancient dodgy electrical wiring. They seem to work perfectly in new builds, perhaps just coincidence though ?!?!

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