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Max number of wifi points

MFord
Community Member

Hello,

Are there circumstances where i can exceed the 5 point limit without them interfering with each other?   I'm trying to extend wifi through a long house with multiple rooms.   For the most part, each point will only be able to communicate with two other points.   as an example   (p1)--(p2)--(p3)--(p4)--(r1)--(p5)--(p)6--(p7) where each (p) is a point and (r) is the router.  The points at the far ends of the house won't be able to "see" each other.

1 Recommended Answer

MFord
Community Member

Thanks.  It does seem to be at the point where AP's make more sense.

View Recommended Answer in original post

10 REPLIES 10

bobomara5
Community Member

Interested in the responses, long house too. Trying to understand if the points transfer the signal to the next point or if each point needs to access the router 

olavrb
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

Hello @MFord 

I've talked about this in more detail in the past, but the short version is that this is not a recommended configuration. The nodes use a "fewest hops" approach to getting traffic to its destination, so even if they can only get a weak connection, they will use that instead of going through another intermediate node. Since there's only one 5GHz channel, each extra hop would use more channel capacity, so even if they used another path selection policy, it wouldn't necessarily be any faster. As @olavrb suggested, a wired interconnect will be significantly more reliable in a situation like this. Having the primary/router unit centrally placed will help in a wireless-only mesh, though – it just won't be enough if the most distant nodes really are far away. Only wiring is going to make that satisfactory.

MFord
Community Member

 If I go with a wired connection does that eliminate the 5 point limitation?  The house seems to be  lined with  aluminum foil they way it attenuates wifi so I may need a lot of points. Does it matter if I "daisy chain" points or should each one be on a home run to a switch?    Still trying to get me head around the topology.

 

Thx,  Morgan

 

olavrb
Platinum Product Expert
Platinum Product Expert

Daisy chain works, but all being directly connected to the unmanaged switch is preferred. Mostly because with daisy chain, if node 3 have problems, 4 and 5 will be affected too. And because the backhaul traffic will be much greater between 1 and 2 (adds up from 3, 4 and 5) than between 4 and 5.


I don't work for Google.

MichaelP
Diamond Product Expert
Diamond Product Expert

I agree with @olavrb regarding the daisy-chain vs direct wired approach. That said, I like to build a branching Ethernet network, with an 8-port core switch feeding runs to other areas of the house where I then connect 5-port and 8-port switches to feed other things nearby. You may be able to do something similar to avoid having to run long cables all the way back.

As for your first question, I can't guarantee it will work to deploy more than 5 points when they are all wired. I have heard from some others that it can work, but if you are convinced you will need this many points, you might consider another product that better fits the scale you require.

MFord
Community Member

Thanks.  It does seem to be at the point where AP's make more sense.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, MFord.

It looks like MichaelP and olavrb were able to help you out here. I wanted to touch base and see if there's anything else you needed here. If you need anything at all, just let me know.

Thanks!

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, everyone.
Just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.
Thanks.

Jeff
Community Specialist
Community Specialist

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks