Wired Access Points with multiple Nest WiFi Pro (Very technical topic)

[Thomas_R]

Hello,

I have an existing local network, wired Ethernet in 10G (ten gigabits/sec), with an ISP and a firewall/router that I cannot remove for obvious reason (security, speed, and so on). Plenty of services already exists on that network (NAS servicing, DNS, DHCP, and so on). I'm looking for a reliable set of Access Point to cover the entire house (I need 4) that could support: seamless sinlge SSID and of course wired/ethernet backhaul (no mesh through WiFi, which is totally absurd, logically speaking).

Looking at the Nest Wifi Pro (I'm interested in the 6E fetaures and the large bandwith it supports, despite the fact that 'little' output in 1G looks very inconvenient ! but  shouldn't reach that bottleneck any sooner)

After reading this forum and the replies (thanks a lot to @olavrb for the multiple precious inputs😞

https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Ethernet-backhaul/m-p/284073/highlight/true#M31892
https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Is-it-possible-to-wire-multiple-nest-wifi-pro-route...
https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Extend-Nest-Wifi-pro-with-wired-connections/m-p/301...

I understand this is simply not possible, as Google is not able to provide multiple Access point other than ... 1 per home. Is that correct ?
If i let the Nest Wifi Pro act as a 'router' only for my WiFi network, I will probably encounter a lot of issues, not necessarily with 'DoubleNAT', but because the existing wired devices in my home won't be accessible directly by my WiFi devices (which is, again, a very inconvenient way to design home wifi !!)

I would like to get a confirmation there is no solution for my home through Google device; maybe I missed a point somewhere and i'll be gratefull if somebody raises a possible solution !

Otherwise, would that means I need to send back my Nest WiFi Pro or if Google plans to support such configuration in a near future, like some other brands do ?

Thansk a lot in advance, and happy new year to everyone !
Thomas

[olavrb · Accepted solution]

You got it right.

I'd either put your modem to bridge mode and use Nest Wifi as intended. Wire all devices behind the primary Nest Wifi unit. Or get something else than Nest Wifi. If access points are all you need, it's better to get something dedicated to that task. Like TP-Link Omada or Ubiquiti UniFi.

[Thomas_R]

Hello and thx again for your wise advice (on a sunday !)

I checked on TPLink but can't find any 6E AP in the Omada series, while the only 6E unifi is the U6 enterprise ceiling mount, which looks great except this is 400€+ for a single device, which is more than twice the promising Nest Wifi Pro :(...

regarding other mesh-type systems like TPLink Deco, Amazon eero Pro or even NetgEar Orbi (speaking about price, these are indecent), do you think I would end up in the same situation than the Google Nest Wifi Pro ? ie unable to operates as individual 'simple' access point with the ability to work together (mesh-like wired) to offer an optimal seamless wifi experience (looks to me, reading netgear forums, Orbi is able to)

regarding other brand of AP I'v seen:
Netgear AXE7800 (WAX630E)
HP Aruba 600 series (630 or 650)
which both supports 6E, multi-gig output and seamless SSID/WiFi

I'm just skeptical if i will be able to manage 2.4 GHz networks 'properly' for my ioT devices (basically I'm a individual, and I would like to cover a Home full of domotic devices). Do you have any advice on those brands/series ?

[olavrb]

I'd not be that hung up in 6ghz/6E, 6 has enough advantages in itself IMO, especially if limited to 1gbps ethernet ports.

Some of the other mesh systems will work in bridge mode, like TP-Link Deco. Here is a reply from earlier with more alternatives:

• https://www.googlenestcommunity.com/t5/Nest-Wifi/Google-Wifi-and-a-Fortigate-firewall/m-p/278223/hig...

[Thomas_R]

Thx again and I share your point regarding the 6 advantages. Beside, in my case, I'm already 'stuck' with 3 to 5 wifi network in Wifi 5 (ac) on several access points, located in different floors/rooms that are managed individually and - I have to admit - this is a pain, did that for almost 8 years. Plus the user experience, to reconnect the proper AP when you change room/floor, this is really not convenient.

Additionnaly, in my neighborhood there are 20 to 25 different wifi available 2.4 & 5 so my guess is that for main rooms in my house the 6 GHz will help for end-user devices (smartphones/laptops):
* free bandwidth (at this time, will stay like that for 1 or 2 more years as it was for 5 GHz) that don't support long distances; so no neighboorhood disturbance, likely to stay and polluate only my roommates :=)
* 1 recent laptop (out of 3) is already 6e, and almost all smartphones in my house will be renewed in the next 2 years (already 3-4 years old and only 2 of them are wifi 6/ax) my guess is that 6e will become a standard, and if I update now my whole Wifi installation i hopefully won't change it again in the next 10 years ! So i prefer to change for the latest/newest

I'm not really keen to wait for wifi 7 (given the lack of 6e devices at this time plus the backtrack history of europe acceptance of 6e bandwidth, I doubt it will really show up before years)
I'm not a fan of mesh (over the air) either, as this is completely unproductive if this is done in the air, and have little interest if the wired backhaul cannot be done above 1G (again this is my opinion, I don't say this is bad or good, I'm just pointing out the weakness of such technologies when this is sold in home business) !
This was the main pending point of the Nest Wifi Pro when I purchased it, but as said previously, all people are not likely to connect at the same time so it does the job for a family

most of the AP i'm looking at are at least 2.5G mutligigabit, the orbi is 10G but seems to be only on the router only, and again, for 4-packs we are above 2500+ € which is something i can't afford.
I will look at enterprise series (Netgear or Unifi, depending on the effective product costs) rather than paying for a 'complete' mesh system for which i will pay a 'fortune' without taking the benefits (looking at the list of unavailable features in TP Link Deco when AP mode https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/2399/ confirmed my fears)

I had a *lot* of hopes in the Google Nest Wifi Pro when it was released lately this year, I should have read this forum before, and take into account thoses comments !
I'm just sad that in 2023, there are no home appliance or pack that can offer the simplicity of wifi connectivity like we have in commercial centers or hotels for years (i.e. 'professionnal' features), i still believe there are room for improvement here :=)

I will go for the UniFi or NetGear (I already have netgear, nighthawk home series) but will look at their respective forum before !

Thanks again for your replies.
Thomas.

[Jeff]

Hey Thomas_R,

It's been a couple of weeks since you got some great info from olavrb. I wanted to check in and see if you had any other questions or to see if you got this all worked out. If you need anything more, just let me know.

Thanks,
Jeff

[Thomas_R]

Hello Jeff,

got everything I needed, so topic close and thanks again for such forum and the contributors.

[Jeff]

Thanks for the update, Thomas_R.

Hi all,

As we got our resolution here, I'm going to mark this one as resolved in the next 24 hours. Thanks to all who helped and contributed. If anyone has any other needs, please feel free to let me know before the lock.

Thanks,
Jeff