I'm looking for advice on setting up IT for my church. We currently have a 24-port managed Cisco Switch that's starting to fail. Our modem is good, but the router is outdated and needs replacing. I need a reliable managed PoE switch—preferably 24 ports, although I only use 16 right now. All my Wireless Access Points (WAPs) are failing; we have 7 at the moment, but I can't function with just 4. We have 7 Ethernet-connected computers and four laptops that connect via WiFi, and we also run a livestream, so I need a strong VLAN setup for security. I'm aiming for at least three separate VLANs to isolate office, media, and guest traffic, alongside solid firewall protection. Our security camera setup is separate, requiring only a single internet port and a PoE connection, and our desktop computers are all new HP Business profile machines. The real issue here seems to be our deteriorating WiFi, as my IT person suspects the WAPs are too old and can't be updated. I'm seeking quality recommendations for a cost-effective router, a 24-port managed PoE switch with VLAN capabilities and security features, and 4 high-quality WAPs.
6 Answers
Just a heads up—it sounds more like a misconfiguration issue rather than faulty hardware. It might be worthwhile to reassess your current setup before buying new equipment. Maybe your IT guy isn't totally on top of things; if the wired network is working fine, it points to a WiFi issue rather than a failure across the board.
Consider looking at Fortinet for the firewall while sticking with Ubiquiti for the switch and WAPs. They provide good service and are relatively easy to manage compared to the complexity and cost of something like Aruba.
Ubiquiti products are my go-to for about 95% of the non-profits I work with, including churches. They’re quite user-friendly once set up and let you monitor everything from one dashboard, which simplifies management.
You should definitely check out UniFi products. They offer a great range that covers everything you've mentioned and is perfect for managing your church's needs. Plus, no hidden licensing costs with UniFi, which is a big plus! Just make sure that if you're updating your WAPs, you do a complete refresh with the switch as well.
What specific UniFi switch do you recommend, and would you suggest a combo for the router and switch?
Yeah, UniFi really gives you the best value for what you're looking to set up.
That's an interesting approach! I see what you're saying about relating better to small business needs, but churches have their own unique IT challenges as well.
Honestly, I prefer Ubiquiti switches and WAPs too. For the firewall, consider using pfSense or OPNSense. Just keep in mind, you'll need a little tech knowledge to configure it all correctly.
I share your concern. The only thing not working is the WiFi. I really think my IT guy might be jumping the gun wanting to replace everything without troubleshooting further.