Hey everyone! I'm a DIY sysadmin and have been working on home networking for about a decade. I've recently helped a local non-profit set up a UniFi network with 6 access points at their main location. Now, I'm moving into a unique community that needs a complete network overhaul.
Currently, we have 3 ADSL lines (40Mb/s each) about 500 meters from my compound, each connected to different SOHO routers. These routers connect to around 5 APs from various vendors, and the daisy chaining leads to potential issues if one unit fails. Each unit is about 55 sqm, and they are adjacent, so I consider them as one larger space.
I'm planning to:
1. Run a fiber optic cable to the main router instead of the 3 ADSL lines.
2. Get a UPS and a router that supports fiber optic.
3. Acquire a PoE switch with 8-24 ports.
4. Connect PoE APs to the switch using existing (probably Cat 6) wiring.
5. Utilize a single AP with two VLANs and SSIDs for each pair of units.
I'm not aiming for fancy features, just an affordable, manageable network that can handle multiple VLANs and PoE. The network usage will be minimal—mostly streaming and web browsing with occasional large file transfers. I believe UniFi products could fit my needs.
My current setup goals are:
1. A Cloud Key as the controller (considering a UDM as well).
2. A PoE+ switch.
3. 8 UAP-AC-PRO access points (though I'm worried they might be outdated).
Am I missing anything? Can UniFi handle this kind of use case? Thanks for any input!
1 Answer
Definitely, UniFi is designed for setups like yours! Just a heads up, the Cloud Key isn't a router. Keeping spare parts around is smart too—they're often needed because hardware can fail occasionally, and it’s cheaper to have backups on hand.
Totally agree! I've had some bad luck with hardware in the past, so it's worth buying a couple of extras.