Please rate my networking setup?

Z

zero_cool

Forerunner
Hi folks, I am in the midst of setting up a home network for a bit large space. I have set the goal to set it up without burning a hole in the wallet so it needs to value for money, VFM, but reliable too. It will help if I have cloud access since I will be in a different city but managing it will be dependent on me. I have finalised two methods and the experts here can perhaps help me pick the best among the two or a suggest the best way ahead.

Setup 1
ISP: Airtel Fiber 100 MBPS
Router: Existing TP Link AC1900 (switch off wireless comms) and use it a switch
Cable: CAT 6 cable originating from the router with connections in each of the 3 bedrooms and one in the living room
Access Point: 3 TP Link AC750 to be used as access points. These will be connected to a power socket in each of bedrooms with the cable connected to them
PoE Injector: 1 TP Link TL-PoE150S for enabling POE on one of the cable of the living room
PoE Access Point: 1 TP Link Omada AC1350 mounted to the ceiling in the living room (probably comes with a free PoE injector)
Estimated Cost: INR 13,500

Setup 2
ISP: Airtel Fiber 100 MBPS
Router: TP Link TL-SF1006P
Cable: CAT 6 cable originating from the router with connections in each of the 3 bedrooms and one in the living room
PoE Access Point: 3 TP Link Omada AC1350 mounted to the ceiling 2 bedrooms and 1 in living room
Optional: TP Link Omada Cloud Controller
Estimated Cost without the cloud controller: INR 35,000
 
A cheaper way than "Cloud" offerings would be to have a PC/server on your home network, set up a VPN and access LAN devices configuration using that. I used to do that with WireGuard for myself, at least. Honestly, I never really liked repeaters because they were expensive and didn't work all that well.

The Access Point in your Setup 1 only has 100Mbps Ethernet port iirc, so you'll have to connect it with your router using WiFi most likely? I don't really know tbh, but I usually just setup different WiFi routers connected to the main with a switch instead of having a "mesh" network :P
 
Buy the following -
  • 3x TP-Link Archer C60 v3 (2k each on sale at fk) ~ 6k.
  • 1x TP-Link Archer AX23 (3.6k on sale at amzn) ~ 3.6k
Flash openwrt on all these routers and convert them to a mesh network.
Use AX23 as a portal node (connected to internet) and C60 as access points.

You can install tailscale on AX23 to remotely access it even in case of cgnat which airtel uses in residential connections.

Total cost ~ 10k.

PS - You can create build scripts for openwrt firmware with your wifi/internet configs, so if one of the nodes die, you can flash the image to a new one and it will be up and running in no time.
 
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Navier said:
Buy the following -
  • 3x TP-Link Archer C60 v3 (2k each on sale at fk) ~ 6k.
  • 1x TP-Link Archer AX23 (3.6k on sale at amzn) ~ 3.6k
Flash openwrt on all these routers and convert them to a mesh network.
Use AX23 as a portal node (connected to internet) and C60 as access points.

You can install tailscale on AX23 to remotely access it even in case of cgnat which airtel uses in residential connections.

Total cost ~ 10k.
Click to expand...
not everywhere airtel uses cgnat
 
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IwantTosellPc said:
Openwrt works perfectly fine with TP link routers.
Click to expand...
oh really?? how many router you have flashed with it??

go read up these before typing secondhand thoughts in this forum.
forum.openwrt.org

802.11ac performance of stock TP-LINK Archer C7 vs LEDE

I have been performing extensive testing of the wireless performance of the stock TP-LINK firmware vs LEDE. Test hardware: TP-LINK Archer C7 v2, UK model. MacBook Pro Retina 2013, 3x3 802.11ac capable, maximum 1300Mbps connection rate. Windows 7 on the PC. PC wired via gigabit Ethernet to the...
forum.openwrt.org forum.openwrt.org
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/m5sinz
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/idzc0j
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/n3tdqf
github.com

Archer C2 low speed wifi · Issue #10288 · openwrt/openwrt

TP-Link Archer C2 AC750(MT7620A) [22.03.0-rc5] Low speed wifi 5Ghz(10Mbit/1Mbit) in [21.02.3] - no problem
github.com github.com
 
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Doesn't works, that good. Had flashed 2 tplink devices, archer ac1200 and mr3420....didn't go well had to revert back to stock software and that took a while to flash as flashing back doesn't works as it should all the time.
 
Ramadhir Singh said:
oh really?? how many router you have flashed with it??

go read up these before typing secondhand thoughts in this forum.
forum.openwrt.org

802.11ac performance of stock TP-LINK Archer C7 vs LEDE

I have been performing extensive testing of the wireless performance of the stock TP-LINK firmware vs LEDE. Test hardware: TP-LINK Archer C7 v2, UK model. MacBook Pro Retina 2013, 3x3 802.11ac capable, maximum 1300Mbps connection rate. Windows 7 on the PC. PC wired via gigabit Ethernet to the...
forum.openwrt.org forum.openwrt.org
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/m5sinz
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/idzc0j
https://www.reddit.com/r/openwrt/comments/n3tdqf
github.com

Archer C2 low speed wifi · Issue #10288 · openwrt/openwrt

TP-Link Archer C2 AC750(MT7620A) [22.03.0-rc5] Low speed wifi 5Ghz(10Mbit/1Mbit) in [21.02.3] - no problem
github.com github.com
Click to expand...
First, no need to be so aggresive.
Second, you just proved my point, research your device first. I have built openwrt firmware for my tp link router, and flashed pre built for another model.
Before buying you have to also check the chipset, conti v , etc, as same model name can have different config.

If anything, tp links are one of the most supported in propreitary category.

See, I didnt have to be rude to get my point across...
 
Last edited:
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Wow! So many responses. I kept following the thread for a few days when there wasn't a response I thought this will get pushed down into the oblivion but thanks for proving me wrong. Also, I have abandoned the idea of using a cloud controlled as it just not worth the extra cost.

Ramadhir Singh said:
seems complicated to me and presenting a chance of multiple failure point.
wondering what is the size of your home? 4000-5000sft or more ?
Click to expand...
It is about 3600 square feet and the ask is to keep the connectivity stuff concealed or hidden in plan sight. A router with its antennas sticking out is an eye sore. I did evaluate how a PoE injector can fail or how these cheap AP/extenders are prone to fail without prior warning but it is gamble I need to take. Down the road, I do plan to replace the router with a decent PoE switch. I do have another set up coming up for different apartment and I will use Ubiquiti components there.
rockyo27 said:
Make a diagram and share
Click to expand...
I will try to make one today and upload it here today.
Ssreek said:
Are those LAN cables running through the walls or outside?
Click to expand...
The cables will run through the walls.
Ramadhir Singh said:
dwrt/openwrt doesn't go well with tplink routers WLAN.
Click to expand...
I had explored this back when dd-wrt was an easy hack to make the most out of Asus routers but since I had a TP Link router, I abandoned the pursuit.

Navier said:
Buy the following -
  • 3x TP-Link Archer C60 v3 (2k each on sale at fk) ~ 6k.
  • 1x TP-Link Archer AX23 (3.6k on sale at amzn) ~ 3.6k
Flash openwrt on all these routers and convert them to a mesh network.
Use AX23 as a portal node (connected to internet) and C60 as access points.

You can install tailscale on AX23 to remotely access it even in case of cgnat which airtel uses in residential connections.

Total cost ~ 10k.

PS - You can create build scripts for openwrt firmware with your wifi/internet configs, so if one of the nodes die, you can flash the image to a new one and it will be up and running in no time.
Click to expand...

This unfortunately does not bode well with the aesthetics this using such an access point was never considered. The issue is the limited budget else I would be posting in the show off thread.
 
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