Home networking/home theater tips for newb

[kkothamasu]

So, I'm a newb when it comes to this stuff but have cobbled together a home network with the little that I do know. We're in a 2,400 sq ft, 3 floor (includes basement) home and have Verizon Fios for internet (along with their router) and the Google WiFi mesh system. Main intention of my network is to be able to work on my laptop anywhere in the house, to stream media (via Raspberry Pi) from a NAS to our living room and a projector I have setup in the basement and to monitor our newborn son through an IP camera in his room for when he's napping/sleeping.

As time passes I'm beginning to realize that I might not have the most ideal setup and today was proof of that. Our Fios router decided to stop providing an internet signal through ethernet and I ended up spending close to 5 hours to get something to work so we can continue monitoring our 4 month old overnight.

My current setup: FIOS modem -> Fios Router -> 2 ethernet runs - 1 for basement home theater and 1 for living room. 1st run goes to a gigabit switch and then to the receiver/raspberry/projector, 2nd run goes to gigabit switch in living room then to receiver/fios stb box/xbox/NAS/Raspberry PI/Google Wifi point (the main one)

We also have one google wifi point in the basement and another in the office on the 2nd floor. Since, I have a google wifi mesh with a different IP Verizon won't stream TV to our phone/tablet since it thinks we're not connected to the verizon router.

What I'm trying to understand is the most ideal way to setup our network so I can have all devices on the same IP and have less issues when my network goes down. I''ve noticed that our internet is slow ever since I switched from a TP Link Archer C9 router to the Google WiFi mesh. With the issue I had today I had to bypass the FIOS router and change things up to be able to get the IP camera to keep functioning overnight. Well anyway now I can't access our NAS nor can I get to netflix on the Verizon STB box since it requires the FIOS router to be functioning. I'm hoping the experts here can guide me along and provide insight as to what I can do to make things more efficient. Ideally I'd love to have ethernet runs all over the house but that's just not going to be practical in our case. Thanks in advance!!!

 

[VirtualLarry]

While I'm not really familiar with Google Wifi, I will share my network config. I have FIOS Gigabit internet, and have a G1100 router connected to the ONT (FIOS doesn't use a "modem"). From there, I have an Asus AC68U-family router, running the newest firmware and using the AiMesh feature, and I have like 3 other similar routers as AiMesh "Nodes", in my small single-floor apt. I also enabled the dual-WAN feature on my Asus router, and connected my secondary / backup internet connection as a "Fail-Over" connection.

The Asus router controls and allocates my LAN IP address space. It is something different than the IP address space handed out over the G1100's LAN ports. (Different 192.168.y.x subnet.)

AFAIK, this setup should work for a Verizon STB as well. I do rent one, but I haven't connected it yet, as I don't watch much TV. I guess, someday, I might see if it functions properly in this sort of setup.

 

[Genx87]

I do not have direct working experience with Google WiFi. However my understanding is it likes to be the internet connection. Meaning one of the WAPs is connected directly into the internet. Once routers get involved it can start to act inconsistently. I have experienced issues on my buddies Google WiFi which sound similar to yours.

In my case doing this stuff for a living I use Ubiquiti at home. Nice units for the money. I suggest getting the cloudkey instead of running the controller on a windows box. At work we run Meraki. But that is out of the price range for home imo.

I would run it like this

Fios-->FIOS router-->Ubiquiti WAPs.

If you stick with GooGle WiFi my understanding on best practice is

Fios Modem-->Google Wifi -->Mesh to other WAPs.

Realize a mesh is turning the other WAPs into repeaters. Reducing available bandwidth and increasing latency with each hop from the back hauled WAP. This could be the source of your performance issues.

 

[kkothamasu]

While I'm not really familiar with Google Wifi, I will share my network config. I have FIOS Gigabit internet, and have a G1100 router connected to the ONT (FIOS doesn't use a "modem"). From there, I have an Asus AC68U-family router, running the newest firmware and using the AiMesh feature, and I have like 3 other similar routers as AiMesh "Nodes", in my small single-floor apt. I also enabled the dual-WAN feature on my Asus router, and connected my secondary / backup internet connection as a "Fail-Over" connection.

The Asus router controls and allocates my LAN IP address space. It is something different than the IP address space handed out over the G1100's LAN ports. (Different 192.168.y.x subnet.)

AFAIK, this setup should work for a Verizon STB as well. I do rent one, but I haven't connected it yet, as I don't watch much TV. I guess, someday, I might see if it functions properly in this sort of setup.

Thanks for the insight. The reps that came to fix/install stuff always called the ONT a modem so I just went with that but good to know they Verizon doesn't use a "modem" per se.

 

[kkothamasu]

I do not have direct working experience with Google WiFi. However my understanding is it likes to be the internet connection. Meaning one of the WAPs is connected directly into the internet. Once routers get involved it can start to act inconsistently. I have experienced issues on my buddies Google WiFi which sound similar to yours.

In my case doing this stuff for a living I use Ubiquiti at home. Nice units for the money. I suggest getting the cloudkey instead of running the controller on a windows box. At work we run Meraki. But that is out of the price range for home imo.

I would run it like this

Fios-->FIOS router-->Ubiquiti WAPs.

If you stick with GooGle WiFi my understanding on best practice is

Fios Modem-->Google Wifi -->Mesh to other WAPs.

Realize a mesh is turning the other WAPs into repeaters. Reducing available bandwidth and increasing latency with each hop from the back hauled WAP. This could be the source of your performance issues.

Thanks, I figured as much about the Google WiFi mesh. They're nice to look at but started regretting the purchase a bit a few weeks into using them. To your point I noticed my WiFi and internet browsing slow down compared to before when I had a TP Link Archer C9 as my router for WiFi. And I really hate that I can only use my phone/tablet to update the mesh settings or to debug any issues. My most recent issue that I discussed the Google WiFi kept greying out certain options, like restarting all the pucks, when the network was down so it was really frustrating and even setup was hard since the app uses GPS to locate the pucks and wouldn't find them even when the phone was next to them.

I've been looking for an alternative to the Google Wifi Mesh and was thinking about the Orbi since it's supposed to integrate really well with Fios but wouldn't mind looking into Ubiquiti, as I believe they're one of the better products for networking, but don't have the faintest clue as to which model I should be buying. I saw a 4 pack of the enterprise version but not sure that's appropriate for a newb like me? Any particular model you would recommend for my needs? Also, again bear with me since I'm new with this all this, but I believe the Ubiquiti ones are WAP's, so they'd end up being an extension of my FIOS router hence should have the same IP Subnet (I think that's what it's called?)?

My fios router provides IP starting with 192.168.1 while the Google WiFi has IP starting with 192.168.86 so I'm hoping going with the WAPs makes all IPs start with 192.168.1 with better WiFi signal.

Thanks again!

 

[Genx87]

I use these.

AC-Pro

I suggest getting the cloudkey controller vs running the controller on a windows box. The controller on a windows box is free. But I found it to be a little less reliable.
The controller is how you will manage the WAPs. But it also helps steer clients to a better WAP.

Cloudkey

And yes they are only WAPs. You will need a router to get traffic to the internet. And yes the WAPs will be on the same subnet as the router. Your wireless IPs will be 192.168.1.x
I suggest watching some youtube videos to make sure you are up to deploying Ubiquiti before purchase. It does take a little work to get setup. But once setup has been rock solid.

 

[kkothamasu]

I use these.

AC-Pro

I suggest getting the cloudkey controller vs running the controller on a windows box. The controller on a windows box is free. But I found it to be a little less reliable.
The controller is how you will manage the WAPs. But it also helps steer clients to a better WAP.

Cloudkey

And yes they are only WAPs. You will need a router to get traffic to the internet. And yes the WAPs will be on the same subnet as the router. Your wireless IPs will be 192.168.1.x
I suggest watching some youtube videos to make sure you are up to deploying Ubiquiti before purchase. It does take a little work to get setup. But once setup has been rock solid.

Awesome, thanks again!

One last question, with my current setup once I have an ethernet run to the media room and living room I have a unmanaged gigabit ethernet switch at each location to hook in all my receivers, raspberry Pi etc. Do you know if that's an ideal setup or if I should be doing something different to make things more efficient?

 

[Genx87]

Sounds about right. But if your receivers\raspberry pi can go wireless. I would try wireless and see if you like the performance. I used to run wires but went wireless a few months ago to clean up the look. I havent had an issue so far. We typically have 2 people watching streaming TV via Playstation Vue on Amazon Firebox, phones on the network, and myself on my desktop doing stuff with a physical connection. In a 1400 sq ft home we use a single WAP and no issues. Though I am planning to run wire into the garage and place a WAP there. Which is the furthest point from the current WAP. I would suggest two WAPs for a 2400 sq ft home to be safe.

btw these WAPs I suggest running ethernet to them. Not set them up in a mesh.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I used to run wires but went wireless a few months ago to clean up the look.

I tried that a few weeks ago, then found out that with the wifi mesh network I set up, the connection wasn't long-term stable enough to run a backup job over to my NAS unit. (*)

(*) It could, now that I think about it, come down to leaving wifi CHANNEL to AUTO, and that causing "pauses" in service. Maybe I'll try it again. Or possibly, just because I'm using all REFURB Asus AC68U-family gear, and possibly the router itself is overheating, or dropping out wifi briefly, or the power brick is faltering, etc. It's mostly stable for web-browsing and mining stuff, but my backup program is very finicky, and designed for wired networks, I think, because it doesn't handle brief drops of the wireless very well. (It doesn't have a RETRY option, either, it just punts if there is a dropout.)

There was one time when I had to manually power-off reboot one of the mesh units, as the PCs connected to it couldn't get to the internet.

So now I'm looking to wire, only, to clean up the wiring in my small apt., and make it up to code / inspections, etc., which means not leaving ethernet cables running across the carpet where any visitor could potentially trip over them. (I'm very careful, personally, but if that person doesn't live here, they may not pick up their feet properly, and I don't want to get sued or have someone injured. Or, Heaven forbid, trip myself and hurt myself.)

 

[kkothamasu]

btw would the AC-Pro be overkill what my needs are? Also is the lite version easier to setup and manage? Just trying to figure out what I should get exactly since it looks like I'll need to spend $500+ (for 3 APs and a Cloud key). Thanks again!

PS Why exactly do I need a Cloud Key?

 

[skyking]

If you can get a wire to each of the APs and not do any AP to AP traffic, you'll see the best wireless performance possible, regardless of your hardware choices.

 

[Genx87]

btw would the AC-Pro be overkill what my needs are? Also is the lite version easier to setup and manage? Just trying to figure out what I should get exactly since it looks like I'll need to spend $500+ (for 3 APs and a Cloud key). Thanks again!

PS Why exactly do I need a Cloud Key?

I liked the AC-Pros due to the extra radio. The lite would probably work for you as well. Cloudkey is the controller. There is an option to run the controller software on a windows machine for free. But I have found it can crash over time. You do not need a cloudkey if you run the software on a windows box.

 

[kkothamasu]

Perfect, thanks again!

 

[mnewsham]

I have the AC AP Lite and get over 400mbps throughput from the same room, and 100-200mbps from a floor away.

The AC pro is really for higher density deployments where you might have 50+ clients.

 

[kkothamasu]

oh wow I'll have to check out the AC AP Lite then, thanks!