On Sat, 26 Sep 2020 13:59:48 +0100, John Rumm
wrote:

snip

I believe you mentioned installing a Mesh system for a client recently
and I was interested to hear how that went and how they are getting on
with it?

So far so good... "installed" being a slightly loose term since I was
going to go to site to do it! I had the kit drop shipped there, and
talked him through the setup. (which was done with an app on his phone)

;-)

(this is a large modern property split over three storeys and also an
outbuilding. Being modern, presumably foil backed PB and insulation all
over the place.

This was the issue with this site, nearly no signal in the bedroom
over the kitchen containing the AP.

Needless to say he wanted coverage everywhere).

Quite.

Now given this chap is not at all techy (but can follow instructions),
that all went surprisingly well. Initially we deployed three devices,
but then added another three. (in reality they probably only really
needed 4 or 5, but the particular device I wanted was only in packs of
three)

Ok.

So far it has met all demands. The only glitch was after a few weeks of
non use when away, he returned to find it working everywhere apart from
his study (which is odd since that is where the "first" mesh device
connects to his router - so it was obviously still co-operating with all
the other kit, just not its own wifi). In the end power cycling the AP
there fixed that.

It happens.

(note these are DECO hybrid mesh routers that combine dual band wifi and
homeplug data over mains)

Ok.

snip

She mentioned that sometimes her WiFi access is iffy and so she turns
her phone / tablet WiFi off and all is well again and I explained why.

Some devices seem very good (cough/apple/cough) at hanging onto a
connection for dear life and not roaming to the much stronger connection
that has become available, until the first becomes nearly completely
useable.

Yeah.

Disconnect and reconnect and they connect to the better signal.

Yup. I often have to reset the connection order on Windows PC's for
people who have more than one AP (might be possible on other OS's).

(sometimes, counter intuitively, setting lower Tx powers on the APs can
actually make roaming better since you end up with less overlap so "far"
APs drop out of range sooner)

Agreed, subject to other requirements, like wanting to use it in the
garden etc.

So I think they might be someone who might appreciate a Mesh system
(as they are always walking up and down their long house with mobile
devices) and should also be able to afford it. ;-)

So all of the straight AP's are TP-Link jobbies, locally powered
(although they can be PoE) and connected by Cat5 back to the switch so
would they have to disable the AP in the router and Powerline devices
and replace them with Mesh AP's John, meaning they would need 5 off?

I disabled all the existing APs and Wifi provision in the router - since
it was all single band 2.4GHz, and none of that had capabilities beyond
802.11n.

Ok, I'd have to check the range of stuff they have for the L.C.D.

The new kit was all 802.11ac / WiFi 6 dual band etc. They also
had some powerline that was acting as back haul connections for the APs
they had on the first and second floors. So again we took that out of
service.

In the situation you describe, the CAT5E can still be used for back haul
between APs.

I wasn't sure if that was still the preferred option or if these Mesh
devices did something clever that made such redundant.

required (or go for a hybrid mesh that includes it)

Ok.

I think I would be tempted to start with three mesh devices, and add
more if required -

I think one of the boys is currently in the au pair's quarters
(lockdown etc) so the chances are they *would* 'bother' with the best
option there also.;-)

you may find you get good enough coverage without
needing as many, since they have lots of new tricks they can deploy to
get better results.

As with your scenario, I think the issue here was (and especially
anything done in any rebuild / extension work) all the foil-backed
plasterboard and so compartmentalising the house and specifically
isolating the re-vamped au-pair area. [1]

They 'forgot' to run Cat5 in there. ;-(

Cheers, T i m

[1] There was also a strange thing where a powerline adaptor didn't
work in a 'new' socket in the hallway and whilst investigating it,
found some questionable wiring. ;-(