heythisisdave
New Around Here
Hey SNB - not sure if this is the right forum to discuss this type of setup but really been struggling with poor wifi last few weeks.
Users:
- 75-100 people right now
- 1.5x devices per person
- Everyone on Wifi
Usage type:
- Web browsing/email mostly
- Occasionally will see 20-30 people doing video streaming
- Occasional VOIP calls over Skype (2-3 people)
- Software development (installing libraries from online sources can be network heavy)
Current setup:
- WAN: Verizon FIOS, 150/50 service in Downtown Manhattan
- 2X Netgear R7000s, one in AP mode and one serving as main Router and Access Point
Usually things are OK with the Netgears and we're able to do things like stream Google Hangouts, do voice calls and browse the web without too many problems. However, occasionally everyone will drop out for a short moment or the entire network will slow down. I also have no way of figuring out the problem as the Netgear tools aren't so great.
Things I've looked at:
- I'm getting a pfSense 2440 box to serve as the new Router and considering using the Netgear's as Access Points
- I'm currently trying out a Ruckus XClaim Xi-3 access point. I was really excited about this as I heard great things about it but if I don't have Line of Sight it's really choppy. With Line of Sight it's pretty good and their cloud management solution is very intuitive.
- I've tried Ubiquiti solutions before (the UAPs) and had a rough time getting them to perform well, even at 10-15 clients they'd start dropping significantly
- I'm considering a 1-2 Ruckus 710s instead of the Xclaims but that's about $2K so want to exhaust other options.
- I'm considering using different firmware on the Netgear R7000s (AsusWRT or DDWRT perhaps)?
Am I thinking about the difference between the Netgear R7000s and the Ruckus correctly? Am I just paying for "enterprise" or is the difference real? Also, what can I use to identify the problem, is it Wifi, Routing, the core WAN connection?
Users:
- 75-100 people right now
- 1.5x devices per person
- Everyone on Wifi
Usage type:
- Web browsing/email mostly
- Occasionally will see 20-30 people doing video streaming
- Occasional VOIP calls over Skype (2-3 people)
- Software development (installing libraries from online sources can be network heavy)
Current setup:
- WAN: Verizon FIOS, 150/50 service in Downtown Manhattan
- 2X Netgear R7000s, one in AP mode and one serving as main Router and Access Point
Usually things are OK with the Netgears and we're able to do things like stream Google Hangouts, do voice calls and browse the web without too many problems. However, occasionally everyone will drop out for a short moment or the entire network will slow down. I also have no way of figuring out the problem as the Netgear tools aren't so great.
Things I've looked at:
- I'm getting a pfSense 2440 box to serve as the new Router and considering using the Netgear's as Access Points
- I'm currently trying out a Ruckus XClaim Xi-3 access point. I was really excited about this as I heard great things about it but if I don't have Line of Sight it's really choppy. With Line of Sight it's pretty good and their cloud management solution is very intuitive.
- I've tried Ubiquiti solutions before (the UAPs) and had a rough time getting them to perform well, even at 10-15 clients they'd start dropping significantly
- I'm considering a 1-2 Ruckus 710s instead of the Xclaims but that's about $2K so want to exhaust other options.
- I'm considering using different firmware on the Netgear R7000s (AsusWRT or DDWRT perhaps)?
Am I thinking about the difference between the Netgear R7000s and the Ruckus correctly? Am I just paying for "enterprise" or is the difference real? Also, what can I use to identify the problem, is it Wifi, Routing, the core WAN connection?