Compare the home network of five years ago with that of today and you see two completely different worlds. PC and tablet have lost their leading position to the smartphone, which means that we are always online, even at home. A fast and secure network is therefore no longer an option, it is a must. A small, but steadily growing group of users wants more than a standard wireless router offers and is increasingly looking at semi-professional network equipment. These are the best business access points for the home.
While the use of the home network has changed dramatically in recent years, the home network itself has not. It still consists of a router that is also a switch and access point at the same time, to which all devices, both fast and slow, must connect. We take gaps in coverage for granted or close as best we can with a WiFi extender or powerline connection. And the roaming behavior is also disappointing, inherent in networks that consist of several solutions from different brands. We take all this misery for granted because we know that even the latest wireless router in a multi-story, reinforced-concrete home won't provide complete coverage. What can be blamed on the (old) router that belongs to the internet subscription?
Network usage has changed radically, our home network has not. Better WiFi is needed
There is a solution to the WiFi problem and that is working with multiple access points. The solution that is currently the most in the spotlight and focused on consumer use are the mesh systems. These consist of two or more access points that together form one wireless network and can thus provide a larger space with a better signal. Roaming use suddenly also improves and the configuration is often done very friendly via an app. No technical knowledge is required. Even so, a mesh system does not solve all problems. Because the communication between the access points in most mesh systems is wireless, the performance will always be lower than technically possible. Also – to keep management easy – the number of configurable options is often very limited.
prosumer
Tired of the limitations of consumer routers and Wi-Fi systems, more and more users are turning to business networking solutions. They experience at work or in a hotel that you can indeed provide large buildings with a stable and fast wireless network. However, without exception they see equipment hanging that they do not encounter in the normal store or webshop. However, specialized traders are familiar with these solutions and know that they are increasingly also suitable for the 'prosumer': the well-educated consumer who does not shy away from any configuration work or is even interested in it out of a hobby. And who is also willing to pay more for a better solution. Because business network systems are without exception more expensive than ordinary consumer hardware.
Products options
But the business network solutions do not only differ in price from what consumers are used to. For example, there is much more specialization when it comes to hardware. The router is a router and not also a switch and access point, just as the switch is only a switch and the access point is only an access point. As a result, of course, more devices are needed for the same functionality, but the specialization also has advantages. Each part can be designed very specifically for its task and will potentially perform better or more efficiently and in any case offer many more options to control the operation of the device down to the last detail. This includes bandwidth management, multiple SSIDs, a fully customizable guest portal and seamless roaming across the entire network. Configuration and maintenance is preferably done in one go for all devices in the network. Sending an adjustment in the configuration of the WiFi network to all access points at once instead of having to adjust each access point separately, saves time and above all reduces the risk of errors.
The devices must also be manageable. This is especially important with the switches and by no means standard, on the contrary – usually only the more expensive switches offer options to configure these down to the port level. In addition, the business solutions also provide more insight into what is happening on the network, which devices are connected and how much data traffic they consume. In line with this, the business solutions offer more options for setting up customizable alerts.
Cables
Another difference in business network systems is the preference for connection via a network cable. This can be a standard Ethernet cable, but also fiber optic. In any case, not wireless, within business networks this applies as 'only suitable for the connection between access point and mobile device'. All other connections must perform reliably and predictably and that is only possible when you connect the relevant devices with network cables to the backbone of the network.
In addition to speed, a network cable offers another important advantage that business network solutions almost without exception apply: Power over Ethernet (PoE). In addition to transporting network traffic, the network cable is then also used to provide the connected device, such as an access point, with electricity. This makes it possible to install any device anywhere, even if there is no power outlet nearby. Where possible, the functionality of the business solution also extends beyond the wireless network. Unlike mesh systems, routers and switches and other network devices such as the NAS and IP cameras are now preferably included and can be managed centrally. And you want to receive notifications and warnings from all those devices in one place. After all, the business network should not cause any surprises.
Coverage
A Wi-Fi system with multiple access points provides the ability to provide good Wi-Fi coverage throughout a larger area (such as a multi-storey house and garden). It is important that you hang the access points in the right place. Companies will tackle this professionally and have measurements taken to measure the impact of walls and steel structures such as elevators on the Wi-Fi signal. At home you can do such a measurement yourself with a smartphone or tablet and an app that measures the signal strength. Wi-Fi SweetSpots is one such app. You can use the app by measuring the strength of the signal in different places in the house. This can be done at specific points, but also while you are walking around. Wi-Fi SweetSpots shows the strength of the Wi-Fi signal and displays it in a graph. It is also possible to indicate the strength with an acoustic signal. In this way you quickly discover the places where the signal is weak or even completely missing. To improve the coverage in such a place without signal, you can first try to move the current access point or hang it up a bit differently. If that doesn't work, consider installing an extra access point.
The only real solution to Wi-Fi problems is working with multiple access points.There are also drawbacks
The list of pros of business networking equipment is long. So it's no wonder that these solutions are attracting more and more attention, also from non-business users. Before you get rid of the old router and switch, it is important to know the disadvantages as well.
In addition to the aforementioned higher price that also has to be paid for several individual devices, the vendor lock-in is a risk. The strength of business network systems lies in the fact that all equipment is of the same brand. Every subsequent purchase must therefore be of that brand in order to fit into the system. This makes you vulnerable to price increases, changes in license terms if applicable, or the whims of the manufacturer if they suddenly no longer support a model that still works satisfactorily after an update of the central management software.
Another disadvantage is that business network equipment also quickly requires semi-professional network knowledge. More options means more thinking and more often the need to make the right decision. Online forums and supplier support are good support, but as is often the case, the quality of the input determines the output. Patience with absolute beginners is – certainly on the online forums – often limited. If you can oversee those disadvantages and risks, a business network solution can certainly be worth the purchase.
You can also partially switch to a business system by purchasing only the WiFi access points. You can then connect it to your own router. Please note that the business access points are usually powered via PoE, for which you need a special switch. As an alternative, Ubiquiti supplies a PoE injector with each access point and TP-Link an ordinary separate power supply, so that you do not need a special switch in either case. The tested access point from Netgear can optionally be powered via a power supply, just like the D-Link DAP-2610. The D-Link DAP-3662 has no input for a separate power supply, so PoE is required there.
