AC+AP Home Solution from China

[TopGun]

I won't knock these in-wall units. these are the type that are most acceptable to many wives.

Whenever I recommend to friends, the in-walls usually win. I usually have to push for one ceiling mount to properly cover large areas (hall, dining), but for room coverage it's always the in-walls that win.

I had one friend whose wife insisted on all in-walls, but eventually conceded that ceiling for the hall gave much better coverage when we tested.

The other APs that are very popular are Unifi's Mesh series. which are quite seamless and can fit in well. Especially because they don't look like APs so it helps.

View attachment 49692

One clear no-no for many wives, those devices with multiple antennas sticking out and looking really ugly, "almost like upside-down dead spiders" - to quote at least two of them. Asus has a few gaming routers that fit the bill.
View attachment 49693

The coke bottle unifi is quite nice with the blue ring on top. Helped some to setup by placing it on the TV console. Quite elegant.

 

[firesong]

The coke bottle unifi is quite nice with the blue ring on top. Helped some to setup by placing it on the TV console. Quite elegant.

Yeah. I didn't know how it would look in a false ceiling until I saw it at one setup. Very subtle yet elegant.

Also, wall mounted, where it looks like some futuristic grab bar. Elegant and not too obvious, so definitely something to consider for the more aesthetically demanding.

 

[xiaofan]

Interestingly there is a recent Youtube video from local Youtuber Alex Teo.
TP-Link 3-in-1 Router ER7212PC @ S$409
3 x Tp-Link EAP650-Wall AP @S$172 per piece = S$516
Total cost S$925

A Clean And Easy Home Wifi Using AC+AP | Mesh Alternative


Just as a comprarison -- his previous video talking about mesh solution


Note: I think he is good at Smart Home but not that good at home networking. Still it is nice to see local Youtubers coming out videos related to home networking.

 

[HiHelloBye]

i have to say the AP beside the wall socket looks clean.

but not sure about the performance though, considering it looks small compared to the ordinay APs we have in the market...

 

[xiaofan]

i have to say the AP beside the wall socket looks clean.

but not sure about the performance though, considering it looks small compared to the ordinay APs we have in the market...

One in-wall AP to serve one room, that is probably the rule of thumb.

So there are also people using one ceiling AP for the living room and then In-wall APs in the bedrooms.

 

[xiaofan]

BTW, Singtel FTTR's slave unit is similarly rated for one room, 20 sqm. But the problem is that the current FTTR solution is still expensive and then the slave unit still needs a power supply as it is using GPON technology and no PoE (note: main unit is using XGS-PON). One of the main selling point from Singtel is > 1Gbps WiFi in every room.
https://www.singtel.com/personal/products-services/broadband/fibre-everywhere-fttr

 

[TanKianW]

Interestingly there is a recent Youtube video from local Youtuber Alex Teo.
TP-Link 3-in-1 Router ER7212PC @ S$409
3 x Tp-Link EAP650-Wall AP @S$172 per piece = S$516
Total cost S$925

A Clean And Easy Home Wifi Using AC+AP | Mesh Alternative


Just as a comprarison -- his previous video talking about mesh solution


Note: I think he is good at Smart Home but not that good at home networking. Still it is nice to see local Youtubers coming out videos related to home networking.

Seemed like he went with the “Bond Hub” in his room!

His video is a good starting point for new smart home owners and home networking. Most are readily available OTS products with minimal configuration required. Suitable for majority (or >90%) of the home users. And his videos are pretty well made, with clear explanation. Kudos to Alex! @Evilbear​

 

[chenaz]

Interestingly there is a recent Youtube video from local Youtuber Alex Teo.
TP-Link 3-in-1 Router ER7212PC @ S$409
3 x Tp-Link EAP650-Wall AP @S$172 per piece = S$516
Total cost S$925

A Clean And Easy Home Wifi Using AC+AP | Mesh Alternative


Just as a comprarison -- his previous video talking about mesh solution


Note: I think he is good at Smart Home but not that good at home networking. Still it is nice to see local Youtubers coming out videos related to home networking.

Huawei Q6 easier . Wanted to buy it but to expensive

 

[xiaofan]

Simple video comparison of AC+AP vs Consumer Mesh with Ethernet backhaul.

1) AC+ AP -- looks nicer, better roaming performance, more expensive to buy and to upgrade, in-wall faceplate AP can be hot.
2) Cosumer Mesh with Ethernet backhaul -- cheaper and often higher speed, better for gaming

 

[xiaofan]

The following two from Xiaomi and Huawei seem to be popular now in August 2025.

Huawei Q7 Mesh Ethernet version 华为凌霄子母路由 Q7 网线版
https://consumer.huawei.com/cn/routers/q7-ethernet-cable/specs/

Main router/AC --> 2.5G WAN, 6x 2.5G LAN, 1G LAN.
AP node --> Dual band BE3600, PoE from the main router, 2.5G WAN + 2.5G LAN

 

[xiaofan]

Xiaomi 全屋路由 BE3600 Pro 网线版
https://www.mi.com/xiaomi-routers/be-3600-pro-wired2/specs

Main router -- 2.5G WAN + 4 x 2.5G LAN (PoE)
AP node -- 2.5G WAN + 2.5G LAN, dual band BE3600

 

[xiaofan]

TP-Link China Wireless AP
https://www.tp-link.com.cn/list_2505.html

TP-Link China AC Controller (including those integrated with router/VPN function)
https://www.tp-link.com.cn/list_2506.html

acwifi articles about TP-Link WiFi 7 AP
https://www.acwifi.net/30292.html TL-7AP5100HC-PoE, BE5100, ceiling mount AP, PoE
https://www.acwifi.net/28002.html TL-7AP5100HI-PoE, BE5100, in-wall AP, PoE

acwifi articles about TP-Link China TL-AC100 standalone AC Controller
https://www.acwifi.net/29217.html (TL-AC100)

acwifi articles about TP-Link China business router with integrated AC controller function.
https://www.acwifi.net/32134.html TL-ER3228ET, 10G capable
https://www.acwifi.net/19935.html TL-ER2260T, 10G capable
https://www.acwifi.net/31967.html TL-ER3220T, 10G capable
https://www.acwifi.net/29243.html Overview of TL-ER2260T vs lower end ones.

 

[trindio]

I THINK the TL-Link ACs from China are still at 1gbps LAN ports while the APs are 2.5gbps WAN, which kinda limits the usefulness I guess?

中兴 releasing on 10 Oct their 2.5Gbps WAN and 4 x 2.5gbps LAN which could work well with their 晴天 BE5100Pro+ with 2.5gbps WAN?

 

[xiaofan]

I THINK the TL-Link ACs from China are still at 1gbps LAN ports while the APs are 2.5gbps WAN, which kinda limits the usefulness I guess?

中兴 releasing on 10 Oct their 2.5Gbps WAN and 4 x 2.5gbps LAN which could work well with their 晴天 BE5100Pro+ with 2.5gbps WAN?

Not so sure where you get the information for TP-Link China.

They have multiple 10Gbe capable VPN router cum AC controller, from relatively cheap ones to pretty expensive ones.

Example:
https://www.acwifi.net/31967.html

The information is available just one post above your post.

 

[xiaofan]

But if you ignore the TP-Link China ERxxxx series (more geared towards small enterprise usage, similar to TP-Link Omada and Ubiqui Unifi) and only talk about Rxxxx series, then yes, R series router cum AC controllers only have 2.5Gbe ports.

https://www.acwifi.net/29243.html

 

[xiaofan]

中兴 releasing on 10 Oct their 2.5Gbps WAN and 4 x 2.5gbps LAN which could work well with their 晴天 BE5100Pro+ with 2.5gbps WAN?

Indeed this is a nice one for 3Gbps plan users who want to put a cost effective 2.5Gbe capable main router in the DB box.

News from acwifi. Pretty nice price at RMB 269, with five 2.5Gbe ports. I do not quite like the fact that it has only 512MB RAM since ZTE BE7200 Pro+ has 1GB RAM, but I guess it is probably enough.
https://www.acwifi.net/32385.html

Then you can use ZTE's WiFi 7 wall-mounted routers (晴天墙面路由器) as the mesh nodes, if you like the form factor.

ZTE BE5100 wall-mounted WiFi 7 router at RMB 263.

ZTE BE5100 Pro+ wall-mounted WiFi 7 router at RMB 343.90, with dual 2.5Gbe ports.

【淘宝】https://e.tb.cn/h.Sg1ybrR3GGZDHU4?tk=clTB4zL3xCx CZ001 「【Wi-Fi7】ZTE中兴晴天BE5100路由器千兆家用高速无线大户型zte路由游戏加速双频全GE网口全屋覆盖子母路由器」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

【淘宝】https://e.tb.cn/h.S5G0KUL6LECEjOU?tk=9EBo4zLfrf1 MF287 「【Wi-Fi7路由器】ZTE中兴BE5100Pro+晴天路由器双2.5g网口家用高速无线大户型墙面路由游戏加速双频全屋覆盖」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

 

[xiaofan]

Xiaomi 全屋路由 BE3600 Pro 网线版
https://www.mi.com/xiaomi-routers/be-3600-pro-wired2/specs

Main router -- 2.5G WAN + 4 x 2.5G LAN (PoE)
AP node -- 2.5G WAN + 2.5G LAN, dual band BE3600

1 main router+ 3 nodes: usual price RMB1599

1 main router+ 4 nodes: usual price RMB1949

1 main router+ 5 nodes: usual price RMB 2499.

Current offer price is only a little bit cheaper than the usual price, maybe 11.11 pricing will be better.

【淘宝】假一赔十 https://e.tb.cn/h.S5GWg8x6PYRYIoL?tk=whDj4zLhiTF HU006 「【新品上市】Xiaomi 小米全屋路由BE3600Pro 网线套装版 WiFi7高网速多设备覆盖中枢蓝牙网关大户型全屋路由」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

 

[trindio]

So I bought the ZTE AC+AP that was just released today. RMB899 for 1 AC and 2 AP (BE5100Pro+).

All in GST = around SGD184.

Will update if it works well when I set it up!
Currently running a better Asus RT-Be88U to cover the whole house but thought I'll sell this and use the ZTE combo if it works well.

 

[xiaofan]

ZTE Nebula wired router mesh sets (with ZTE QingTian Wall-mounted wireless APs), Xiaomi BE3600 Pro Ethernet version mesh set and Huawei Q7 Ethernet version mesh set are the three consumer AC+AP solutions recommended by the following China YouTuber.

Another China WiFi 7 router 11.11 buying guide. The recommended routers are mostly okay to buy if you know the limitations (eg: no 6GHz band).

Again, you may want to consider local versions first before considering China WiFi 7 routers. Their price is very reasonable, dumping by M1 usets.
1) TP-Link Archer BE805, around S$300 or below, with 6GHz band, dual 10G port and quad 1G ports.
2) Asus RT-BE92U, around S$300 or below, with 6GHz band, one 10G port and quad 2.5G ports.
3) Asus RT-BE58U, , around S$80, single 2.5G port
4) TP-Link Archer BE230, around S$80, dual 2.5G ports

 

[shawniiex]

So I bought the ZTE AC+AP that was just released today. RMB899 for 1 AC and 2 AP (BE5100Pro+).

All in GST = around SGD184.

Will update if it works well when I set it up!
Currently running a better Asus RT-Be88U to cover the whole house but thought I'll sell this and use the ZTE combo if it works well.

Update pls haha