Anybody using Singtel Mesh?

[renfred89]

Thanks for the clarification, in this case, the switch is much better and cheaper solution that the Asus RT 88 as a second router without having to have any updates or configuration.

But will this slow down the speed in any way?

As well for the AC 1900 in my living room, can I leave the wireless feature on so that it can cover devices in the living room. Usually, I understand that if the mesh is connected right next to the AC 1900, you have to switch off the wifi in the AC 1900. But for my case, the AC 1900 in the my living room to the switch in my study room is not that close and the mesh connected to the switch (position beside) may not cover the living room for the wifi

speed will not be affected with the switch..

you can turn on the wifi for the singtel router, but you cannot set the same ssid as the wifi mesh. by doing so you interfere with the integrity of wifi mesh and it confuses your devices.

so if you want the singtel router to have the wifi, you need to have a separate ssid which identifies the wireless router and the wifi mesh. so kinda a hassle if you have 2 network in a home.

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

Maxuro,

Hey, no worries

It will be interesting to know if mesh will work off a switch..

Hi Kgfamm,

mesh will work even if it is connected to managed or unmanaged switch. Switch does not matter. However, Singtel tech support will not support your switch. if you report a problem and say you have a switch, then you have to remove the switch from the equation and if it still have issue, then singtel will take a look. As switch is third party, but right, no issue but for simplicity of support, Singtel does not support.

Even SingtelTV can work from connecting to switch to the AC1900. Switch does not issue IP addresses. IP addresses issuance is done by router with DCHP server configured.

Like for Airties, it does not even assign IP address. It is intelligent WIFI repeater (wireless backhaul and ethernet backhaul).

I found ethernet backhaul not stable, and reverted back to wireless backhaul. What a disappointment. Unless got newer firmware, then I will try again.

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

speed will not be affected with the switch..

you can turn on the wifi for the singtel router, but you cannot set the same ssid as the wifi mesh. by doing so you interfere with the integrity of wifi mesh and it confuses your devices.

so if you want the singtel router to have the wifi, you need to have a separate ssid which identifies the wireless router and the wifi mesh. so kinda a hassle if you have 2 network in a home.

Hi Renfred,

Switch will affect the speed. hence one should buy the gigabit switch (not 10/100Mbps switch).

The purpose of MESH is seamless moving from one MESH to another MESH. Hence, not recommended to turn on WIFI on AC1900.

Unless, you don't mind to choose which WIFI to connect when you move around within the house, then can on WIFI on AC1900.

2-NODE Airties should be sufficient to cover any HDB flats. Unless it is landed with multiple storeys.

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

Hi Kgfamm,

Many thanks!

Indeed my intended connection AC 1900 will be wired to switch in my study room about 15/20metres from living room

On this switch, I intend to connect via wired to 2 PCs and also the first Mesh.
I do not think to connect the first mesh to AC 1900 because the distance to the study room may be too far.

That is why I ask Singtel if the 1st mesh will work if i plug into the switch but ST not yet reply. The second mesh will be in my bedroom beside my study room for the singtel mio tv. The two mesh will also provide wifi coverage to the study room and bedroom area. The living room area wifi coverage will be provided by AC 1900.

I have already bought the unmanaged switch. Renfred 89, a big help and excellent contributor to this tread already told me that I will need a switch more than a second router (originally intended Asus RT 88).

I still not very sure if the 1st unit of Mesh can be connected to the switch instead of the AC 1900.

Sorry if I cause some confusion

Hi Maxuro

Do use at least CAT5E UTP cable to connect between AC1900 and your switch. If having CAT6E is even better. To truly support 1000Mbps, you need at least CAT5E UTP cable. Not anyhow cable.

Do take note.

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

Hi Singtel,

Yes, the above are observed from AC1900 GUI.

Hi Singtel,

have you tested the setup ? is it working as per design?

 

[renfred89]

I posted based on the assumption that ts knows about gigabit switches.

Hi Renfred,

Switch will affect the speed. hence one should buy the gigabit switch (not 10/100Mbps switch).

The purpose of MESH is seamless moving from one MESH to another MESH. Hence, not recommended to turn on WIFI on AC1900.

Unless, you don't mind to choose which WIFI to connect when you move around within the house, then can on WIFI on AC1900.

2-NODE Airties should be sufficient to cover any HDB flats. Unless it is landed with multiple storeys.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[renfred89]

Your post is misleading. Managed switches are harder to setup and has various other settings that do not support plug and play. More complications set in when the switch has built in dhcp server, let alone talking about layer 2 layer 3. So when people saw your post and got a smart switch, they will have a headache configuring it.

Wifi mesh does not repeat WiFi as per repeater algorithm.. So technically it's not a repeater.

Hi Kgfamm,

mesh will work even if it is connected to managed or unmanaged switch. Switch does not matter. However, Singtel tech support will not support your switch. if you report a problem and say you have a switch, then you have to remove the switch from the equation and if it still have issue, then singtel will take a look. As switch is third party, but right, no issue but for simplicity of support, Singtel does not support.

Even SingtelTV can work from connecting to switch to the AC1900. Switch does not issue IP addresses. IP addresses issuance is done by router with DCHP server configured.

Like for Airties, it does not even assign IP address. It is intelligent WIFI repeater (wireless backhaul and ethernet backhaul).

I found ethernet backhaul not stable, and reverted back to wireless backhaul. What a disappointment. Unless got newer firmware, then I will try again.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[lallang67]

for the 2 node, even the master bedroom is 5 meter away with closed door can work ?

Hi Renfred,

2-NODE Airties should be sufficient to cover any HDB flats. Unless it is landed with multiple storeys.

 

[renfred89]

Hard to say. Your door and my door maybe different grade.. Lol.

But for any WiFi, the moment you close your door, your 5Ghz coverage will be greatly reduced.. In such situation, ethernet backhaul is recommended.

I'm using a mode on velop as ethernet back haul although there's a wall in between.. I guess that's the only way to maintain good WiFi speed without environmental degradation..

for the 2 node, even the master bedroom is 5 meter away with closed door can work ?

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

Your post is misleading. Managed switches are harder to setup and has various other settings that do not support plug and play. More complications set in when the switch has built in dhcp server, let alone talking about layer 2 layer 3. So when people saw your post and got a smart switch, they will have a headache configuring it.

Wifi mesh does not repeat WiFi as per repeater algorithm.. So technically it's not a repeater.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

Hi Renfred89,

Managed switch is plug and play just like unmanaged switch if one does not set anything. hence it is not misleading. I have not come across managed switch that has built in dhcp server. Of course, I am not suggesting business high end switch for home use. But just take TPLINK home consumer switch, there are unmanaged and managed switch which different by $10.

The managed switch has more functionalities to configure, if desired. Otherwise, it can work as if it is plug and play like unmanaged switch.

Yes, MESH is not repeater. In its website, it is said Premium Wireless AP/Extender. Definitely when I use repeater, I use it loosely. I called intelligent repeater.

 

[johnnytanhardwarezone]

for the 2 node, even the master bedroom is 5 meter away with closed door can work ?

Should be able, as Airties support both wireless and ethernet backhaul.

In the Airties, it is dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz). If you are on wireless backhaul, you can see the LED light. If it turns red, means cannot get connected between the 2 NODE, either 2.4GHz and/or 5GHz.

For me, I am using wireless backhaul (now as ethernet backhaul proved to be unstable for my case), between my 1st node and 2nd node, it is more than 5 meters, with 2 partition walls. Still able to connect without issue.

So door, should not matter, as door does not totally seal up. Hence, I am in view that 5 meters, with doors, should be okay for 2.4GHz. While for 5GHz, it is a question mark.

However, in any case, you can use ethernet backhaul between 2 nodes of Airties.

Cheers.

 

[lallang67]

ok, thanks.

Should be able, as Airties support both wireless and ethernet backhaul.

In the Airties, it is dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz). If you are on wireless backhaul, you can see the LED light. If it turns red, means cannot get connected between the 2 NODE, either 2.4GHz and/or 5GHz.

For me, I am using wireless backhaul (now as ethernet backhaul proved to be unstable for my case), between my 1st node and 2nd node, it is more than 5 meters, with 2 partition walls. Still able to connect without issue.

So door, should not matter, as door does not totally seal up. Hence, I am in view that 5 meters, with doors, should be okay for 2.4GHz. While for 5GHz, it is a question mark.

However, in any case, you can use ethernet backhaul between 2 nodes of Airties.

Cheers.

 

[kgfamm]

Hi,

I've a question on wireless settings for mesh and I hope the experts could assist to enlighten..

All my 4 nodes are set on "auto" for the wireless channels (for both 2.4 and 5Ghz) and I could see that all of the nodes apparently broadcast on different channels between 1 and 13 for 2.4 Ghz - overlapping with some of the busier ones.

If I were to set the wireless channel manually, do I set all of them to the same channel, e.g. Channel 1 for all of them, and likewise for the 5Ghz (e.g Channel 157).

Or is it better to let the nodes operate on "auto" mode?

Thank you!

 

[renfred89]

Hi,

I've a question on wireless settings for mesh and I hope the experts could assist to enlighten..

All my 4 nodes are set on "auto" for the wireless channels (for both 2.4 and 5Ghz) and I could see that all of the nodes apparently broadcast on different channels between 1 and 13 for 2.4 Ghz - overlapping with some of the busier ones.

If I were to set the wireless channel manually, do I set all of them to the same channel, e.g. Channel 1 for all of them, and likewise for the 5Ghz (e.g Channel 157).

Or is it better to let the nodes operate on "auto" mode?

Thank you!

I myself do not set to auto mode because of one reason, i know my neighbours will turn off their equipments at night. By fixing your channels, those who turn their equipments off at night will likely not to occupy your channel when they turn it on in the morning. Whereas if you put it in auto mode, your mesh will attempt to scan the surrounding often and you run the risk of it selecting a busy channel out of the better ones.

Moreover, a change in channel is often only possible when no device is connected to the mesh, or else there will be a drop in connectivity.

Whether you should put the same channel for the nodes, it is unnecessary. You just need to scan the environment closest to the node when you fix a channel, because its all that matters. You can't control the activity of other channels away from the node anyway..

 

[kgfamm]

I myself do not set to auto mode because of one reason, i know my neighbours will turn off their equipments at night. By fixing your channels, those who turn their equipments off at night will likely not to occupy your channel when they turn it on in the morning. Whereas if you put it in auto mode, your mesh will attempt to scan the surrounding often and you run the risk of it selecting a busy channel out of the better ones.

Moreover, a change in channel is often only possible when no device is connected to the mesh, or else there will be a drop in connectivity.

Whether you should put the same channel for the nodes, it is unnecessary. You just need to scan the environment closest to the node when you fix a channel, because its all that matters. You can't control the activity of other channels away from the node anyway..

Thanks, renfred89 for taking time to reply.

I've certainly learnt something new.

 

[kgfamm]

Hi Renfren89,

I am only using ONR in my set up i.e. Wifi mesh, SingTel TV, wired PCs (via switch) are connected directly to the ONR. The ST AC1900 router is omitted. This setup is perhaps more direct as there is one lesser hardware to connect.

But from the viewpoints of security and even network management, is connecting a AC router to the ONR (then to the various devices) a better option?

Thank you, appreciate your views.

 

[kgfamm]

Hi Renfren89,

I am only using ONR in my set up i.e. Wifi mesh, SingTel TV, wired PCs (via switch) are connected directly to the ONR. The ST AC1900 router is omitted. This setup is perhaps more direct as there is one lesser hardware to connect.

But from the viewpoints of security and even network management, is connecting a AC router to the ONR (then to the various devices) a better option?

Thank you, appreciate your views.

Hi,

Any views/ suggestions from renfred89 and experts, please.
Thanks..

 

[renfred89]

There is little benefit to connect an AC router to an ONR. Reason being, you can't have 2 routers in a network, or else you'll have conflict. You can still have as many routers as you want in a network by bridging them into different ip segments but these devices connected to the routers will not be visible to devices connected to another. It will be a complicated set up process and I really urge you to reconsider if u r looking at it.

WiFi mesh is more than enough actually. Otherwise, u can still spend a bomb on a wireless AC router but set to be an access point in reality..

Hi Renfren89,

I am only using ONR in my set up i.e. Wifi mesh, SingTel TV, wired PCs (via switch) are connected directly to the ONR. The ST AC1900 router is omitted. This setup is perhaps more direct as there is one lesser hardware to connect.

But from the viewpoints of security and even network management, is connecting a AC router to the ONR (then to the various devices) a better option?

Thank you, appreciate your views.

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

 

[kgfamm]

There is little benefit to connect an AC router to an ONR. Reason being, you can't have 2 routers in a network, or else you'll have conflict. You can still have as many routers as you want in a network by bridging them into different ip segments but these devices connected to the routers will not be visible to devices connected to another. It will be a complicated set up process and I really urge you to reconsider if u r looking at it.

WiFi mesh is more than enough actually. Otherwise, u can still spend a bomb on a wireless AC router but set to be an access point in reality..

Samsung Galaxy S8+ HardwareZone Forums app

Hi renfred89,

Yes, you are right about the outcome when a 3rd party router (I've an Asus 68) is added to the ONR i.e. different IPs and the "invisible" devices etc. Yup, kinda messy..

Thank you for sharing your views

 

[TheV]

Hi Singtel,

I have the current setup.

The red box indicates the location of ONT and Singtel 7003 router.

The blue box indicates the location of my work PC, and mio TV.

Currently using TP link home plug -> TP link wireless router (AP) in blue box. Getting 10mbps up/down wired or wireless in bedrooms. MioTV works well though.

Wanted to improve the wired/wireless signal. Does a pair of Singtel mesh works?