I was looking at the current Mikrotik routerboard lineup and am a bit confused on what to go for.
I am looking for what is essentially meant to be a powerful 2.4 and 5ghz router for a somewhat large-ish home, the materials of which don’t let wifi signals through very well.
I’m ok working with repeaters if I have to, but would rather explore single-device solutions first. Looking around, I find the following:
RBD52G-5HacD2HnD: This was recommended to me so I am inclined to go with it, but would love to hear thoughts.
RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT hAP AC: THis one seems a bit older, but in descriptions I’ve found says its a router, rather than an accessPoint. This matters in networking, not sure about Mikrotik as to my knowledge a routerOS-powered device can pretty much be both.
Audience: This seems like a good contender as well but might be overkill?
Would like to hear some opinions here If this is the wrong place to ask this question I’m sorry, feel free to move.
The drawback with super all-in-one devices is that they generally always a tradeoff. Maxed out 5Ghz performance will require almost free-line-of-sight
I have a similar same issue. L-shaped appartment in solid concrete. I have one 2.4G+5G and one 5G-only AP in the other corner. hEX in the middle somewhere where the incoming connection is.
Better to choose good looking APs (wAP, cAP, Ubuquti etc.) and have them placed at the right place.
RBD52G-5HacD2HnD (HAP AC2) is a good “all-around” router+AP but it isn’t the powerful AP of Mikrotik’s line.
You can start with a first device, but i suggest you to plan an upgrade with multiple AP.
With HAP AC2 you can manage several Wired AP (for example CAP AC, WAP AC). Capsman is very convenient for clients roaming. I have a long house (13 rooms with tick walls for about 130 sqm) a little warehouse (500 sqm) and a big garden (about 2000 sqm in total). For a good signal i had to install HAP AC2 plus 5 wired WAP AC. And in the garden’s corner i have only 2,4 Ghz coverage.
If you don’t want ethernet wires around the house you can take several Audience unit and try with the new “mesh” network (one of the two 5 Ghz network is used only for connect the Audience units together). In 5 Ghz you need a Audience unit every 1 (or max 2) walls for good performance.
If this is the wrong place to ask this question I’m sorry, feel free to move.