I’m planning to buy hAP lite for home use with up to 75M internet speed, but I’m worried about its wireless performance as many people complained about it.
Wireless coverage radius is about 5-10 meters in all directions, not really LOS as it needs to cover a living room and 2 neighbouring bedrooms (the router is placed in the middle of the living room). There will be about 3-5 active devices (phones/laptops) and some low-bandwidth IoT devices connected to Wi-Fi.
Is the hAP lite enough for this, or should I buy another non-Mikrotik AP as a slave to the hAP lite? Please note that my budget is limited, so I really need the best price-to-performance ratio.
Thanks in advance.
PS. Reasons I’m going to use Mikrotik is because I need its bandwidth management, VPN, and the new DoH feature.
According to specs at https://mikrotik.com/product/RB941-2nD it has wireless 2.4 GHz max data rate 300 Mbit/s.
But the 4 Ethernet ports are 100 Mbit/s.
So 75 Mbit/s should be possible with it.
Hap lite TC is what you want to consider (the tower build has even better range than the classic hap lite.
Its a 2x2 2.4Ghz Wifi device. Its Wifi range is as GREAT!
I used it for long time in my house and now it sits in my father place (he has serious concrete walls in his house…)
By the way Mirkotik always makes only 2x2 2.4Ghz Wifi as that is really all you need in 2.4Ghz.
If you want a cheap solution and 2.4G Wifi this device is really perfect!
The processor is not the strongest, but if you use it as an AP /switch it will do its work.
I would give it a go, at ~20$ you will not loose any money …
PS: The power consumption is also ridiculously low. I think 2 to 4 Watt or so. You can power it from a classic phone USB charger!
I do have hAP Lite and mAP Lite (Not the hAP Lite TC , but the specs are the same.)
In the last 6 months the SMIPS based device with limited storage becomes a problem with the newest ROS updates. You can see in the forum about special steps to get it upgraded.
It is performing well, no problems at all, but in my setup, I will not upgrade any more. (It’s at 6.44.5, might upgrade till 6.45.6) I Use it for management only (VPN server) but it serves well for Internet access if used for that.
Depending on where the installation is, and other RF transmitters in the neighborhood 2.4 GHz will not be a problem. But it is a risk for the future.
Read the marketing specs carefully and understand what they mean.
300 MHz on 2.4 GHz is the interface data rate only realized with very good signal quality, no interference, no bit-errors, and 2X2 stream capable clients, and 40 MHz bandwidth, and short guard interval.
40 MHz bandwidth on 2.4 GHz is 60% of the total bandwidth. So there can be only 1 in the neighborhood. The rest must be 20 MHz on the other part of the spectrum. Data data rate (or net data rate) is 50-60% of the interface data rate (~150 Mbps) and is half duplex. (802.11 overhead is indeed huge)
Realistic numbers are 72 Mbps MAX net data rate in ideal conditions (802.11n_20MHz/2S/MCS7/SGI) in one direction. and 30 Mbps if bidirectional, as 40 MHz bandwidth is plagued by interference.
I also have hAP ac Lite, and hAP ac2 which do not have those limitations mentioned.
Advising purchase is tricky, it’s very personal. But the later 2 are more future proof than the first 2. They are more expensive though.
I red a lot complaints about Mikrotik’s low Wifi coverage, that’s why I got 3 RB952Ui-5ac2nD (HAP AC lite) to cover 3 separate apartments, 50 m2 each.
HAP AC lite works on both 2.4 GHz an 5 GHz, if your concrete walls interfere with 5 GHz link, 2.4 will go through them without a problem.
From my experience and practical usage of Mikrotik equipment I noticed Mikrotiks with internal antennas should be positioned vertically to cover the space where they are installed.
=From my experience and practical usage of Mikrotik equipment I noticed Mikrotiks with internal antennas should be positioned vertically to cover the space where they are installed.
→ That is the raison Mikrotik made the TC, the Tower case for the hap lite… it has even better coverage than the “flat” units.
Indeed you can go for “future proof” device with hap-ac2 but its $60 while the hap lite sells at $20
If the OP has not identified the need for 5Ghz Wifi, the hap lite TC is the best for a simple installation.
PS: Even some of the new ARM based products do have VERY limited FLASH memory and upgrade problems!
It is not a question of SMIPS versus ARM but purely FLASH size… I had to net install the ARM based WAP-R ac for that reason a week ago…
Is it possible to use the classic hAP lite and position it vertically (or mount it on a wall) to improve its wireless range? IMHO the hAP lite TC’s design doesn’t blend with other furniture in my house somehow.
For now 2.4GHz is enough for me, as not all devices in my household supports 5GHz wifi. Also, 2.4G frequency isn’t crowded here - currently my neighbour’s wifi don’t interfere with mine.
“Mounting
The device is designed to be used indoors and placed on a flat surface with all needed cables connecting to the front of the unit.
Alternatively, unit can be mounted on the wall, mounting points are located on the bottom side of the device, screws are not included in the package. Screws with size 4x25 mm fit nicely, depending on your wall structure you can use dowels 6x30 mm and 6 mm drill bit if needed.”