Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245

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Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245

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Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245
Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245
2019-12-30 03:22:07 - last edited 2019-12-31 01:36:57
Model: EAP245  
Hardware Version: V3
Firmware Version: EAP245(EU)_V3_190731

We have an existing Wifi network design with Hub-spoke Model with PoE Switch as Hub, and EAP225 as spoke and a cat6 cable conecting the hub and spoke. 

 

But now, we are try to cover a building with Wifi where cabling looks unfeasible. Their are cat6 cables laid by the property developer, but 80% are damaged and repairing/replacing them does not look feasible as they are laid in conduits inside brick walls and large number of 90 degree bends (electrical cabling contractor did not probably understand the difference in eernet cabling and AC cabling). Effectively not there. We maybe able to some repair jobs by putting pressure on the builder,  and get the ratio of working cables to about 50%, but not more. 

 

So current design thought was if we can extend coverage in this building by

 

(1) Using more capable AP (from the specs) like EAP245 (more users, extra ethernet Bridge port). To the bridge port, we connect a downsteam EAP245/225

(2) Using Mesh to augment the spoke. That mean spoke AP now become Mesh root AP and we have 1-2 further levels of mesh links. We can manage power supply at all places.

 

My questions therefore:

 

(a) Are (1) and (2) right way of attempting to resolve this issue ? Any other solution ?

(b) For (1) How many downstream APs we can chain ? Our switches powering first AP will support 802.3at.

(c) For (2), what is the expected impact on client performance and capacity (simulatneous users) when MESH is enabled for both EAP225 & EAP245 ? As mesh AP will use wifi for backhaul, the chipset will have to work extra for this backhaul and their should be some impact. 

(d) Are their any plans for an EAP model supporting 802.11ax in 3-6 months ? Our thinking is EAP 802.11ax gear will have stronger chipset & memory, should give more backhaul throughput and possibly even support more users (which is our need in this building)

 

 

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Re:Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245-Solution
2019-12-31 00:54:06 - last edited 2019-12-31 01:36:57

@APRC-P3-Tel

From you description, most of the cables are damaged. In this situation, you can use the mesh to deploy the network. About the mesh feature, we have a faq, you can refer it. 

 

The Mesh network is mainly designed to simplify EAP deployment and extend the coverage, but not aim to expand the wireless client capacity. So the capacity here is for the whole Mesh network including Root AP and all Mesh APs together rather than for one single Mesh AP. So if you need to provide Wi-Fi coverage for high user density environment, please use wired deployment plan.

 

For now, EAP245 v3.0 doesn't support mesh. If you want to use the mesh feature, you can use EAP225 v3.0. 

For the 802.11ax products, yes we are designing it and itshould be available next year. 

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Re:Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245-Solution
2019-12-31 00:54:06 - last edited 2019-12-31 01:36:57

@APRC-P3-Tel

From you description, most of the cables are damaged. In this situation, you can use the mesh to deploy the network. About the mesh feature, we have a faq, you can refer it. 

 

The Mesh network is mainly designed to simplify EAP deployment and extend the coverage, but not aim to expand the wireless client capacity. So the capacity here is for the whole Mesh network including Root AP and all Mesh APs together rather than for one single Mesh AP. So if you need to provide Wi-Fi coverage for high user density environment, please use wired deployment plan.

 

For now, EAP245 v3.0 doesn't support mesh. If you want to use the mesh feature, you can use EAP225 v3.0. 

For the 802.11ax products, yes we are designing it and itshould be available next year. 

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Re:Usage of Mesh and Bridge AP with EAP 245
2019-12-31 01:49:53 - last edited 2020-01-01 19:02:23

@forrest 

forrest wrote

@APRC-P3-Tel

From you description, most of the cables are damaged. In this situation, you can use the mesh to deploy the network. About the mesh feature, we have a faq, you can refer it. 

 

The Mesh network is mainly designed to simplify EAP deployment and extend the coverage, but not aim to expand the wireless client capacity. So the capacity here is for the whole Mesh network including Root AP and all Mesh APs together rather than for one single Mesh AP. So if you need to provide Wi-Fi coverage for high user density environment, please use wired deployment plan.

 

For now, EAP245 v3.0 doesn't support mesh. If you want to use the mesh feature, you can use EAP225 v3.0. 

For the 802.11ax products, yes we are designing it and itshould be available next year. 

 

So the situation boils down at present to is:

(1) EAP225 V3 - Wifi Mesh but no Wired Bridging

(2) EAP245 v3 - Wired Bridging but no Wifi Mesh

 

Generally , the way we were thinking, we would to use, based on your suggestion, either (2)  in 1-hop Chain Wired-Bridge topology or (1) in 1-hop STAR Wireless Mesh topology.  I get the point that mesh is not the capacity expansion solution but coverage expansion one, but can a wired bridge be used to expand both ? Atleast for 1-hop chain ? and how many we can chain in wired Bridge ?

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