Hi @wuberton1982 

Thanks for posting in our business forum.

wuberton1982 wrote

  @Clive_A sorry for rambling on that post!

 

I use TP-link because I like the Omada SDN, but I messed up and have the wireless router AX3000 plus the EAPs. I figure I should turn off the wireless functionality on the AX3000 and use it as a regular router instead, but is there a better option? 

I had considered the Omada-ready routers with firewall built-in a year or so ago, but havent kept up with the latest and greatest so any suggestions are very helpful. 

I ran CAT6E to the (2) EAPs so the cable may be a limiting factor. Is there any reason to go with a super high-end wifi7 EAP or setup if my devices and cable arent able to utilize it? Or is that router more concerned with future-proofing?

 

Finally, should I scrap all thr tuya and esp32 devices and restart with TP-Link sensors, or is that unnecessary?

 

Thanks again!

Archer AX3000? Or Omada ER706W? AX3000 is not the model number. See the label of your device. It states the Model.

Turning off the wireless and making it a wired router, that's doable. Some people use it. It does not hurt anything.

Omada router vs Archer or other TP-Link series, they have different advantages. We are granular on the models for different usage. It depends on what spec you prefer or need.

I would personally not recommend WIFI 7 yet. Most products don't support 7 protocol unless you have phones, laptops, and stuffthat work with WIFI 7.

For me, I still use WIFI 6 and it's already enough for me. Streaming gears like VR might benefit from the high bandwidth of WIFI 7. It's up to you. WIFI 7 is overpriced now. For any new technology, they are overpriced.

And new stuff will experience bugs before it becomes stable.

ESP32 and other boards would be fine. As long as they are wireless. You can connect them to any network. If you are looking for the integration, get sensors from Tapo and manage most sensors and switches from the Tapo, that would be good.

As for me, I would consider a powerful router for the near-future upgrade as I like to play with new stuff. Once I have a decent router with features I need, I'll leave it alone. Stability and basic features are what I need. Most stuff like services, I host on the mini-server I built. So the router just plays its job to NAT.

If I have a dead spot for WIFI, I would add a regular AP that works with the current AP to form the mesh. Same gen would be fine. I am not a big fan of catching the latest WIFI protocols. They don't improve much, but the bandwidth. Hyped concept. What matters is the mesh and to cover the dead spot, get more APs instead of expecting one can cover all.

WIFI 4 was a beast for WIFI coverage, but it does not have a great bandwidth. I still use a WIFI 4 wireless router(in AP mode) to cover my IoT at home. It does great, and it can even get the signal for the wireless camera outside, which WIFI 5, 6 or 7 cannot even reach the same place at all.