2 different wifi network how to replace?

[nicholab]

Hi the site I work out has a Netgear 50 AP and a Meraki 6 AP network to provide wireless. The Meraki was put in during a leave of absence for Wireless in the new build which I had planned to get Unifi installed. I am now thinking about this year and I trying to make a decision with the consultant pushing for Meraki. I think it is best to go for Unifi as it gives us a change of deploying a whole site solutions of new technology. He is suggesting that we restrict ourselves with 4 SSID we are using 2 at the moment. And suggest we go with Meraki in a peace-meal way as we can get them with 10 year cover. It cost us £4K inc VAT for 6 AP that to me is stupid money.

 

What would people here do?

[XiJ]

Personally I’d go unifi all the way. The Meraki web management was nice - but unless you have some specific need of specific features, Unifi is the best value for money IMO.

[Sibrows]

We’re replacing all of our Meru wireless APs over the summer with UniFi AC Pros. Following on from a successful trial in our new block.

 

Very cost effective thus far we’ve been very pleased with them.

[XiJ]

We have about 30 school primary sites with unifi (and a cloud controller we run). Never had any issues.

 

In fact just recently we had a fibre connection fail between buildings. Managed to get a wireless link between two AP’s to limp along for a short period. It wasn’t quick but it worked!

[msi_school]

I use Unifi in a business I support with no problems, but if it goes wrong you are a bit in the wind for support. I would try to keep the SSID number lower than four though, you will be effectively quartering your band width.

[nicholab]

Can you do captive portal as well on the Unifi or would you be doing on the Firewall we have a PaloAlto

[atcoates]

I use Unifi in a business I support with no problems, but if it goes wrong you are a bit in the wind for support. I would try to keep the SSID number lower than four though, you will be effectively quartering your band width.

We have Meraki and just restrict the bandwidth on less important SSID's so we can control the bandwidth how we see fit. I do a similar thing to my children's wi-fi at home, how they love me ;-)

[msi_school]

The problem is not the user bandwidth demand on each SSID this would be the same for a given number of users for any number SSIDS. It is the overhead for each SSID there is a quick description here and a nice calculator linked form that article here

[atcoates]

The problem is not the user bandwidth demand on each SSID this would be the same for a given number of users for any number SSIDS. It is the overhead for each SSID there is a quick description here and a nice calculator linked form that article here

Meraki recommends no more than 3 SSIDs and we try to keep all other SSID's limited to just the location they are needed and on schedules so only broadcast on certain days and times etc. It's difficult trying to balance the needs of the schools.

 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/WiFi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Multi-SSID_Deployment_Considerations

[msi_school]

Meraki recommends no more than 3 SSIDs and we try to keep all other SSID's limited to just the location they are needed and on schedules so only broadcast on certain days and times etc. It's difficult trying to balance the needs of the schools.

 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/WiFi_Basics_and_Best_Practices/Multi-SSID_Deployment_Considerations

 

I think we are agreeing with each other, I meant to say keep your SSIDs per AP to less than four due to overhead.

[Jcx500]

i use unifi with 3 ssid's and vlans works without any trouble