AP location distance - Ubiquiti UAP-AC-Pro - 1:1 devices

[jblackburnHWGA]

We've recently moved to 1:1 computing with our KS3 students having ipads and our KS4 and ks5 students using Chromebooks. We could potentially have 1000 devices all running at once on the site. I want to try and make what we currently have in place gives the best it can. I have a few spare APs and can easily buy some more and stick up quite quickly.

 

This will be the first time i have them all back in the school after lockdown. So I want to spend the next 3 weeks monitoring performance so I can add in improvements at Easter.

 

There is 100% coverage in all classrooms but there are classrooms with low signal. I know throwing in APs here and there won't help but can someone offer some guidance on a good strategy to take for placing them?

Some dividing walls are brink/concreate and some are just stud walls, depends on the room.

 

Looking to the future do you think the APs we're using will provide what we need or are we well under powered for what we're trying to achieve. If yes can recommendations or pointers from those that are already here would be great

 

We currently have this AP UAP-AC-Pro which is 450mbps 2.4ghz and 1300mbps at 5ghz

They do a UAP-AC-HD thats 800 at 2.4 and 1733 at 5. Its also twice the price.

 

[Net-Ctrl]

As a general rule of thumb, you want your APs where your users are - so in the classroom rather than corridors. If in corridors, you're wasting your strongest signal in a place of low density. Another consideration is density - whereas you may have signal - you now need to plan for density especially with a new 1:1 scheme. Typically Ubiq installs go with an AP per room which should cover you nicely. You then may need to review your power settings etc to ensure you're not creating too much noise.

 

Good opportunity over the next few weeks to hear where your complaints are coming from and then concentrate in those areas first. I'm sure your users will be let you know of any issues

[Jcx500]

We tend the put ours in every other classroom, most of our staff / students are on a wired connection still

[Guest Guest]

We tend the put ours in every other classroom, most of our staff / students are on a wired connection still

We do the same, over 32 APs we don't have more than 80 devices online at any given time though

[jblackburnHWGA]

I think its a try and see thing then. We have some at the edge of the rooms which is odd. I didn't put these up. I will move these to the centre of to above where the student will be.

I'll go for one a classroom and see how they hand a class of users. I think i only need about 8 to achieve one per classroom.