it's not so much about the 1 SSID vs many SSID.
it just so happened that when i was using Maxis' mesh LG8245X6-10, which is capable of creating multiple SSID, the issue almost disappeared - ALMOST - when i divide into 20-odd per SSID on same mesh network.

i would attribute the problem to these:-
- consumer wifi devices are only capable of handling limited number of concurrent clients. processors just fast enough to turn around a limited number of clients, not to mention having to fight for limited aurtime slot against other APs in hostile vicinity.

- IoT devices are still on the 802.11bg protocol, so they can't benefit from newer, efficient time-sharing protocol.

- IoT don't transmit huge packet, and most of the time idling and sleeping to conserve batteries and what not; probably can't wake up soon enough for their allted transmission slot.

- the flapping issue becomes prevalent if a network has been left running too long, that eventually even my static IP reserved for CCTVs and anything will become not responding. this is educated guess:- when IoT devices reconnect, they'll request new dhcp address, not reuse what was previously already assigned, and my dhcp server kindly and foolishly dish a new address. so to make sure there is always an address available, i shortened my dhcp lease time to 2hrs, which helped to further mitigate the issue.

That needs you to carry devices or those smart watches which i don’t and not really suitable for older folks.

add-on practice note:
- need to add local Omada controller if you need clients to roam seamlessly without drop between APs

- you can create wireless profile and create many SSID inside each profile,
THEN, assign the profile to 1 or more APs.
You can create multiple profiles, to assign to different devices.
using this, i create "LIVING ROOM" profile assigned to AP in front of house (containing SSID for front AutomationX IoT and for interactive devices) and "KITCHEN" profile assigned to AP in kitchen (SSID for rear AutomationY IoT and for interactive devices).
Thus interactive devices can roam anywhere, but front IoT devices sticky to front AP, and rear IoT device sticky to rear AP.
No more "this device signal is weak" in SmartLife.

yea tat makes sense, my dhcp lease is 1 hr, for me some devices may come back online after 1 hr, then disappear again. sometimes whole day disappear. lol

2 options for u
1. use 2 AP or more.
2. buy second hand enterprise grade AP, no need new coz most IoT only support legacy wireless and wireless N sajer.
low end enterprise grade can support 256 devices.
i tried expensive tp link router rated i think 300 devices, but in real life only 100 sajer. so dont waste money.

disclaimer: i use 2 ap, 1 highend asus and second one enterprise grade.

TP-Link Deco: "we can handle 200+ devices"

reality: 4-members mesh cannot deal with 70-odd devices.

no more Deco for me.

It seems the zytel can convert the extra guest network to normal network, which then allow the IOT 2.4g ssid communicate with devices 2.4g ssid where the appletv resides.
let’s see these few days how it perform, as long as it doesn’t show no respond I’m ok as my setup is more on automation, as long IOT online then it will work on its own.

In fact, you can get the Enterprise feature with a consumer router by flashing the factory firmware to 3rd party firmware, such as OpenWRT.

Not all routers support OpenWRT, but you can check from this link: https://openwrt.org/toh/start

Currently I am using 2x Xiaomi Redmi Router AC2100 (6x antenna; 2x CPU core, 128MB RAM, 128MB Flash), with each router costing less than RM140 (after discount) and configured to mesh setup.

With OpenWRT, you have total control of your router, including regular security updates, feature add-ons/customizations, etc.

This post has been edited by eagle7: Sep 11 2024, 11:00 PM

I'm huge fans of openwrt, dd wrt and tomato... and flash alot wrt54g.
super stable during torrents era.
now I'm using asus original firmware, no need flash coz it was based on merlin.

my personal experience... when connect to too many devices it still not stable.
I suspect it is hardware issue.
just my 2cents

You should start using enterprise/small business AP once you have many clients.
Unifi, Omada etc

So meaning to say, layman's terms

If I have let's say 40 devices, including a dozen CCTV.
All having good signal coverage.

Creating a mesh will not help at all in improving the device stability. Right?

Or, is it better to doing it as an access point rather than Mesh. Mainly to stability.

I'm asking cos about to buy a same router (used) and the one that came with the Unifi package (X3060Z)

Or better to buy an old router like Tenda AC18 (AC2100) that is able to connect to 50 devices and create it as an Access Point

Thanks in advance

All wifi CCTV? Damn

Maybe create a SSID with just 2.4GHz for the CCTV put it on different channel. Other devices connect to a new SSID with both 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

mistake
#1 cctv using wifi, a dozen of it will make u cry.
get PoE camera + PoE switch (2 units), learn to calculate the watt first

#2 IoT not friendly with mesh wifi.
lay cat6 cable for secondary ap, it is cheap

no comment on dlink nor tenda, u can try.
but u might want to upgrade later

Me too from Tomato -> Gargoyle -> dd-wrt -> OpenWRT

Check on my OpenWRT; currently there are around 60 devices connected (e.g., CCTV, IOT, laptops, smartphones, smartTV, tablets, printers, AC, auto-gate, wall plug, wall switch, alarm system, RF bridge, etc.). From the layman's eye, we see there are 60 devices connected to the WiFi router, but within these connections, my router reports there are more than 600 active connection sessions or currently served (e.g., your smartphone/laptop is constantly running background connections to its service provider, e.g., WhatsApp, WeChat, news notifications, etc.; this is one device with multiple connections, which is normal).

In order for the router to serve all these connections, the router needs a lot of memory; thus, choosing a router with a lot of memory is important.

https://blog.flashrouters.com/2012/05/21/mo...ve%20throughput.

Possible to suggest any Unifi or Omada AP model and budget friendly? Is it just plug and play, or need some configuration?

Mesh is mean to serve blind spot location, if you don't have blind spot, then no need to setup mesh network.

However, no harm to get a Wi-Fi router that is ready to serve this kind of situation.

Just want to share this link where it test your connection's packetloss.

https://packetlosstest.com/

From the Test setting, select preset approximation to default; select Singapore server and start the test.

If you have Zero packet loss, that is good otherwise you have reason to upgrade

I can only talk from OpenWRT perspective, if I switch the WIFI channel for SSID 1 to Ch1 (e.g. 2.4GHz), all the SSID originated from the same router (2.4GHz) will follow and changed to Ch1. You cannot have multiple channels within the same WIFI AP.

My experience is access point won't work. I used to use tenda ac18 as second access point while the main router is the unifi free router, it kept disconnect because the "routing and dchp" work is being done by the unifi lousy free router instead of the higher spec tenda ac18, once I change the main router to tenda ac18, it fixed the problem and no disconnect anymore. But what model to choose of course depends on your budget la, if u got money everything can settle, can even ask technician come install for you.

I’ve always wanted to get a good router setup. But funny thing is i just used the default Huawei Mesh from Maxis. I’ve got total of 5 actually, all in a mesh setup, 5ghz and 2.4ghz. The channels are automatically chosen by the mesh wifi main router.

All Wifi IOT devices , like CCTVs, smart plugs, smart hubs and etc are all connected to the 2.4GHz band. they choose whichever mesh they decide to connect to.
I’ve got around 13 wifi cctvs.
the rest are IOT devices like like smart plugs, robot vacuums, smart relays, smart fans, airconditioners and etc.

Only my smart TV, our smart phones, computers and tablets connect to the 5ghz band.

Devices connected to LAN - XVR/DVR, some cctvs, raspberry Pi, smart TV, some smart hubs.

I only need to reboot the router once in a few months, when there is a decipherable slow-down.

For an ISP provided router and mesh system, i think it works pretty well. Only if it dies or we move to wifi 7 or 8 or etc, ill consider getting an enterprise solution

I just got my new Xiaomi Router AX3000T with the intention to flash it to OpenWRT. 

Anyone interested in upgrading their existing ISP's WiFi router can consider this product given factory preloaded Unify and Maxis profiles, and you just need to key in your account ID and password. 


You can monitor the router from the Xiaomi app. 

Can setup Mesh network easily using similar Xiaomi Mesh Wi-Fi Router. 

It cost less than RM140 after discount (from occasionally/monthly Shopee discount).

Remember to buy the Malaysia version (Global version) and not the Chinese version.

Got quick guide how to setup the mesh?
I tried setting up with a linksys (forgot model name) and xiaomi router (also running openwrt) but still no internet access

The Xiaomi Mesh network setup is mean for pairing with their own family of Xiaomi Mesh product and not 3rd party brand. From the user manual, you can either pair them using the Xiaomi App or by pressing the Mesh button.

If you want to setup the mesh network between your linksys and xiaomi router, both must be running on OpenWRT firmware.

1. SSH/Putty to your Linksys and Xiaomi router and run iw list | grep "Supported interface modes" -A 9
2. Ensure Mesh Point is listed else your HW does not support the Mesh setup.
3. Follow this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw8ykKgVKbM or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVoZppb_FR0&t=12s

Followed the same tutorial before this but it just wasn’t working for me. I’ll need to revisit this again