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Access Point Placement

Where an access point goes matters as much as which access point it is. This page covers how PCW decides where to put APs — the difference between a hub and a node, and what to consider when a node meshes wirelessly rather than being wired in.

Hubs and nodes

Mesh nodes are installations where we do not use a Litebeam, but instead set up a wireless access point that meshes from a nearby access point wired to a router and Litebeam at a local hub.

Whether a site can be a hub is decided during the building assessment — a hub needs line-of-sight to a PhillyWisper high site. A node does not, but it does need a good wireless link back to a hub, which is what the rest of this page is about.

Considerations when installing a mesh node

Ubiquiti's Considerations for Optimal Wireless Mesh Networks is the reference we work from. The points that come up most often on PCW installs:

  • Mesh networks should be supplemental - Although mesh networks can operate comparably to a hard-wired network, connection quality and speed can be greatly affected by radiofrequency (RF) noise and obstructions between APs such as walls, trees, or other structures.
  • Mesh 'hops' should be minimized - A meshed AP should only have one 'parent' - each mesh 'hop', or mesh connection between APs, results in a significant performance decrease. Ideally, there should be a maximum of two 'hops' - e.g, a mesh AP meshes with another mesh AP, which then meshes to a hard-wired AP.
  • Limit concurrent connections to a 'parent' - Similarly, meshing too many APs to the same 'parent' creates additional RF noise and performance demands on the parent, resulting in decreased performance and stability.
  • Ensure strong signal strength between meshed APs - Ideally, a meshed AP will have clear line-of-sight (LoS) to its mesh parent. A signal strength of -60dbm is recommended for ideal performance. Ensure minimal obstructions between the meshed AP and the parent, such as walls, trees, furniture, etc.

Outdoor placement

Outdoor APs should be mounted where they are radio-visible to the mesh APs at the home installs in range, and high enough to clear whatever is around them. On solar nodes, that usually means the AP sits at the top of the mast with the panel and enclosure mounted below it.

For how to configure an AP once it is placed, see the Configure Unifi APs guide.