I have a mess I'm trying to clean up and would love some help please. Currently in use are a Starlink router in bypass mode with a hub and an old Ubiquity Unifi mesh router that's incompatible with OpenWrt. 5000 square feet of coverage needed. Price isn't nearly as important as function. More than willing to pay for quality and function, but don't want to throw money away. Have a 2.4 printer, but happy to ditch that if needed.
Will run VPN on the router. Wired and wireless connections.12 Ports on the switch/hub at a minimum. Very out of the loop on current offerings and my knowledge is fairly antiquated. Trying to get back up to speed. Also if I'm going to buy used equipment online are issues with that going to show up in the OpenWrt load or is looking in the case a good idea just in case someone might have included a gift? Thank you.
Roughly one router per 1000-2000sqft, ie at least 3 optimally positioned and wired up.
What internet connection technology you expect? Say for 2Gbps DOCSIS it would be better to have separate device fighting network latency and cheap(er) routers as extenders.
Basic setup (gigabit to end devices, all access points wired)
Flint 2 (gl.inet mt6000) for "first" device
Cudy WR3000? or GL-MT3000 for extenders.
All have spare ports to sum up for all devices, but otherwise any somewhat manageable 2.5Gbps switch will do
Also among planning - if you buy from same vendor and they allow for no-cloud local configuration of mixed mesh you can stay with that, though after 2-5yrs OpenWrt compatibility will become handy.
As a way of update I was able to install OpenWrt on a Unify 6+ without any issues other than the unfamiliarity with everything. I don't really know how the Unify was setup before, but guessing I can set this up as wireless with the Starlink in bypass until I move further. Seems like it could be bridged, but some device has to be doing the work. Thanks!
Using the OEM firmware on the switch is not an issue as far as privacy/control? I can't see any oem firmware becoming less invasive as time goes on. I would be like the chimpanzees in 2001 dancing around the monolith with a managed switch though, at least initially.
Definitely want to separate guest access and not have everything bleed over as it does now. Any favorites among your recommendations? Found the beginner's guide you wrote, very helpful.
Starlink router. Ubiquity Unify 6+. 8PGIGUN unmanaged switch. That's it for now. My plan is to run the Starllink in bypass (interesting that it took itself out of bypass mode when the 6+ was removed (thanks E). VPN and Adblock on the router or other device if needed and switch and a couple of access points. Just need to buy the switch, access points and router. Also will likely duplicate the router, switch and one access point to run on the side so I can learn/test on, get familiar without disrupting anything. Initially just want to reign everything in. VPN on the router, adblock, guest access separate and want to block all these appliances trying to phone home.
Also need to find a printer that doesn't harvest data, but likely have to buy an old one. My wife would never go for cabled printing so another research project.
don't connect the printer to the LAN ?
if it got USB port or LPT port, hook it up to a used print server (again, ebay) or router with USB port.
print via the print server/router instead of directly to the printer.