Mikrotik Mesh Network: Reviews, Performance & Comparison to Other WiFi Solutions

Question

Hi, Do any of you have a mesh network created on Mikrotik devices? How does it work? However, is it better to go for a solution from other manufacturers, or simple single Wifi access points?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

For now, the MT representative officially on the forum claims that they are NOT going to - yes, I know, everyone is surprised - and they are not. Works so well, worth it. You can also remotely buy TP-Link MR4 as a natural person, test it and return it within 14 days if it does not meet your expectations. I don't like TP-Link either, but I believe my colleague @IC_Current and if he wrote elsewhere that the roaming test itself works well, it means that roaming works well in this model - and not at all in MT.

IC_Current · Accepted Answer

Yes. Except that you can set up to four BSSIDs per AP by default, e.g. for guests.

KOCUREK1970 · Answer

Mesh is nothing more than marketing gibberish of wifi amplifiers. That doesn't sell anymore, we had to come up with something new. Only a local AP, connected with a cable to the main router makes sense.

IC_Current · Answer

Mesh is a scam. How it is supposed to work, you install a local AP connected by a cable to a switch and router. I recommend, however, to look at the support of fast roaming protocols and not to put completely independent APs.

Anonymous · Answer

A colleague of the author will check what mesh is (even in Wikipedia) to know if it is what he expects (in my opinion, not). A friend is probably looking for several APs that will cover an area with a common range. I'm wrong?

Mikrotik does not have roaming. It is true that you can simulate roaming, but from a technical point of view it works differently. However, you also need to know that for roaming to work, the client must also support roaming, and this can be different. On Mikrotik, client switching between APs works well, but it is not roaming.

For the average "internet eater" Mikrotik is more difficult to configure than, for example, Ubiquiti and it is probably better to go in the direction of this brand, the more that Ubiquiti is roaming.

automatapl · Answer

I always put an AP connected with a wire to the router, regardless of whether it would be mesh or not. What hardware platform can you recommend - a mid-range one? A colleague has read, but there are few specific opinions about mesh in Mikrotik. There are several conflicting ones. Of course, I care about good coverage of the area and switching between points in the same ssid network. Yes, I know that the client makes the decision to switch. I use Mikrotik (router + AP) at home. I'm familiar with linux so it's easier. I am asking about mesh on Mikrotik before I buy an additional device for testing - if it is to lie later, I prefer to consult it first. Does this switching work well within one ssid?

IC_Current · Answer

UNIFI, TP-Link MR4 In fast roaming, the client communicates with the AP and receives information from them with the recommendation to change the AP. There is just like in any slightly more advanced AP the ability to set the minimum signal level. If it drops below, the AP will disconnect the client and it will search for available networks again and will usually connect to the one with better signal. There is no roaming as such.

Anonymous · Answer

Exactly. I did tests with MT. Switching in this way is so fast that sometimes (occasionally) it loses one ping, often it doesn't lose at all. However, in the case of streaming (voice, video) the connection is broken. So it is a cheaper alternative to Ubi but without roaming, although switching itself works quite efficiently. Most (all) video players buffer the image so it is unnoticeable for them but it might be noticeable for e.g. Skype. The question remains whether roaming is a requirement in the author's network - the lack of it does not bother me and in my MT-based network I do not notice any complications because of it. However, I am aware that this is not roaming and if I had, for example, portable VoIP, I would definitely feel it. Here you should add that this is your own experience and not hearsay opinion.

automatapl · Answer

I am currently looking for a new solution for my WIFI network, because during Voip calls and moving around the apartment there are interruptions in communication, which irritates me. Do you happen to know if Mikrotik intends to implement roaming at home? Damn..., the UBIQUITI solution will be at least 2x more expensive than Mikrotik. Does it actually work so well that it's worth the price?

m.jastrzebski · Answer

So you don't need mesh, only access points. Mesh is when APs talk to each other on the radio, and you obviously know it's a bad idea. Added after 6 [minutes]: I have 2x unifi AC lite in a two-story house. Turn on and forget. Just no problems with the WiFi. Previously, I had a single AC mikrotik, so I won't talk about switching, but it caused more problems: slow operation with Samsung phones, out of the box it didn't want to connect to any old iPhones (it was overcome). I am happy with the transfer. But be that as it may, the wired router remained mikrotika. Added after 1 [minutes]: Even if it implements, it will take 2 years until it is stable. That's the beauty of mikrotik.

IC_Current · Answer

For me, roaming does not lose a single packet on MR4. Selecting an AP with a better signal also works well. I tested it on Xiaomi phones and there was no problem with chat apps. It is necessary to enable fast roaming manually, as it is disabled by default. This is done by just enabling mesh services. The first time you turn on the AP, you need to select it to use a wired connection on the uplink by default. The downside of these APs is terribly poor configuration options, but at home you usually don't need more. As for the TP-Link itself, I have good experience with home devices, and with the business series - I tried it once and never again. But it's best to order it yourself remotely, protest and possibly return it within 14 days.

automatapl · Answer

Thanks for sharing your own experiences. Does unifi work with one ssid and one password? I want to be sure. Mikrotik disappoints me more and more often. At first glance, good hardware and comprehensive software, and then something obvious is always missing, or does not work as it should, or implementation takes years. A few months ago I was looking to see if they had already implemented wireguard support and from what I remember it wasn't rosy either.

m.jastrzebski · Answer

Even if you put any 2 APs of different companies, you can set them the same SSID and the same password. So in unifi of course too.

KOCUREK1970 · Answer

@automatapl If you think about Ubi equipment - the idea of joint management as an ecosystem: AP AC Lite, AC LR, and perhaps Ubi USG.

m.jastrzebski · Answer

Then the costs were rising and I sensed the author's reluctance to increase them.
Co-management makes more sense when you have hundreds of them in a company in different locations, with the same security policy, etc. Up to two APs per house plus a router, the ability to manage from one desktop in my opinion is practically no argument for incurring additional expenses. In home conditions, there is practically no work apart from the initial configuration. But that's my opinion, the author has to decide for himself.

automatapl · Answer

I don't want big expenses, I'm moving and I have to arrange the network from scratch. However, I don't want half-measures, so only then can I pay more. However, I agree with you - it doesn't need special features like managing just two APs - I'm not going to pay for that as I won't be using it. I knew via an additional Mikrotik from Wifi and set my network's ssid and password on it. The switching works, but when the AP is changed, the connection is dropped. As I understand, thanks to unifi, I will not feel it through the roaming function. How does Ubiquiti software update look like? I would not like to buy equipment for PLN 800-1000 and not have updates for it in 3 years.

m.jastrzebski · Answer

There is no one simple answer to this. There are several roaming protocols, they serve different purposes, and in order to take advantage of the benefits, the phone/computer must also support the protocols. So the newer the phone, the better it should be. But on older models, connection drops can happen. In addition, from what I associate, unifi boasts that it has its own solutions, not formally derived from these protocols, which are supposed to support shortening the client authorization process in the new AP, so even older client devices gain something then. You won't know until you test it on your client devices. If you want, I can test you, go with the phone from one AP to another, only you would have to define the test conditions. What type of connection are you interested in. He doesn't lose pings. But the ping is sent every second, so relatively long.

automatapl · Answer

How does Ubiquiti software update look like? I would not like to buy equipment for PLN 800-1000 and not have updates for it in 3 years.

m.jastrzebski · Answer

Good question. Unfortunately, I do not know the answer to how much the devices support on average.

chatman1 · Answer

I'll plug in. I have Ubi and I also recommend it, but for me it's a lightning expensive solution - I bought it used. I have 2xnanoHD + InWall (I chose this one, because I immediately have 2 RJ45 sockets at the desk for a printer and stationary). I only use 5GHz. Transmission power at a minimum and coverage throughout the apartment everywhere. 1 nanoHD works in wireless uplink. It's like a mesh. I'll run the cable next time. It works, but it is only suitable for browsing the pages, because the speed drops sharply. If I give the power to transmit the second nano to the max, it works anyway, but I would stay away from it (mesh) anyway.

automatapl · Answer

I was already wondering if such APs don't have too much power to place 2-3pcs. in an apartment of 60-80m2?

m.jastrzebski · Answer

I don't think so. Power can be reduced. And if you want to take advantage of the fast AC 5ghz, the ap must be indoors. Already behind a single wall, the phone connects to 2.4ghz or its speed drops to 5ghz. I personally reduced the power to 2.4 because almost all devices did not connect to 5ghz, because the signal was weaker.

automatapl · Answer

Is it possible to disable 2.4 and leave 5ghz with reduced power? Two or three such devices should cover my apartment - it's just a matter of their good location

IC_Current · Answer

You can easily disable 2.4GHz, but remember that not all clients have a 5GHz radio and then they will not connect. In addition, the 2.4GHz radio is also sometimes useful in phones and other small things due to lower power consumption.

m.jastrzebski · Answer

Of course you can turn it off. But IMHO a bit of a bad idea. There will always be an older device that does not support 5ghz. With 3 devices in the apartment and the right power setting on 2.4 and 5ghz, you will achieve high speed on 5ghz with backup on 2.4.

KOCUREK1970 · Answer

Check the product on their software page, starting with the date the sofa was released, and see if it still has the current software. In my opinion, you can safely count on an update period of at least 5 years, and who knows if not sometimes as long as they produce it. Such a company is not TPlink, where after 3 years they forget that they produced something like that at all.

automatapl · Answer

@IC_Current @m.jastrzebski @KOCUREK1970 @chatman1 Please give me your picks - which devices UniFi In-Wall AP and UniFi AP purchase for an apartment (60-80m2; 3 or 4 rooms) to have a balance between the possibilities and the cost of shopping. Internet access 1000/100 - the router is Mikrotik for now - I don't expect any changes here, or if I have time, I'll configure the gateway on openbsd.

KOCUREK1970 · Answer

That's exactly UBIQUITI UAP-AC-LITE and UBIQUITI UAP-AC-LONG RANGE. They need to be powered somehow, so additional expense for PoE power supply (it doesn't seem to be included with the AP), or some PoE switch.

automatapl · Answer

Won't this reduce transfer over utp 6a?

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