FWIW, I suggest using the following guidelines when choosing your next wireless network. Network configurations that are italicized are no longer recommended as they are based on Apple base stations, which as you know, Apple is no longer selling.
Wireless Data Throughput Performance "Best-to-Worst"
- A wireless network that uses an Ethernet backbone.
- This type of network requires Ethernet connectivity for each of the Wireless Access Points (WAP).
- A roaming network consisting of Apple and/or non-Apple WAPs.
- Types of networking hardware configurations:
- All Apple base stations in a roaming network configuration.
- All non-Apple WAPs in a roaming network configuration.
- Examples:
- Cisco Aeronet
- Ubiquiti Uni-Fi
- A combination of Apple and non-Apple WAPs.
- Alternatively, you could substitute Powerline adapters to create pseudo Ethernet connections using your home's electrical circuit.
- A wireless network that uses a dedicated wireless backhaul.
- This type of network does NOT require Ethernet connectivity.
- This is one type of a "mesh" network that utilizes a dedicated wireless radio to maintain the extended network.
- Examples:
- Asus HiveSpot
- Linksys Velop
- Netgear Orbi
- A wireless network that does not use a dedicated wireless backhaul.
- This type of network does NOT require Ethernet connectivity.
- This is the other type of "mesh" network. It does not utilize a dedicated wireless radio to maintain the extended network.
- Examples:
- Amazon Luma
- Asus HiveDot
- Eero
- Google WiFi
- Plume Adaptive WiFi
- Securifi Almond
- Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD
- A wireless network that utilize repeaters.
- This type of network does NOT require Ethernet connectivity.
- Types of hardware configurations:
- An extended network consisting of all Apple base stations.
- An extended network consisting of all non-Apple wireless routers and extenders.
