Wi-Fi Access Point Installation

Why Access Points Instead of Extenders

Wi-Fi extenders repeat the signal wirelessly — they introduce latency, halve throughput, and create a separate network the device must switch between. Access points are wired back to the router/switch and broadcast the same SSID as the main network — devices roam seamlessly and the AP operates at full speed.

For any property where reliable, whole-home Wi-Fi is the goal, a wired access point is always the right solution.

Systems Wilsons Installs

For most Wilsons jobs, TP-Link Omada is the first choice — good performance, strong controller features, and competitive cost.

Survey — Planning AP Placement

Coverage planning

• A single AP in a central ceiling location covers approximately 100–200m² in a typical residential property (varies with construction and interference)
• Thick masonry walls, concrete floors, and metal structures significantly reduce signal — plan for an AP on each floor and on each side of heavy walls
• For each AP location, there must be a Cat6 cable run back to the central switch/patch panel

AP locations — rules of thumb

• Ceiling-mounted (preferred): Centre of the area to be covered — provides 360° coverage downward. Typical mounting height: 2.4–3m.
• Wall-mounted: Where ceiling mounting is impractical — mount high on the wall (top third of wall height). Less effective than ceiling mount for large open areas.
• Outdoor APs: For garden or driveway coverage — must be rated for outdoor use (IP55 or better). Standard indoor APs must never be used outdoors.

Dead spots to plan for

• Garage (if detached — needs its own AP or outdoor unit)
• Garden / outbuildings
• Basement rooms
• Room behind thick internal chimney breast

Cabling Requirements

• Cable type: Cat6 U/UTP — see the Structured Cabling Guide
• Max run: 90m to leave headroom for patch leads (100m absolute maximum)
• Termination: T568B at both ends
• Power: PoE from the switch — no separate power supply needed at the AP location
• PoE standard: Check the AP's datasheet. Most ceiling APs require 802.3af (15.4W) or 802.3at (PoE+, 30W). Confirm the switch supports the required standard on the port being used.

Procedure

Step 1 — Run and terminate the cable

Run a Cat6 cable from the central switch/patch panel to the AP location. Terminate at the patch panel following T568B. Test the cable run before mounting the AP.

Step 2 — Prepare the ceiling/wall

Ceiling mount:

• Locate a joist or noggin to screw the mounting plate to, or use appropriate cavity fixings
• Feed the cable down through the ceiling where the AP will mount
• Use a surface pattress box if the cable enters from the surface rather than through the ceiling

Wall mount:

• Fix at a suitable height — the AP must have line-of-sight across the area it covers
• Use appropriate fixings for the wall type (plasterboard, masonry)

Step 3 — Connect the AP

1. Feed the Cat6 cable through the AP mounting plate / back plate
2. Terminate the cable to the AP's built-in RJ45 socket, or connect a short patch lead between the cable and the AP's port
3. Fix the AP body to the mounting plate
4. Connect the other end of the cable run to the PoE switch port at the patch panel

The AP will power up via PoE when the switch port is live.

Step 4 — Configure via controller

TP-Link Omada:

1. Install the Omada Controller app (on a PC, Mac, or dedicated hardware) or use Omada Cloud
2. The AP will appear in the controller as an unmanaged device — adopt it
3. Configure the site's SSID name and password (use the same SSID for all APs on the site so devices roam seamlessly)
4. Set the band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) — enable band steering so devices use 5GHz where possible
5. Set transmit power — typically Auto or Medium (high power rarely improves things and can prevent roaming)
6. Apply the configuration and confirm the AP broadcasts the correct SSID

UniFi:

1. Open the UniFi Network Application (local or cloud)
2. Adopt the new AP
3. Assign the AP to the correct network profile / SSID
4. Configure SSID, password, and radio settings as above

Eero / Deco (mesh):

• Follow the in-app setup — these systems are auto-configuring once the cable is connected and powered

Step 5 — Test coverage

Walk through the area the AP is intended to cover with a phone or laptop:

• Confirm the correct SSID is visible and devices connect
• Check internet access works
• Use a Wi-Fi analyser app to confirm signal strength — aim for -65dBm or better throughout the coverage area
• For multi-AP sites: walk between AP coverage zones and confirm the device roams without dropping the connection

PoE Switch Sizing

If a PoE switch is being installed as part of the job, size the switch correctly:

• Count the number of PoE devices (APs + any IP cameras)
• Calculate total power draw: add up the max PoE draw of each device
• PoE switches have a total power budget — a 65W budget switch cannot simultaneously power 6 × 15.4W APs
• For larger installs, use a switch with a PoE budget that exceeds the total draw by at least 20%

Common Issues

Related Documents

• Getting Started — Wi-Fi & Networking
• Structured Cabling Guide
• Fault Finding — Network & Connectivity Issues