Wireless Solution

Good wireless experience has many different aspects, including easy setup, client seamless roaming, and more.

From home/SOHO with just a handful of APs, midsize office with tens of APs, all the way up to corporates with multiple branches, DrayTek has different AP management solution aiming to make it easy with each scenario.

Wireless Solution Comparison

Home/SOHO/Single Site
Large/Multi Site

		Mesh	AP-based APM	Router-based APM

Brief Description		For small environment with hybrid of wired/wireless node APs.	For small-to-medium environment for wired node APs with no Vigor Router on site.	More comprehensive management solution for wired node APs.
Number of Managed AP		Max. 7	Max. 50	Max. 50
Node Connection Type		Wireless / Wired	Wired	Wired
Latency		Increasing with each Hop	Low	Low
Self-healing Uplink		Yes	No	No
Model Compatibility		Limited	Medium	Full
Features		Configuration Sync Client Roaming Client Monitoring with Client List Mesh Hierarchy View Work with DrayTek Wireless app	Configuration Sync Client Roaming AP Monitoring with AP List	Configuration Sync Client Roaming AP Monitoring with AP List AP Maintenance Client Load Balancing
Configuration Sync to New Member AP		Auto Provision from Root AP	Auto Provision from Root AP	Auto Provision from AP Profile
Configuration Sync to Existing Member AP		Push Sync Button on Root AP	Push Sync Button on Root AP	Auto/Manual from AP Profile
Configuration Sync Scope	Admin Username/Password	Y	Y	Y
	TR-069	Y	Y	Y
	2.4GHz/5GHz WLAN	Y	Y	Y
	Advanced 2.4GHz/5GHz WLAN	Y	Y	Y
	Roaming	Y	Y	Y
	Band Steering	Y	Y	Y
	Access Control List	Y	Y	Y
	MAC Object	Y	Y
AP Maintenance	Configuration Backup/Restore			Y
	Firmware Upgrade			Y
	Remote Reboot			Y
	Factory Reset			Y

		VigorConnect	VigorACS

Brief Description		Single site management software, supporting hybrid of wired/wireless APs, either in mode AP, Mesh Root, or Mesh Node.	Multi-tenancy NMS software for multi-site management, supporting hybrid of wired/wireless node APs, either in mode AP, Mesh Root, or Mesh Node.
Number of Managed AP		Max. 100	License-based
Node Connection Type		Wireless / Wired	Wireless / Wired
Performance Decay		Depends on AP’s connection type. Low performance decay for wired AP, high for wireless nodes.	Depends on AP’s connection type. Low performance decay for wired AP, high for wireless nodes.
Self-healing Uplink		Supported for Mesh Groups	Supported for Mesh Groups
Model Compatibility		High	High
Features		Network Monitoring Configuration Sync Client Roaming Client Monitoring with Client List AP Monitoring with CPE Page Scheduled AP Maintenance Mesh Hierarchy View Rogue AP Detection Floor Plan	Network Monitoring Configuration Sync Client Roaming Client Monitoring with Client List AP Monitoring with CPE Page Scheduled AP Maintenance
Configuration Sync to New Member AP		Provision with AP Profile, or Push Sync Button on Root AP	Provision with AP Profile, or Push Sync Button on Root AP
Configuration Sync to Existing Member AP		Auto Provision from VigorConnect, via Mesh, Wireless Wizard, or AP Profile	Auto Provision from VigorConnect, via Mesh, Wireless Wizard, or AP Profile
Configuration Sync Scope	Admin Username/Password	Y	Y
	TR-069	Y	Y
	2.4GHz/5GHz WLAN	Y	Y
	Advanced 2.4GHz/5GHz WLAN	Y	Y
	Roaming	Y	Y
	Band Steering	Y	Y
	Access Control List	Y	Y
	MAC Object	Y	Y
AP Maintenance	Configuration Backup/Restore	Y	Y
	Firmware Upgrade	Y	Y
	Remote Reboot	Y	Y
	Factory Reset	Y	Y

Mesh or APM?

VigorRouter On Site	Has Wireless Node	Number of AP	Suggestion
Yes	Yes	<= 50	Router APM manage all wired AP Mesh manage wireless node(s)
Yes	No	<= 50	Router APM
No	Yes	<= 7	Mesh for wired/wireless node(s)
	Yes	> 7	AP APM manage all wired AP Use Mesh to manage wireless node(s)
	No	<= 50	AP APM

Note: Use VigorConnect/VigorACS for environments with more than 50 VigorAPs.

VigorConnect or VigorACS?

Single/Multi Site	Manage VigorRouter As Well	Number of AP	Suggestion
Single	Yes	Any	VigorACS manage all Vigor devices
	No	<= 100	VigorConnect manage all wired/wireless AP on LAN
	No	> 100	VigorACS manage devices by license
Multi	Any	Any	VigorACS manage devices by license

* See Note2 for AP802

Mesh Model Recommendation – Vigor Router as Mesh Root

Mesh Root Model	Minimum Firmware Version	Recommended Mesh Node & Minimum Firmware Version
Mesh Root Model	Minimum Firmware Version	AP903 (v1.4.1)	AP1000C (v1.4.0)	AP912C (v1.4.1)	*AP802 (v1.4.1)
Vigor2862ac	v3.9.5	Y
Vigor2926ac	v3.9.5	Y
Vigor2765ac Vigor2766ac	v4.3.1	Y	Y	Y	Y
Vigor2865ac Vigor2866ac	v4.2.3	Y	Y	Y	Y
Vigor2927ac	v4.2.4	Y	Y	Y	Y
vigor2135ac	v4.3.1	Y	Y	Y	Y

* See Note2 for AP802

Mesh Model Recommendation – VigorAP as Mesh Root

Mesh Root Model	Minimum Firmware Version	Recommended Mesh Node & Minimum Firmware Version
Mesh Root Model	Minimum Firmware Version	AP903 (v1.4.1)	AP912C (v1.4.1)	AP960C (v1.4.0)	AP1060C (v1.4.0)	AP918R (v1.4.0)	AP1000C (v1.4.1)	*AP802 (v1.4.1)
AP903	v1.4.0	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
AP912C		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
AP918 AP920		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
AP1000		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
AP960C		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y
AP1060C		Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y	Y

Note 1 - Mesh Setup Steps Recommendation

1Configure Mesh Root SSID/PSK/Admin password…etc

2Place mesh members close to Mesh Root. Scan and add members into mesh group. Mesh Root pushes configurations to Mesh Nodes.

3Move Mesh Nodes to the designated positions. Power on Mesh Nodes, and make sure their status are online.

Done! The Mesh Group is ready to serve the clients.

Note 2 – Consider Signal Penetration Capability

About AP802 Signal Penetration Capability

The sleek and compact form factor of AP802 provides easy deployment but also comes with limited signal penetration capability, and thus is recommended to serve clients within the same space.
Mesh wireless uplink is still capable to penetrate the wall.
Suggest to put AP802 as the edge Mesh Node with no further wireless downlink to another AP.

Note 3 – Manage the Mesh Network with DrayTek Wireless App

Create Mesh group from scratch
Mesh group topology overview
Monitor all Mesh members and connecting wireless clients
Remote configuration on app
Sync settings/modifications to all Mesh Nodes