I have been having connection problems on my 2.4GHz WiFi over the past month. I am wondering if my router, a Verizon CR1000, is unable to cope with more than 100 devices?
So, who has more than 100 devices on their network and what router are you using?
(Moderators- Yes, this is similar to my other thread on this subject, but this time I am asking a more specific question).
Generally it does not seem to be optimal to have that many wifi devices. The huge advantage of HA is that it accomodates different technologies. While Zigbee uses same frequencies as wifi, Zwave does not and that is one of the reasons most of my devices are Zwave.
Time to think about using Business grade Access Points. I was using Asus Routers/WiFi(mesh) and when I got over 35++ devices on the network began to get nothing but problems. I first got a AC1750 (EAP245) TP Link and just with the one AP it made a massive improvement.
I have slightly more than 100 devices but majority of them are zigbee devices. Depend on house size but somewhere between 100 - 120 devices is a must for a home to be even consider as a smart home.
You can try using mesh wifi if you have so many wifi devices.
Over 150 wifi devices. But multiple APs, 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz. And additiollay 80 zwave devices and 55 zigbee… no problems (now 
)
I have well over 100 but mostly ZigBee
I have well over 150 nodes online all the time with another dozen or so transient devices that come and go.
Im currently on a UniFi UDM Pro SE with two WiFi6 APs and a third one in a box I’m deploying soon.
Expensive, yeah that’s my biggest gripe with UniFi stuff. But once I stabilized the 2. 4 Ghz segment for IoT (turn off all the automatic anything) it’s been rock solid.
My biggest advice in today’s market if you’re buying new.
Get WiFi6e gear.
WiFi6 was not only designed for higher bandwidth but it also had a design goal to allow for higher client density (more nodes) at both the access point and router.
Whereas older pre - WiFi6 consumer rated gear would usually top out at 128 dhcp leases ( plus or minus a few, yes you could work around it if your gear supported Tomato or OpenWRT) WiFi6 gear usually at least doubles that limit to 255+clients on dhcp segments (and often more) and requires supporting over 30 simultaneous clients on a single AP.
So don’t worry so much about the brand, make sure it’s WiFi6e and your dhcp server supports enough clients.
Set all your IP’s as static on both the router and then also on the device wherever possible - and tweak, tweak, tweak. Use channels that are not overlapping or those which have busy traffic from naighbors. Go to the IOS or Google play store for the wifi analyzer and walk around your home to check the signal from everywhere. Then use SmartWifi selector on your phone. All of that will only get you so far however and it sounds like you are at that point.
To easily handle much more, you must get away from all-in one routers - separate the wifi from the router part. Also on a budget, buy networking equipment one piece at a time (that is what I did). Pick one m\anufacturer with a centralized paradigm for controlling all from one interface (firmware updates and everything else).
I have less expensive TP-Link (all Omada class). 182 devices, no issue (about 140 oif them on a separate IOT VLAN) and the other devices go out to the internet through two separate VPN service providers that do not have their headquarters in any 14-eyes country, using each for 5 VPN tunnels to the internet - connections for all devices not on the IOT vlan have their internet connections randomly rotate across the set of 10 tunnels. I have Verizon FIOS 1Gig service and the below router is pluugged directly into the Verizon ONT (equivalent to a modem for purposes of this conversation). Told Verizon I don’t even want their router. Why?
If your ISP requires you to use their router then ask them how to put it into bypass mode and plug your own router into it, or switch providers. Even if you use an ISP router in bypass mode. sometimes they still don’t allow port forwarding.
My equipment:
1 OC300 Controller
1 ER707-M2 Wired VPN Router (recently upgraded from a TL-ER7206)
1 TL-SG2218 Switch
3 EAP-225 Access Points
1 EAP-610 Access Point
Density issues rarely have to do with the actual “router” part of the router.
It is usually the WiFi part that needs help, default setting that are too chatty in attempts to maximize compatibility, and the lack of ability to change those settings.
Disabling the router’s wifi and concentrating on the WiFi access points may be enough.
If restricted to the ISP router, I would disable the router’s WiFi and invest in a decent access point system before possibly dealing with double NAT.
Yes by changing the router I meant the WAPs (Wireless Access Points) would then be able to all be closer to their clients (rather than everytyhing aloways from one location). Also, when you have everything controlled from one central point, then extra logic comes into play acorss al of the WAPs, like handing the clients off from one to another seamlessly, anw working ion coordination as a team so to speak. So I would suggest deciding upon one long term vendor so everything can eventually be controlled from one central point, and then buy a couple of WAPs of that same class from that vendor - and possibly just having a couple of WAPs strategically placed might go far in resolving the issue and then you wouldn’t have to go any further anyway -
Not that is for everyone, but this is why I use Insteon.
One device = Hub = one IP address
Over 100 switches and lights that work via RF+Wireline.
No issues whatsoever.
Insteon doesn’t make routers, do they?
I’ve avoided static IP’s on the devices because of the nightmare of keeping track of them. But if this would fix my problems…
The last time this happened was last week. I tried setting some of my ESP devices to a static IP, but it made no difference. They still wouldn’t connect.
Uh no. But that is not necessarily relevant (or perhaps it is to you). You want every switch/light/etc. to have an IP address then go for it.
You want a device that has one IP address and controls 100 switches/lights/etc. then that is what I use. Visually this is not even one half of the lights … all of these are controlled from one IP address (not 100):
~ 75 wireless, 2 wired, on Xiaomi Mi Router 4A Gigabit Version running OpenWRT. Sometimes a little crowded, but since wifi devices go to wired HA, things seem stable.
TV is also wired.
What does the controller do?
My Ethernet does not enjoy a single-point connection due to the router location changing over the years. As a result I am cascading gigabit unmanaged switches. (No more than 3 between the router and the computer.) I don’t notice any speed issues; my main PC is three switches from the router and Speedtest is reporting what I paid for: 300Mbps:
DOWNLOAD 308.06 Mbps
UPLOAD 342.57 Mbps
What does a managed switch do for me?
I would keep the Verizon router just for MOCA. We do use the Verizon STBs and PVR service, and they won’t work without a MOCA adapter. Also, I am not paying anything for the Verizon router.
How? I’ve been networking since Token Ring and 10-Base 2, every IP WiFi device is assigned its own IP address. The only way I can see this happening is with a subnet where all of the WiFi devices still get an individually assigned IP address from the subnet router.
Insteon has a hub which has an IP address.
Devices in your home are wired in.
Insteon signals are carried from the Hub through the wires in your home with RF also. Simplified as as whenever your electicity crosses the zero line (60Hz so 60 times a second) … it sends out a message like Switch XX.XX.XX turn on. Other switches get that message to and repeat it. And the switch finally gets it (usually within three hops max which is 3/60 seconds) nd it sends back status … like I am now “on”.
It is mesh in reality, but on their own network. It is their proprietary technology. More switches, faster response. But will we are talking copper wires and not “through the air”.
Of course you need their switches/dimmers/fan controllers/thermostats/etc.
It was only a comment from me but one of the main reasons long ago I decided to use Insteon. I knew that 100s of devices all with their own IP address would be wrong. Insteon did it right … but that is my opinion.
Thanks for the explanation. This is how the X-10 system works. (1970 IOT technology). But at $50 or more for a simple switch or outlet, I would rather switch to Xbee.
Correct X-10 migrated to Insteon. As I started the whole conversation, your choice is yours. I have tried Zigbee and ZWave and nothing compares … from switch quality all the way to communication. Perhaps though if I has 100 Zigbee or ZWave devices it would be different but … to each their own.