Byteguy wrote

As far as I can determine, TP-Link and Ubiquity APs are not compatible. Anyoine know differently?

Right, they are not compatible.

Of course, if he does install an AP I would be able to manage it and control the mesh connection.

This would cause even more interferences to your WLAN (Hidden Node Problem) and he would still have the problem to extend the EAP's WLAN into his faraday cage. Nothing gained with this »solution«.

I would suggest him to use a standard WLAN router in STA (client) mode on the outside of the cage, connect to the mesh node's WLAN and use a cable to link a laptop to the WLAN router (he could even turn off routing and create a bridge between the router's LAN ports and the WiFi radio in STA mode).

If he needs a wireless network inside his boat, he could either use tethering on the laptop or the built-in AP of the WLAN router if it's placed on a window or a door, so that he can receive the signal inside the boat. This would not interfere with your WLAN and with tethering he can place the WLAN router on the outside of his boat, while his private WLAN is inside.

I see absolutely no reason why he should use a mesh node (holds true also for the marina using an Ubiquiti mesh network).

Don't use a CPE. Over this short distance you won't be able to align the antenna on a boat. There was a guy in this forum who tried this already and failed. Too much motion if mounted on a boat. Just use a standard WLAN router or an external antenna, but avoid directional antennas.

JSchnee21 wrote

Yes, but, many conventional home routers don't support a client or bridge mode.

Ok, but to supply a faraday cage with WLAN one must have some technical expertise IMO (or hire someone who has). But it's no big deal even for home users to install OpenWrt on an Archer C7 or similar WLAN router. Every WiFi chip I know supports STA mode, but gear made for home users does just not expose this functionality to make configuring it user-friendly.

Understood re: directional antennas on CPE. Couldn't you just replace the antennas with some small 3 or 6 dBi omnis?

CPEs have built-in hardwired antennas. You would need a WBS with TL-ANT2410MO, but that's again business gear, setup requires some technical expertise, too.

Just saying, joining the MESH idea is actually not a horrible idea. Easily supported with an EAP225-Outdoor, for example. Given the other constraints.

As I wrote, you will definitely run into issues such as the Hidden Node Problem if you use an EAP225-Outdoor which supplies local WLAN in a boat made out of steel. Of course, it could work if the local network is linked to the EAP using a cable and if the EAP's local WLAN is disabled. But then, a cheap home repeater with an Ethernet port such as an RE200, RE305 or RE650 would suit better as it does not require the network admin to manage end-user devices.

I would refuse to allow people deploying their own APs into my network. Why? Because if I would allow this, people will hold me responsible for any malfunction of their network even if they screw it up and even if it has nothing to do with the AP. I experienced this already too often in the past. Just two weeks ago I terminated a contract with a client b/c he hold me responsible for his gear added to our hotspot system.

This would all be much easier if the EAP225-Outdoor (or EAP225V3) had a client or bridge mode capability.

EAPs are just APs. If they would have client or bridge modes, they would become a WLAN router and they would need routing capabilities, NAT, DHCP services, connection tracking, firewall, port forwarding etc. pp. Management software would become much more complicated, hardware ressources would need to be expanded and so on.

So why not use a WLAN router at first? If I want an apple, I buy an apple, not a pear shaped as an apple and modified to taste like an apple. ;-)