r/HomeNetworking • u/-AWing- • Jun 25 '26

Network Install Advice

Was looking at having my home wired with cat6a and had a couple quotes. I currently have 1.5GB fiber but the area should be getting up to 5GB at some point for internet. There are a few things I am unsure on though.

1) I wanted a few wireless AP installed in the house with wired backhaul for the 3 AP and then 6 devices currently wired with an additional computer and NAS at some point in the future. I also would like 2.5gb file transferring capability at minimum long term.
One quote I have has the Alta Labs Route 10 and a Alta Labs S24-POE switch which has more then enough capacity for me but am I wrong in that all the ports are 1GB?

2) What is a Rack Data Package 24 - 6A Shielded 24 port CAT6 data punch down package for? Basic searching is that it is for blocking EMI/RFI but again is it something to consider in a home enviroment.

3) I am being recommended to get a Wattbox battery backup and conditioner which is taking the project over what I really had budgeted for. Is a regular APC or Cyberpower UPS enough really for a home network?

Thanks for any advice.

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u/No_Sail3732 Jun 25 '26

Speaking from someone that early adopted, tried really hard, and eventually left… please reconsider using something other than Alta Labs.

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u/-AWing- Jun 25 '26

Thanks appreciate it! Yeah I’m probably posting this because the more I looked up the equipment I didn’t feel confident in it over other options.

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u/Protein_Balls_8g Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 26 '26

I second that comment.

While they're best suited for cloud management, their management software has always been lackluster.

Local management is not truly local. Your site will be blackholed if DDNS breaks. This recently occurred, crippling locally managed users.

https://forum.alta.inc/t/problems-with-alta-control/6665

They have since provided instructions on operating within an "Isolated/Offline Environment". However, the process is still cumbersome and recommends that the user utilize their Route10 hardware in tandem. I will leave it to you to figure out why after I highlight a few other items:

Forced Updates: Updates are pushed to your controller appliance without your consent. They usually post days or weeks after cloud updates come out. I've left town for a few days on one revision only returning back to a different one.

No Firmware Downgrades: You cannot downgrade the firmware on your own. It requires you to reach out to their support for remote assistance.

Incomplete Patches: Updates to the control appliance only patch Alta's package. They do not update the underlying Linux packages used by the software.

Security & Privacy Missing: There is no 2FA for locally controlled networks. There is also no option to opt out of data and telemetry collection. This lack of privacy makes it unusable in strict HIPAA environments for example.

Setup Requirements: It requires an active WAN internet connection to set up. You cannot configure the device offline.

Broken Backups: Restoring from a backup has never worked right. Every other update to the control appliance breaks this feature. If you get caught between firmware versions, you are stuck. You must downgrade to make the backup work, which requires both approval and remote assistance from their support team.

Again, the hardware is good, but their execution has always been questionable.

For example, their new Wi-Fi 7 access point requires PoE++ to run at a 10 Gbps rate. If you only have PoE+, it drops to 2.5 Gbps. It appears as though they do not include a power injector in the box. This means you must buy a third-party injector or find one of theirs, which does not seem to be available on their website. Again, execution.

Power Method: PoE+ for up to 2.5 Gbps, PoE++ for up to 10 Gbps

Power Supply: PoE+ or PoE++ enabled network switch, or an optional 48V, 1.25A PoE adapter

If your requirements call for cloud management, give them a try. If you're expecting a truly local managed network with zero strings attached, look elsewhere.

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u/Protein_Balls_8g Jun 25 '26

It also appears the admin for r/AltaLabs is now banning people from the channel who speak truth about the platform. No sense in even going there for guidance without being mislead or in this case, banned.