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I keep meaning to get some of that Ubiquiti stuff... was aiming to get just the modem (£50 ish) and then link up my Apple AirPort Extreme using ethernet but now I am wondering if I should just grab this... and use that as modem/router (it does both right? best I double check) and just use the Airports to join the network (and connect the devices they are attached to. Would love some wise words from you as you are quite the advocate of Ubiquiti and know internets.
chrisbmx116-
Getting the WiFi modem, the Unifi AP Lite or similar, is a great entry point. As soon as you get that you can disable WiFi on the modem provided by your ISP.
By itself that should improve whatever WiFi ailments you have, and if not then these things can be daisy-chained together to cover a larger area or to cover floors in a house, or an outhouse or whatever your situation requires.
If you then opt for the ToughSwitch switch you get the power over ethernet stuff which removes the need for separate power to the WiFi access points.
If you then opt for the EdgeMax router you get the stable DHCP and DNS, the faster routing, the built-in firewall and also more power over ethernet.
You can basically build this up similar to a HiFi separate system, getting each bit as you feel the need and benefit. It is worth it, but yeah it costs. Then again... just look at those graphs above to see my WiFi compared to the ISP WiFi of my next door neighbours (19th floor flat, those boxes are only 2m from me)... it is good equipment that is worth it.
Velocio
Your IT person is an idiot. The IP address of the devices or the WiFi modem are irrelevant.
What matters are the SSID name of the WiFi, and the MAC addresses of all devices involved... neither of which are changing any time soon (MAC addresses are part of the network hardware of all devices).
If it's not signal strength, then it's signal noise.
If you have an Android phone download the app called Wifi Analyzer. It will show all of the WiFi in the vicinity and which channels they are using. typically for 2.4g you'll see BT equipment on channels 1 and 11, Talk Talk on channel 9, and for 5g most equipment defaults to channel 36.
Using that you'll be able to look at it, find a space in the channels where very little other equipment is broadcasting, and configure your equipment to use that channel.
Most home equipment defaults to one of two channels, most small office equipment (Ubiquiti stuff) defaults to the most empty channel when the system starts up, most large office equipment (Cisco) will constantly roam the empty channels on 2 transceivers to avoid dropping people when they move.
If you've bought home equipment, manually configure it.
If you've bought small office equipment, you're probably fine and it's signal strength that is the issue.
You haven't bought large office equipment, but wouldn't need to care about it.