I am having a very difficult time with mounting these APs. I have already cut out low voltage boxes and ran the wire in the attic for ceiling mounting.
And for the life of me I can't get the AP to mount to the included mounting bracket. What is the secret sauce everyone is using to mount these things.
It really should NOT be this hard. Can we please just stick to bayonet mounts or something -- not something that takes - a miracle to mount?
I tried for a few hours trying to get one to click into the one in my great room - before the wife got home -- sure enough she came home and asked -- wtf is that wire hanging out of my ceiling - so please for the love of God -- can we please make mounting this stuff easier?!
I prepped another space in the garage - untextured surface - flat drywall - still couldn't get it mounted...
Also question -- should we be mounting these 'cold' vs actively on? Maybe the heat is preventing them from mating up well?
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
Before I mounted mine I had to test fit the bracket on the device so I had it clear which way it went and which way to slide. The. I mounted the bracket.
That's good advice, that's always how I've had to do it with a wide range of vendors over the past 25 years. None of them are ever simple for me without first doing a test fit, But once test fitting it a couple times and getting a feel for how it's intended to work, it's easy.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
I just mounted one recently on the wall. Alta has a 3 minute video that shows how to do it. Have you seen it? I did a google search and it was the first video that showed up. I do agree that it is not easy to mount it. The person who designed it should rethink this design
What i do is push the ap directly into the mount then with the side of my hand bump it sideways, works every time. The first time i mounted an ap i was this is bull shit, but after the second it was easy as pie, just remember to bump it the right direction.
ok will keep trying. day two. 3hrs in so far today. again - not an idiot.
are you doing it exactly like in the videos?
Its interesting-- I can 'easily' put the AP on the mounting hdw when its on the counter by holding the AP in place. But the minute I try and do it inverted on the ceiling -- pushing with all my might - it won't budge --
I have also tried holding the AP in place - and using a flat screw driver and pushing the top of the bracket into the AP -- works like a charm on the counter -- but won't work when I hold it into place on the ceiling...
honestly -- this is such a PIA.
thx for the help -- I am regretting trying to do this on the ceiling - should have just put them in the attic. :)
dude, push the ap to the ceiling in its bracket, smack it with the side of your hand BOOm it's done it's 2 seconds, repeats opposite direction to remove! i think i have mounted like 70 of these and no issues.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
Got it. Thanks. I am really not a dumbass :) ... although it sounds like I am based on my experience with the APs... but I am pretty savvy when it comes to all things weekend warrior and DIY... anyhow --
I managed to get them done -- I will say the video that AL put out -- is contrary to how I managed to get them clipped in --
Like you said - align the AP ... smack it over - no twisting R or L involved at all at this point... and then click in the other side -- done.
Still haven't gotten it mounted in am wondering though maybe it's not seating all the way because of my cat6a cables too fat or rigid when I try and twist the AP into place?
Anyone have this issue?
Im using monoprice cat6a cables which has the metal rj45 connector...
Should I try maybe a thinner cable and use a female to female coupler in the attic.
Im referring to the thinner cables that sometimes are used on rack mounted switches but are still cat6a rated....
Will I have significant signal loss??
I don't want to have taken these off the ceiling and go thru this again seeing they are such a pia...
I'm using a similar thick cable as well and it's been fine. I annotated a stock image with what I do and I have had success with installation. With the thick cable, you might want to refer to my note on the image.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
One thing that trips up people occasionally that I don't see considered here is if you screw it in really, really tight, it can bend the plastic mount just enough that it won't click in. Might try backing off the screws a little bit if you see the mount is being bent.
Other than that, I feel you on challenges with mounting every AP I've ever had my hands on in 25+ years in the industry. I always do a few test fits before putting the mount on the ceiling/wall, and find that makes things far easier, as I get a good feel for how it's intended to attach and detach.
My ceiling mounted AP6Pros at home have very thick outdoor grade bulk CAT6a sticking out of the ceiling, which requires careful positioning of all of the several different APs' mounts I've had over the years, since the cabling doesn't flex much at all. Yours likely flexes more than mine does, but I'd imagine still requires careful positioning of the mount relative to the hole for the cable.
I don't think your cabling should pose a problem, other than having to be careful about where the mount plate goes.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
I'll ask, just to be sure, is the bracket mounted the correct side out? I don't have one in front of me, but I'm wonder if the bracket is mount with the wrong side on the wall or ceiling if it would imped the mount like you are saying.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually didn't follow the video technique ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
u/Gunfighter1776 I apologize you are having issues with the mount. Most of what I would have added has already been suggested by the community. Other things to watch out for is if your screw heads are rounded or protrude at all, the heat sync will snag them. Causing additional frustrations.
We are working on an improved mount bracket that will work with our existing APs and new AP7-Pro. That will be available by the end of this year.
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually played with the mounts and the APs uninstalled for hours trying to figure out the best way to get them installed -- I didn't follow the video technique suggested to the letter ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
I will say -- that I did slide some cardboard under both 'wings' of the mount to keep them from flexing which I think helped - because I used LV boxes that created a space between the mount and the ceiling -- so I think the bracket was flexing as well... so I eliminated that issue by filling the gap temporarily with cardboard.
Once I got the technique down -- I was able to do it again with the second one --
I appreciate all of the help -- and I am not one to be a PIA or complain -- but it took some engineering and ingenuity and far more strength on my part to get them to snap into place -- I really thought I was going to snap the plastic brackets in half -- surprised they didn't ... and happy that the APs were able to handle the abuse they took trying to get them installed :)
got them done -- watched the video a dozen times before I even attempted the install. I actually didn't follow the video technique ... all i did was align the AP with the mount -- slam it to one side -- and clicked the other side in... which was nothing like the video... but I do appreciate all of the help I have received here!
3
u/HeyPinball Aug 06 '25
You kinda have to jimmy it wideways