Fing lost. Unfi,Asus, alternative?

[cocokola]

2 gig fiber, I've got Wi-Fi 7 devices that support boosted 4 watt capability.

I'm disabled and saved up for network upgrade. I don't want to pay a monthly fee for security. I don't have ability or time to review lows, so smart alerts. 2 level 2000sq ft, two ap ideal.

2 gig fiber is cheaper for a year, i want to go mastering mixing, video.

I was laser focused on asus for the free ongoing security.. but the asus 98u pro is crap. Despite getting it stable.

Unfi was always a favorite, but they discontinue hardware and you get screwed. (Hope I'm wrong)

Looking for Wi-Fi 7 tri band. I can run backhaul. Currently running two to-link discontinued 1g 24 port switches.

I'm disabled and exhausted. After reading posts no go with asus. Unfi or what else?

Iot network ideally vlan, guest, ability to combine 2,45,6 for my phone,

 

[microchip]

MikroTik + TP-Link Omada APs = works flawlessly

 

[cocokola]

MikroTik + TP-Link Omada APs = works flawlessly

They have so many models, not sure what is closer to business class. You suggest MikroTik alternatively to tp link router .. to avoid monthly costs?

 

[Tech9]

You are jumping from consumer All-In-One devices with "place somewhere and hope for the best" expected use to completely different SMB hardware with planning, Ethernet and PoE requirements. They are not easily interchangeable options. The information provided is not enough for UniFi system advice, someone has to have networking knowledge to plan and the time to order and install this system for you. AFC for Asus is USA only and specific devices only (perhaps not implemented yet), for UniFi USA/Canada only and specific expensive access points only, you definitely don't have 4W client devices and your phone doesn't really need super high speeds.

 

[Tech9]

Unfi was always a favorite

Ubiquiti UniFi system with UCG-Fiber (Gateway, Controller, Switch), USW-Flex-2.5G-8-PoE (PoE switch), UACC-Adapter-AC-210W (power supply for the PoE switch), 2x E7 (Access Points with 6GHz and AFC support) will set you back $1560 cost of hardware plus eventual infrastructure and installation cost. Set realistic expectations and make sure you know what you want and for what intended use. Ubiquiti Store will definitely accept your money, but you'll be paying for unused UniFi ecosystem features (Protect, Access, Talk) and enterprise class access points with 1000+ clients support. It will be quite nice little setup... for upcoming Community Ribfest event.

 

[cocokola]

You are jumping from consumer All-In-One devices with "place somewhere and hope for the best" expected use to completely different SMB hardware with planning, Ethernet and PoE requirements. They are not easily interchangeable options. The information provided is not enough for UniFi system advice, someone has to have networking knowledge to plan and the time to order and install this system for you. AFC for Asus is USA only and specific devices only (perhaps not implemented yet), for UniFi USA/Canada only and specific expensive access points only, you definitely don't have 4W client devices and your phone doesn't really need super high speeds.

Thanks for the reply. I have a business doing small business IT services including networking. I have experience, just dated about 8 years due to medical issues so I'm out of date with current tech.

To clarify my background, I run a small business IT service and have experience with networking, but my knowledge is about eight years out of date due to medical reasons. I’m now catching up with current technologies.

**My Current Setup:**
- **Internet:** 2 Gbps fiber connection.
- **Switches:** Two TP-Link T1600G-28TS (currently using 1 Gbps uplinks), one upstairs and one downstairs. I plan to upgrade these in the future.
- **Devices:** Around 50 smart devices (hubs, TV tuners, lights, etc.) connected through Ethernet and Wi-Fi
- **Main PC:** Runs VMs for Plex and management.
- **WiFi Devices:** Two Samsung S24 Ultra phones (WiFi 7 capable and AFC)
- **Cabling:** All Cat 6a or better.

**Usage Needs:**
- Photography, video, live audio mixing, multitrack recording, and mastering (not much gaming).
- AI integrations and remote support for small businesses.
- Occasional high-volume data rendering.
- Dante so lower latency.

**Future Plans:**
- Considering hardware like Topton or Protectli (e.g., VP4850/80) that can run VMs (Plex, Netgate, MikroTik).
- Planning to offload some VMs to a dedicated or same unit
- Adding a NAS/DAS solution, with three main devices needing high-speed connectivity, backups being the main driver
- was Looking at Ubiquiti APs, with at least four SSIDs (Prime, Cameras, IoT, Guest).
- Using Dante (and AES50) so ultra-low latency is ideal

**Requirements:**
- No required subscriptions for security updates, ideally . If i have to pay 99a month i will.
- Hardware that will continue to receive firmware updates to protect against new vulnerabilities. Unify abandon their gear about 5 to 7 years

The unify cloud fiber device is almost perfect, but it has 5 to 7 years shelf life, i need to have flexibility to home on longer if i must,

I do photography, video, and live audio mixing, multitrack recording, mixing and mastering. I don't game much.

I'm doing extensive AI integrations, remote support of small business. Some rendering of high volume data

After some digging, looking at toptin, protecti like a vp4850/80 can run vms like plex, netgate, microtek.

Would like to offload some vms to the unit, I'll be adding a nas /das solution, so basically 4 devices that will use the higher throughout.

Figured a could ubiquity aps , at use least 4 ssids (prime, cameras, iot, guest)

I I'm using dante and aes50 which both need ultra low latency. All my cables are 6a up to 8.

I hope this clarifies my situation and what I’m looking for. I’d appreciate any advice on a robust, future-proof or rather growth possible network

Thank you kindly

 

[Tech9]

abandon their gear about 5 to 7 years

There is no guarantee anything you buy today will have >7 years of support. I can't recommend any hardware based on this requirement alone. You have to get up to speed with technology, new business realities, set realistic expectations and revise your upgrade plan.

 

[cocokola]

There is no guarantee anything you buy today will have >7 years of support. I can't recommend any hardware based on this requirement alone. You have to get up to speed with technology, new business realities, set realistic expectations and revise your upgrade plan.

First, it is offensive to tell a disabled person they must do something they already stated they can't do. I have severe ME/CFS (writing this message to you will burn 80% of my energy for the day.)
so "getting up to speed" will take longer than is possible, things will change before getting to to speed.

I defined what "not planned obedience" making a purchase wireless because security updates can't be provided.
this excludes protects that are guaranteed to stop being secure like unify. What is the option then? Products that are still supported even though old. Example is gl.net products.

So you are saying , without saying, that all products by all vendors have stated a end of life of 5 years? If not started, what historically have they done with equipment over 7 years old.

My response is typical RFP for a business equipment, so I'll take it your experience is with consumer grade equipment.
Surely there are solutions with longer cycles than 5 or even 7 years.

example take Windows 10 will be soon although one can pay to continue getting security updates.

Or if you insist i must match your experience and expertise before replying, seems you aren't trying to help.

I've provided a wish list exactly what your asked. Rolls reversed, i would have given advice with caveat for anything that doesn't meet certain targets.

Finally i listed a summary of hardware seems to fit my target. That took all day to investigate, and i think is 80% of popular choices, so all you need do is suggest or eliminate those.

Thanks anyway.

 

[degrub]

i would suggest focusing on the device facing the internet and on the client devices for security issue support. Mostly the clients, unless one is running a server behind the firewall. Certainly in the consumer world, no vendor states what length of support/updates will be provided except where it is regulated and required e.g. the UK is one example i believe. That is a rare case. Nothing guaranteed for the US. SMB gear may receive support for longer than consumer gear, but there is no written guarantee or stated timeline. You have to watch for End of Sale, End of Support, End of Life statements for a particular line of gear. You may have to buy a support contract. You may have to upgrade hardware within a line of gear to extend "support" . For example, the CISCO RV 3xx routers and APs ran for about 5-7+ years if i remember correctly, but there was at least one model/hardware change.

The APs and switches can be whatever supports your use case. i'm still running CISCO RV 371 AC class APs from a decade ago. My RV325 router is behind an ISP required router. i don't run a server behind it and have no need for external access, so i have little concern even though it was EOL a few years back. i focus on the client devices and users rather than the LAN infrastructure devices. If i was exposing ports on the firewall/router by allowing external access, then yes, i would change out gear and have a much more involved support situation. Looking at your list, i would look for a SMB vendor that has a track record of support that you like and plan to change out hardware every 5 years rather than changing vendors and hardware every 5-7 years.

To me at least, it appears your needs are beyond what could be expected for consumer gear and definitely in the SMB gear world. To have less involvement, you are looking for gear that is either easy to set up and forget ( like my CISCO system was) or will have to hire someone to do the configuration and setup since time is valuable to a business. At least around this forum, Ubiquity does a reasonable job of that. They are in my radar for when i have to replace my router. TPLink Omada may be another reasonable choice to consider. i have some basic equipment from both that i am playing with to learn the system.

 

[Tech9]

it is offensive to tell a disabled person they must do something

I'm sorry, I can't recommend access points for an unknown to me place and with expected >7 years of support. The former is pure guessing, the latter is unlikely to happen. Planning expensive Wi-Fi 7 + AFC capable system because 2x phones currently support it is not something I would recommend either. This is what I can recommend:

- exclude all phones and tablets from high-speed demand list of devices
- do NOT aim for latest and greatest in technology, comes with beta testing membership
- do NOT plan running a firewall on VM along with other network services on the same device
- choose single pane of glass system like UniFi or Omada without overpaying for hardware
- use available Ubiquiti or TP-Link planning tools to determine how many access points you need
- no SMB hardware supports WPS and if you have IoT devices relying on it prepare workarounds

Good luck!

 

[cocokola]

i would suggest focusing on the device facing the internet and on the client devices for security issue support. Mostly the clients, unless one is running a server behind the firewall. Certainly in the consumer world, no vendor states what length of support/updates will be provided except where it is regulated and required e.g. the UK is one example i believe. That is a rare case. Nothing guaranteed for the US. SMB gear may receive support for longer than consumer gear, but there is no written guarantee or stated timeline. You have to watch for End of Sale, End of Support, End of Life statements for a particular line of gear. You may have to buy a support contract. You may have to upgrade hardware within a line of gear to extend "support" . For example, the CISCO RV 3xx routers and APs ran for about 5-7+ years if i remember correctly, but there was at least one model/hardware change.

The APs and switches can be whatever supports your use case. i'm still running CISCO RV 371 AC class APs from a decade ago. My RV325 router is behind an ISP required router. i don't run a server behind it and have no need for external access, so i have little concern even though it was EOL a few years back. i focus on the client devices and users rather than the LAN infrastructure devices. If i was exposing ports on the firewall/router by allowing external access, then yes, i would change out gear and have a much more involved support situation. Looking at your list, i would look for a SMB vendor that has a track record of support that you like and plan to change out hardware every 5 years rather than changing vendors and hardware every 5-7 years.

To me at least, it appears your needs are beyond what could be expected for consumer gear and definitely in the SMB gear world. To have less involvement, you are looking for gear that is either easy to set up and forget ( like my CISCO system was) or will have to hire someone to do the configuration and setup since time is valuable to a business. At least around this forum, Ubiquity does a reasonable job of that. They are in my radar for when i have to replace my router. TPLink Omada may be another reasonable choice to consider. i have some basic equipment from both that i am playing with to learn the system.

thank you and @Tech9 kindly. Sometimes one needs to crash and burn to see the horizon. decided to go with the Unifi Fiber and u7 to start. I need to lean into easy mode, and not worry about a few hundred dollars so much. thanks for sticking it out.

 

[Tech9]

not worry about a few hundred dollars

If you want a nice looking compact size 10GbE internal network hardware with capable Gateway and reasonable Wi-Fi 7 wireless capabilities (forget about AFC for now)... this is what you need to look at:

- UCG-Fiber ($279)
- USW-Pro-XG-8-PoE ($499)
- U7 Pro XG (the needed number, $199/each)
- optional Enterlighting 10GbE cables to make it fancy (from $4)

Cloud Gateway Fiber - Ubiquiti Store

Desktop 10G Cloud Gateway with integrated 4-port 2.5 GbE switch, selectable NVR storage, and full UniFi application support.

store.ui.com

Switch Pro XG 8 PoE - Ubiquiti Store

Compact desktop/wall-mountable, professional-grade 8-port, Layer 3 Etherlighting™ PoE++ switch with (8) 10 GbE and (2) 10G SFP+ ports.

store.ui.com

Access Point U7 Pro XG - Ubiquiti Store

Ceiling-mounted 6-stream WiFi 7 AP with 10/5/2.5/1 GbE support.

store.ui.com

UniFi Etherlighting Patch Cable - Ubiquiti Store

Nano-thin patch cable with 10 GbE support, designed to showcase Etherlighting™ effects.

store.ui.com

The Gateway contains Controller and 2.5GbE Switch. No need for 10G SFP+ uplink at this stage (2Gbps ISP). The additional 10GbE Switch powers the Access Points and provides 10GbE links between LAN devices. Upgrade/expansion path is 10G SFP+ link (from $29) to the 10GbE switch with eventual 10G SFP+ link to another, additional Access Points if needed, UACC-SSD-Tray ($19) with 2TB M.2 NVMe SSD for Protect and PoE Cameras. USW-Pro-XG-8-PoE switches have 155W PoE power budget, plenty for number of PoE devices.

Uplink Cable - Ubiquiti Store

Direct attach cable with auto link optimization for seamless 1G SFP, 10G SFP+, and 25G SFP28 interconnects between UniFi devices.

store.ui.com

M.2 SSD Tray - Ubiquiti Store

Optional storage insert for Cloud Gateway Max and Fiber that supports one 2230, 2242, 2260, 2280, or 22110 sized M.2 NVMe SSD.

store.ui.com

This system will cost around $1200 for one 10GbE Switch and 2x Access Points (initial investment), then you start upgrading your client devices to Wi-Fi 7 and 10GbE (so something can actually use all of the above) and this process may cost few times more.

 

[Tech9]

Adding a NAS/DAS solution

If you want it from Ubiquiti as well:

UNAS Pro - Ubiquiti Store

2U rack-mount NAS with (7) 2.5/3.5" drive bays and 10 Gbps performance designed for large-scale file storage and sharing.

ca.store.ui.com

$669, 7-bay hardware with 10G SFP+ interface, drives not included.