Is Unifi worth the upgrade?

[New2This]

You can't manually reboot your modem? That is the only thing I am able to do with comcrap taking over my s33.

Cant reboot it when out- Travelling
Thats why I was hoping my ISP provider could do it for me

I could grab that where I am - take it back home

 

[Tech9]

This product was just an example. There are other similar products available doing the same thing in the same way. What is important - the level of configurability. Network congestion on cable ISP providers is common. The device has to reboot the modem only when ISP connection is lost for more than specific number of minutes. Otherwise it may reboot the modem on short blackouts and cause Internet interruption in minutes (the time needed for cable modem reboot). Read the user feedback.

 

[Piotrek]

What are your experiences with WiFi 7 APs? I'm planning to install UCG-Fiber with about 10 APs. I'm hesitating between U6+ and U7 Lite. Which do you think is the better choice? I'm not concerned about speed (I plan to limit the channels on the 5GHz radio to 40MHz anyway), but about stability and long-term support.

 

[Tech9]

What are your experiences with WiFi 7 APs?

All my setups use Wi-Fi 6 APs. I’m planning to skip Wi-Fi 7 entirely.

 

[Piotrek]

Yes. If it were an upgrade, I wouldn't bother either.
However, it's a completely new location with no APs.
I need to buy a new U6+ or U7-Lite.
I think I'll go with U7-Lite.

 

[Tech9]

Plan according to the needs and don't overpay for hardware. My last UniFi setup was installed end of August this year and it's Wi-Fi 6.

 

[degrub]

WIFI 7 doesn't really benefit unless the web servers can keep up. Many are limited to 100 Mbit/s per user anyway. So, unless the traffic is primarily local, the faster sync rate with the AP doesn't provide any real benefit except for speed test bragging rights. As far as support ? Unless this is a business, very little gain from newer versus well established older hardware. Heck, i am running CISCO AC aps with no issues and more than adequate bandwidth for my users. That tech is 10 years old.

Cost optimization should be primary once you meet the client needs. WIFI 6 is more than enough and very stable.

 

[New2This]

I am pleased with my setup and its been just over a month -very stable
Running Wifi 6- I really didnt see a need to run with wifi 7

 

[Piotrek]

the web servers can keep up. Many are limited to 100 Mbit/s per user anyway

As I mentioned, I'm not concerned about speed. I know how it works.
I'll be using 40MHz channels.

So, unless the traffic is primarily local,

Traffic is primarily local.

don't overpay for hardware

Cost optimization should be primary

The U6+ and U7-lite are the same price.

 

[Piotrek]

To be clear, these will be two buildings connected by fiber optic.
The first building has three floors, and the second two floors.
In total, there will be approximately 10-12 APs.
The cost of devices for U6+ and U7-lite is the same.
This is a small company – about 20 employees using the network (file servers, databases, printers, computers, VPN, etc.).

 

[Tech9]

Keep in mind we have only 2x 40MHz wide channels in non-DFS range in Europe. "We" because I'm going to spend few months in my new EU location. Not a big fan of Canadian winter lately...

 

[kuchkovsky]

No one seems to mention that UniFi's IPv6 support is still no better than Asus's - in some respects, it's even worse. At least with Asus, I don't have to manually enter the delegated prefix on my router (it automatically picks up /56), and I can use IPv6 as a transport for WireGuard.

Kind of a bummer for devices that are praised as a next-level networking upgrade. With Merlin, you can at least add the missing features using userscripts, but with UniFi, scripting is pretty limited - from my quick research, it seems you can only simulate something similar to services-start.

 

[Tech9]

I can't comment on IPv6 since I don't need it and don't use it, but current Network application is actually v9...

You perhaps realize your Merlin router is hardware squeezed down to a cent, it's supported by single person, the firmware is built on top of some Asuswrt shapshot and it contains modifications to Asus Security Daemon in order to allow custom scripting. No, Unifi OS doesn't allow this. Any custom intervention is limited and protected. No official security workarounds, no USB sticks, no data sharing to 3rd party companies. By the way, is the Trend Micro DPI engine on your BE-class device still broken >1 year after release?

 

[Jbennett360]

I am pleased with my setup and its been just over a month -very stable
Running Wifi 6- I really didnt see a need to run with wifi 7

Yeah same, roughly 5 months in now.

Just works out the box. If you want to dig deep, the options are there, but the defaults all seem to be fine.

Little fine tuning to Channels/Bandwidth etc but other than that, not really touched anything else!

 

[kuchkovsky]

I can't comment on IPv6 since I don't need it

Probably no one really needs it at the moment, but I don't see any reason not to use it if it's provided by your ISP. IPv4 can't even function on an internet-wide scale without workarounds like NAT, so IPv6 is definitely better and generally requires fewer hops than IPv4.

current Network application is actually v9.

Same as the reviewed one.

your Merlin router is hardware squeezed down to a cent

Why? It actually has better hardware than most compact UniFi devices - better Ethernet port configuration, a more powerful CPU, and better 4x4 radios (unlike the 2x2 setup in the UDR7 / UX7). I tested the UX7, and my Merlin router actually performed faster on its 5 GHz band than the UX7 did on 6 GHz. I'd like to see some compact top-spec UniFi devices, but most of them are more comparable to the RT-BE92U than to higher-end models.

By the way, is the Trend Micro DPI engine on your BE-class device still broken >1 year after release?

Yep, still broken - consistency is key, after all. That's one of the reasons I wanted to check other devices and see what they offer - not because I need the DPI engine (I don't use QoS anyway), but because I don't like the idea of an unfinished product. So I started looking into UniFi out of curiosity. While its software is definitely much more polished, its IPv6 support is very basic, and the hardware specs are rather mediocre - unlike Apple devices (which UniFi is often compared to) that excel in both areas.

 

[slyx1978]

Ubiquiti recently made Network Application (the GUI of UniFi OS) quite user friendly. They are targeting the consumer market very aggressively. The menus are very well structured, built-in help is available, documentation online is available, online videos are available, Ubiquiti Community forum is quite strong. I think setting up UniFi system is actually easier than Asus router with Asuswrt-Merlin.

Two YouTube channels with good networking content, including UniFi:

Crosstalk Solutions

Want to improve your networking skills? Easy to follow tutorials for best practice computer networking, WiFi, Voice over IP (VoIP), and related technologies! Chris Sherwood with Crosstalk Solutions has been providing educational and entertaining videos on YouTube for 8+ years - we have a HUGE...

www.youtube.com

Lawrence Systems

In-depth tutorials, discussions on network engineering, security, and technology solutions. Lawrence Systems offers a look at how we run our company, the products we use and solutions we provide for our clients. We discuss and create tutorials for firewalls, storage solutions, MSP tools...

www.youtube.com

One of the recent similar threads, the OP decided to go ahead with BE-class devices:

MESH replacement options - XenWifi/Unifi/etc

Hi all, this might overlap with some of the other threads, but looking for a higher-level opinion on an upgrade to my current network. Current State: I'm currently running an AC86U with two AC68Us as MESH nodes, all running Asus-Merlin. The AC86U is the main router and sits in the lounge...

www.snbforums.com

UniFi Design Center for network planning:

UniFi Design Center

Simulate a complete UniFi system with our powerful visualization and planning tool.

design.ui.com

I strongly recommend using this tool before purchasing UniFi APs. If the place is drawn with proper dimensions and wall materials the predicted Wi-Fi heat map will be very close to real life experience. May prevent costly wrong application hardware purchase mistakes.

Recently i have made a switch as i had enough of constant issues with ASUS router. Bought Cloud Gateway Fiber with AP and couldn’t be happier. Everything works so far with zero issues. Lot to learn but that was another reason that pushed me to a switch

 

[Tech9]

I don't see any reason not to use it

We have discussed multiple times the reasons to use or not to use IPv6. I have IPv4 public IPs available and have zero reasons to run dual-stack. It's not faster, it's not more secure. Extra complication for no benefits whatsoever.

It actually has better hardware than most compact UniFi devices

The only comparable UniFi line device to ASUS home routers is UDR7 and it runs much better software with functionality, compatibility, and expandability not present in any ASUS model. The major step up with Unifi - it works as advertised. Set it up once and forget about it. Your ASUS router arrived with broken firmware, it's still broken a year later and you wait for updates hoping it will be fixed; you had to replace the original firmware to get extra functionality and you had to script things yourself. If you want to expand your network you have to study carefully the quirks between Guest Network, Guest Network Pro and Smart Home Master compatibility because if you don't - your network functionality will be reduced to the lowest compatibility level. I'm sorry, but this Honda Civic Type R networking (my term, Tech9®) has one advantage only - it's cheap. It also has a huge disadvantage - eats your life time and it's irreplaceable.

 

[slyx1978]

We have discussed multiple times the reasons to use or not to use IPv6. I have IPv4 public IPs available and have zero reasons to run dual-stack. It's not faster, it's not more secure. Extra complication for no benefits whatsoever.



The only comparable UniFi line device to ASUS home routers is UDR7 and it runs much better software with functionality, compatibility, and expandability not present in any ASUS model. The major step up with Unifi - it works as advertised. Set it up once and forget about it. Your ASUS router arrived with broken firmware, it's still broken a year later and you wait for updates hoping it will be fixed; you had to replace the original firmware to get extra functionality and you had to script things yourself. If you want to expand your network you have to study carefully the quirks between Guest Network, Guest Network Pro and Smart Home Master compatibility because if you don't - your network functionality will be reduced to the lowest compatibility level. I'm sorry, but this Honda Civic Type R networking (my term, Tech9®) has one advantage only - it's cheap. It also has a huge disadvantage - eats your life time and it's irreplaceable.

100% agreed