Ubiquiti Unifi home network setup - thoughts?
Discussion
Just to confirm, you do not need to have a controller running 24/7, once set up the controller can be disconnected. The system will run standalone, you only really need a controller if you're running controlled access and taking payments etc. The controller can run on a PC/Mac/Linux, once you set everything up it can be switched off.
OP I think your proposed set-up is a bit OTT for a home network, unless you have money to burn! See my post above. The APs work best ceiling mounted in an open area, they work best when cabled. If I where in your shoes, I'd wait until you have the building works , then get some cables in to where you need them.
Personally I'd not bother with the AC Mesh units, I'd go for some AP AC Lite , better suited to indoor deployment, they look prettier as well. If you cannot wire them, they will run on a wireless up-link back to a wired main AP, 'wireless uplink' works much the same as the 'mesh' does using 5Ghz to link back to the AP.
OP I think your proposed set-up is a bit OTT for a home network, unless you have money to burn! See my post above. The APs work best ceiling mounted in an open area, they work best when cabled. If I where in your shoes, I'd wait until you have the building works , then get some cables in to where you need them.
Personally I'd not bother with the AC Mesh units, I'd go for some AP AC Lite , better suited to indoor deployment, they look prettier as well. If you cannot wire them, they will run on a wireless up-link back to a wired main AP, 'wireless uplink' works much the same as the 'mesh' does using 5Ghz to link back to the AP.
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 21st January 16:41
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 21st January 16:42
I agree with megaphone.
I have a unifi network...4x APs (bought wrong - I have LRs. Ho hum) into an edge switch. Switch plugs into my Draytek 2860 modem router. (I also have a Netgear 16 port unmanaged switch in use).
I was using Zero Handoff (effectively meshing APs) but it was troublesome (drop outs and weird network behaviour). Turned it off and it's all been stable since.
A new challenge for me is getting signal 20 metres outside in a dip. I've tried repositioning my APs but nowhere quite gets strong enough signal (for a Ring video doorbell at a gate). Still scratching my head on that one.
I'm also quite keen to replace the APs with Pros and to get a much bigger switch - Unifi 48 port PoE to replace the edge switch and netgear and tidy up my cabling set up...the costs are a bit heavy at the moment though.
Unifi products are very good. Definitely recommend them. But think hard about what to buy and what each bit is aiming to achieve - I didn't (thought I had) and ended up with a sub-optimal (but still good and infinitely better than just trying to use the Draytek for the whole house!) set up
I have a unifi network...4x APs (bought wrong - I have LRs. Ho hum) into an edge switch. Switch plugs into my Draytek 2860 modem router. (I also have a Netgear 16 port unmanaged switch in use).
I was using Zero Handoff (effectively meshing APs) but it was troublesome (drop outs and weird network behaviour). Turned it off and it's all been stable since.
A new challenge for me is getting signal 20 metres outside in a dip. I've tried repositioning my APs but nowhere quite gets strong enough signal (for a Ring video doorbell at a gate). Still scratching my head on that one.
I'm also quite keen to replace the APs with Pros and to get a much bigger switch - Unifi 48 port PoE to replace the edge switch and netgear and tidy up my cabling set up...the costs are a bit heavy at the moment though.
Unifi products are very good. Definitely recommend them. But think hard about what to buy and what each bit is aiming to achieve - I didn't (thought I had) and ended up with a sub-optimal (but still good and infinitely better than just trying to use the Draytek for the whole house!) set up
megaphone said:
Just to confirm, you do not need to have a controller running 24/7, once set up the controller can be disconnected. The system will run standalone, you only really need a controller if you're running controlled access and taking payments etc. The controller can run on a PC/Mac/Linux, once you set everything up it can be switched off.
OP I think your proposed set-up is a bit OTT for a home network, unless you have money to burn! See my post above. The APs work best ceiling mounted in an open area, they work best when cabled. If I where in your shoes, I'd wait until you have the building works , then get some cables in to where you need them.
Personally I'd not bother with the AC Mesh units, I'd go for some AP AC Lite , better suited to indoor deployment, they look prettier as well. If you cannot wire them, they will run on a wireless up-link back to a wired main AP, 'wireless uplink' works much the same as the 'mesh' does using 5Ghz to link back to the AP.
Thanks for the comments. I will definitely run cable as soon as possible. I know the current setup will be compromised until then too. The Mesh units will be run via uplink from the main AC-Pro. OP I think your proposed set-up is a bit OTT for a home network, unless you have money to burn! See my post above. The APs work best ceiling mounted in an open area, they work best when cabled. If I where in your shoes, I'd wait until you have the building works , then get some cables in to where you need them.
Personally I'd not bother with the AC Mesh units, I'd go for some AP AC Lite , better suited to indoor deployment, they look prettier as well. If you cannot wire them, they will run on a wireless up-link back to a wired main AP, 'wireless uplink' works much the same as the 'mesh' does using 5Ghz to link back to the AP.
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 21st January 16:41
Edited by megaphone on Saturday 21st January 16:42
5678 said:
Thanks for the comments. I will definitely run cable as soon as possible. I know the current setup will be compromised until then too. The Mesh units will be run via uplink from the main AC-Pro.
If you have kids, the time-based network feature on the APs is very handy, although it does require the controller to be running all the time. Mine's on a Raspberry PI, I use it to keep the kids' WiFi network available from 9am-8.15pm only.Ive got a fair bit of unifi kit out in the wild. access points, edgerouters, unifi switches.
and its great kit, I've even swapped my access points at home for them. for me the manageability is fantastic and the performance w are getting is good. used them in places where we have had a lot of drop out with other kit and these have stopped that.
The aps. also work well if you pair them with one wired and one with a wireless backhaul to the wired one. you do need to make sure you get the psu injector then as not all the kits include them. it does cut through put a bit but not so you would notice in most applications.
the ability to run a guest wifi over the same kit is handy too
and its great kit, I've even swapped my access points at home for them. for me the manageability is fantastic and the performance w are getting is good. used them in places where we have had a lot of drop out with other kit and these have stopped that.
The aps. also work well if you pair them with one wired and one with a wireless backhaul to the wired one. you do need to make sure you get the psu injector then as not all the kits include them. it does cut through put a bit but not so you would notice in most applications.
the ability to run a guest wifi over the same kit is handy too
Murph7355 said:
A new challenge for me is getting signal 20 metres outside in a dip. I've tried repositioning my APs but nowhere quite gets strong enough signal (for a Ring video doorbell at a gate). Still scratching my head on that one.
I'm running Unifi AP's with a Ring video doorbell. I've had to position a new AP right near the front door to get it to work as it's a Hormann which is the extra sealed/secure variety. I now get WiFi outside the front of the house which is a nice benefit when sitting in the car waiting to go out...If I was you, I'd get a Unifi outdoor AP to resolve the issue - https://www.ubnt.com/unifi/unifi-ap-outdoor/
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