Ubiquiti AC long range vs lite vs pro

[Bikerjon]

I know theres at least a couple of Ubiquiti experts on here so thought I'd ask what the real world difference is between the long range unifi AP's and the Lite/Pro? I mostly install in large (very large) homes so it can be a mixture of open spaces plus some with lots of thick walls and other obstacles. I've been using AC Pro's with fairly good results so far, but some installations have required more AP's than I'd like. Is the long range AP worth a go in a domestic install or is it typically for commercial wide open spaces?

[Murph7355]

I think the general consensus is that the LRs aren't really a wise idea for anything other than very specific scenarios. I think because comms depends on both the ap and the client device.

Conventional wisdom seems to be to use std APs but more of them in the event of blackspots.

I bought LRs (had them a couple of years now) and they work fine. But they still don't allow a wireless doorbell to be used in my garden (no more than 20m away from an LR AP in the house). I only found out about conventional wisdom after I'd bought

[Bikerjon]

Murph7355 said:

I think the general consensus is that the LRs aren't really a wise idea for anything other than very specific scenarios. I think because comms depends on both the ap and the client device.

Yes I thought that to be the case however the newer "AC" access points claim to improve reliability between low power clients too. In fact that seems to be one of the selling points due to the antenna design.

[Murph7355]

Bikerjon said:

Murph7355 said:

I think the general consensus is that the LRs aren't really a wise idea for anything other than very specific scenarios. I think because comms depends on both the ap and the client device.

Yes I thought that to be the case however the newer "AC" access points claim to improve reliability between low power clients too. In fact that seems to be one of the selling points due to the antenna design.

I'd want to be trying one before I believed it/stumped up cash. I might email them with my topography and see if they'll send me one on a no-win/no-fee basis I suspect they'll decline.

What sort of environment are you putting them into? Do you have a map and notes on obstacles etc?

[Bikerjon]

Murph7355 said:

What sort of environment are you putting them into? Do you have a map and notes on obstacles etc?

It's mostly large homes. A few small offices too but they're usually so small that 1 or 2 AP's is ample. The homes can be anything from huge open plan high-tech places with CAT6 sockets in every corner to sprawling farmhouses with outbuildings/extensions/thick walls etc. Speed of installation is key as there's not usually huge profits involved, so anything that cuts down on the number of AP's is good!

[Murph7355]

You piqued my interest and I may order one of the new LRs to see how it does (mine are the UAP-LRs).

I'm still doubtful they'll make a difference, but might be worth a go if I can get somewhere with a decent returns policy.

I really rate Unifi gear. Anyone struggling trying to serve a whole house with something like a BT Hub should invest.

[Mattt]

I use one, in place of an older LR.

Difficult to compare but I feel it's a definite improvement in range/reliability.

[megaphone]

The older UAP LR where just standard units with more output power, the antennas where the same, so not much help, your small device could see the AP, but often couldn't reach it.

The new AC LR units have improved antennas over the standard units, so a 'true' long range unit. I've tested them and they are a big improvement over the old UAP.

Personally I'd still try and install more lower powered units, but appreciate running cables is difficult and expensive.

[Tonsko]

Running two of the lites, old house, thick walls, long and thin, 2 floors. Get full coverage, decent speed. If that helps. Using powerlines to wire them.

Also, don't forget to update, there's a new vulnerability out!

https://www.sec-consult.com/fxdata/seccons/prod/te...

Edited by Tonsko on Monday 20th March 22:49

[Murph7355]

OK, ordered one.

Will try it as soon as it gets here (and get it on eBay if it doesn't do what I need ).

[megaphone]

Tonsko said:

Running two of the lites, old house, thick walls, long and thin, 2 floors. Get full coverage, decent speed. If that helps. Using powerlines to wire them.

Also, don't forget to update, there's a new vulnerability out!

https://www.sec-consult.com/fxdata/seccons/prod/te...

Edited by Tonsko on Monday 20th March 22:49

That vulnerability does not affect Unifi products, just AirOS and Toughswitches.

[Tonsko]

megaphone said:

That vulnerability does not affect Unifi products, just AirOS and Toughswitches.

Is that the NBE/PBE or whatever product codes?

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I've got an LR on the landing and it covers our traditional 3 bedroomed house very well (especially upstairs).
I'll be buying another to cover the conservatory/garden as soon as it starts warming up and we migrate outside though - AC doesn't go through walls very well at all.

[LotusMartin]

I have 4 Ubiquiti APs, 3 AP Lite and an AP pro external set up. 2 Lites covering the house (VERY thick stone walls) and one in our cottage. The range and hand-off between APs is outstanding.

I have the 3 AP Lites in the loft under the insulation facing down ( I was going to mount on the ceiling but they work great in the loft) The AP Pro is water resistant so I mounted it under the eves on our gable end - range is about 50m.

POE works great, you can even 'daisy-chain' them together wirelessly, but I think it reduces the speed, mine are all CAT5e POE.

Highly highly recomnended.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

LotusMartin said:

I have 4 Ubiquiti APs, 3 AP Lite and an AP pro external set up. 2 Lites covering the house (VERY thick stone walls) and one in our cottage. The range and hand-off between APs is outstanding.

I have the 3 AP Lites in the loft under the insulation facing down ( I was going to mount on the ceiling but they work great in the loft) The AP Pro is water resistant so I mounted it under the eves on our gable end - range is about 50m.

POE works great, you can even 'daisy-chain' them together wirelessly, but I think it reduces the speed, mine are all CAT5e POE.

Highly highly recomnended.

Yeah linking with WLAN isn't ideal at all. You definitely want them all wired back to the switch if possible, or you can daisy chain the Pro models with cable because they have two network connections.

[Tonsko]

Yeh good point, when you buy them, make sure that (with the lite anyway) you request a POE adapter. Unless your switch can support it, obvs.

[megaphone]

Tonsko said:

megaphone said:

That vulnerability does not affect Unifi products, just AirOS and Toughswitches.

Is that the NBE/PBE or whatever product codes?

It's the Airmax range, Nanostations NSM. Airgrid, Nanobeam etc. The ones that run the AirOS firmware.

[Bikerjon]

Murph7355 said:

OK, ordered one.

Will try it as soon as it gets here (and get it on eBay if it doesn't do what I need ).

I'll probably order one for the next installation that comes my way. In the meantime it would be useful if you could post back on this thread with your findings?

I notice there's a V2 of the lite and LR. Now with proper 802.3AF POE

Thanks for the other contributions too

[Murph7355]

Bikerjon said:

I'll probably order one for the next installation that comes my way. In the meantime it would be useful if you could post back on this thread with your findings?

I notice there's a V2 of the lite and LR. Now with proper 802.3AF POE

Thanks for the other contributions too

Will do.

(What I really want to do is replace my network switches with a 48 port Unifi PoE switch, and then add some of their cameras....but can't quite justify the cost at the moment ).

[Mattt]

Had anyone tried their mesh offering?