Weapons-grade home WiFi suggestions

[page3]

Advice sought please!

I've got a UniFi setup which has been working well for 18 months. USG + AC Pro + Controller running on an UnRAID docker. 35 wireless devices and probably another 15 or so hard-wired.

However, it has recently stated playing up - rebooting at random intervals, giving different errors in the log (processes crashed, but different ones). Sometime it'll run for a day, at other times it will re-boot 5 times an hour.

Unfortunately this was also around the USG had a firmware upgrade and the controller moved to the latest version. I have tried downgrading the USG firmware (tried 4.4.44, 4.4.41, 4.4.36, 4.4.32) but the problems persist. I've tried factory reset (twice) but still the issues persist.

I'm totally fed up.

I cannot determine if this is a hardware error, or just crappy firmware! My options are:

1. buy another USG and see if that works.
2. Throw it all and get a Mesh system - leaning towards Orbi.
3. Keep the ac-pro access point for wifi and buy a router to run Tomato/DD-WRT. Anyone suggest best current router for this?

I just want a fast, reliable system!!

Edited by page3 on Monday 30th September 11:09

[NorthDave]

page3 said:

Advice sought please!

I've got a UniFi setup which has been working well for 18 months. USG + AC Pro + Controller running on an UnRAID docker. 35 wireless devices and probably another 15 or so hard-wired.

However, it has recently stated playing up - rebooting at random intervals, giving different errors in the log (processes crashed, but different ones). Sometime it'll run for a day, at other times it will re-boot 5 times an hour.

Unfortunately this was also around the USG had a firmware upgrade and the controller moved to the latest version. I have tried downgrading the USG firmware (tried 4.4.44, 4.4.41, 4.4.36, 4.4.32) but the problems persist. I've tried factory reset (twice) but still the issues persist.

I'm totally fed up.

I cannot determine if this is a hardware error, or just crappy firmware! My options are:

1. buy another USG and see if that works.
2. Throw it all and get a Mesh system - leaning towards Orbi.
3. Keep the ac-pro access point for wifi and buy a router to run Tomato/DD-WRT. Anyone suggest best current router for this?

I just want a fast, reliable system!!

Edited by page3 on Monday 30th September 11:09

The bit that jumps out at me is the controller running on the UnRAID controller. I'm not 100% sure what that is but why not just buy a cloud key for £80 and see how it performs then? At least then you would have access to unifi support. We aren't seeing any issues with the systems we have installed for clients so it is something specific to your environment. It would be a shame to scrap it if it is a cheap or easy fix.

[thebraketester]

You don't need to run a hardware (or other "always on") controller to successfully run the usg system.

As above I would remove the controller from the docker and set up the USG via you browser and see if that cures the issue.

[PugwasHDJ80]

Is it the USG that's re-booting randomly?

for ages i ran my unifi network without a USG, just used the original router- it worked well, you just turn off the wifi on the router.

The usg is a great piece of kit if you need its functionality- i use it to run VPNs, a couple of virtual LANs (one for the kids and one for adults) and some other bits and bobs.

[robbieduncan]

The USG platform is basically dead: there is a new router platform coming to replace it very soon that is much more capable

[Bikerjon]

robbieduncan said:

The USG platform is basically dead: there is a new router platform coming to replace it very soon that is much more capable

Any details on that? I quite like the USG and now that it's all integrated into the controller makes it quite easy to manage - unlike the edgerouter!

[DoubleSix]

Rick101 said:

Spoke to the Google support team yesterday about my signal issues.

Very helpful but the short story is they ask you to do a system reset. The conclusion was that Google WiFi is not strong enough to reach through two walls.

But dissapointing. I'm back to questioning whether money is now best spent on a £20 booster as the camera is no more than 7 metres from the Google WiFi and about 2m from a power socket.

We have one solid wall that NOTHING can get through. Just drilled a hole and added an ethernet socket neatly on each side.

One Google Wifi puck on each side of the wall with wired backhaul... jobbed!

Edited by DoubleSix on Monday 30th September 23:07

[page3]

Thanks for all the replies.

Another couple of hours working on it tonight as it had been down all day. It wouldn’t even boot initially, with only the console light on, everything else dead. I did finally managed to get it to power on, after several attempts and it worked for 5 minutes before dying and now just goes from flashing white to no light on the led. The controller wasn’t even running as I had stopped the docker, as others have said its not absolutely necessary.

I have now dug out an old apple AirPort Extreme which has a failed WiFi circuit and one dead port after a lightening strike a couple of years ago. Disabling WiFi I had it up and running in less than five minutes, using the UniFi access point for WiFi.

I’ll either keep my network like that or get another USG as I do like the control and visibility it offers.

[Mattt]

Bikerjon said:

Any details on that? I quite like the USG and now that it's all integrated into the controller makes it quite easy to manage - unlike the edgerouter!

UniFi Dream Machine (& Pro).

All in one controller, router and AP.

Runs IPS at 1Gbps throughput.

[Mattt]

USG can have issues with the flash memory - there’s a USB stick inside that you can replace which may help (needs new image).

[Paper Lawyer]

robbieduncan said:

The USG platform is basically dead: there is a new router platform coming to replace it very soon that is much more capable

Oh bugger, that's more money I will justify to myself to spend....

(I started with the controller software on a spare raspberry pi controlling a USG and a single UAP-AC-Pro. That was circa 2 years ago and, bit by bit, I have upgraded to a Unifi setup consisting of cloud key, USG, 4 switches, 5 x UAP-AC-Pro and an in-wall....I could explain why I have so many APs but it would take too long. Brilliant wifi coverage though )

To the OP, I'd take the controller out of the equation but not convinced that alone would be causing the USG rebooting issues - interested to read above that there's a USB stick inside the USG.

[Mattt]

I expect the UDM to come in around £250-300.

[thebraketester]

Mattt said:

Bikerjon said:

Any details on that? I quite like the USG and now that it's all integrated into the controller makes it quite easy to manage - unlike the edgerouter!

UniFi Dream Machine (& Pro).

All in one controller, router and AP.

Runs IPS at 1Gbps throughput.

Hmmm.... looks very much like an Airport Extreme

[Bikerjon]

thebraketester said:

Hmmm.... looks very much like an Airport Extreme

It does a bit! I do wonder how this fits in the Unifi product line. It looks very consumer focussed and the Amplifi products already have that covered. I could see it as a higher end consumer Wi-Fi 6 device maybe.

[ecs0set]

Not sure I trust Ubiquiti with firewall/security duties to be honest.

You can get Sophos XG for free, it's pretty well respected and it runs on relatively lightweight hardware or a VM. What else does USG give you other than management via a single pane of glass?

[robbieduncan]

Bikerjon said:

Any details on that? I quite like the USG and now that it's all integrated into the controller makes it quite easy to manage - unlike the edgerouter!

Head over to the Ubiquiti forums/discord and get beta/early access. USG is being replaced by UDM. UDM runs the controller, some models have built-in access point and is based on a modern platform. USG platform is basically flat out with certain settings enabled and is difficult to support. UDM will (eventually) do everything USG does and is a device in the controller as USG is.

[triggerhappy21]

mikeiow said:

Anyone found a decent way to boost a Virgin media hub?
We have one room in particular that seems to struggle. Not far from the router, but perhaps the walls cause it trouble.
Not keen to use Powerline: used in the past here, and because the base is downstairs and the troublesome room up, the Powerline dropped about 90% throughput (crossing breakers on the circuit board - extending downstairs was fine!).

Virgin appear to recommend a Netgear Powerline WiFi 1000.
Thx!

Sorry for late reply, but I found my VM Hub 3 terrible over Wi-Fi. I eventually settled on an ASUS RT-AC68U, which seemed to get very good reviews.

I'll be honest, I struggled setting it up, but I fudged my way through in an hour or so.

For comparison, I have 100Mb broadband, with the Hub 3, I would get maybe 15Mb-40Mb around the house, dropping to maybe 5Mb at the end of the garden (~25m from Hub). I'd get 100Mb over Ethernet.

With the ASUS, I now get consistently over 100Mb (~108Mb) in every inch of the house, and around 80Mb at the end of the garden.

I'd imagine similar routers would show similar differences, but goes to show how sh*te the Virgin Hub is...

[dmsims]

Yep RT-AC68U is excellent as is the later RT-AC86U

Both will happily run Merlin firmware

[Bikerjon]

robbieduncan said:

Bikerjon said:

Any details on that? I quite like the USG and now that it's all integrated into the controller makes it quite easy to manage - unlike the edgerouter!

Head over to the Ubiquiti forums/discord and get beta/early access. USG is being replaced by UDM. UDM runs the controller, some models have built-in access point and is based on a modern platform. USG platform is basically flat out with certain settings enabled and is difficult to support. UDM will (eventually) do everything USG does and is a device in the controller as USG is.

Thanks for the info. I do a fair a bit with Unifi and Amplifi and yet this is the first I've heard of UDM!

Have you heard if any Wi-Fi 6 gear is coming on either platform?

[robbieduncan]

Bikerjon said:

Thanks for the info. I do a fair a bit with Unifi and Amplifi and yet this is the first I've heard of UDM!

Have you heard if any Wi-Fi 6 gear is coming on either platform?

Not yet. I expect it is being developed though