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Wi-Fi startup Eero lays off 30 employees
- electricslpnsld 9y agoI hope Eero stays afloat, once Apple abandoned the Wi-Fi router business Eero has been the most reliable consumer solution I've found.
- pat2man 9y agoIf Apple started carrying them in stores I'm sure it would be a huge boost. They are still selling Airport routes.
- r00fus 9y agoDoes Eero require a cloud account to manage their routers? I bought Ubiquiti Amplifi simply for that reason. Working great.
- jdpedrie 9y agoYes, and it's by far the worst thing about it. Reset your router while there's a cable outage? Sorry, no wifi until your cable company gets the internet connection back online.
- ktta 9y agoWhat? That's ridiculous.
- philsnow 9y agoThis hit me when I moved recently. I would usually fall back to just accessing the configuration on my phone's cell connection, but 1) the house I moved to has poor reception for my carrier and 2) the cable enters the house in the basement so even less signal. Cue several rounds of climbing up and down the stairs.
- leesalminen 9y agoI switched to Ubiquiti products a few months ago and am quite happy with it. Lots of settings, modern UI, and no cloud required. I even had fun placing all the APs and whatnot.
- rconti 9y agoAgreed. I've got a full UniFi setup at home and setup an AmpliFi network at my brother-in-law's house. Great gear. The range on Ubiquiti blows my old Meraki gear out of the water. I spent years tweaking settings on Meraki and was always unhappy with the range. I blamed it on everything except the gear until I replaced it.
- Consultant32452 9y agoI've had excellent service from Google Wifi. FWIW all of my devices are Apple.
- MBCook 9y agoDo you mean the box that comes with Google Fiber? I have odd issues with some of my devices every few weeks, though none of my Apple stuff, where they seem to stop getting DHCP leases (or stop using them?) for no discernible reason. Restarting the Google box always fixes it, but it’s extremely annoying. That was never an issue with my AirPort in charge of things.
- wmf 9y agoNo, the product named Google Wifi is different from the box that comes with Google Fiber. https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi https://store.google.com/product/google_wifi
- MBCook 9y agoOh, I didn’t know they had their own stand alone AP. Thanks for the link.
- kyrra 9y agoIt's also Chrome OS based. https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-for-chrome-os-devices https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/developer-information-f... It gets automatic regular firmware updates to stay insync with Chrome OS, so it should always be patched. It has a dead simple user interface, though it means many power user features are not there. Though there is a project out there to root the device and do more with it. https://github.com/marcosscriven/galeforce https://github.com/marcosscriven/galeforce
- Consultant32452 9y agoWhile it's true that it has a relatively simple user interface, I've found that it has every feature I've wanted and I'm generally a power user. I can set access schedules for my kids' devices. It even has a "porn" filter but I don't use that so I don't know if it's effective. I can prioritize certain devices so they get first dibs at bandwidth. I can reserve static IP addresses for some devices, and I can do port forwarding. I feel like those features and probably a few more that I couldn't think of off the top of my head are going to cover 99.99% of all users' needs. I agree there are other devices, especially if you flash your own firmware, that will give you more fine tuned control. I just didn't want to leave anyone with the impression that it lacked the major features people will be looking for. The only feature I personally would like to use that it doesn't have is the ability to configure the router as a VPN client.
- Johnny555 9y agoA coworker swears by Ubiquiti's home mesh router: https://www.amplifi.com/ https://www.amplifi.com/ I've never used it, but am very happy with their business products (switches+wifi)
- Domenic_S 9y agoAnother vote for Amplifi. I have an unusual home (several additions over the years meaning "exterior" walls on the inside, single story, large) and using Amplifi I have full bars anywhere in the house or on my property. They're a little trigger-happy with the firmware updates (one recent update bricked DNS) but otherwise it's a fire-and-forget solution.
- dogma1138 9y agoUbiquiti is dirt cheap for the entry level which pretty much outperforms any consumer oriented routers on the market. I’ve replaced my entire setup with an edge router and 2 APs for less than what a mid to high end linksys or similarly performing routers would cost. The QoS you get is 10 times better I can have 100% utilization on both uplink and downlink without a single real time application affected. Security and networking features are also in an entirely different league even with taking DDWRT and OpenWRT and the likes into account.
- mbesto 9y ago> Ubiquiti is dirt cheap for the entry level which pretty much outperforms any consumer oriented routers on the market. Very true, but unless you're talking about Amplifi, this is usually a non-starter for 95% of the non-tech population.
- gervase 9y agoI took the parent's suggestion as being targeted for the HN audience; I agree that for most people, it's impossible to use, but for the readers here, I'd say it's an apt recommendation.
- snowwindwaves 9y agoUbiquity is using openwrt since a few years ago with their own UI I thought?
- TheKitchenSinc 9y agoUbiquiti uses EdgeOS, which was forked from Vyatta, with their own UI on top of it.
- dogma1138 9y agoNot as far as i know they use EdgeOS for the routers and AirOS for their managed APs, with a few others for their SGAs and managed switches. As far as I know they never used OpenWRT or anything like it, if they did they hid it very well to the point where it would be legal for them to remove it from their license agreements. The CLI and the file system you can see on the router looks and acts nothing like OpenWRT.
- the_mitsuhiko 9y agoI found Netgear's Orbi really great consumer devices. I am using them exclusively at home now and they are great. They support ethernet or wifi backhaul, can build an actual mesh if you need but have really great out of the box performance with just the satellite(s) connecting to the router. Definitely the most stable wifi setup I have ever owned and they also provide OpenVPN and a bunch of other nice things out of the box.
- kstrauser 9y agoI agree. Like a lot of us here, I can build (and have built) my own networking gear starting with an empty hard drive and a Linux/BSD installer. I don't have to use an off-the-shelf networking solution. That said, Eero "just works" and much better than anything I've ever built myself. The mesh stuff delivers on its promises: I can start watching a video in my living room, then wander about the house hopping from AP to AP without dropping a single frame. My family doesn't pester me about idiosyncrasies. My kids' friends talk about our wifi being much better than what they have at home. I could not possibly love Eero more. I hope they make it through this unscathed!
- foobarbazetc 9y agoGoogle Wifi is better in every way, especially if you get some dirt cheap OnHubs.
- jacksmith21006 9y agoAgree. Have the GW and it has worked extremely well. The app is 1st rate.
- rorykoehler 9y agoI got a Linksys Velop system after researching thoroughly. It's also rock solid.
- dbbk 9y agoEveryone keeps saying that Apple has abandoned the router business and I'm not sure where this is coming from. They still sell and support the AirPorts. They're even in stores. A router isn't something that needs annual upgrades... realistically, there's not a whole lot technologically meaningful Apple could add to the product today. When 802.11ax comes around, then I'm sure Apple will make a big upgrade.
- debt 9y agoIt's crazy that they'd pursue solving anything other than the very difficult problem of providing consistent wifi indoors. It's still largely an unsolved problem; most solutions are quite expensive.
- dingo_bat 9y agoLol what? It's pretty well solved in office buildings. Why not just use the same thing in your home if you need it? Personally I've never lived in a house so bug it can't be covered well with a good AP and a repeater.
- floatingatoll 9y agoIt's not crazy, but it's probably a bad idea, and the layoffs confirm that they agree with you on that point :)
- AlexAltea 9y agoSomewhat offtopic but: > Eero [...] has laid off 20 percent of its workforce (about 30 employees), TechCrunch has learned. Eero confirmed about 30 employees were let go but declined to comment on its total workforce size. Since the workforce size can be inferred from this information (specifically, Eero seems to have gone from 150 to 120 employees approximately). Am I missing something, or why do they say Eero declined to comment on the workforce size? How did TechCrunch learn that those 30 employees represented 20% of the company workforce?
- dragonwriter 9y ago> Since the workforce size can be inferred from this information The 20% information didn't come from, and wasn't confirmed by, Eero, only the 30 people part was confirmed by the company. > Am I missing something, or why do they say Eero declined to comment on the workforce size? Because Eero declined to comment on the workforce size. > Am I missing something, or why do they say Eero declined to comment on the workforce size? From whoever leaked then information about the layoffs, who was not speaking on behalf of Eero when they did so.
- flylib 9y agoLinkedIn/Twitter/Facebook, you can find a ballpark number of employees at a company that size pretty easily
- dmourati 9y agoMany people who I think highly of subscribe to the benefits of mesh networking which I suppose can be summarized as simplicity, ease of use, and relatively low cost. I was almost lured into mesh when I changed my mind and decided to investigate Ubiquiti Unifi. Having chosen Ubiquiti, I'm pretty convinced I made the right choice. When I continue to hear people coming out of the woodwork lauding the mesh systems like eero, I keep wondering if their use case or preferences are that different from mine.
- ghughes 9y agoCan you talk a bit about why you chose Ubiquiti over eero?
- gervase 9y agoI can't speak for the parent, but from my perspective: + Very secure, with ongoing, regular software and firmware updates (this is big for me, after ASUS, DLink, et al) + Extremely feature-rich (both hardware and software) + Relatively affordable for what you get (much cheaper than Eero) + Modular (upgrade WAP separate from router, etc) - Complex to setup (requires a VPS, dedicated dongle sold separately, or monthly fee) - Not many people are set up for PoE; injectors are annoying. It was worth it for me, as I happen to enjoy playing with VPSes. Plus, it makes it exponentially easier for me to troubleshoot my parents' WiFi when they have a problem, as it's designed to be managed remotely.
- blakesterz 9y ago- Complex to setup (requires a VPS, dedicated dongle sold separately, or monthly fee) I just set up Ubiquti here at home and while it wasn't super easy, I didn't find it all that bad. What required a VPS/Dongle/Fee for you? I didn't need any of that. (I have a security gateway, edge routers, and 3 pro aps.)
- jcollins 9y agoI bet he’s referring to having a controller but I think you can run it on your laptop, configure everything and then turn off the controller. I don’t think the controller is needed after initial configuration unless you want the stats collection. I have the cloud key (the dongle) so I could be wrong. It is easy but it’s still slightly harder than the average consumer would want.
- itpragmatik 9y agoMy experience with Eero - it works if you don't close door to the room where the main pod or wifi router is. If that room door is closed - the wifi connectivity is absyml or even absent. Is this expected behavior? Also, I think it need all pods in direct line of sight of each other - even if the pods are placed at distance and in different rooms/floors?
- dpark 9y ago> My experience with Eero - it works if you don't close door to the room where the main pod or wifi router is. If that room door is closed - the wifi connectivity is absyml or even absent. Is this expected behavior? Not expected unless your room is a faraday cage. > Also, I think it need all pods in direct line of sight of each other - even if the pods are placed at distance and in different rooms/floors Definitely doesn’t need line of sight. It’s just 2.4/5ghz WiFi transmission. The less stuff in the way, the better it will work, but you don’t need line of sight for typical homes. If your home is made of poured concrete and adobe, yeah, you might have trouble, but that’s going to be the case with any WiFi solution.
- floatingatoll 9y agoThat's definitely not the behavior I get when I close the doors in my apartment. You should contact Eero Support about it.
- meritt 9y agoI've been an eero user for a year and a half and I've been very happy. Prior to the purchase my research indicated that Ubiquiti would have been a technically superior option but the setup/configuration looked far more daunting than the amount of time I wanted to dedicate to setting up my home wifi. Eero just works but it's definitely very limited in configuration/control. Wifi reliability, coverage, and speed across the entire home (including fully encompassing the yard) is superb. The setup is absolutely amazing. You plug them in and you're done.
- shifter 9y agoEero works okay but the consistency is not great (wild variations in ping time, for instance). I switched to a Ubiquiti (Unifi) setup and it is a world of difference. My ping times are super stable (like < 1ms of standard deviation awesome) and that makes a big difference for any realtime demands.
- rconti 9y agoMy house is full of UniFi and I still had no idea that AmpliFi exists -- Ubiquiti's consumer-grade gear that's nowhere on their main website. It's well worth checking out for the tech novices in your life. (Great app-based setup for a WiFi router, mesh wifi, etc)
- dharma1 9y agoNow that regular ASUS routers can be meshed, I'm wondering if that would be an option with better price and range compared to Google WiFi, Eero etc. https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/03/asus-mesh-wifi-aimesh/ https://www.engadget.com/2018/01/03/asus-mesh-wifi-aimesh/
- mmagin 9y agoAre they still lacking ipv6?
- jwilliams 9y agoI've had both the Eero Gen 1 (3x Routers) and Eero Gen 2 (1x Router and 2x Beacons). The Gen 2 is much better. Part of that is topology. I've got a long railroad-esque SF apartment. The beacons along the main hallway are unobtrusive and get great backhaul to the main router. They also function as nightlights, which is neat. Hopefully they keep afloat and iterating the product. Having raised $90M you've got to wonder if they're betting a lot on growth of their SaaS "Eero Plus" product.
- plasticchris 9y agoFrom the official statement: Over the past year we explored several related projects, and we’ve now made the tough decision to eliminate one new project in favor of greater focus on our core business.
- tonydiv 9y agoGoogle Wifi has been fantastic for me and it's cheaper. Easiest product I've ever setup too.
- juskrey 9y agoMikrotik. I mean we are on hackers forum, right?
- garganzol 9y agoThe last time I've checked, Mikrotik Wi-Fi wasn't great. It sporadically rebooted in crowded environments where you see like 50 Wi-Fi stations nearby. It's an excellent router though. But the built-in Wi-Fi is pretty crude. That's why we had to turn it off and use Mikrotik exclusively as a WAN/LAN router in our office. The Wi-Fi part was delegated to AmpliFi HD mesh system.
- juskrey 9y agoInteresting. I am using "Mikrotik hAP ac" device and it works flawlessly in pretty noisy environment too.
- duncan_bayne 9y agoI've heard good things about Ubiquiti, too. Unfortunately, they are also pirates who have shamelessly violated the GPL: https://community.ubnt.com/t5/Business-Talk/Slashdot-quot-How-Ubiquiti-Networks-Is-Creatively-Violating-the/td-p/1222643 https://community.ubnt.com/t5/Business-Talk/Slashdot-quot-Ho... Massively unethical behaviour, and I've not seen anything to suggest they've improved in this area.
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- ksec 9y agoMay be Apple should acquire them? Google already has its own WiFi and it seems the idea of Eero fits Apple perfectly.
- jacksmith21006 9y agoPurchased the Google WiFi and has worked extremely well for our busy house. Have 8 kids and our house is the house to play. The app is 1st rate.