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IMO, really rethink your position on Ubiquiti. For residential use, you really don't need anything from their HD line. I have no affiliation with them other tha

IMO, really rethink your position on Ubiquiti. For residential use, you really don't need anything from their HD line. I have no affiliation with them other than being a very happy customer. They literally have a device for almost any networking use-case you can think of. You _do not_ need to use their cloud management capabilities, have an account with Unifi, etc to be able to use it (even though that's what they really want you to do -- I wanted 100% local management for my own setup, so this was a hard requirement for me). For your purposes, I would highly recommend checking out the Unifi Dream Machine (https://store.ui.com/collections/routing-switching/products/unifi-dream-machine https://store.ui.com/collections/routing-switching/products/... -- not the Pro unless you already have a network rack). It's as close to an AirPort as you can reasonably get these days. You can also get additional Unifi APs if you need more coverage (including any of their outdoor stuff) or use Unifi LTE as a backup conneciton (https://unifi-lte.ui.com/ https://unifi-lte.ui.com/) I've installed just the Dream Machine in several family members' homes and it's a huge improvement over the nonsense that the ISPs provide them with. Personally, I run a Unifi Security Gateway, Cloud key (Gen 1), and the AC AP PRO and I've been very happy with it. I like that I can selectively upgrade equipment when needed (for example, I upgraded my AP for better range and speed a couple years ago, but I'm still using the same USG that I got back in 2014 or something). If you're having trouble figuring out what you need and you want to go the Ubiquiti route, feel free to email me (see profile) and I can get you pointed in the right direction.

adamfeldman 6y ago
I recently switched to the Unifi Dream Machine from AirPort Extreme. I’m thrilled. The major upgrade for me was the analytics available in the Unifi controller (built-in to UDM). The analytics (channel scanner especially) enabled me to see the neighboring interference that had degraded the Airport network quality and was causing my devices to act weirdly. I see WiFi as an arms race. My 5+ year old Airport (802.11ac) is no longer a match against newer ISP gateways with built-in access points. The UDM (802.11ac Wave 2) not only competes properly, but can analyze any future problems that will occur as neighbors change out their equipment.
- reaperducer 6y ago
  Thanks for the suggestion. I looked it up on Amazon, and the reviews are brutal. But more and more it's looking like Ubiquiti and Unifi are the only real contenders, and whatever I buy may suck or it may not. It's just the luck of the draw.
  - adamfeldman 6y ago
    I've had plenty of frustrations with it. But AFAICT it's the best on-ramp to the Unifi ecosystem. It's a new system, and it shows – plenty of rough edges. For example, ethernet connection drops between my Thunderbolt dock and the UDM (resolved by sticking a switch in-between). There's a learning curve for sure. It will be tough if you aren't already strong with basic networking concepts. It's also frustrating to run into Ubiquiti forum posts that don't apply to the UDM, because it doesn't expose the same low-level config tooling as their other products. I can't fix my VLAN-mDNS troubles due to that. Over time, I expect to replace the router/gateway responsibilities with Protectli hardware and OPNsense. But at least now I have solid WiFi to build upon.
  - cweagans 6y ago
    If you're up for a bit of tinkering, I definitely recommend the USG/AP/Cloud key combo over the Dream Machine. All-in-one devices are never going to be as good as separate single purpose components, but if an all-in one is what you want, the Dream Machine is the best one out there as far as I can tell.
adkadskhj 6y ago
It's interesting - as someone in the market (but not actively looking) i glanced at Ubiquiti and found it bizarrely confusing. Granted, i'm definitely no network admin, but i'm just used to the days when i'd hook up a simple Router behind a Modem and get basic firewall, wifi, etc features with a moderately complex and useful admin interface out of the box. With Ubiquiti i had no clue what i wanted or where i should go. There were all these tradeoffs (Cloud vs not) where i didn't even understand the context for making a decision. Coming from a simple (old) TP-Link router next to me, the idea of needing some complex setup or an easy "cloud" option both seem bizarre. It's a router.. what is Unifi offering that changes everything so much? I still plan on eventually going Unifi since all my coworkers recommend it with glowing praise - but i keep kicking that can because every time i open their page it sounds like some big project. I just wanted a replacement Router + ~4-8ports + wifi haha. I probably would have already purchased something from Uniquiti if i had any clue what to buy from them.
- rainonmoon 6y ago
  Fellow TP-Link router user checking in and I feel similarly. The bells and whistles on the Dream Machine + Unifi OS are appealing in an ooh-shiny-things way, but I can't help thinking that it's way overkill for a (or at least my) home network. When I'm troubleshooting the network performance at home, it's usually to get housemates back online as quickly as possible. A comprehensive analytics platform is cool, but seems like a distraction compared to the outdated-looking but functional TP-Link interface. Then there's the tacit upsell of it all. Of course all those bells and whistles are a lot more relevant and useful the more you buy in. If you're going full Smart Home, it's cool that Ubiquiti offers an enterprise-y experience for your residence, but if you just want a cable to the outside world, as OP seems to want, Ubiquiti does seem confusingly elaborate. (Also I imagine a lot of us spend enough time looking at network analytics at work; I don't want to go to sleep with graphs behind my eyelids.)
- cweagans 6y ago
  If you don't want the all-in-one Dream Machine device (which is good for what it is), here's what you need: * Unifi Security Gateway (router) * Unifi AP (there are lots of options - for residential uses, you don't need the high density models. I run the AC PRO in my house and I only need one for relatively heavy use. Works great.) * Somewhere to run the Unifi controller. This is the web UI that you'd normally get built in on a consumer router. You can either set this up on a Raspberry Pi or similar device, or you can buy the Cloud Key. The Cloud Key can be used as a gateway for cloud management, but you absolutely _do not_ have to do that. You can treat it as a simple, embedded linux machine that runs the unifi controller software. That's it. Anything beyond that is optional. For my setup, I also picked up a cheap PoE switch to power both the cloud key and my AP (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YHLR6V3/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YHLR6V3/), along with a cheap rack mount gigabit switch that all of my wired devices hang off of (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BU0EKW https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BU0EKW) and tossed it all into a network rack with all the niceties (patch panel, UPS, PDU, and a synology NAS). You definitely don't need anything that elaborate though. The AP comes with a PoE injector, and the cloud key can be powered via a simple USB wall adapter (included, if I recall correctly).

adamfeldman 6y ago

I recently switched to the Unifi Dream Machine from AirPort Extreme. I’m thrilled. The major upgrade for me was the analytics available in the Unifi controller (built-in to UDM). The analytics (channel scanner especially) enabled me to see the neighboring interference that had degraded the Airport network quality and was causing my devices to act weirdly. I see WiFi as an arms race. My 5+ year old Airport (802.11ac) is no longer a match against newer ISP gateways with built-in access points. The UDM (802.11ac Wave 2) not only competes properly, but can analyze any future problems that will occur as neighbors change out their equipment.

reaperducer 6y ago
Thanks for the suggestion. I looked it up on Amazon, and the reviews are brutal. But more and more it's looking like Ubiquiti and Unifi are the only real contenders, and whatever I buy may suck or it may not. It's just the luck of the draw.
- adamfeldman 6y ago
  I've had plenty of frustrations with it. But AFAICT it's the best on-ramp to the Unifi ecosystem. It's a new system, and it shows – plenty of rough edges. For example, ethernet connection drops between my Thunderbolt dock and the UDM (resolved by sticking a switch in-between). There's a learning curve for sure. It will be tough if you aren't already strong with basic networking concepts. It's also frustrating to run into Ubiquiti forum posts that don't apply to the UDM, because it doesn't expose the same low-level config tooling as their other products. I can't fix my VLAN-mDNS troubles due to that. Over time, I expect to replace the router/gateway responsibilities with Protectli hardware and OPNsense. But at least now I have solid WiFi to build upon.
- cweagans 6y ago
  If you're up for a bit of tinkering, I definitely recommend the USG/AP/Cloud key combo over the Dream Machine. All-in-one devices are never going to be as good as separate single purpose components, but if an all-in one is what you want, the Dream Machine is the best one out there as far as I can tell.

adkadskhj 6y ago

It's interesting - as someone in the market (but not actively looking) i glanced at Ubiquiti and found it bizarrely confusing. Granted, i'm definitely no network admin, but i'm just used to the days when i'd hook up a simple Router behind a Modem and get basic firewall, wifi, etc features with a moderately complex and useful admin interface out of the box. With Ubiquiti i had no clue what i wanted or where i should go. There were all these tradeoffs (Cloud vs not) where i didn't even understand the context for making a decision. Coming from a simple (old) TP-Link router next to me, the idea of needing some complex setup or an easy "cloud" option both seem bizarre. It's a router.. what is Unifi offering that changes everything so much? I still plan on eventually going Unifi since all my coworkers recommend it with glowing praise - but i keep kicking that can because every time i open their page it sounds like some big project. I just wanted a replacement Router + ~4-8ports + wifi haha. I probably would have already purchased something from Uniquiti if i had any clue what to buy from them.

rainonmoon 6y ago
Fellow TP-Link router user checking in and I feel similarly. The bells and whistles on the Dream Machine + Unifi OS are appealing in an ooh-shiny-things way, but I can't help thinking that it's way overkill for a (or at least my) home network. When I'm troubleshooting the network performance at home, it's usually to get housemates back online as quickly as possible. A comprehensive analytics platform is cool, but seems like a distraction compared to the outdated-looking but functional TP-Link interface. Then there's the tacit upsell of it all. Of course all those bells and whistles are a lot more relevant and useful the more you buy in. If you're going full Smart Home, it's cool that Ubiquiti offers an enterprise-y experience for your residence, but if you just want a cable to the outside world, as OP seems to want, Ubiquiti does seem confusingly elaborate. (Also I imagine a lot of us spend enough time looking at network analytics at work; I don't want to go to sleep with graphs behind my eyelids.)
cweagans 6y ago
If you don't want the all-in-one Dream Machine device (which is good for what it is), here's what you need: * Unifi Security Gateway (router) * Unifi AP (there are lots of options - for residential uses, you don't need the high density models. I run the AC PRO in my house and I only need one for relatively heavy use. Works great.) * Somewhere to run the Unifi controller. This is the web UI that you'd normally get built in on a consumer router. You can either set this up on a Raspberry Pi or similar device, or you can buy the Cloud Key. The Cloud Key can be used as a gateway for cloud management, but you absolutely _do not_ have to do that. You can treat it as a simple, embedded linux machine that runs the unifi controller software. That's it. Anything beyond that is optional. For my setup, I also picked up a cheap PoE switch to power both the cloud key and my AP (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YHLR6V3/ https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07YHLR6V3/), along with a cheap rack mount gigabit switch that all of my wired devices hang off of (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BU0EKW https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003BU0EKW) and tossed it all into a network rack with all the niceties (patch panel, UPS, PDU, and a synology NAS). You definitely don't need anything that elaborate though. The AP comes with a PoE injector, and the cloud key can be powered via a simple USB wall adapter (included, if I recall correctly).