Best Wireless AP

motific

I’ve just dropped a Ubiquiti AP AC Pro into my home network - one of the best decisions I ever made (after installing pfSense, natch).

I have a couple of words of warning: There is a learning curve to the Ubiquiti, expect to invest some time in making it right. And the controller runs on Java, so may be better off in a VM…

Aside from that they are fantastic, especially for the money.

eleanor

Just bought the Ubiquiti AP AC, so thank you for all the suggestions. However as far as I understand you don't need a controller to set a single AP, which can also be configured by itself in standalone mode?

Thanks for letting us know about your decision about Uniquiti+Pfsense!

johnpoz

"Money: Not important, whatever the cost."

Then go with cisco - the old saying nobody ever gets fired for buying cisco ;)

Their wireless is rock solid, just not cheap… But clearly you have no budget to worry about. Can tell you for sure if you make any other choice and something even something small is a problem you will get why did you go with them.

If you get cisco then, your ass is covered ;)

At home I run unifi - very solid.. CHEAP!!! doesn't even really hurt a home budget.. Controller can run or not.. Can run on pretty much anything. VM, windows, linux - they sell a little cpu they call their cloud key. like $80..

Price out a cisco controller ;) Which you prob want 2 of them, etc..

Derelict

I know Ruckus has a standalone mode. Pretty sure you need to run the controller software to configure just one Ubiquiti.

I'd get a cloud key if you can't run a lightweight VM or a Pi or something.

johnpoz

You do not need the controller for a handful of AP from unifi - you can use their phone ap for android or ios..
https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/226395988-UniFi-Managing-Access-Points-via-UniFi-Mobile-App
The UniFi Mobile App allows UniFi Users to manage their network from a variety of platforms and locations. The UniFi Mobile App allows users to manage access points any of three ways:

Manage APs directly via Standalone Mode.
Controller Mode via Direct Access.
Controller Mode via UniFi Cloud.

But sure you can fire up the controller and then turn it off if you don't want any of the features the controller brings.

AndrewZ

@johnpoz:

But sure you can fire up the controller and then turn it off if you don't want any of the features the controller brings.

Right, this is what I'm using. 2x AC Lite, controller is running on-demand on my Linux desktop.

KOM

I only run their app to make a config change. Otherwise I don't really see any benefit.

johnpoz

"Otherwise I don't really see any benefit."

All the info about your devices, which AP they are connected to (if you have more than 1) how much data they have moved, their signal strengths, etc..

If you have 1 AP, and a couple of devices prob not that big a deal. But My house has like 32 wifi devices if you count up everything including phones, tablets, iot devices.. So being able to see where they are connected and how much data they are moving and their signal can be very informative. If your into all the geek info ;)

KOM

If you have 1 AP, and a couple of devices prob not that big a deal.

That's me. I only have the one AP and there are less than 10 devices in the house total. I don't really care about those metrics to the point of running a VM 24/7. I only care when I hear whining.

But My house has like 32 wifi devices

:o

bimmerdriver

I have a couple of Unifi AC PRO APs. Very happy with them.

jahonix

I'm a bit astonished that Ruckus doesn't get more coverage here.
Their APs can be used in "stand alone" mode with webGUI configuration, have a CLI and VLANs were never an issue with them. I run a few in some installs this way. If you have more than one APs to manage then get a controller, called "ZoneDirector" with Ruckus.

Ubiquity seems often used by ambitious home users, probably because of costs. I've never seen them in commercial installs with more than 3 APs.

A bigger local venue (10.000 capacity) just dumped Aruba and installed Aerohive and they seem quite happy. I'm not involved in WiFi there, just reporting. I would have installed Ruckus, the client density per AP is impressive.

Cisco is Cisco - solid work, solid price, nothing fancy.

Stewart

If cost isn't an issue then most of the vendors have demos you can log into and check out. If you just want simple networking with basic statistics and such the Ubiquiti is nice. I've also had great success with OpenMesh and their cloud controller. Neither are on the level of something like a Meraki. The big guys let you do things like require a PC to have AV installed to connect to the network, have each AP scan traffic for virii, and application reporting so you can see what programs a user is running to pass the traffic. It's been a couple of years since I took the training but it's just page after page of features. They cost a lot more and have annual fees but there are a lot more features.