*** Official Ubiquiti Discussion Thread ***

I need some help to change up my home networking, and have been considering Ubiquiti hardware. Currently running an Honor mesh system, which is mostly fine apart from a black spot in the small bedroom. However, I have a client who has stipulated no networking hardware from Huawei and associated brands, so it all needs to change.

Here is my current layout/setup:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

My proposed plan:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

Blank layout, if anyone has better suggestions:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com

I don't know what exact hardware I'd need from Ubiquiti for my proposed plan, though I'm aware they do wall and ceiling-mounted hardware which I'd assume all plays nicely with each other. I think that the Reception Room and WiFi Doorbell may struggle to receive a signal with my proposed plan, so the RR may need it's own hardware.

I'd be really grateful if someone could have a look over the plan and let me know what hardware I'd need, or if there are alternatives I should be looking at.

I'm not resigned to a more 'consumer' mesh system if it'll do the job.
 
bloodiedathame said:
My proposed plan:

Dropbox

www.dropbox.com www.dropbox.com
Click to expand...

The poposed plan looks good.

Is there any possibility of getting an ethernet run from the new switch to the EV charger? If not, I'd very strongly suggest disabling the Wi-Fi on the PowerLine adapter. UniFi won't much like having a non-UniFi AP broadcasting the same network, it'll generate warnings which you can disable but even then you'll find the handover between AP's is likely to be a bit ropey.

Or if the EV charger has Wi-Fi just bin off the PowerLine completely (I'm not a fan - they're generally fairly terrible). Most likely a PowerLine would work fine for an EV charger but the same argument applies goes for a good Wi-Fi connection.
 
the-evaluator said:
The poposed plan looks good.

Is there any possibility of getting an ethernet run from the new switch to the EV charger? If not, I'd very strongly suggest disabling the Wi-Fi on the PowerLine adapter. UniFi won't much like having a non-UniFi AP broadcasting the same network, it'll generate warnings which you can disable but even then you'll find the handover between AP's is likely to be a bit ropey.

Or if the EV charger has Wi-Fi just bin off the PowerLine completely (I'm not a fan - they're generally fairly terrible). Most likely a PowerLine would work fine for an EV charger but the same argument applies goes for a good Wi-Fi connection.
Click to expand...

It’s probably the one thing I’ve not found a suitable Ubiquiti product for. Currently the AP there connects to the existing WiFi and rebroadcasts/boosts it, it also has Ethernet ports so I use one for the charger. Kills two birds with one stone in that sense.

Thankfully no powerline here. Running a cable there would be tricky without taking it outside.
 
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bloodiedathame said:
It’s probably the one thing I’ve not found a suitable Ubiquiti product for. Currently the AP there connects to the existing WiFi and rebroadcasts/boosts it, it also has Ethernet ports so I use one for the charger. Kills two birds with one stone in that sense.

Thankfully no powerline here. Running a cable there would be tricky without taking it outside.
Click to expand...

In the proposed layout how are you planning to get a connection for the EV charger? I'd assumed you were looking at a PowerLine adapter because it's labelled as 'mains Wi-Fi extender'.

Considering you're planning an in wall AP that'll negate the need for the Wi-Fi that the current mesh unit is broadcasting and would likely give coverage for the EV charger too. I say that on the assumption that the charger is on the exterior wall backing on to that cupboard.
 
Sorry, I think my proposal is unclear there. What I need for the EV charger is a Ubiquiti mains powered AP that connects via WiFi and can share over Ethernet. I don’t know if they make anything suitable.

The ev charger isn’t WiFi, it can only connect via Ethernet.
 
bloodiedathame said:
Sorry, I think my proposal is unclear there. What I need for the EV charger is a Ubiquiti mains powered AP that connects via WiFi and can share over Ethernet. I don’t know if they make anything suitable.

The ev charger isn’t WiFi, it can only connect via Ethernet.
Click to expand...

Ah. I'm with you.

Any Ubiquiti AP can be powered by mains, you just need to use a PoE injector (example). The PoE injector plugs into the mains and you connect an ethernet cable between the injector and the AP.

As for getting an AP to uplink wirelessly, again, any of them will do it. I experimented some years ago with using the ethernet port on the AP (or injector in this case) and whilst it worked it wasn't at all reliable. When it was working it was OK, but the AP would frequently go offline and need to be power cycled before it'd work again.

Before Sky boxes had Wi-Fi, I installed a wireless ethernet bridge for my parents and that worked very well. The device itself was USB powered and it connected to the Wi-Fi network and gave the Sky box an ethernet connection.
 
Cheers for the reply, I figured as much but it seems like an expensive/messy way to do it, so thought they might do something pure mains. I suppose the question will be which one is the neatest, eg one I can hide the wires and injector in/behind.
 
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bloodiedathame said:
Cheers for the reply, I figured as much but it seems like an expensive/messy way to do it, so thought they might do something pure mains. I suppose the question will be which one is the neatest, eg one I can hide the wires and injector in/behind.
Click to expand...

PoE injectors are fairly small and from what I remember the wireless ethernet bridge was about the size of 3 matchboxes so not overly messy in my opinion.

Expensive? Well UniFi kit isn't cheap but for what it does it's good value. The wireless bridge was about £15 I think so cheaper than an extra AP or a pair of PowerLine adapters.

An all in one solution would be neater I agree.

If you're waiting an AP that plugs directly into the mains without using an injector then you need to look at brands other than Ubiquiti. I don't know of any and personally would have no use for one.
 
the-evaluator said:
PoE injectors are fairly small and from what I remember the wireless ethernet bridge was about the size of 3 matchboxes so not overly messy in my opinion.

Expensive? Well UniFi kit isn't cheap but for what it does it's good value. The wireless bridge was about £15 I think so cheaper than an extra AP or a pair of PowerLine adapters.

An all in one solution would be neater I agree.

If you're waiting an AP that plugs directly into the mains without using an injector then you need to look at brands other than Ubiquiti. I don't know of any and personally would have no use for one.
Click to expand...
I have a TP Link RE705X that plugs straight into the mains. But as mentioned above it does throw up errors and warnings on my UDR7 about sharing IP address. I’m shortly replacing it with a Unifi U6 Extender which should plug in and play. However they don’t make a UK version , only a EU type plug so I have a slim converter on the way as well.
 
So;

2.5G Option - £630:
1. Dream Router 7
2. U7 In-Wall + 2.5G PoE+ Adapter (30W)
3. U7 In-Wall + 2.5G PoE+ Adapter (30W)
4. U7 Pro

1G Option - £562
1. Dream Router 7
2. U6 In-Wall + PoE Adapter (30W)
3. U6 In-Wall + PoE Adapter (15W)
4. U6 Pro

Considering there's not much price difference, and stock levels for the U6 stuff seem poor, I think I might as well go U7.

Have I missed anything, or could I do anything better?
 
bloodiedathame said:
So;

2.5G Option - £630:
1. Dream Router 7
2. U7 In-Wall + 2.5G PoE+ Adapter (30W)
3. U7 In-Wall + 2.5G PoE+ Adapter (30W)
4. U7 Pro

1G Option - £562
1. Dream Router 7
2. U6 In-Wall + PoE Adapter (30W)
3. U6 In-Wall + PoE Adapter (15W)
4. U6 Pro

Considering there's not much price difference, and stock levels for the U6 stuff seem poor, I think I might as well go U7.

Have I missed anything, or could I do anything better?
Click to expand...

My spin on your proposal..

From your proposed plan numbering
#2 - I'd make that the UDR7 WiFi Router, i.e. access point for downstairs. This does mean IIRC you'll need a second ethernet cable to come back to your study, but the location of #2 makes it ideal for your downstairs AP
#3 - EV Charger, just get any wireless bridge, so a small device that acts as wireless 'client' and provides an ethernet port, no need to get Ubiquiti for this, but they do a wireless bridge - https://eu.store.ui.com/eu/en/category/wifi-bridging/products/udb.. 'Extenders' are problematic IME, they are a last resort in my setups and often ditched when I start getting wifi client issues.
#1 - Flex 2.5G Switch, although if you make do with 4 + 1 ports (5 with downlink), the Flex-Mini-2.5G for £46.80 is ideal..
#4 - U7 Pro XG (Might as well get the latest, its not much more), but could save £30 with just the U7-Pro, they did change the HW design 6 months or so ago.

The U7- In wall is a bit directional, so I don't think they are ideal, most people I know using them all have the same experience, no where near as good as a ceiling mounted AP for general coverage.
 
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thewanted said:
Hey,

My BT WholeHome WiFi discs are dying, so I need to replace them ASAP. I had a single Unifi AP installed in our previous house, and it was absolutely bombproof. Loved it.

I don’t think I can install any APs in our new house because we’ve just had LVT flooring installed so we can’t lift the floorboards.

Our house is 185m2 but I also need coverage in the rear garden and driveway. If I were to get a Unifi Express 7, is there anything I can add to it to extend the coverage that isn’t a ceiling-mounted AP?

On the routing side, do I need anything else apart from the Express 7?
Click to expand...

My 2nd out of 3 BT WiFi discs “died” last night ie. refuses to connect to the main disc, so now we’re down to just the main disc.

This forced me to order the Dream Router 7. The Unifi Express 7 would be fine, but I need 2 LAN ports where the DR7 will be installed, so the DR7 seemed like the better option. Bit nervous about the potential fan noise though…

Looking forward to it arriving! It’s been 3 years since I last had Ubiquiti stuff, and I really miss the stability.
 
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Demon said:
My spin on your proposal..

From your proposed plan numbering
#2 - I'd make that the UDR7 WiFi Router, i.e. access point for downstairs. This does mean IIRC you'll need a second ethernet cable to come back to your study, but the location of #2 makes it ideal for your downstairs AP
#3 - EV Charger, just get any wireless bridge, so a small device that acts as wireless 'client' and provides an ethernet port, no need to get Ubiquiti for this, but they do a wireless bridge - https://eu.store.ui.com/eu/en/category/wifi-bridging/products/udb.. 'Extenders' are problematic IME, they are a last resort in my setups and often ditched when I start getting wifi client issues.
#1 - Flex 2.5G Switch, although if you make do with 4 + 1 ports (5 with downlink), the Flex-Mini-2.5G for £46.80 is ideal..
#4 - U7 Pro XG (Might as well get the latest, its not much more), but could save £30 with just the U7-Pro, they did change the HW design 6 months or so ago.

The U7- In wall is a bit directional, so I don't think they are ideal, most people I know using them all have the same experience, no where near as good as a ceiling mounted AP for general coverage.
Click to expand...

Had just written out a reply but lost it (thanks backbuttononmouse).

Really appreciate the advice, I'm going to order the UDR7 and give that a test. I have a feeling it may struggle to reach the wifi doorbell from #2 though. U7 Pro XG is also a good shout, I'll bow to your knowledge of the Ubiquiti product lineup here (I don't understand it at all).

I've got 3 hardwired devices in my study, and a couple of other hardwired odds and sods throughout the house (Tado dongle, Eufy hub) so the flex switch probably makes sense. A shame I'll need a second cable run back from the UDR7 as I've got a socket terminated from the study to Reception Room that I'd have to dismantle (not really a big deal).
 
My UCG-Fibre and a G6 bullet just turned up.

It will be interesting to see how much better than the G5 bullet it is.

My plan to integrate the Fibre is to adopt it, and drop it in place of my old USG. I’ll then transfer the controller to it from my Cloud Key Gen 2+.

Once it’s transferred I’ll pull the CKG2+.

I’m hoping it will be seamless, transferring protect with all my existing cameras to the NVR was really simple, I just hit a button in the portal and it did it.
 
I previously posted an issue with lack of CNAME records for use with my reverse proxy but didn't see a solution.

I managed to solve it using a wildcard domain DNS entry based on the solution on the UI community forums.

  1. Download and install MongoDB Compass
  2. Under OS `Settings > Console Settings` under the "Advanced" heading enable SSH if not already enabled by ticking the box.
  3. Set a password
  4. In the terminal/command prompt create an SSH tunnel to the router for port `27117`:
ssh -L 27117:127.0.0.1:27117 [email protected]

Once connected:
  1. Enter the password set in step 3.
  2. While the terminal remains open and connected. Connect to `127.0.0.1:27117` via MongoDB Compass
  3. Navigate to **ace > user > (target record)**. the target record will show the IP address of the device you are looking to set.
  4. Add wildcard DNS entry for the `local_dns_record` property. For example `*.server.home`
  5. Restart router
  6. Enter the network application and set a DNS name on any record. For me added a new DNS record to a light. This forces the re-provisioning of the internal DNS entries.
  7. Disable the SSH again to secure your router see step 2.
Click to expand...

Note that the above assumes the gateway IP is 192.168.1.1 (mine is not). Also, I got an error using MongoDB Compass, so had to pick an older version that supported the version on the gateway, which must be outdated. Version 1.27.0 worked for me (available from GitHub releases). Note, when you edit the database, you need to make sure you press update for the record. You can confirm by refreshing the data or repeating steps once connected 2 &3.

This allowed me to use the services on my home server again via reverse proxy, removing the need to run a separate DNS server. However, may still need that as the UniFi ad blocking is not 100%. Will continue to monitor that.
 
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