UniFi Access Points - any good?

lmfy2k · 23 Jul 2015 at 10:20

We have 3 floors at work and im sick of having random APs around the building with rubbish roaming across them lol

so been looking into the UniFi's, i know some have used them on here, what are they like?

do they give decent range? and are they reliable?

Thinking of going for the 3 pack, around £145 now for 3

Thanks

bledd · 23 Jul 2015 at 10:27

I really like them, we have a large deployment of them at work.

One thing to note, they use 24V PoE, not the standard 48V. So you either need..
-a switch them can do both
-an inline 48>24V converter (£10-15 from Ubiquiti) for each one
-use the provided mains PoE injector

The management software is fantastic, needs a server to run on, which unfortunatly relies on Java 7. (being worked on)

lmfy2k · 23 Jul 2015 at 11:00

bledd. said:
I really like them, we have a large deployment of them at work.

One thing to note, they use 24V PoE, not the standard 48V. So you either need..
-a switch them can do both
-an inline 48>24V converter (£10-15 from Ubiquiti) for each one
-use the provided mains PoE injector

The management software is fantastic, needs a server to run on, which unfortunatly relies on Java 7. (being worked on)

Many Thanks mate

so I need a widnows server for the central management?

Armageus · 23 Jul 2015 at 11:16

lmfy2k said:
so I need a widnows server for the central management?

There is software for Windows, Linux and Mac
https://www.ubnt.com/download/unifi/unifi-ap

We have the Unifi Pro access points installed in our Warehouse at work - seem to work fine, especially the zero hand-off so users can roam the whole area and not lose connection. Now looking to replace our office and other random access points (few draytek, few netgear), and manage it all via the single software.

bledd. said:
One thing to note, they use 24V PoE, not the standard 48V.

EDIT: Just checked, and the Pro versions (which we have at work) use standard POE.

randal · 23 Jul 2015 at 11:29

Yeah we've got a couple here too, using the management software on Mac. They work well, the administration is very simple and straightforward. Worth the money.

lmfy2k · 23 Jul 2015 at 11:42

thanks guys

Prophet · 23 Jul 2015 at 12:06

We've installed loads of these over the past few months. Excellent value for money!

Caged · 23 Jul 2015 at 19:44

You can deploy the controller on AWS / Azure on a Linux instance, and then as long as you have control of your own DNS servers you can redirect the APs to your cloud controller.

I don't like the APs personally, but they seem to be popular.

vidda · 23 Jul 2015 at 21:46

I think the PoE injectors come with them, so you should be good to go.

The key drawback for me is that they are 2.4Ghz only, but the price is fantastic for the kit.

Steveocee · 23 Jul 2015 at 22:04

vidda said:
I think the PoE injectors come with them, so you should be good to go.

The key drawback for me is that they are 2.4Ghz only, but the price is fantastic for the kit.

I had the same opinion but in fairness, 2.4G isn't too bad for just providing Internet access.

bremen1874 · 23 Jul 2015 at 22:05

Or you just pay the extra and buy the 5GHz or AC versions...

Caged · 23 Jul 2015 at 22:19

Steveocee said:
I had the same opinion but in fairness, 2.4G isn't too bad for just providing Internet access.

It depends entirely on the environment. 2.4GHz would be practically unusable in shared office space where you have other companies all around you.

traveyb · 24 Jul 2015 at 09:02

They are nice and cheap and do work however you get what you pay for. We recently pulled them out of our estate and installed Meraki MR32/34's.
Maybe it was the age of ours but they were forever dying

UberGinge · 24 Jul 2015 at 09:43

I got one for my flat following a router upgrade. I think my neighbors either love or hate me, because I seem to have drowned out everything in the surrounding area.