Ubiquiti - UniFi Express 7

You can use the Express 7 as a tabletop AP very easily. I got 3 and run them like that.

I bought 3 for a mesh system in a 3100 SF trac home. Only unboxed and setup two of three. With two just downstairs the coverage was really weak and the speeds were low. After tinkering with them for a week I sent all 3 back. They couldn't out perform the TP Link XE75 Pros, or TP Link BE63's. Tested Eero 6 and finally settled on a two pack of the Asus BT10's. Two BT10's both downstairs cover our entire home, garage and large backyard. Wasn't impressed.

Don’t listen to him. He doesn’t know. A Unifi Express 7 cost 179€ and include the Wifi AP, the Unifi controller (brain) and connect to your modem. This is all you need and much cheaper that two Deco 50 !

Sorry it wasn’t obvious. Anyway the important fact is that he only need an Unifi Express 7 and it’s damn cheap to step in the Unifi universe of good reliable internet like no other that hypnotise all their clients for life.

He doesn’t need two AP, he said it clearly. Unifi provide the most stable wifi network for IoT of all the AP on the market, even with one VLAN, even in mesh configuration. On top of this you can setup dedicated IoT VLAN and dedicated IoT SSID, use their new object oriented policy management (unique on the market) for the most complex IoT setups. They went that far to have little icons for every gadget on the market in their interface. I know a bit or two, I have +200 IoT devices in my home from Apple, Switchbot, Aqara, Logitech, Eufy, Hue, Govee, and numerous exotic brands. I have been through hell with solutions from Apple, Orbi, Peplink, Meraki, Eero, Huawei and many many more. And only since I am rocking on Unifi I can open my Apple Home app with not a single device error ! At 179€ the Unifi Express 7 is, by far, the best solution for OP and a damn cheap ticket for discovering the “Apple” of networking.

UniFi object policy management allow you to easily pick devices and create group of them that are accessible by your kids (mobile, switch, laptop, smart tv, …) then control (block with optional schedules) access to classes of websites (ex. porn), groups of applications (ex. Social media), specific websites (lol) or specific apps (TikTok). I use it with two teenagers (one study computer sciences, the other polytechnic) and it resisted their hacking tentatives until today. On top of this there is an optional subscription that allows to use Cloudflare to go even further in granularity.

Absolutely. Get and try it for a week. You can always send it back if it doesn’t fit your need. But I am 100% that you will fall in love with Unifi, like all of us.

Believe me, I tried them all. Unifi is the best, easiest, fastest, most reliable solution for Wifi. You can start with a simple Unifi Express 7 : https://eu.store.ui.com/eu/en/products/ux7 Warning, you may end up with a home full of Unifi products and a beautiful rack.

Uniform UX7s ensure no weak links in your mesh. Saving on AP costs now can cost you in performance later.

You’ll need to buy piecemeal, I’ll leave required equipment below for what I’d do. https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/u7-lite https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/ux7 https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/usw-lite-8-poe You’d only need about 1 UX7 and 1-2 U7 Lites. I’d do 1 U7 Lite and see how that performs, you can scale up easily if needed.

First, mesh is bad without a wired backhaul ( [https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/189h7um/mesh\_wifi\_much\_slower\_than\_main\_router/](https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/189h7um/mesh_wifi_much_slower_than_main_router/) ). Just something to know going into it. You really should have all of your APs (access points, the things that send out the Wi-Fi) wired back to a central or "home" controller. If your home has coax or ethernet already run, then get non-mesh wired APs instead. If you're getting mesh, I would look at the Ubiquiti UX7. They are scalable, small, have Wi-Fi 7 at a reasonable-ish price, and can easily do all of the things you mentioned except custom firmware. Not sure what the need is for point 4 in your case.

Recently got a Dream Router 7 and while it's just the router all their AP's are mesh capable. Now it's above the mark you're going above but I wish I had gotten the UniFi Express 7 which is essentially the same with less ports. I misunderstood something so 70 dollars probably wasted although I ended up using the porta. Depending on your internet speeds it may not be enough. This is the misleading part. It has a 10Gbps port but its IDP is like 2.4Gbps so you will never get 1oGbps from it but if your Internet is under 2.5Gbos it's fine. The great thing to me was their software. It's stupid easy and I used everything from PFSense to WRT to Cisco CLI. Any AP can be a mesh AP or independent. It suggests stuff like iot VLAN's and makes it simple so while not cheap you're paying a lot for the software and future software support. The one thing disappointing I found out after was for MLO to work, the main benefit of WiFi 7 were it uses all the bands as one "pipe" requires WPA 3. I've been meaning to mess around with VLAN's but it appears to be a per router/AP setting which sucks because I think my Pixel 8a support WPA 3 but most my 5Ghz stuff doesn't so that's going to be an issue with any WiFi 7 mesh system. I did get noticeably higher internal (LAN) transfer speeds when using it so it works. EDIT: see below and it's a network wide WiFi setting [https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubiquiti/s/qXrsjaMuRO](https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubiquiti/s/qXrsjaMuRO) https://preview.redd.it/v2lx4as0mscf1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=b542fc1ec84cd08901689b85afea01768521168a

LOL if you have concerns about Google / Amazon, you may not be feeling much better w/ TP-Link (China). If you have an ethernet cable between the two, as you mentioned you do, I would go with a very simple Ubiquiti setup. 1. Unifi Express 7 ~ plug this in as your "main" node. 2. Some Ubiquiti WiFi7 Access Point ~ plug this in via ethernet + PoE injector. This setup should roughly cost $350, and you'll be on Ubiquiti, which is arguably the best platform out there.

I don't know why availability would be an issue. All the items are in stock. This is what you would need for a "complete" setup. 1. https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/ux7 -- That's your main unit. They are just as plug-and-play as most consumer routers these days. 2. https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/all-wifi/products/u7-pro-wall -- Ubiquiti has a LOT of access points. I'm not sure what your ethernet cable terminates. If it terminates into a wall plate, then you may want one of the nice wall mounted ones. If it terminates in the ceiling or in a cabinet, then maybe you choose a different one. 3. https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/accessories-poe-power/collections/pro-store-poe-and-power-adapters/products/u-poe-plus -- That's the PoE injector for your second access point. To your questions... Configuration and management: Honestly if you're even slightly network savvy, it's so much cleaner and nicer than the other systems. The Asus / TP-Link stuff is now either typically locked in an app or has a crappy web UI with infrequent updates. Google WiFi is fine. I have it for my parents, but you don't get much control. At least it "just works" most of the time. Range: In my experience, much more than the Google WiFi Nest Pro. Similar to you, I installed that at my parents' house. I upgraded them from the previous Google WiFi system, and I found the range got a bit worse, but if you're in range, the speeds are much better. PoE Injector -- Most Ubiquiti stuff is powered by what's called "power over ethernet." It atually sends a DC current over the cable. It provides both power and data to the access point. For homes / businesses that require multiple access points, it's so convenient to just drop an ethernet line where you want to add the access point, versus needing a separate power source. Most mid-range or high-end Ubiquiti stuff has ethernet ports that are already "PoE enabled." With the device I recommended to you, the ethernet port there doesn't have PoE, so you need an "injector" which takes wall power and sends it through the ethernet line. An alternative device is the Dream Router 7. https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udr7 -- One of the ethernet ports on this device is a PoE port, so in this case, you wouldn't need the injector. BTW - I agree it's awkwardly hard to tell if wired backhaul is working w/ the Google Home app. As I mentioned, I have it set up for my parents w/ 3 nodes, all wired, and I find it so frustrating how NOT intuitive it is. Like, they really hide the visibility of it. That being said, it DOES pretty much "just work" for my parents. You said you "added" the Nest Pro. Google doesn't allow you to run mixed mode. I'm assuming you have swapped both old units out for the newer Nest Pro, right?

I don't know why availability would be an issue. All the items are in stock. This is what you would need for a "complete" setup. 1. https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/ux7 -- That's your main unit. They are just as plug-and-play as most consumer routers these days. 2. https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/all-wifi/products/u7-pro-wall -- Ubiquiti has a LOT of access points. I'm not sure what your ethernet cable terminates. If it terminates into a wall plate, then you may want one of the nice wall mounted ones. If it terminates in the ceiling or in a cabinet, then maybe you choose a different one. 3. https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/accessories-poe-power/collections/pro-store-poe-and-power-adapters/products/u-poe-plus -- That's the PoE injector for your second access point. To your questions... Configuration and management: Honestly if you're even slightly network savvy, it's so much cleaner and nicer than the other systems. The Asus / TP-Link stuff is now either typically locked in an app or has a crappy web UI with infrequent updates. Google WiFi is fine. I have it for my parents, but you don't get much control. At least it "just works" most of the time. Range: In my experience, much more than the Google WiFi Nest Pro. Similar to you, I installed that at my parents' house. I upgraded them from the previous Google WiFi system, and I found the range got a bit worse, but if you're in range, the speeds are much better. PoE Injector -- Most Ubiquiti stuff is powered by what's called "power over ethernet." It atually sends a DC current over the cable. It provides both power and data to the access point. For homes / businesses that require multiple access points, it's so convenient to just drop an ethernet line where you want to add the access point, versus needing a separate power source. Most mid-range or high-end Ubiquiti stuff has ethernet ports that are already "PoE enabled." With the device I recommended to you, the ethernet port there doesn't have PoE, so you need an "injector" which takes wall power and sends it through the ethernet line. An alternative device is the Dream Router 7. https://store.ui.com/us/en/products/udr7 -- One of the ethernet ports on this device is a PoE port, so in this case, you wouldn't need the injector. BTW - I agree it's awkwardly hard to tell if wired backhaul is working w/ the Google Home app. As I mentioned, I have it set up for my parents w/ 3 nodes, all wired, and I find it so frustrating how NOT intuitive it is. Like, they really hide the visibility of it. That being said, it DOES pretty much "just work" for my parents. You said you "added" the Nest Pro. Google doesn't allow you to run mixed mode. I'm assuming you have swapped both old units out for the newer Nest Pro, right?

I would personally do Express 7 since you dont have plans for Protect and other apps. See if it can handle the load in your household. DR7 and E7 has the same spec i think but DR7 allows you to use the unifi stack which you said you're not gonna use. If E7 not enough then you can buy UCG fiber and make the E7 as an AP.

Shape, power cord included, has a wired port for other clients to join the mesh. Can be separated for use elsewhere as a stand alone device. The UX7 is kinda like an eero, makes for an easy like for like replacement.

Do NOT buy the Express, the Express 7 is okay. I purchased the express a year and a half ago when it released and it is already unsupported. It has not received an update for almost 8 months now. I am told that unifi makes good products, and this is not one of them. Good luck with your project!

Unifi does have QoS and SmartQueues to handle bufferbloat from maxing your upload. I have similar buffer issues if I don't handle it this way The Express 7 devices are their equivalent product to mesh packs like the google wifi. You can use one as the router/gateway and additional as aps. That would be the easiest.

[Express 7](https://store.ui.com/us/en/category/all-cloud-gateways/products/ux7)

If you don't want to spend time learning everything, the Express 7 devices are their equivalent to consumer mesh packs. You can use one as the router and add more as AP's.

I've got a DR7 on my first floor (connected to cable modem) and two UX7's on my 2nd floor (each end). The two UX7's are meshed to my DR7. My speeds are pretty good. Are you going to get near full speed due to a shared back-haul? No. Is 500-600 Mbps good enough for me vs 900-1000 Mbps? Yep :-) With all of the network configuration options with Unifi, I'm sold on it!

I took delivery of a UX7 last week, unplugged all other APs and just have the UX7 and a few dumb switches connected. 40 Wi-Fi clients and 10 wired. Three VLANs. I did have issues the first day with IoT devices dropping off Wi-Fi and one Sonos speaker connected via Ethernet showed as Wi-Fi. After reconnecting them I have had zero issues. I have a symmetric 1000 Mbps line, this syncs at 950Mbps Up and 970Mbps down, all previous Routers could never match that. Using DHCP and not PPPoE. 1400 sq ft two story house, furthest room from the UX7 if the iPad drops to 2.4Ghz I get at least 60Mbps, if it latches back onto 5Ghz then over 200Mbps. Close to the Router an Wi-Fi 5 iPad gets 700Mbps down.

Yeah, I set one up for my father in law - bit pricier but they just work (once you get them setup) and I am not an IT guy. I think I got him the Unifi Express 7 (UX7) and two access points (the normal round ones, nothing fancy), with a PoE switch. There were a few initial hiccoughs, but I hard wired these through the attic (yes heat and environmental issues will reduce the life, but they are out of sight and provide enough coverage. Cost wasn't a huge issue, but it was more of the fact that ranch house with concrete walls kills almost all signal and they had to get wonky equipment that didn't consistently work before. I have their Amplifi setup at my house (bought the gear in 2017 and it still just works, although it is definitely getting a bit old and slow), but it works well enough. This is a mesh system, and Unifi has stopped new dev and shifted toward the main Unifi system The key for a mesh, is have the main base point in the center of the house and go wide from each side, each hop is bad for performance.

With UniFi you need to do some research there’s tons of options but they’re not necessarily plug and play like Orbi. For instance for a gateway something like a Dream Router 7 would be a good starting point or even UniFi express 7 for your gateway. Both of those have integrated WiFi in them

I was thinking about making a lengthy review to post this weekend, but I'll just dump my thoughts here. I've had my UX7 for about 3 weeks and I have ***serious*** regrets. Multiple reasons why.. starting with the impulse purchase. **1. Signal strength and stability** I live in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath 921 sq ft apartment with a dense floorplan and high wi-fi interference (in a middle and ground floor of a 24-unit, 3-story building). My buddy has a coax in his room about 30 feet the other coax in the living room, with my room in between. My buddy and I both have gaming PCs with WiFi 7 cards, so I ordered one UX7 to start, thinking it'd be find to throw out in the living room. After spending a couple of hours learning how to use UniFi Network, testing different settings, and manually configuring channels with the WiFiman app, I learned the UX7 wasn't strong enough to reach both of our computers and remain stable at the same time. We both experienced erratic ping spikes up to 300+. 6Ghz 160 wasn't usable at that distance and I had to drop 5Ghz from 80 to 40. Ended up buying a 10" 12u server rack and neatly tucked the modem and UX7 into the corner by the coax port in his room. It works pretty dang well now located about 5 feet and 1 wall away from me (-38 dBm on 6Ghz WiFi 6E Galaxy S23 FE). 5Ghz is back on 80 and there's no issues anymore. **2. One LAN to rule them all** With the router set up in the other bedroom, my buddy decided to just use a good 'ol Ethernet cord. That was fine because the UX7 has one LAN port. But now I'm planning to get a Mini PC/NAS to fill my empty rack space and get away from paid cloud storage. *Not fine, because the UX7 has only has one LAN port.* Quick solution is to get a Flex Mini 2.5G that's around $72 inc. tax and shipping. But for $7 more than that, I could have just bought a Dream Router 7 in the first place. Plus, the DR7 has the UniFi app suite, while the UX7 only does Network. **3. Future Headaches** Who knew my home networking journey would get this far in just 3 weeks. If you're interested in the UX7/DR7, you'll probably experience the same thing I did with network security, signal optimization, etc. I work from home, my buddy uses sketchy streaming sites for sports, and we have frequent guests being in our mid-late 20s. Setting up VLANs has a learning curve but it wasn't terrible. Tying into #2, I probably should have gotten a Cloud gateway and some U7 APs to use, which provides another layer of separation (and better coverage/expandability/flexibility). **TL;DR** Purchase price is a big factor as to why I got the UX7. It does a fantastic job for what it is, but if you have the slightest thought about expanding your network in the future, *do not buy the UX7*. You're better off getting a different mesh setup (for the less tech savvy) or going to a true PoE AP setup.

First went with an Asus Zenwifi BQ16 (2 packs) which provided excellent performance and coverage but later replaced it with ubiquiti UDR7 + UX7 as AP because my home lab required more network features such as local DNS which I didn't want to run on a docker server or use DNS services such as cloudflare. Both would be an overkill for your bandwidth so you can look at WiFi 6 mesh unless you're going to upgrade your bandwidth in the future which you currently don't need. You can look at Asus Pro ET12 or BT8 unless you need more then welcome to the Unifi ecosystem

Ouch. You could consider unifi if you’ve got some networking knowledge. Combining a UDR7 with a UX7. Should be around your budget.

If you’re heavy on Apple devices then WiFi 7 won’t be coming for a while and you should be okay with a WiFi 6E router for the next 5 years. However, if you want to go forward with you can look at Ubiquiti CG Fibre and U7 or UX7 AP. The router should be future proof and allow you upgrade your AP nodes based on which band you want. If you want a different mesh brand then you can look between Deco (best on budget), Asus Zenwifi BT10 (tri-band) / BQ16 (quad-band) or Orbi 770 / 870 / 970. This are the top 3 brands with top mesh systems and best coverage. Nevertheless, your bandwidth and devices should decide your choice (added with budget) Honorable mention will be Eero Max 7 but it’s barely customizable and you have to do things the Eero way

If you’re heavy on Apple devices then WiFi 7 won’t be coming for a while and you should be okay with a WiFi 6E router for the next 5 years. However, if you want to go forward with you can look at Ubiquiti CG Fibre and U7 or UX7 AP. The router should be future proof and allow you upgrade your AP nodes based on which band you want. If you want a different mesh brand then you can look between Deco (best on budget), Asus Zenwifi BT10 (tri-band) / BQ16 (quad-band) or Orbi 770 / 870 / 970. This are the top 3 brands with top mesh systems and best coverage. Nevertheless, your bandwidth and devices should decide your choice (added with budget) Honorable mention will be Eero Max 7 but it’s barely customizable and you have to do things the Eero way

UniFi Dream Router 7 or if you want something cheaper, UniFi express 7. I started with a UniFi Dream Machine (predecessor to dream router) and it served me very well for 4 years until I upgraded to support a more demanding network. Has built in VPN, multiple SSIDs, Vlans, very prosumer

If they're serving your needs run them into the ground. Once that's through go to Ubiquiti. My UDR7 covers the area my 4 puck system did. The express 7 performs the same in wireless and is only $200. if you don't need the extra features the dream router has I would go with that.

I got ux7 recently and am underwhelmed with its range and speed on 5ghz

I think the assumption is that other AP's require PoE, which you probably don't have if you need to wireless mesh. UX7 has its own power cord. I'm running 2 UX7's though (both wired) along with a couple other AP's.

Another point in favor of the UX7, it looks good on a table or a shelf.

I considered that, but using a PoE cable just for power and not data just feels gross.

I have two of them, running as AP’s. I think they’re pretty great if you need a desktop/shelf form factor with dedicated power, it looks much nicer in a living room than a big circular AP. The other one is in our master bedroom with the AppleTV hardwired into the 2nd port. WiFi coverage is good, but not as good as the Aliens that I previously had, noticeably weaker to rooms above/below whereas the Alien is much more omnidirectional.

Buy the appropriate Unifi Cloud Gateway based on incoming bandwidth and if you also want to use Protect for cameras. Buy the appropriate APs. U7 Lite or U7 In-Walls or U7 Pro/XG depending on mounting locations and if you want 6Ghz radios or not. Power the APs with a PoE switch or PoE Injectors. UDR7 is fine also, I wouldn't do the UX7 for this case.

Mine is a bit overkill for most situations, I have a cloud Gateway Ultra, u7 pro, 2 switch lite 8s, u6 extender, and an Ap-ac pro for an area that the others don't reach. I still run an opnsense firewall and a pihole as well for dns. BUT if you just need something simple an express gateway is enough for most people, and you can add additional ap's to it if needed as well. It is slow but for how little you have to actually log in and change settings after it is configured it doesn't matter. I set my parents up with an express and two additional ap's and they've had zero issues since as well.

Wired mesh like UniFi was a game changer for me some 7/8 years ago. The ability to move throughout my house, jumping for AP to AP while having a video call is life changing.

I would return the dream router get the Unifi express series either the regular or the 7s. put one in the cupboard and put another in the house they mesh.

The express is designed to mesh with other expresses. Ive installed a few for people that wiring is not an option.

Yes they can he was asking about a router. The expresses are meant to be meshed together like the tplink decos.

Mesh will have a potentially hard time with the concrete, wifi simply doesn't penetrate - so mesh will be problematic - placement would be key, the satellites need to have a good signal from the base to work well. You might get away with it by placing them near doorways etc. Many people use ethernet along the base of the walls, over doorway frames etc. and wire access points. Mesh systems do have the advantage of a central controller for the access points, so if you can wire them, your wifi experience would be a lot better. I am not a fan of Netgear, TP-Link Deco is popular in this sub, as is Eero (but there's the fact that it's Amazon and has a semi-subscription model. If you want to be a little more spendy, Ubiquiti UniFi has a great interface and good quality that should last. The UniFi Express models have a built in AP and can be meshed. The Cloud Gateway Ultras would be ideal with multiple access points placed around. (I am a UniFi fan) Asus is also mostly well thought of. I think the TP-Link Deco line would be the most affordable choice.

>I want them to be connected in to a seamless mesh network for seamless roaming. So, "mesh" has become an obtuse word in home networking. It's really just wirelessly uplinking to access points when cable can't or won't be used. Seamless roaming is built into wifi, it's not something that is only available in mesh systems - marketing hype has steered the understanding that way. You could set up three access points independently, with the same parameters (SSID, passphrase, security method) and your clients will roam amongst them as needed, seamlessly (meaning, no intervention required by the client to move). What mesh systems do bring is a unified management of access points which allows for certain enhancements to improve roaming (sometimes known as "fast roaming"). It's not super beneficial to home networks, but it's there. So if you're not buying a mesh system, using Ubiquiti UniFi or Omada - which both have a central "controller" - will provide those same features (and arguably better in some ways). Both of these are "prosumer" - a large step up in quality and features. Avoiding "the cloud" is maybe a good thing or maybe bad. With UniFi, you can set up access points standalone with an app that communicates directly with the hardware. Or, for a better setup, you would need the controller which allows more control and statistics. You also need to set up a userid with them, but you do not have to manage your network via, or have it connected to them - you can run it standalone. There are some benefits to the cloud access such as remote access to your controller. I run a full UniFi stack and it's been super reliable and easy to work with. I have a Dream Machine Pro, 5 switches and 4 APs. Since you mentioned PoE also, that's the way to go. I have my setup on a UPS, and everything is powered by a 16-port PoE switch. If the power goes out, everything keeps working off the UPS. The remote switches are also PoE powered, which is quite nice. Edit: spelling and some minor clarification

Just so you know, mesh doesn't bring roaming to wifi - any APs set up with the same authetication configuration (SSID, passphrase, security method) will allow wifi clients to roam amongst them as needed. Mesh uses what setups like Ubiquiti UniFi and commercial networking hardware use to allow *faster* roaming. UniFi would be my recommendation. It doesn't matter what your brother in law thinks.

If internet doesn't matter, any mesh system should work for you. Hopefully, you could also use the wired networks already in place in the hotels, to utilize wired connections wherever possible. If I were you, I wouldn't look at consumer mesh systems though, but something more in line with Ubiquity UniFi access points, which can mesh together if needed, and one of their Cloud gateways to serve as the router, main access point and the management console.

Would really depend on the condition of your wiring, but PowerLine networking / HomePlugAV devices are pretty good for getting a network connection across your house without running any cabling. To that, you plug in another WiFi access point and set up your network. You could use the same network as the main one, even, so that you don't have to manually go through and add the new network to all your devices. Or, if you're using the plastic all-in-one from your ISP, you could turn off the wifi on that, and use a better router for your home network. Ubiquiti's Dream Router and Express models would cover your 1800sqft home very well. If you still had trouble with that one spot, you could enable mesh and add a U6 Lite near the problem area. It doesn't take many radios to cover a space that size. My 1700sqft home and 2.5 acre wooded property are covered completely in fast wifi from 2 access points in my home (U6 Lite and U6+).

Ubiquiti's UniFi system is difficult to recommend without running some ethernet cable. Even the Eero, Orbi and TP-Link mesh routers I cannot recommend without wired backhaul. Some of the U7 access points are capable of doing mesh but the ethernet backhaul to a PoE switch is crucial. Being that your current house is a ranch, do you have access to the attic? All you'll really need to do is run maybe about 1 or 2 ethernet cables (2 if you use the UCG Fiber which I recommend getting or 1 in the case of the Dream Router 7) in the attic which you could theoretically take with you when you move. I've shopped around for mesh routers as my dad has a Lorex Wifi Flood Light camera above the garage that our current router can't reach and the best combination I've seen so far is the UCG Fiber and any of the U7 access Points. I've priced everything and the Eero Max 7, Orbi 970 & TP-Link's equivalent came out to over $100 more than any UniFi equipment combination that I need.

Had Netgear 6 for about 3 years. Going with Unifi 7

I use TP link Deco X95 2 nodes system at home and Unifi 7 at work works without any issues for over a year though we will replace Eufy at work as we rolling out our own cloud platform

My Orbo970 system was overpriced junk. Fast, but we all use iPhones in my house and it just doesn’t know how to deal with them. Recently switched to a UniFi system and no trouble at all with iPhone handoffs on their wifi7 APs. Best decision ever.

I think Eero would be the most plug and play option. I've used TP-Link and they're decent but unclear political situation / possible ban. Ubiquiti/Unifi if you want to tinker and manage their network remotely (expensive)

UniFi has a great designer tool that will help you figure coverage with the different devices.

If that’s the case get a ubiquiti Unifi system. Gateway plus access points. Best performance per dollar with a wired backhaul

UniFi is the most solid networking platform.

Unifi is no easier/harder than Omada. I'd steer clear of Mikrotik for Wifi unless you *really* know what you're doing.

Unifi gear is not cheap. But I highly recommend it. I installed a wifi 7 pro AP the other day and it's fantastic. Their gear is great but the price tag reflects it. Highly recommend.

https://preview.redd.it/zfn21gdqkpje1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=d05d67faf408c3803282fe2ee0b6f84b32b6a222 I used to have a tp-link mesh system, which died just after the 2 year warranty was up. When comparing new systems, the Unifi was actually a decent price, way more features and control, plus much easier to expand and can handle hundreds of devices. We use these APs at the office, very stable/reliable. You dont need a switch, you could use poe injectors instead. Biggest draw back is running ethernet cables where you want them

If this is for just a single office and there's not a dedicated IT person with experience to manage it, then Unifi is a great entry level option that is relatively easy to configure and manage.

I’ve had UniFi stuff in my house for 5+ years, and yeah, WiFi issues aren’t a thing at my house, and there are no dead zones. I was a bit strategic around where I placed the APs, and I ran Ethernet to all of them except the one in the shed quite a ways from the house (that one is on mesh). I have solid signal anywhere on my property, and haven’t had any issues in the entire 5 years. Haven’t had any “need to reset the router again” moments at all with this. My parents have a UniFi setup as well, and no issues there either.

Absolutely true. I just removed 4 Deco X75s (had zero issues with them - just wanted a more advanced setup with VLANs for a hybrid personal/business network) and 3 Google WiFi pucks (had some issues with these). Everyone talks about issues but I haven’t had any with UniFi or with Tp-Link.

Unifi mesh is one of the best implementations I have ever seen, not that my experience is massive. It does handoff fairly well and doesnt completely kill the speeds amd bandwith of the network. Most of the people I know with UI mesh setups are very happy with them. Hell, I know a couple of them who had a cable problem and didn't even realize they were on a mesh network for quite a while.

Same here. Moved from Orbi mesh which was unreliable at best. UniFi system easily lets you set up separate SSIDs with whatever channels you want to assign. A lot of the access points can even adjust power and detect the best channel to reduce interference automatically. I haven’t had to think about it since upgrading to this system.

Just tossed my netgear stuff for Ubiquity and couldn’t be happier. My devices no longer connect to whatever random access point it happens to see even if there’s a better one closer. Then they would get stuck on that one even after rebooting. So frustrating.

I dropped off my orbi 970 at UPS today to be returned in favor of my new UniFi stack. It’s no comparison.

It's the way to go. I have 4 unifi aps in my house, a couple in the garages, a couple outside. All hardwired though, no lossy meshing. No kids and wife complaining about wifi.

Second this. Unifi's work beautifully with my FWG. Once my FWG goes, I may switch router to them completely.

If your FTTP NTD is stuck in the garage, don’t expect one giant router to cover the whole property. Even a high-end unit like the ASUS GT-AX11000 Pro will choke once you add 20+ meters, two walls, a wardrobe, and three doors. Wi-Fi 6 is good, but it can’t bend physics. What actually works: Stay ASUS: Another GT-AX11000 Pro in AiMesh mode with 5 GHz-2 dedicated to backhaul. Identical hardware syncs better and avoids a lot of the “AiMesh nightmare” stories. TP-Link Deco X95/X90: Very solid tri-band Wi-Fi 6 kits. Great balance of throughput and reliability. Eero Pro 6E: Simple and stable, though be aware that features like advanced parental controls, ad blocking, and network security sit behind a paid Eero Plus subscription. Stock Eero hardware still covers fine, but the extras aren’t free. Ubiquiti UniFi: Fantastic when you can run wired backhaul. Pure wireless uplink works, but it takes more tuning and often won’t outperform a well-placed consumer tri-band mesh system. Placement > hardware. Don’t leave your main router in the garage. Pull a short Ethernet run inside (adhesive raceways look tidy) and put your main node on the first interior wall. Add a second node halfway to the far corner, and if it’s still weak, a third to finish the chain. On a 1 Gbps NBN plan, a good tri-band mesh should still give you ~400–700 Mbps at the far end. With one lonely router in the garage, you’ll likely see <100 Mbps and dropouts. (Side note: I run FixIT Computer & Tech, a small IT shop in Port Angeles, WA. I see this exact situation all the time—new house, NBN box in the garage, and Wi-Fi disappointment. The fix is almost never “buy the most expensive router,” it’s smart mesh placement and making the backhaul work for you.)

All the unifi access points support mesh just fine. You can set "auto" or pick specific address points to use for priority 1 and 2. I have one of 4 APs with wireless uplink, and have no complaints. It's in my shed and has two wired security cameras attached that are constantly streaming. They also all support 802.11r/k/v for roaming and fast switching, regardless of wired/mesh uplink. These protocols make devices seamlessly switch APs as they move around, and without dropping connections. You can be on a video call and walk around without interruption.

I second this. Went all in and couldn’t be happier. Never had such good coverage and the control you have is insane!

Get omada or unify. Either will make you happy. One ssid for users, one for guests.

Get into the UniFi ecosystem and don’t look back.

I setup my Luddite parents’ multi building rural location with a UniFi system several years ago. It’s been bulletproof ever since, no matter how they try to mess it up.

Another vote for Ubiquiti UniFi.

I’ve used Unifi APs for years with my Firewalla. Another option you might want to investigate is the Firewalla AP7.

Ubiquiti. Join the club. The more you get the more you want.

There are many helpful people in r/Ubiquiti. They could assist with your choices.

I dumped my entire nest and google WiFi mesh network and went Ubiquiti. Best decision I ever made. Period.

Technology aside (I.e. UniFi WiFi 7 better than WiFi 6 with my old Google/nest WiFi setup) the level of network control provided by ubiquiti software is FAR superior to Google home. UniFi tells knows whether problems are with specific clients, APs, or your ISP. I can create VLANs for just cameras and security. Separate ones for business and can filter application etc

UNIFI is your answer. Other answers confirm my opinion.

Ubiquity UniFi, I have two wired APs inside, one outside and two wireless APs outside. They blanket 5+ acres and a 2300 sq. ft. house with WiFi, zero issues.

Ubiquiti Unifi, requirements will depend on layout but I would do UDM Pro router and probably one wired access point on each floor. Very configurable, modular and easy to expand. I have two houses with Unifi mesh setups and virtually never have an issue. When I do, it's the ISP.

Two words, Ubiquiti UniFi. Little more expensive but an excellent, manageable and expandable mesh system. I have installed UniFi in both of my homes with virtually zero issues. One home install is over 5 years old, the other 1 year. Both houses are single level, around 2400 sq.ft. and sit on 5+ acres of property. Running 5 APs, two inside and three outside. Wifi always stable anywhere you go on the property.

I have Unifi for this.

I bet it is fine for people that aren't doing much with their wifi. Having each AP wired is a giant improvement so you're doing people big service.

This. UniFi if you have a larger budget or Omada if you have a tighter budget. Both are great.

Unifi. Controller in a Debian VM. Done

With Unifi you don't have to have a controller running all the time. You set up the APs with the phone app and they're good to go.  The unifi controller can run on a Raspberry pi, a virtual machine or any x86 computer.

Ubiquiti Unifi. But I want to advice to not use Mesh. It only gives you slowness and problems. Do yourself a favor and disable it from the moment you get it out of the box. I have absolutely ***no*** context for "backhaul". I have no idea what you mean with it.

>backhaul (wired connectivity back to primary router vs. one unit wirelessly feeding another.) I now, finally, have context for the word 'backhaul'. Or just say 'cable connected'. >My TPLink Deco, 3 unit mesh system does not rely on cloud (to function or manage) after it's initial set up. Unifi doesn't require any cloud stuff. Never. If you want, you can, but it's not a requirement. Not for initial setup, nor for management. No cloud account is needed.

Consider access points. I have a unifi system. I have a router that is an access point. Then a cable runs to the other end of the house and there’s an another access point. In another part of the house where I can’t cable I have an access point but it runs as a mesh. One wifi network name. If you move around the house is connects to the strongest signal.

This is my current setup. Three WAPs(Ubiquity unifi) 3 years ago, have already replaced 2 switches and now all my access points are constantly failing. I have a Verizon router that my Apps are hardwired to for each floor. I was only using the WiFi from my APs before it started acting up, I’m currently using the WiFi from the router as a backup for a stable connection. My question is, is the SSID from the router interfering with the APs? If so, how can I resolve this. I’m only using the WiFi for my IoT devices.

I’ll really need your help. I’ve had this issue for the past three years now. A company installed 3 Ubiquiti WAPs for me that are now out of warranty. Have replaced 2 switches that just died and now all of my WAPs are not connecting to the network.

For the average consumer, Eero is a much better fit though. Sure, if you like to tinker or have one off use cases, Unifi is the much better option, but Eero does a great job of providing a product that just works without ever really needing to touch it. I've had Asus, Netgear, Linksys, TP-Link, Google WiFi, and Eero, but I've had meshing issues with all except for Eero. My current setup is Unifi with Eero in bridge mode.

Came here to say Unifi is probably your best best at reasonable management for the non-pro with many of the features one would want for an enterprise deployment.

I think folks that have commented already missed the point that you're not tech-savvy and do not way to deal with complicated setup/ troubleshooting. I would avoid Ubiquiti. It's a great product and I use it. But it requires network know-how the set it up and maintain it. I would recommend Eero. It's a solid performer and designed for the person that isn't tech-savvy and does not want to tinker with the network. Eero has probably the best mesh products on the market today. Depending on your layout/ needs, you could go PoE Gateway + PoE 6 APs. Great for ceiling AP locations. I also use this setup. Alternatively, you can use Max 7 or Pro 6E. Avoid 6/6+ models from Eero.

Ubiquiti Unifi is a good (but pricy) option. Central control, all the features you want while still being quite user friendly, and it allows a combination of mesh and hardwire, which can be good for areas that mesh just won't get.

Unifi for me and nothing else exists.

Unifi's mesh is solid with wiired backhaul tho

II think the best thing you can do for your system is to get a wired backhaul. My UniFi system is far more stable than my TP-link AXE5400 ever was (I had that system previously too) but I think a large part of that is that when I got this new fancy UniFi system it was the kick in the butt I needed to get a hard wired backhaul. I regret nothing because I love my UniFi system.

Don’t make the same mistake as I made and buy one of these pre-packaged mesh systems. They do work great but if you decide you need an extra satellite a year later for more coverage for whatever reason, chances are the model you need is no longer manufactured and the ‘new’ current model isn’t backwards compatible with your setup. Instead buy a long term modular system. There may be others but I’ve been using UniFi’s for a while now and I’ve expanded and updated different bits a few times over the years. I had to learn the hard way after buying two different ‘complete’ mesh systems before, one for home and one for work, neither of which could be upgraded (in practice) a little while later.

Why don't you replace all of APs to UniFi Ubiquiti? They've got the most optimized radios.

Unifi stuff is not very difficult to set up. It’s pretty plug and play. If you WANT to get into the weeds , sure you can do that too. And it’s much easier to troubleshoot if something goes wrong. I used to have Orbi and the web interface is a joke.

This is what I did. Way easier to manage than orbi and much more stable. Also, probably cheaper , but this depends on your needs.

Agree. UniFi is very easy to set up. You download the app, stand next to your new gear and it walks you through everything. Some of the cameras with speakers even talk to you. I was a little apprehensive at first too, but all for nothing.

At that scale, look at prosumer products like TP Link Omada and Ubiquiti UniFi. It should be using a wired back end that also delivers the power to the WiFi via POE switches ( power over ethernet). It'll be centrally controlled and have seamless roaming when you move around the house.

Second. I just hard wired my UniFi and I’m blown away from the stability and speed.

Can you get it wired? I like UniFi as a system and MESH.

I would recommend Ubiquity over TPLink due to the potential ongoing political issues if you are in the US. Also, build quality for Ubiquity APs is better. You so not need to run their controller software 24/7. You can just run it to set up and uodate firmware. My main network router and switch is Mikrotik and love them. I woukd nit rrcommend their APs, though. Not as giid of performance on those.

Unifi from Ubiquiti. You’ve got the wire to the small out building already. You can poe power what you need out there for wifi easily and with the new stuff they just dropped you have a lot of options. I left orbi for unifi. It’s not perfect but it’s been a lot better than orbi ever was.

I did not like my orbi setup. Buggy POS for me riddled with terrible firmware releases they kept having to apologize for. I moved on to unifi and while it’s not a panacea… it’s a damn sight better than orbi.