Want to move away from Asus routers, Ubiquiti? advice needed

[user1234567890]

I'm going to return my GT-BE98, and need some advice on what to go for. I want to move away from Asus if possible. Both myself and the Mrs work from home (zoom meetings etc), so a reliable, strong wifi is super important for that. She connects via a works VPN, and if our wifi has a hiccup, it disconnects her and she has to reboot. I have 5 wired devices at present, mostly 2.5gbe. My daughter does a bit of gaming, and her consumption of media, streaming and other online stuff is quite high, as are the rest of us. The house is not massive, but there are some thick walls, which do reduce the signal. We don't have any wifi 7 devices, but we will do in the next year or so. We do have a few 6e devices.

The BE98 is undoubtedly the best, strongest wifi we have ever had, but it is not reliable and there's no sign of a fix from Asus, and it is just too expensive not to be awesome. The split 5Ghz masquerading as dual 5Ghz is kind of irksome. The RT-BE88U was second choice previously, but having seen how poor the other, recent Asus routers have been for me, that's a last resort.

So, ideally, I want to move away from Asus, and have done a lot of researching and reading on here, but aside from Asus, the only other thing that kind of fits the bill, is Ubiquiti. The Cloud Gateway Fiber and the U6 enterprise AP would be cheaper than the BE98, but looks like a new learning curve, which I'm OK with. The 10gbe is overkill at the moment, but their lower models don't have enough 2.5gbe, of which I need 4. I have a question regarding the U6 enterprise. So they connect via ethernet cable, does the ethernet cable power them, too? Do they have fans in them? If so, are they noisy? Suitable for a bedroom?

Would these be a solid choice to move away Asus, or do Ubiquiti have their own fair share of issues? If not, can anyone recommend anything else to have a look at? Any advice is much welcome, thanks!

 

[Tech9]

Any advice is much welcome, thanks!

Use UniFi Design Center to find out how many APs you may need and what type.

UniFi Design Center

Simulate a complete UniFi system with our powerful visualization and planning tool.

design.ui.com

If you draw your place accurately including wall materials the resulting heat map will be very close to expected real life results.

U6-Enterprise 10-stream AP with 600 clients support... may be overkill for home application. Otherwise there is no cooling fan inside, they are PoE powered, but you have to select the right switch with enough PoE power budget. U6-Enterprise is a 22W PoE+ device. Multi-AP systems work best with more APs on low power. The difference in resulting Wi-Fi quality is described here.

I find Network Application in UniFi OS actually easier to manage than later complications in Asuswrt with better structured UI and Apple-like one button on/off options doing whatever you need automatically in background. It is made user-friendly enough and with some not too advanced networking knowledge an entire UniFi system can be setup quickly just using built-in help tips.

I wouldn't count phones/tablets as devices needing Wi-Fi 6E/7 connectivity. In my opinion paying extra for shorter range 6GHz band for eventual futureproofing increases significantly the project initial cost with minimal user experience improvements.

 

[Tech9]

Whatever vendor you choose to go with - don't overpay for hardware. Latest and greatest - beta tester membership.

 

[heysoundude]

Look into mikrotik - they have some pretty impressive hardware at surprisingly good prices.
while their RouterOS is more complex to configure, once you've done that, it works transparently.

one of these as the router/base and one of these near each work station could possibly be exactly what you need, but you could add more, or go big

if you've a fiber optic connection with Gb+ speeds, this is the way to go with the "go big" option above

 

[tgl]

I'm using U6 Enterprise APs myself. They are solid kit. No fan, no problems. I do suggest running the 6.7.x firmware, even though that's still "early access" (a/k/a beta), as it gives me noticeably better performance than the 6.6.x current "official release" firmware, and I've seen few if any problems. I concur with @Tech9 's recommendation to stay away from the latest hardware (the U7 or E7 series); seems like Ubiquiti is still struggling to get those to the it-just-works level. It is fair to argue that the U6 Enterprise is overkill for home use, and its price tag is steep compared to the U6 Pro or U7 Pro --- but the U6 Pro has no 6GHz support, and I'm suspicious of the U7 Pro for being too new.

If you have thick interior walls you should expect to need more than one AP, and that may put the U6-Ent out of budget range anyway.

 

[user1234567890]

Whatever vendor you choose to go with - don't overpay for hardware. Latest and greatest - beta tester membership.

Thanks for taking the time to write all that, it is much appreciated. Something that I forgot to mention is that we have been using the 6Ghz for the work laptops and found that while there's not much difference in speed, in reality, we are the only 6Ghz band in our vicinity, whereas the 2.4 and 5Ghz are quite congested at certain times of the day. That's really my reasoning for going 6e.

And regarding overpaying for hardware, it's not something I'd intended to do, I just kept buying Asus routers as the one I had for many years was pretty good, and had a run of bad ones, each next one a bit more expensive in the hope of it being better. Lesson learned. I have been looking at the various APs that they do and the wifi 7 specific ones that have 6e are bigger, more expensive and seem to use more power than that U6 enterprise that I mentioned, or at least that's what I took from reading about them. I just watched a few YouTube vids about the Ubiquiti web ui, and it does look pretty good.

 

[user1234567890]

Look into mikrotik - they have some pretty impressive hardware at surprisingly good prices.
while their RouterOS is more complex to configure, once you've done that, it works transparently.

one of these as the router/base and one of these near each work station could possibly be exactly what you need, but you could add more, or go big

if you've a fiber optic connection with Gb+ speeds, this is the way to go with the "go big" option above

I will have a look, thanks. That last one looks a bit of a beast!

 

[tgl]

Something that I forgot to mention is that we have been using the 6Ghz for the work laptops and found that while there's not much difference in speed, in reality, we are the only 6Ghz band in our vicinity, whereas the 2.4 and 5Ghz are quite congested at certain times of the day. That's really my reasoning for going 6e.

Yup, that's my exact reason as well. I recently moved into a high-rise apartment building in which the 2.4GHz band is just about saturated, and the non-DFS 5G channels nearly as bad. I've had good luck running in some DFS channels (which surprised me, because we're definitely in radio earshot of the local airport and weather radar). But the 6GHz band is completely clear, and is likely to remain good even as my neighbors catch up technologically, just because of its shorter range. So I bought the U6-Ents and have been gradually replacing my performance-relevant devices with 6E-capable gear. WiFi 7 is still a long way down the pike for my purposes.

 

[user1234567890]

I'm using U6 Enterprise APs myself. They are solid kit. No fan, no problems. I do suggest running the 6.7.x firmware, even though that's still "early access" (a/k/a beta), as it gives me noticeably better performance than the 6.6.x current "official release" firmware, and I've seen few if any problems. I concur with @Tech9 's recommendation to stay away from the latest hardware (the U7 or E7 series); seems like Ubiquiti is still struggling to get those to the it-just-works level. It is fair to argue that the U6 Enterprise is overkill for home use, and its price tag is steep compared to the U6 Pro or U7 Pro --- but the U6 Pro has no 6GHz support, and I'm suspicious of the U7 Pro for being too new.

If you have thick interior walls you should expect to need more than one AP, and that may put the U6-Ent out of budget range anyway.

Thant's good to know, thanks for taking the time to reply. I had missed the U7 pro in my first search, I think it wasn't showing on the UK website, not much is though. I think the U6 enterprise has around half the idle power draw of the U7 pro, according to YouTube, so that could swing it. I will probably start with one AP and see how that goes first. cheers.

 

[user1234567890]

Yup, that's my exact reason as well. I recently moved into a high-rise apartment building in which the 2.4GHz band is just about saturated, and the non-DFS 5G channels nearly as bad. I've had good luck running in some DFS channels (which surprised me, because we're definitely in radio earshot of the local airport and weather radar). But the 6GHz band is completely clear, and is likely to remain good even as my neighbors catch up technologically, just because of its shorter range. So I bought the U6-Ents and have been gradually replacing my performance-relevant devices with 6E-capable gear. WiFi 7 is still a long way down the pike for my purposes.

And that makes it even more annoying when your Asus router keeps kicking everyone off We both tend to use the 6Ghz in the same room as the router for working, so the signal is always good.

 

[tgl]

We both tend to use the 6Ghz in the same room as the router for working, so the signal is always good.

Hmm, one thing worth considering is that UniFi gear does not blink an eye with mix-n-match APs. So if there's just a specific area where you need 6GHz service, you could put a U6-Ent there and then buy cheaper APs to cover any dead spots elsewhere.

On the question of power draw: the U6-Ent has a max draw of 22W per its spec sheet, and what I see mine actually drawing when idle/loafing is 12W-13W according to my PoE switches. I don't know idle draw of the U7-Pro, but its rated max is 21W so I'd sort of expect that its idle is in the same ballpark as the U6-Ent.

 

[Tech9]

And that makes it even more annoying when your Asus router keeps kicking everyone off

You may miss reboot and reset experience though. Keep an Asus router around to have something to play with.

I can't tell you what exactly equipment you need for your place, but I can tell you my two UniFi networks reboot only on UniFi OS updates. I also have two devices with wireless uplink and it stays up and running forever. Hardware quality and reliability is excellent.

 

[degrub]

Do you have wired CAT 6 or at least CAT5e to each room where you need an AP ?
Wired connection of APs is required for POE based APs, etc. Wireless backhaul would cut any bandwidth significantly no matter your wireless link rate. And then you are using power supplies at each AP location , if that is even an option for the AP.

It sounds like you were using just the one ASUS wifi router.

 

[user1234567890]

Hmm, one thing worth considering is that UniFi gear does not blink an eye with mix-n-match APs. So if there's just a specific area where you need 6GHz service, you could put a U6-Ent there and then buy cheaper APs to cover any dead spots elsewhere.

On the question of power draw: the U6-Ent has a max draw of 22W per its spec sheet, and what I see mine actually drawing when idle/loafing is 12W-13W according to my PoE switches. I don't know idle draw of the U7-Pro, but its rated max is 21W so I'd sort of expect that its idle is in the same ballpark as the U6-Ent.

Thanks, yeah, that YouTube vid was possibly wrong, and as you say, the max power draw is very similar on most of them. It's really whether to go tried and tested, or the newer ones.

 

[user1234567890]

You may miss reboot and reset experience though. Keep an Asus router around to have something to play with.

I can't tell you what exactly equipment you need for your place, but I can tell you my two UniFi networks reboot only on UniFi OS updates. I also have two devices with wireless uplink and it stays up and running forever. Hardware quality and reliability is excellent.

Thanks. I still have my 9 year old RT-AC68U for when its replacements are returned. That was the one that I was hoping was the benchmark for the others, but sadly, they fell short. I am liking the Ubiquiti stuff, that I've seen so far. One thing I was wondering about is that some of their APs have only a 2.5gbe to connect them, wouldn't that be quite limiting if using only one of them? Or is that the idea to use much more than that for maximum effect? If using just one, would the 10gbe version be a better bet?

 

[user1234567890]

Do you have wired CAT 6 or at least CAT5e to each room where you need an AP ?
Wired connection of APs is required for POE based APs, etc. Wireless backhaul would cut any bandwidth significantly no matter your wireless link rate. And then you are using power supplies at each AP location , if that is even an option for the AP.

It sounds like you were using just the one ASUS wifi router.

Not yet. But that's not a problem to do. I can run the cable outside the side of the house and up. OK, that's good info, thanks

 

[degrub]

Not yet. But that's not a problem to do. I can run the cable outside the side of the house and up. OK, that's good info, thanks

If you run CAT cable outside, make sure you use moisture resistant cable and put in non-metallic conduit to keep most of the weather out. Better to run internally. If you don't want to do yourself, alarm installers are pretty good at getting from point A to B and have the tools.

Alternative would be to run exterior grade fiber cable outside like the aerial or direct burial fiber ATT and others use. May cost you a bit more in hardware at the terminations, but at least should be immune to most weather issues.

 

[user1234567890]

If you run CAT cable outside, make sure you use moisture resistant cable and put in non-metallic conduit to keep most of the weather out. Better to run internally. If you don't want to do yourself, alarm installers are pretty good at getting from point A to B and have the tools.

Alternative would be to run exterior grade fiber cable outside like the aerial or direct burial fiber ATT and others use. May cost you a bit more in hardware at the terminations, but at least should be immune to most weather issues.

Thanks, I will grab some exterior cable. In this house, it is all solid brick walls, and wooden flooring upstairs, so it can be challenging to run things internally. It's just easier to drill a hole to the outside and then up and back in. Less than 6 metres of cable that way and nothing visible inside. It's at the side of the house, so not a problem.

 

[Tech9]

I have 5 wired devices at present, mostly 2.5gbe.

Not yet (Ethernet). But that's not a problem to do.

I was under impression you do have Ethernet around the house. If you don't - this changes the game.

I still have my 9 year old RT-AC68U

Was this old router enough to cover the place? If yes or almost - you better get a new All-In-One router. I would try RT-BE88U, it's dual-band, but it has expected better range and all the ports you need in one reasonable priced device. It may have some firmware quirks, but based on user feedback works well. You have to set some realistic expectations and find the balance between cost and speed. If you go for speed in this thick brick walls house the cost of the project including new Ethernet infrastructure may jump sky high.

 

[Tech9]

One thing I was wondering about is that some of their APs have only a 2.5gbe to connect them

Only 2.5GbE ports? Wi-Fi 6/6E with 160MHz wide channel can get to about 1.7Gbps throughput in ideal conditions. This is to common 2-stream client. What mobile device in your household needs more and do you have ideal conditions? Realistic expectations...