Mesh Asus vs Unifi in 2025

[dffvb]

Hi there, as we will move, and cant have cables in the new apartment I am forced to use mesh. Wondering whats the stastus of Mesh in 2025 for Asus also compared to Ubiquiti APs. These are slow as hell, but with mesh relaibility becomes more important and thats from what I remember not the strong suit of Asus.

Thanks in advance happy sunday.

 

[Tech9]

There is a recent thread with information providing answers your questions:

UniFi Dream Router 7 vs Asus RT-BE88U

I am looking for replacement for RT-AX86U for 2Gbit/600Mbps (8/1 in future when I need it) fiber connection. I am running 2.5Gbe connection to my macbook and NAS. I have 3 unmanaged switches (two gigabit and one 2.5Gbe + 2x SFP+) Newly released Dream Router seems to be good competition at...

www.snbforums.com

Not sure what is slow as hell, but both Asus and Ubiquiti equipment when used for the right purpose can be equally fast. Errors implementing either or unrealistic expectations can produce equally dissatisfying results. With Ubiquiti it will hurt more due to higher equipment cost. Do your homework and select the right equipment matching your budget, needs and knowledge/comfort level.

 

[dffvb]

Lets put the perfomance aspect aside for a moment. I did check the other thread prior to writing, what I found was the following: You @Tech9 stated that Unifi runs more stable at the downsid eof inconvinience for missing comfort features for home users like no WPS. I saw that OzarkEdge added that the wirelss uplink would be missed by some. From what I read, its possible under Unifi (I know only one hop) and that Asus mesh is just junk.

Thats my main question, how reliable are the meshes. According to OzarkEdge it would be Unifi I guess, if Asus still does not provide proper mesh - would take you commnet not to consider AC68U a smesh node, as it is indeed outdated. I would be looking at BT8...

Many thanks in advance

 

[Tech9]

I have 2x wirelessly uplinked devices on my UniFi network and they never lost the link since installed months ago. I would say reliability is excellent, but this may depend on environment factors. Everything wireless is in theory less reliable than wired.

If you need somewhat high performing UniFi system in wireless mesh configuration your minimum start equipment is UCG-Max (gateway, controller, switch) and 2x U7-Pro-Max (access points). This setup can do up to 4.8Gbps wireless uplink between the APs on 5GHz band. It will cost you around $800 as per Ubiquiti Store US pricing (including 2x PoE+ adapters). It can do well with 2.5GbE WAN/LAN (real ~2.3Gbps) and serve all G/N/AC/AX/BE class clients on 3x bands with potential for ~2Gbps to BE clients. You'll also have full VLAN control on all LAN/WLAN interfaces. Apartment Wi-Fi environment may be challenging and real life performance may vary*.

* - valid for any wireless uplink/backhaul system

 

[Tech9]

I would be looking at BT8...

This one is around $580 on Amazon US for 2-pack, not cheap either. If you decide to try it - make sure you don't miss the return window. If it doesn't work as advertised from day one - send it back right away! Don't rely on fixing things over time promises. This process may take years or may never happen for the life of the product.

 

[dffvb]

I have 2x wirelessly uplinked devices on my UniFi network and they never lost the link since installed months ago

Thats what I wanted to read. Thank you. I had an AC88U for years, it was a performance beast mopping the floor with the UAP AC LR ( in 2x2 Scenarios). However yes it never really worked well with Yamha MusicCast and some updates broke everything. Love the apps from Ubiquiti, but my last try with the Express was not so good in terms of traffic monitor. Showed me 1 GB of SSH traffic from my Synology box, which got me paranoid, put a tcpdump on it, found nothing, although traffic showed another 400 MB... Anyway, not having a choice really, I will likely go for Ubiiquiti with the suggested hardware .Thanks a lot again

 

[Tech9]

but my last try with the Express was not so good

The two wirelessly uplinked devices on my network are indeed UniFi Express units, but they are used as wireless-to-wired bridges only and don't serve any wireless clients. I did test the wireless performance as mesh AP and got ~400Mbps throughput to Express connected AX-class clients. For shared wireless uplink this is about what I was expecting to see.

There is a new UniFi Express 7 with updated specs, but no much feedback about it at the moment. Careful with Ubiquiti hardware return though because it's not as easy as Asus from Amazon. Must be a reason for the return, must be authorized by Ubiquiti and restocking fee may apply. Experiments with any SMB class equipment will cost you more in general.

 

[Tech9]

I will likely go for Ubiiquiti with the suggested hardware

I know nothing about your requirements. The equipment above is an example with 4-stream 5GHz radio APs since UniFi uses this band for wireless uplink and the higher the throughput the better. Keep in mind in an apartment with many close by networks using the same channels your real life experience may be completely different and very far from equipment specs numbers. You may also have region based restrictions for power and channels availability. Make sure you do the math before you enter your CC number.

 

[degrub]

50 or 100 ft FLAT CAT6 ethernet cables, white, are inexpensive and easy to tack onto walls with minimal damage. Toothpaste fills the holes nicely

 

[Tech9]

This single Ethernet wire will allow the use of much cheaper equipment with the same or even better user experience as a result. A bit of creativity may be a game changer.

 

[dffvb]

I know nothing about your requirements. The equipment above is an example with 4-stream 5GHz radio APs since UniFi uses this band for wireless uplink and the higher the throughput the better. Keep in mind in an apartment with many close by networks using the same channels your real life experience may be completely different and very far from equipment specs numbers.

Fully aware of this, thanks for pointing out again. Would love to use a cable but its 120 year old apartment in large house, with 130 square meters... its been reonvated by former a former handyman in a nice fashion prohibitng to lay cables. Will have to sell all my 10 Gbit Ethernet stuff :-(