Omada device choice

[Ant!]

Hi! As mentioned in an earlier thread (https://www.snbforums.com/threads/asus-aimesh-vs-eero.90766/), I want to replace my current, temporary Eero 6 I got from my provider with an Omada setup. Earlier I used an Asus RT-AC68U, which is now out of support and showed some problems (I guess a reset might still help). Anyways, reading about Omada and having some small experience in setting up a Ubiquity setup for a previous job, I think Omada might be a great solution for me.

Details:

• We live on the ground floor where the main cable entry is, and the router/AP combi. Office is in the basement and has good wifi. In maybe 2-3 years we plan to move all the kids rooms and sleeping rooms downstairs, some areas might need a better connection. Planning on laying at least one wire from ground floor to basement when we do the construction. This would be a good place for an in-wall AP (or a ceiling AP + switch) when its the time.
• We share our internet with our tenants upstairs, they are friends. (Actually, just some new ones, also friends moving in). While it was never a problem without, separated VLAN would be cool. If needed, we could add an AP upstairs. For the moment this would be wireless backhaul only, at the moment we wire up the basement it might be a good moment to lay a cable up as well, tbd.
• For now we don't have crazy speed requirements (our contract is 120 Mb/s and fine for now. Beside this, within the network is only some music streaming from a Squeezelite/LMS system going on, no heavy NAS copying or whatever). Of course things might change when the kids get older or whatever.
• I'm in Canada.

So, my current plan, for the first stage is to get only a router and one AP for the ground floor (checking if coverage is ok for the moment, the one AP in the past was mostly ok). Phase 2 & 3, in whichever order, would be adding AP points upstairs and downstairs (upstairs might happen in a few months or not at all, downstairs in a few years). Optionally, adding an outside AP during the basement renovation to cover better some corners in the garden.

For the controller, of course there is the OC200, but the (newish) free essential cloud service or the self-hosted SW controller on a Raspberry Pi might be ok, I have anyways a RP running which idles most of the time. (Which is your preferred option over the others, and why?)

Different options:

• Router ER605 + AP EAP610 or EAP650 (650 is currently cheaper here then the 610, 670 is a bit more and larger and might be too much for what we need)
• Alternatively: ER706W (router + AX3000 AP)

I don't find much info/tests on the ER706W (https://www.tp-link.com/ca/business-networking/omada-router-wifi-router/er706w/), how does it compare against ER605+EAP650, especially wifi coverage?
The advantages of the combination device: a bit cheaper (currently CAD $175 vs $210 when going with the separate option), less clutter (and currently I'd place router & AP at the same place). Disadvantage: Upgrading or replacing if things break less flexible, less flexible placement in the future.

Any thoughts?

 

[microchip]

Can't talk about the ER605 router (I use MikroTik) but I'm very pleased with my EAP650 APs. Rock solid, plenty of options and regular updates. I manage it with the Omada Software Controller, but you can choose the Web UI of the AP. It has VLAN support if needed. Range and speed are constant and good here.

 

[Ant!]

Since I found in on reddit (

https://www.reddit.com/r/TPLinkOmada/comments/1g0m2cl

) a comment:

"ER706W is much more powerful than ER605. ..wifi is much better than most EAP access points, very good speed and range."

I read through the actual technical specs, and yes, beside the wifi and the one ethernet port more, the throughput of the ER706W seems to be indeed quite a bit higher, and more RAM. Not saying I actually would see a difference in my small setup, but that would be an advantage of the cheaper combi package...

 

[Tech9]

Take a look at this thread:

So Long, Thanks For All The Help

I received a new networking setup today. Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max and 2 U7 Pro Wall APs. I also got table stands for the APs so they can be placed where I want them. First, the packaging was Apple-like. Off to a good start. Build quality and the finish was equally great. Why, they even have a...

www.snbforums.com

For a new system from currently available devices on the market I would go with Ubiquiti instead. The new Cloud Gateway Ultra and Max 3-in-1 devices (Gateway, Controller, Switch) are excellent as price/performance. You only need to add Access Points of choice for a complete UniFi system.

 

[Ant!]

Take a look at this thread:

So Long, Thanks For All The Help

I received a new networking setup today. Ubiquiti Cloud Gateway Max and 2 U7 Pro Wall APs. I also got table stands for the APs so they can be placed where I want them. First, the packaging was Apple-like. Off to a good start. Build quality and the finish was equally great. Why, they even have a...

www.snbforums.com

For a new system from currently available devices on the market I would go with Ubiquiti instead. The new Cloud Gateway Ultra and Max 3-in-1 devices (Gateway, Controller, Switch) are excellent as price/performance. You only need to add Access Points of choice for a complete UniFi system.

Why would you prefer Ubiquity? It seems (at least here) quite a it more expensive... The Cloud Gateway Ultra is CAD $190, and I would still need an AP, e.g. U6+ which is CAD 146. So in sum, if using the Omada free cloud or SW controller instead of OC200, this is nearly twice the price of a ER706W...

 

[Tech9]

Compare the features as well, not the price only. Giving you an alternative, the final decision is yours.

 

[Ant!]

Compare the features as well, not the price only. Giving you an alternative, the final decision is yours.

Absolutely, that's why I am asking. I will read more about it. Of course the question is if I need these additional features.

 

[Tech9]

The two systems are similar and both work very well. Ubiquity made interesting devices for home users allowing complete UniFi system on affordable price with two devices only. Omada is more industrial style, Ubiquiti is more Apple experience. The new gateways are super small, do IPS/IDS traffic inspection, have DNS encryption options, IP blocking of malicious addresses, TOR blocking, Geo blocking, form of parental controls and more polished user interface. They are also faster on OpenVPN and WireGuard. Cloud Gateway Max version has all 2.5GbE ports.

This ER706W is more like common home router. This is not Omada system. Just a router like ER7206 with Wi-Fi.

 

[Ant!]

This ER706W is more like common home router. This is not Omada system. Just a router like ER7206 with Wi-Fi.

Of course, a single unit is no system, but I guess it can be the base of one, right? As said, I plan to add a few more AP. But in the end this will stay a small, easy setup, not comparable with many business networks.

The main advantage I can see for now in the Ubiquity system is the easier setup for non-experts, and this is a big plus, definitely. As said, I used about 4-5 years Ubiquity (one tiny router, two AP, a switch), and their setup was definitely not too overwhelming. On the other side, I am since 15 years Linux user, mostly Kubuntu but also some Raspberry Pi and other Debian based stuff and while not an expert, am not shy of using a terminal and searching solutions. But I stayed away from Arch and Gentoo distributions for now... I don't care about Apple styling, the current router is under the couch.

I guess most of the functions I might not use, my requirements are basically: Easy roaming in between APs, VLAN, IP reservations, maybe a VPN without needing a very fast one, the usual firewall (+ maybe ad blocker), QoS if it is as easy as on the Asus routers (if it is much more complex, I might not use it). For now there is no fiber network to my house, so my internet speeds are way below 1 GB/s, the maximal I see offered are around 400 MB/s, which is more then we use now. Of course, this might change in the future.

Don't understand me wrong, your input is definitely helpful, and I will look out if I find deals on Ubiquity.

 

[Ant!]

Just saw the UniFi Express, which basically costs the same as the ER706W, and is as far as I understand router, cloud controller and AP. I understand it is much less powerful then the Cloud Gateway Ultra, but could it be enough for me? I would still need an additional switch, but I guess an unmanaged would do? Or is a managed needed for VLAN? What do you think about this smaller model, plus some AP?

 

[Tech9]

but could it be enough for me?

Sorry, I can't answer this question. Read TP-Link ER706W and Ubiquiti UniFi Express reviews and decide which one fits your needs better.