Ruckus Announces Affordable AP Product Line

[LoneWolf]

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...3-ruckus-announces-affordable-ap-product-line

These look really interesting. Ruckus is known for having some of the best resistance to interference and beamforming setups out there.

One thing I didn't notice in Ruckus' own sheets: whether the units can support SSIDs based on VLAN. The Xi-3 dual-frequency AP access point has a really good price of $199 though, which beats out the Cisco WAP371 and the Ubiquiti Unifi AP AC. It's rated to support four APs in cluster (the Cisco can do 6, I'm unsure on the Ubiquiti). The Ruckus and Cisco are 2x2, while the Ubiquiti is 3x3.

I've seen complaints regarding the range and performance of the Cisco model in their forums; I've seen the Ubiquiti rated here as mediocre. I hope Ruckus will provide Tim with an Xclaim Xi-3 for testing.

 

[thiggins]

Already requested review samples. Ruckus said they are not available yet.

Let me know if you see reviews on other sites...

 

[sfx2000]

Ruckus' key strength has been adaptive antenna's and RF ASIC's - it's beamforming, but it's not dependent on the 802.11 MAC layer primitives. It's built upon the older Video54 work, and has evolved from there.

Good stuff, and for the most part, compatible downsteam into 802.11 a/b/g as it's in the radio/analog domain.

Might be a challenge to test in a closed loop environment (e.g. inside a chamber) as opposed to free-space.

I very much look forward to seeing how their new devices work...

sfx

 

[sfx2000]

A couple of more existing Ruckus antenna porn shots..

Some of them are fairly elaborate as you can tell...

 

[mlg321]

Really glad to see, some competition for Ubiquiti. Have heard as many horror stories as success stories with UniFi.

 

[unmesh]

Really glad to see, some competition for Ubiquiti. Have heard as many horror stories as success stories with UniFi.

I use Ubiquiti/Unifi at home and thought this might be a replacement but they have less functionality.

Specifically, I don't see support for Zero Handoff Roaming or Wireless Uplink. What I would get in software compared to consumer APs would be no requirement for a controller and the ability to administer from a smartphone as well as centralized firmware upgrades. Sort of like Apple Airport

 

[remixedcat]

Wonder how the firmware would compare to Xirrus. Xirrus had AMAZING firmware with the most comprehensive RF options ever. The XR630s are awesome. http://remixedcat.blogspot.com/2014/07/xirrus-xr630-review.html

 

[thiggins]

Wonder how the firmware would compare to Xirrus. Xirrus had AMAZING firmware with the most comprehensive RF options ever. The XR630s are awesome. http://remixedcat.blogspot.com/2014/07/xirrus-xr630-review.html

Xirrus is a completely different animal. They pack multiple radios in a single enclosure for very high capacity applications.

 

[azazel1024]

I use Ubiquiti/Unifi at home and thought this might be a replacement but they have less functionality.

Specifically, I don't see support for Zero Handoff Roaming or Wireless Uplink. What I would get in software compared to consumer APs would be no requirement for a controller and the ability to administer from a smartphone as well as centralized firmware upgrades. Sort of like Apple Airport

I also don't like the "cloud administration" bit. No, no, no, no and thousand times NO. You should not be administering anything through "the cloud" unless it is through your own private cloud.

A smart phone app that you can run from within your network, or you can add the option to administer externally through a phone app that is connecting back to your router using a DDNS service/static IP, sure. Cloud...NO!

The Ubiquity stuff would be a lot better if 1) There was legit web admin page, instead of the java app you have to load 2) The prices were a bit lower, at least on the 11ac stuff. Otherwise it seems more or less awesome.

 

[sfx2000]

Hoping that Ruckus isn't going to play the cloud game...

A java app might be painful - having cross-platform support would be preferred... even if it ends up being an embedded WebServer...

 

[rtfm]

I also don't like the "cloud administration" bit. No, no, no, no and thousand times NO. You should not be administering anything through "the cloud" unless it is through your own private cloud.

You have some objection to allowing virtually anyone in China and Russia help you run your network????????? [Not to mention Ft. Meade]

I was initially excited by the ruckus over Ruckus, but not now. Still wary re: UniFi but not seeing alternatives.

 

[Vanburen]

Long time lurker, first time poster.

Really looking forward to to the SNB review of the Xclaim stuff. It looks very similar to the Zoneflex hardware, but with different firmware and lacking beamflex. Hoping they ship those review samples soon.

Regarding the concerns over cloud management, I don't think anything has been implemented yet. Currently the only way to admin the APs is with the harmony app, which I think doesn't send any data outside the LAN. I think the cloud management is going to be more for VARs and businesses, rather than home users.

I use UBNT stuff at the office, it works well for what we use it for, but we don't put them under a lot of load. As it stands UBNT has a lot more features like captive portal. But for a home network, i'd definitely be tempted to go for the Xclaim stuff, just for the ease of management through the iOS/Android apps. Its also cheaper if you want dual band N or AC APs.

 

[thiggins]

Initial impression

I bought an Xi-2 N600 since Ruckus hasn't done anything on review samples. The Xi-3 AC AP isn't shipping yet.

Anyone used to being able to control all the knobs on an AP will be very frustrated with the product. Controllable only via Android or iOS apps, setup is not intuitive. You can create multiple SSIDs (WLANs) but can't assign them to a radio.

Management is not cloud based. Everything must be on the same L2 net.

If you plan to manage multiple installations, you'll be in for a rough ride.

Product does not support Ruckus' BeamFlex technology.

If you are considering a purchase, be sure to read through the Xclaim forums.

 

[Vanburen]

I bought an Xi-2 N600 since Ruckus hasn't done anything on review samples. The Xi-3 AC AP isn't shipping yet.

Anyone used to being able to control all the knobs on an AP will be very frustrated with the product. Controllable only via Android or iOS apps, setup is not intuitive. You can create multiple SSIDs (WLANs) but can't assign them to a radio.

Management is not cloud based. Everything must be on the same L2 net.

If you plan to manage multiple installations, you'll be in for a rough ride.

Product does not support Ruckus' BeamFlex technology.

If you are considering a purchase, be sure to read through the Xclaim forums.

Hi Tim, How does the performance compare to the UBNT APs you've tested?

 

[thiggins]

Hi Tim, How does the performance compare to the UBNT APs you've tested?

You can't directly compare results because they were tested with different processes.

Results are already posted. They seem pretty good in general, especially 5 GHz.

Working on the review now. Will be up tomorrow.

 

[thiggins]

Review discussion moved

Please post review discussion here. Thanks.

 

[UAP]

Horror stories on the Unifi platform?

We have over 10,000 customers on Unfii units installed and we haven't had a single issue with the Unifi UAP-PRO's, UAP's, or UAP-LR's. We also sell quite a bit of it. It as close to rock solid as you can get. They are plug and leave radios. I know we have seen a few issues with the Unifi AC line early on, but they have fixed most of those. It was a new chipset and completely new build, so they had a few bumps early on as anyone else on a new release. I am sure the Ruckus units will as well. I need to get some of the Xclaim radios to test and see how they would do in our environment. I will let you know, once we have tested them fully.

 

[BigTy]

Horror stories on the Unifi platform?

We have over 10,000 customers on Unfii units installed and we haven't had a single issue with the Unifi UAP-PRO's, UAP's, or UAP-LR's. We also sell quite a bit of it. It as close to rock solid as you can get. They are plug and leave radios. I know we have seen a few issues with the Unifi AC line early on, but they have fixed most of those. It was a new chipset and completely new build, so they had a few bumps early on as anyone else on a new release. I am sure the Ruckus units will as well. I need to get some of the Xclaim radios to test and see how they would do in our environment. I will let you know, once we have tested them fully.

So how did your testing turn out for you?

 

[stevech]

Horror stories on the Unifi platform?

We have over 10,000 customers on Unfii units installed and we haven't had a single issue with the Unifi UAP-PRO's, UAP's, or UAP-LR's.

No matter the vendor, 0.00% doesn't ring true.

 

[coxhaus]

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...3-ruckus-announces-affordable-ap-product-line

These look really interesting. Ruckus is known for having some of the best resistance to interference and beamforming setups out there.

One thing I didn't notice in Ruckus' own sheets: whether the units can support SSIDs based on VLAN. The Xi-3 dual-frequency AP access point has a really good price of $199 though, which beats out the Cisco WAP371 and the Ubiquiti Unifi AP AC. It's rated to support four APs in cluster (the Cisco can do 6, I'm unsure on the Ubiquiti). The Ruckus and Cisco are 2x2, while the Ubiquiti is 3x3.

I've seen complaints regarding the range and performance of the Cisco model in their forums; I've seen the Ubiquiti rated here as mediocre. I hope Ruckus will provide Tim with an Xclaim Xi-3 for testing.

I think the Cisco single point is 16 devices per cluster not 6. The older ones I have are 8 devices per cluster.