So Long, Thanks For All The Help

[Tech9]

Yep, shipped today ups

The initial setup is exactly like home router with predefined default network. Connect, follow the instructions on the screen, it may need about 10min to update the UniFi OS. You’ll be surprised how easy it is. The iPhone in networking.

 

[thecheapseats]

an appropriate and timely thread discussion... clear and excellent... Ubiquity's website has always been less than clear.

 

[tgl]

Yeah, the one serious knock I have on Ubiquiti is that their documentation sucks. There's no user manual as such, just a collection of random help pages on their website. If you've successfully used anything like Asus routers, you won't find the Ubiquiti GUI to be daunting, although it's differently laid out and some of the terminology is different. So maybe they don't really need a manual, but it's still annoying that they assume their target market doesn't care.

Fortunately, their community forums are full of helpful people ...

 

[tgl]

To have 1dBm adjustment option go to System Settings, Advanced and select Professional Installer:

FWIW, I don't think you need to turn on the Professional Installer mode --- I don't have it on, and I see these options. The tricky thing about Custom Tx power is that (at least in my browser) it's not obvious that you have to scroll the drop-down Tx power menu to get to it.

I've had very good results cranking up the "minimum data rate" setting, both on these APs and my prior ones. It doesn't seem to bother any of my devices, though of course YMMV. Cranking it up reduces the amount of airtime eaten by SSID beacon frames, and allegedly helps persuade devices to roam when the signal is getting weak.

 

[Tech9]

website has always been less than clear

Don't jump to the Ubiquiti Store right away. A lot of products there in different categories. There is some helpful information here:

UniFi - Introduction - Ubiquiti

UniFi is building the future of IT. Industry-leading products magically unified in an incredible software interface with scalable, license-free cloud management.

www.ui.com

UniFi - How It Works - Ubiquiti

UniFi's license-free Site Manager and powerful Cloud Gateways enable effortless management of full-stack networking, physical security, and more.

ui.com

...but it gives examples of how you build some corporate network with big budget. Devices we use and discuss here like Cloud Gateway Ultra/Max or even UniFi Express were not available not long ago. They are new line of products and clearly targeting the home market along with already existing AmpliFi line.

I don't have it on, and I see these options

Good to know, thank you! Wasn't sure if it's device specific since I have one type of APs only and they were adopted with this setting Enabled.

 

[Tech9]

So maybe they don't really need a manual

A lot of UniFi related information here:

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/categories/6583256751383-UniFi

When doing Google Search for specific item it usually displays the related contents from the above Ubiquiti Help Center.

...and UniFi GPT for all the products, of course :

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us

 

[tgl]

...and UniFi GPT for all the products, of course :

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us

I've only tried to use that once so far. It gave me extremely precise, detailed instructions for navigating to and changing a setting that doesn't exist. Best example of an AI hallucination that I've seen yet.

 

[Tech9]

The reason for in my post above. I'm sick of AI crap around...

Otherwise Ubiquiti actually has quite a bit of information for products and software features including example use and videos. iThings come with no User Manual and I guess they follow Apple for this as well. Seems like a working strategy because the founder Robert Pera become one of the youngest billionaires as per Forbes. Selling $1.9B of products and services per year on this competitive market is not easy. Must be doing something right.

 

[Tech9]

You can connect your entire system if you want, but the APs will be inactive until adopted. The gateway can be set with Ethernet connection using Web Browser on a PC or Bluetooth connection using the UniFi App on a phone. No Wi-Fi is required for this step. After the gateway is up and running in UniFi Devices section of the UI you'll see your APs in ready to adopt state. After adoption you have to tell them what you want them to do - broadcast for which network, what SSID, channel, power, etc. There is Locate feature in UI and the AP you want to setup or you are working on will start flashing.

 

[Tech9]

This short installation guide will come with the device:

Cloud Gateway Max Installation Guide

How to install and set up Cloud Gateway Max; Set up your UCG-Max for the first time.

dl.ui.com

It describes the UniFi App setup method, but you can just connect your PC and go to the default LAN IP address. The address will be displayed on the screen, can't go wrong. The screen will also show the bootup progress bar. My advice is to used the cloud account, it adds additional features.

 

[Tech9]

When I get back home I’ll give you steps how to switch from Asus to UniFi network with virtually no downtime. Your clients will have no Internet for about 90 seconds only. Have patience for about 6h.

 

[Tech9]

Describe what equipment you currently have and what UniFi equipment you are switching to so I can give you the exact steps. No setting it up offline, we’re going to do it live with no downtime.

 

[tgl]

And one more dumb question hahaha. I'm not familiar with POE, never used them They appear to be just little adapters that you plug your ethernet cable into on one end, and then connect the other end to the AP. Why don't they just build these POE devices internally into whatever you are using them for and eliminate the need for the adapter. Am I missing something?

PoE is typically used in things like ceiling-mounted APs. If they had an internal power supply then you'd have to run both a power cable and an ethernet cable to them. With PoE, only one cable --- plus, it's relatively low-voltage and typically is not subject to the building code requirements that pertain to power wiring. So that's why SMB APs tend to be built this way.

If you buy a PoE-capable switch then you don't need the adapter. IME, if you have more than about two PoE-fed devices then it's time to spring for a switch, because the adapters get to be clutter pretty fast.

I don't recall that UniFi has any gateways that can supply PoE, but most of their switches can.

If you do decide to go this way, the critical thing to know is that there is PoE (15W max draw per port), PoE+ (30W), and PoE++ (60W). Get a switch that can supply the max rated draw of your APs, and pay attention to its total power budget for all ports.

 

[tgl]

Question about initial setup and the AP's. So of course you plug in the gateway and have it ready. Is it okay to go ahead and have your AP's located where you want them and plugged in when the gateway is initially turned on and ready to be configured. The links you posted mention "adopting" the ap's after the gateway is setup. It seems to me you would have to have them connected to at least have wifi but maybe they assume you're setting up using ethernet.

Personally I prefer to plug a new AP directly into the controller (or into the same switch), adopt and configure it, and only then take it to where I plan to mount it. Saves a lot of running back and forth in case you mess up and have to reset the AP while configuring.

I believe that once you have at least one UniFi AP working, it's possible to adopt more wirelessly as long as they're in range of a working AP --- but I've not tried it. You really want all the APs to be wired anyway, if at all possible.

BTW, you will notice that there's no "shut down" command for APs in UniFi. You just unplug them. I guess the theory is that if they lose configuration info the controller can reprovision them.

 

[Tech9]

This is what you can do starting from already running RT-AX86U (or something else in my case):

- connect the gateway to the existing router in double NAT and power it up
- use Ethernet or Bluetooth to start the setup process, let it update the software
- register it to your account, follow the screen instructions, get to the Network screen
- play with the entire UI to get yourself familiar with it, the UniFi system is behind your Asus, your family sees no change
- adjust DHCP range, DNS server, security features, etc. whatever you want, take your time
- power up the APs, connect them to the gateway (or switch), adopt them, let them update the software as well
- in AP settings set your known working well channels, bandwidth, power on High for now, LED light color/brightness if you want
- In main screen Settings, WiFi - make the same SSID(s) as on your Asus router with added "-1" at the end
- adjust the settings for the SSID(s) - what band(s), what security, band steering, captive portal, etc.

- play with it for few days if you want and when you're ready remove "-1" from the SSID(s)
- power down your Asus router and move the WAN cable from the Asus to the UniFi gateway
- wireless network clients will reconnect to your new APs, if some don't - forget the connection and reconnect manually
- move the wired clients to the gateway and configure whatever they need to work just as before, plus you have port VLAN option now
- you can do the switch with already created networks, assigned DHCP ranges, reservations, clients names... whatever you already configured
- your family will see up to 10 seconds reconnection time only and the life goes as usual

From single RT-AX86U to 2x U6 Mesh - you may have to dial down the power on the APs or move them further away from each other to extend the coverage area. In my tests single U6 Mesh had similar or better coverage than RT-AX86U with better throughput to the same clients at the same distance.

Overall performance - on RT-AX86U you had 4x CPU cores, 1GB RAM and 2x radios. Now you have total of 12x CPU cores, 5GB RAM and 4x radios. The gateway does routing only on separate CPU/RAM, the APs do wireless bridging only on separate CPU/RAM. You'll notice the difference.

 

[thecheapseats]

...Best example of an AI hallucination that I've seen yet...

+5000 points for the phrase, "AI hallucination"...
appropriately funny when describing the context of your dead-end search for help...

hilarious - thank you...

 

[Tech9]

Interesting… they’ll resend it.

 

[Tech9]

This is what happens when you update your signature before the equipment has arrived.

 

[Tech9]

With that was the AX features disabled on 2.4 and 5.0. 2.0 I had limited to 20mhz and the 5.0 was set to 80mhz; both with fixed channels.

You can experiment with different channels and find better working ones. Broadcom vs Qualcomm radios, different hardware and software, may perform differently. I would stick to non-DFS options on 5GHz band. Don't bother with 160MHz because U6 Mesh have Gigabit links and can do ~860Mbps at 80MHz wide channel. Gigabit Ethernet is up to 940Mbps and for such a small difference to single client - no point. More channel bandwidth may have advantages to multiple 160MHz capable clients served from different APs, in theory. Real life experience improvement - perhaps close to none.

With that was the AX features disabled on 2.4

This is Asus compatibility to IoT advice. I don't see such thing for UniFi APs. U6 Mesh in particular have AX support for both bands with no option to disable. The settings are also Apple like. When something needs no changing - it's not present as an option in the UI.

 

[Tech9]

Gateway is connected to a netgear unmanaged switch. Plugged in the ap to the netgear and it lit up but the adopt message did not pop up in the gateway.

Of course. You had the APs on the WAN side of the Gateway...