UniFi Dream Router 7 vs Asus RT-BE88U

[szymko]

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 similar price.
Would you leave Asuswrt Melin for Unify ecosystem? The performance and capabilities look great, but I didn't have any past UniFi experience yet.
Review which made me consider it: https://nascompares.com/review/unif...ream_Router_7_Review_-_Conclusion_and_Verdict

UDR7 advantages:
- 6GHz radio,
- smaller form factor

RT-BE88U advantages:
- dual 10G
- I already have mesh repeaters bought

 

[Tech9]

Would you leave Asuswrt Melin for Unify ecosystem?

You are comparing apples and oranges. Asuswrt-Merlin is one man project dependent on upstream Asuswrt support and runs on limited number of popular Asus routers. UniFi ecosystem is multiple products from multiple categories backed up by big budget R&D. If you ask about Asus AiMesh vs multi-AP UniFi system performance and capabilities - sell your Asus routers right now.

Can't comment on a brand new product, but seems like it runs the same software like the system in my signature and it's excellent. I have received multiple PMs with questions about Asuswrt-Merlin vs UniFi and thinking about making features comparison list so the similarities and differences are clear for whoever is interested. In general UniFi hardware and software are more stable, but there are some potential deal breakers for home use. As always - what is better for particular user or use case depends on multiple factors.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I have received multiple PMs with questions about Asuswrt-Merlin vs UniFi and thinking about making features comparison list so the similarities and differences are clear for whoever is interested. In general UniFi hardware and software are more stable, but there are some potential deal breakers for home use.

Perhaps save time and just note the deal breakers for home use.

OE

 

[Tech9]

Review which made me consider it

By the way, this review has specs errors. The specs listed on Ubiquiti website are different and most likely this is Qualcomm based device similar to UGC-Max + U7-Pro in All-In-One package. Not sure this MediaTek image has something to do with it and all 3x radios are 2-stream just like U7-Pro with exactly the same power per band. UDR7 has slightly higher gain antennas because of the use case this device was built around. The price is very attractive, can't deny this fact - $279 in the US.

I already have mesh repeaters bought

Don't count RT-AC68U as "mesh" node. It's the worst choice device for this role.

 

[Tech9]

Perhaps save time and just note the deal breakers for home use.

No WPS support (some IoTs may rely on it, has workaround), no Game related presets (including specific QoS options), no dedicated wireless uplink (or backhaul in Asus world) for mesh applications (UniFi needs wires for performance, may increase the cost)... to mention the most important. Not sure about this new UDR7 product, but popular UCG-Ultra/Max have one each WireGuard, OpenVPN, L2TP VPN Server options - may be limitation for someone's use case. VPN Client instances may be many, I believe 20 (have to check). Other VPN options like Site Magic SD-WAN and Site-to-Site IPSec are more business use related.

Also - it's similar to iOS vs Android discussion. UniFi is like Apple in networking and everything they have decided is best stays this way, no options to change. This may be seen as good and bad depending on expectations. Most of the time it works the way it is supposed to and does things in background some users are used to do manually. Examples - there is no DNS Director equivalent. If filtering is enabled - DNS is intercepted and redirected, like it or not. There is no VPN Kill Switch in options - if a VPN tunnel is down nothing goes around it by default, it's dead. If someone wants 6in4 IPv6 - not available since there is no point of it.

Otherwise DPI engine, DNS encryption, DNS redirection, VPN kill switch, traffic filtering, traffic monitoring, ad-blocking, geo-blocking, environment and performance monitoring, Dual WAN, VLANs wired and wireless, multiple SSIDs, IoT/Guest networks, Captive Portal, etc. things most home network users may be interested in - all built into UniFi Network application. User Interface - easy, for most basic things perhaps easier than Asuswrt. More advanced for firewall and traffic custom rules, but remember Apple approach - everything basic security related is preset and locked. You want to do something unsafe - not allowed. Perhaps a good thing.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Thanks! That's a helpful assessment.

The dedicated wireless uplink (mesh) would be missed by some... I think that ASUS market will steer away from AiMesh to other mesh vendors if ASUS keeps jerking consumers around with betaware and flooding the zone with too many disjoint and difficult to choose and integrate models while leaving out basics like an outdoor AP.

I'm not an Apple user for the reasons you allude to, but I also don't want to be a so-called power user when it's just a waste of time... I like having options but I don't want to play with them.

OE

 

[Tech9]

The dedicated wireless uplink (mesh) would be missed by some...

The ones who enjoy speed test numbers only...

I have tested my UX units as wireless mesh APs and they reach 400Mbps to clients. They hold the wireless uplink forever, currently >54 days* or since installed. To me simplicity, quality of service and consistency are more important than speed. The adoption process is like this - power it on, wait for "Ready for adoption" message on the screen, click Adopt in control panel, wait for like 10 seconds and once the screen changes to "Ch., MHz, dBm" - done. Then from the control panel the device is seen as an available AP and the user can change the uplink AP, name, IP address, channel, power, attach network to SSID, lock clients to it... simple.

There is no 20+ Professional settings to play with.

* - used as wireless bridges to wired devices currently, the original idea. The same wireless uplink, but to 2x GbE ports.

 

[OzarkEdge]

The ones who enjoy speed test numbers only...

In fairness, the ones that can't run Ethernet all around and/or don't know to consider it.

OE

 

[tgl]

In fairness, the ones that can't run Ethernet all around and/or don't know to consider it.

Yeah. I use and like UniFi's APs ... but all my APs are wired. If you're not in a position to do that then UniFi probably shouldn't be your first choice, as you will take a significant speed hit from running them with wireless uplinks. I understand @Tech9 's position that the speed difference might not be noticeable in a lot of real-world usage, but I think people who are even considering this caliber of gear will care about it.

 

[OzarkEdge]

wireless uplink (or backhaul in Asus world)

I took a look around at definitions and ASUS docs and firmware settings... ASUS uses uplink, backhaul, and fronthaul (and wired/wireless connection). Uplink is used a lot in their documentation, probably because it's efficient and meaningful... but not much for webUI settings. Backhaul and fronthaul are used for webUI settings, like Ethernet Backhaul Mode.

I'm going to do similar from now on... mostly 'uplink' except when referring to actual webUI settings that use 'backhaul.'

OE

 

[Tech9]

About wireless mesh with dedicated radio - this is actually regional thing. In countries with no upper 5GHz band the second radio is in DFS and not guaranteed to work.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Good point... it's even harder to think global about radio.

OE

 

[Tech9]

Home mesh sets manufacturers still offer "tri-band" models on markets with restrictions. They don't care much. Imagine someone with XT8 and no clear DFS. They can't change the backhaul to 5GHz-1 radio and can't use 5GHz-2 radio. No solution situation. For someone with zero Wi-Fi knowledge it's a total waste of time and money. Imagine everting is working initially, return window closes, warranty expires... and because of current geopolitical situation army decides to install a radar near by. The whole mesh set becomes useless. You've lost some routers and know it's not pleasant. What about losing the entire system at once?

 

[Digilog]

I am looking for replacement for RT-AX86U for 2Gbit/600Mbps (8/1 in future when I need it) fiber connection.

unless you really need wifi7, I would stick to what you have. Because eventually the price is going to drop on them as the technology ages. Because wifi 8 will be coming out within these next 2-3 years anyways...