If you're not on the UBNT bandwagon, check out ZyXEL.

[TAPtech]

This post doesn't benefit me in any way- I'm not an employee of ZyXEL or anything and don't get any kickbacks for referring them.

I like the UBNT stuff, I really do, but I think the ZyXEL offering is more complete. My clientele is all small-medium sized business, and that's where I think ZyXEL does really well.

I setup clients with a USG-40 or USG-60 NextGen UTM. I hook them up with the AV and IDP licenses, which are very reasonably priced. Each UTM can act as a WiFi controller for 2 AP's by default, and you can buy a license for an additional 8 for something like $150. It works great. They do hand-offs really well for larger buildings. I've tested by streaming videos/transferring files and walking between 3 AP's with no issues.

My regional sales rep is ON POINT. He responds to emails instantly and is easy to reach by the phone. Their tech support is free for partners, and they're all pros- there's no tier1/2/3 crap. Tech support is on CA time though, and I think open from 9-6. They will remote into your system to get you straightened out if you need them to. Really great guys.

The POE switches are a great value. VLAN stuff works well. I'm just all around really happy with their gear. They have a very complete offering. They offer decent discounts to partners as long as you meet the very low sales quota. I think there's another discount/partner tier if you're large.

Anyway, they've been so good to me that I wanted to spread the word.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Not to much competition for Ubiquiti, but for Sonicwall or Meraki, IMO. Reason being..you mention "UTM". Which Ubiquiti doesn't compete in.
While I've never "selected and sold" ZyXEL...I always thought they were "OK". Years ago, many years ago, they used to be cousins with Netgear...back when BayNetworks owned them both or had something over them (ODM for a while maybe).

 

[TAPtech]

I think the UTM offering just makes it more complete. It's nice to have the WiFi controller baked into the UTM at smaller sites. The hardware isn't as speedy as the UBNT stuff though. However, you can still setup some AP's without the need for the UTM, and they will be controller based. One of the AP's can act as the controller. They do mesh too, but I'm still in the "hard wire or bust" camp there.

 

[timeshifter]

When I think of ZyXEL, I think of them positioned alongside Zoom and cheap knock-offs that compete with Hayes and US Robotics in the dial up modem market of the late 90s.

Note, I'm not trying to knock them, just stating my perception of that brand name.

Having said that, I like what you're saying about them TAPtech. I do have some installs of UBNT and a few Merakis. They both are a little incomplete for me - Meraki is way expensive and UBNT lacks a little in the support arena and their router solutions have a few holes.

 

[TAPtech]

When I think of ZyXEL, I think of them positioned alongside Zoom and cheap knock-offs that compete with Hayes and US Robotics in the dial up modem market of the late 90s.

Note, I'm not trying to knock them, just stating my perception of that brand name.

Having said that, I like what you're saying about them TAPtech. I do have some installs of UBNT and a few Merakis. They both are a little incomplete for me - Meraki is way expensive and UBNT lacks a little in the support arena and their router solutions have a few holes.

That is a fair assessment- they do still offer some cheapo consumer grade stuff. I'm not sure about the quality level there- but would assume it is crap like the rest of the consumer stuff That being said I am often surprised by the prosumer gear nonetheless.

ZyXEL seems to fit in between the cracks here. There aren't large licensing costs, it comes with good US-based telephone support, and performance is certainly more than acceptable.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I think the UTM offering just makes it more complete. It's nice to have the WiFi controller baked into the UTM at smaller sites. The hardware isn't as speedy as the UBNT stuff though. However, you can still setup some AP's without the need for the UTM, and they will be controller based. One of the AP's can act as the controller. They do mesh too, but I'm still in the "hard wire or bust" camp there.

I definitely agree a UTM offering makes it more complete. ZyXEL is more affordable than Sonicwall or Meraki...although out of those two I'd consider Sonicwall a more complete UTM than Meraki.

In the small "wireless router UTM" category...Untangle also has some offerings, although it's an internal wireless on some of their hardware platforms...not a built in controller for deparate detached APs.

 

[marley1]

I ran Zyxel USG line for about 5 years. Very reliable.

The wireless was always junk and I had some odd issues with the switches so I didn't use them

I use Meraki for UTM and Unifi for switches and AP. If the client barks at the Meraki price we use the Unifi USG

Great systrm

 

[timeshifter]

I use Meraki for UTM and Unifi for switches and AP. If the client barks at the Meraki price we use the Unifi USG

Sounds like a good combo. The cost of the APs on Meraki is really hard to justify compared to the UniFi stuff. Same with switches. Do you put a CloudKey in too?