Unifi Wifi6 Pro vs. Lite vs. NanoHD

[HCHTech]

Now that both models are back in stock at the Unifi store (at least temporarily), I'm wondering what other folks are doing for residential installs. I've been quoting both Wifi6 and NanoHDs (showing both) for the last few months, along with a paragraph talking about the difference. The Wifi6 takeaway is that it is good for future-proofing but gives little benefit currently. Some folks just know Wifi6 is the latest tech and want that regardless of use, and others are more pragmatic and go with the Nanos because they are mature and less expensive. I put in two Wifi6-LRs at an install last month because that was all I could get at the time, and they definitely wanted Wifi6.

So questions:

1. If you are a Unifi shop, are you quoting both for new installs?
2. For residential installs, do you think the Wifi6-Pros bring enough to the table to warrant the extra cost or are you going with the Lite models?

Note, they only make skins for the Wifi6 Lite (and NanoHD) models. I don't see them for the Pro models. We've done a couple of sales of those skins now - mostly because there was a "designer" involved in the remodel.

I'm working on an 8-AP quote now for a large home in an affluent area, so I'm curious what others are using.

TIA!

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

For the past couple of years, the nanoHD's were my "go to".
Prior to that, quite a few years ago, were the AC pros....but the nanoHD was pretty much the replacement for that.
I have WiFi 6 coming in this week....will start deploying at low critical clients and see how they do.
I really avoided the Lites and the LRs. Lites..."why?"...and LR's...I don't believe in pushing distance/range, rather have more APs at lower density. LR's just talk louder but client's far away can't talk back so it drags the wifi performance down for everyone.

Also love the FlexHD units...I'm out at a crazy huge old summer mansion on Fishers Island right now upgrading their network...putting in a lot of FlexHD units and a UDM.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I've got a few Wifi6 Lites out there working in situations with <200 devices working fine.

I have an AC Lite here at home, works great.

For a business though? It really depends on how busy the airspace is. The Pro WAP while costs more covers most bases for you so you don't have to think too hard.

 

[HCHTech]

Also love the FlexHD units...

Yeah, I've had my eye on those, but haven't had a need for a table-top installation yet. They look goofy mounted in the ceiling, so I'll stick with the Nanos or Wifi6 Pros for ceiling mounts for now. I haven't gotten any Lites yet for installation at a clients. I have one I bought by mistake in my house giving signal to the 2nd floor where it was weak before, I don't have any complaints about it, but still prefer the better ones for clients.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

the FlexHD are good for those situations where it's difficult to get a run across the ceiling to put in a saucer ceiling mount AP, but you can mount a FlexHD to a wall...(it comes with a wall mount)...and it's designed to work that way on a wall (unlike a saucer AP).

In many scenarios, great for offices. Use the "thin" ethernet cable that is flexible and not "heavy"....looks much better than a thick old school cat5e/6 cable, and won't knock over the AP like a stubborn thick cable.

Honestly they perform very well.

I do miss the 2nd ETH port of the PRO APs....really opened up scenarios where you could use them...like...an existing ETH run already going over a ceiling and being used...just cut that...put the AP in between. Don't have to do a 2nd ETH run over the ceiling.

I also use a buttload of the In Wall APs...very handy.