Which Unifi for residential install?

[HCHTech]

I'm quoting my first Unifi setup for a residential client. I'm wondering about the added value of getting the fancier units.

The Ubiquiti UAP-3-US - UniFi Indoor Wireless N300 Access Point (3 pack) is $169 on Newegg now (D&H doesn't carry Ubiquity, unfortunately.) This is N300, 2.4GHz only, and the ethernet connection is 10/100.

Then, there is the UAP-AC-LITE - Ubiquiti UniFi 802.11ac LITE Indoor 2.4/5GHz AP US/CA, Dual band, $80 each or $240 for 3. Less expensive and looks like the radio isn't as good.

The Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-PRO 802.11AC, 3x3 MIMO technology, 1300 Mbps 5 GHz POE+ Outdoor Managed Wireless Access Point units are $129 ea. so $387 for 3. Dual band and the ethernet connection is gigabit.

I've only done a couple of Unifi setups, and they were for commercial customers where we used the Pro units.

The installation is a larger home, main internet comes in on the basement level, so we're planning one unit there, one in the office on the first floor (other end of the house from the basement location), and one on the second floor near the master suite (same end of the house as the basement location, but two floors away, with a tiled-floor kitchen in-between. All locations have ethernet cabling to the basement.

Should I try to save money with either of the lesser units, or just stick with the pro model?

 

[Slaters Kustum Machines]

I would do the UAP-AC-LITEs for this.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I do Pros...more horsepower for streaming and a little more futureproof with 3x3, home users can push video and audio streaming more than business clients so you want that higher 5.0 speed that 3x3 brings. Been doing pretty much all Pros lately.

Although for residential don't forget about Ubiquitis division for that...Amplifi

A typical Ubiquiti package we bundle and sell to a local ISP for home installs...
*Cloud Key
*USG (the Unifi Gateway)
*Unifi 8 port 150 watt POE switch
*4-6 UAP AC Pros

 

[seedubya]

I'd go in with the Pro's in the knowledge that you can drop back to the Lites if it's beyond the budget.

 

[timeshifter]

The Pros also have a second Ethernet port on them so you can connect something else downstream if you need. Plus, they use standard PoE while the lesser models use Ubiquiti's odd voltage.

 

[HCHTech]

Thanks everyone. Sent out a quote with the Pro's. They accepted this morning. I was worried about the extra $, but apparently that's not a problem!

 

[Your PCMD]

I have done over 20 installs of Unifi. For residential, you want to use the UAP-AC-LITE and for business you'll want to use UAP-AC-PRO. If you don't want to run multiple POE injectors that come with them or don't have a lot of or access to outlets, it's better to use a US-8-150W switch, which will power up to 8 AP's. Either case, Lite or Pro, each will cover up to 400 square feet (but that's only in perfect conditions, no walls, good LOS, etc.) and both have MIMO 2X2 on the 2.4 and 5 Ghz range.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Either case, Lite or Pro, each will cover up to 400 square feet (but that's only in perfect conditions, no walls, good LOS, etc.) and both have MIMO 2X2 on the 2.4 and 5 Ghz range.

The Pro is 3x3 MIMO in both 2.4 and 5 (450 megs/1300 megs)
The Lite is 2x2 MIMO (300 megs/867 megs)

Only like a 37 dollar price difference

 

[Your PCMD]

The Pro is 3x3 MIMO in both 2.4 and 5 (450 megs/1300 megs)

You are correct. I got it mixed up with the LR, which is the same as the Lite.

 

[HCHTech]

I think they have too many models - my 2 cents anyway.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

You are correct. I got it mixed up with the LR, which is the same as the Lite.

Actually..the LR is half 'n half. While still 2x2 on the 5.0 ..it's 3x3 on the 2.4 to get the extra range. (867 megs/450 megs)

https://dl.ubnt.com/datasheets/unifi/UniFi_AC_APs_DS.pdf

I like Pro for homes...there are more surfaces 'n tighter areas in homes, so a higher MIMO will do more bouncing around to have better spread. Plus homes are more likely to have more bleeding edge technology clients..the "latest and greatest"..so they're more likely to have 3x3 or even 4x4 clients.

Businesses usually fall behind in technology..client wise. Older more mainstream business laptops and such. So having 2x2 wireless APs is fine...but...I'm doing mostly Pro models no matter what, not much of a price difference, and quite a bit more performance. The Pro models can sustain about 50% more wireless clients per AP under load.

 

[Your PCMD]

@YeOldeStonecat while I agree that it would be more easier to just deploy only the Pro, sadly here, that $35 price difference is more like $100 to the cheap skates around here. But I did watch an interesting video the other day.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

The "specs" say 400 foot range for the Lite/Pro/Edu. The LR model (long range) is spec'd at 600 feet. That's radius from a birds eye view, not sq feet.
So, for example, a 400 foot range for the radius would be approx 500,000 sq ft.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Under ideal conditions that's probably achievable but it's not something I'd want to rely on,.

Nor is it what I go for either...of course. But what I was pointing out...he said "400 sq ft"...I said the specs said 400 feet range..as in radius. Usually you can get that there is a big difference between 400 sq ft ) go do some Pi calculations...you'll find that's pretty dang small) and 400 linear feet.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Even this pales in comparison to a circle with a 400 foot radius, which is slightly larger than an American football field or slightly smaller than an Association football pitch. That's very big indeed...

Yup..it's very..very big. But they also calculate that assuming zero interference, zero physical obstacles, optimal conditions, and an equally powerful client radio. When you say the "range" of this radio is 400 feet..that means you can stand 400 feet away from it. Thus, logic dictates they do refer to a radius. If it were a 400 foot side of a square, and the radio was in the center of the square, obviously the range being used there is only 200 feet (to either side of the center).

But those with some experience with wireless know that the range of the client is also roughly 1/2 of the equation here. Most client devices are under 300 feet, 250 feet, 200 feet, even 150 foot or less. So while you might be able to detect the AP at 400 feet...or at opposite lengths of the football field and detect the AP signal with a sniffer...we know the usable distance isn't actually a football field, realizing it's just marketing.

 

[HCHTech]

But I did watch an interesting video the other day.

Great overview of the different models and why you might choose one over the other. I played it again for my techs to watch. I've had an AC-Lite model in stock for several months that I bought so I could try it out in a residential install, but never got around to it. I had the opportunity yesterday, and it went without a hitch. WAY easier to configure than the little Engenius EAP350 or 600 models we would normally use in that situation and essentially the same price.

 

[HFultzjr]

@YeOldeStonecat while I agree that it would be more easier to just deploy only the Pro, sadly here, that $35 price difference is more like $100 to the cheap skates around here. But I did watch an interesting video the other day.

Very nice video.
Thank you.

 

[HCHTech]

Just a followup - I did the install for this setup last week - New cable modem, router, switch & 3 Unifi AC-Pros. One in the attic over the second floor, one in the office on the first floor, and one downstairs in the game room. I did the router setup beforehand, and I was in and out in about 120 minutes onsite. Nice job with a good outcome. All of their Sonos units now work, both smart TVs happy & wireless everywhere. The controller software on an iMac in the 1st floor office. Nice profit margin & good outcome - win-win.