Velvis
Well-Known Member
- Reaction score
- 46
- Location
- Medfield, MA
Anyone have any recommendations of the different available Unifi wifi access points?
Any specific needs?
For indoors use, up until recently I used pretty much just the UAP AC Pro models.
I did a few budget jobs with the Lite models, and in some cases a few LR models..but I try to avoid LR models because...the clients often dont' have the range to talk back.
And a few months ago I started doing the new nanoHD models for our standard AP. Pretty much replacing the prior Pro model.
For certain office setups I'll use the IW Pro (in walls)...they're nice because if the client already has data jacks in the wall but running new cables to the ceiling is costly, just toss these in the walls.
For some higher density setups (like in theaters) we use the UAP HD
For outdoors we mostly do the Mesh Pro. Only in the lightest of use do I use the regular Mesh.
For one project I'm quoting...I may use a BaseStation XG
the switch is a netgear, any reason to replace the switch with a Unifi one?
Just a normal office. Planning on 4 APs to cover all parts. (replacing consumer routers acting as access points.)
Wifi is only used by 2-3 laptops and employees cell phones.
What's your opinion of the UAP-AC-Lites vs the more expensive units?
Also I have a USG and Cloud Key, the switch is a netgear, any reason to replace the switch with a Unifi one?
What are the clients needs? How are they going to use the wireless? Running applications across it? Or just checking email and lite surfing? Or streaming media, watching hi def?
I haven't used a Lite in a long time. We've had one at one end of our office I got as a beta demo unit before the AC models came out. Lites are 2x2. For clients I almost always use the Pro models....they're 3x3. Not really much more money, but more horsepower under the hood. Plus that second ETH port...which can allow for sometimes easier installation.
The nanoHD models are starting to become more popular now, I figure they'll start replacing the Pro models as the common "go-to" model to install.
The advantage of having a Unifi switch....is you get to enjoy more features of the Unifi controller...as far as ease of management, implementing features, troubleshooting, giving insights, just...overall ease of controlling the entire network. The Unifi controller gives you incredible visibility into the network when you have all Unifi hardware in the entire stack. I'd certainly push for it to the clients, just saving you 2x hours of work over the next year or three it'll mostly pay for itself.