Ruckus vs Unifi - my thoughts

[timbo343]

I've just got back from a friends where i've had an old 7363 in standalone mode sat providing wireless to their workshop from their office which is about 20 to 30 meters away.

 

So to set the scene, there are 2 machines that require access to the network for printing in the office, these are at the far end of the workshop and they are using the Netgear AC adapters (https://www.amazon.co.uk/NETGEAR-A6100-100PES-AC600-802-11ac-Adapter/dp/B00GOKE8LW/ref=pd_cp_147_4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=30B036VB14GG9X9FR5XS) on USB extension leads so they are able to see the SSID. These 2 machines are running windows 7 but are in the process of being upgraded to Windows 10. Running Homeplug adapters were my first thought however with having 2 distribution boards, one in the office and one in the workshop, it wasn't possible for the HomePlugs to get a signal and running a cable was out of the question too so wireless it is.

 

For the past few weeks, the ruckus 7363 as been placed in the window of the office providing wireless to the 2 machines which has been great. I've told my friend to buy the Ubiquiti AC LR AP as this should reach where the machines are in the workshop. I get there this evening and started to install the Unifi software to find it needs Java installing - not the greatest of starts, seeing as though this business only has a 1.5mb ADSL connection as they are in the middle of no-where. With this finally downloaded and installed, the unifi software installed and found the AP It set it up and required a number of accounts to be set up and the wireless to be activated.

 

Just a note, this AP came with the PoE adapter HOWEVER it came with a 2 pin european plug... not happy!!! and there's no way of powering up the AP unless the PoE injector is used. It required a clover leaf power lead to power up the PoE injector.

 

The first account to be setup was the ADMIN account to use the Controller software needing a username, email address and password. It then asks for the Unifi cloud account to be setup.

 

So this LR AP is about the same size as the 7363 and a little lighter with one Ethernet socket. The unifi interface looks easy to use but not had that much time to explore it as time was running out and it was getting cold but i'll be back there tomorrow to finish off the upgrade to windows 10 on the machines in the workshop so will explore the unifi software a little more.

 

With this being a standalone AP, the one thing i don't like is that the software has to be installed to manage the APs. I guess if they had the gateway or cloud key things would be managed by the controller rather than the software however i do like the interface and the stats it reports on.

Edited December 8, 2017 by timbo343

[m25man]

So,

 

Firstly your trying to compare an albeit EOL $600 Ruckus AP with a $80 Unifi AP that is specifically designed to operate as part of an SDN Enterprise system.

It was never designed to be operated in a stand alone mode (although it can be) is not really valid critique.

 

The client adapters even on the end of a USB extension lead, have no antennas to speak of and are designed to be used in a desktop parked underneath an overhead AP.

 

Under the Plugs and Sockets Safety Regulations Act 1994 (S.I 1994/1768) since 1st Feb 1996 it is mandatory for all UK resellers to provide you with a "moulded" BS1363 mains lead or compliant UK conversion plug.

You should change your supplier.

 

You can't compare these products (or any other vendors for that matter) unless you do so on a like for like basis.

 

Unifi is an incredible product for its price point but your comparison is like comparing a Dacia to a Mercedes.

 

Most WiFi vendors have bought out some pretty rubbish APs over recent years which is why most have spent the last few years buying each other up for staggering amounts of money!

 

Ubiquiti have plodded on designing and building innovative products at an affordable cost.

In doing so they have completely disrupted the marketplace.

 

Ubiquiti do plenty of other products apart from Unifi that could have the same job in true stand alone mode.

I've used NSM5's in Station Mode and got a connection hundreds of yards away.

 

Sounds like you haven't selected the right equipment for the task in hand.

[Blue_Cookeh]

I have to admit every Ubiquiti AP we've bought in the past that have come with the PoE adapters have also come with the European molded plug. Never thought to change supplier since we actually use PoE provided from our switches anyway.

 

But yes, I agree with @m25man; you're using a single Ubiquiti AP - so of course it's not going to be the nicest of solutions. The Ubiquiti controller uses Java so it's cross platform, you can run it on Windows/Mac/Linux/embedded systems like the CloudKey. It's a nice controller, and designed to run an entire network - not a single AP. Ubiquiti's line of VoIP products, UniFi switches, UniFi security gateway, and all their access points rely on this controller. If you were deploying an entire network then it makes sense to only use one central controller.

 

Of course, once the AP is provisioned you don't actually need to run the controller - you could uninstall it if you don't plan on making any changes to it in the future.

 

Apples to oranges.

[FN-GM]

If you use Radius you will need to keep the controller running at all times as it is the controller that manages the authentication between the AP and Radius server.

[timbo343]

Having a bit more time to explore the unifi stuff, i actually quite like it and it seems well thought out. It looks a good system for a small / medium size business or if you're wanting a cheaper solution.

 

I will be speaking to supplier about the plug but reading reviews on amazon, others are having the same issue.

 

All i all i would consider these as an alternative to ruckus stuff however it's horses for courses and this is just my opinion.

[timbo343]

If you use Radius you will need to keep the controller running at all times as it is the controller that manages the authentication between the AP and Radius server.

I guess you'd buy the gateway or cloud key if this was the case.

[synaesthesia]

Whenever we use either MSDist or 4gon, both give the option to provide a UK plug with the injector at no extra cost; many don't bother as there's an assumption of using POE switches. Injectors generally are only used if there's no other option.

[Katy]

The power cable thing must just depend on your supplier. I ordered 21 x AC Pros a few months ago (four 5 packs and a single) and got a UK power lead turn up in the brown outer box of the single AP. (there's no PoE injectors in the 5 packs as they assume you've got PoE switches)

[AlanD]

The power cable thing must just depend on your supplier. I ordered 21 x AC Pros a few months ago (four 5 packs and a single) and got a UK power lead turn up in the brown outer box of the single AP. (there's no PoE injectors in the 5 packs as they assume you've got PoE switches)

 

I think you only get the poe injector when you buy single AP. When you buy the multi packs ...which are more economic...you don’t get the injector.

[markwilfan]

I think you only get the poe injector when you buy single AP. When you buy the multi packs ...which are more economic...you don’t get the injector.

That's a very clever business decision. It always annoys me that when we buy something there are always more things included than what we need. Saves everybody money. If you are buying 5 it is likely you are not wanting to use poe injectors.

[Cache]

We've had that issue with the EU plug being supplied, however quick call to my supplier gets a uk adapter sent out so I think it does depend.

 

Also been caught out by the lack of PoE adapters in multi packs before too.

 

One quick thing about the management - I think, but haven't tested, you can use the mobile app to configure a standalone AP now without the need for a controller. Don't know how well it works or if you lose any functionality but might be another option to look at for standalone setups.

[AlanD]

...and keep in mind that many (possibly all?) of the "ac" APs require 802.11at PoE to deliver full functionality. They all claim to be 802.11af "compatible" - but have to disable the second Ethernet port (...not the end of the world of course)...or limit the number of transmit streams (...more of an impact...) if they don't get the higher power levels delivered by 802.11at capable switches....and some of those switches only have limited numbers of ports which operate at the higher power levels.

[FN-GM]

I have a couple of UNIFI AP at home. There doesn't seem to be a way to update the firmware on all at once, it appears to be done one by one.

[XiJ]

I have a couple of UNIFI AP at home. There doesn't seem to be a way to update the firmware on all at once, it appears to be done one by one.

 

There used to be an option to have a rolling upgrade of them by pressing one button. They removed that a while ago I think.

[FN-GM]

There used to be an option to have a rolling upgrade of them by pressing one button. They removed that a while ago I think.

We have over 100 AP over a number of sites. It would be a nightmare to do each one at a time!

[Blue_Cookeh]

If you use Radius you will need to keep the controller running at all times as it is the controller that manages the authentication between the AP and Radius server.

 

Are you sure about this? We run RADIUS on our UniFi APs in school and as far as I can tell the RADIUS authentication is between the access point and our RADIUS server. I don't have our Controller IP in our allowed RADIUS clients lists in NPS, but only our AP IPs.

 

We run our controller 24/7 though, and I don't want to try it

 

EDIT:

 

@XiJ; @FN-GM; rolling update is still available in the current version, but I believe it did move. You have to go to Devices > 'APS' tab specifically to see it now:

Edited December 10, 2017 by Blue_Cookeh

[markwilfan]

You only need the controller running for stats and guest portal.

[FN-GM]

Are you sure about this? We run RADIUS on our UniFi APs in school and as far as I can tell the RADIUS authentication is between the access point and our RADIUS server. I don't have our Controller IP in our allowed RADIUS clients lists in NPS, but only our AP IPs.

 

We run our controller 24/7 though, and I don't want to try it

 

EDIT:

 

@XiJ; @FN-GM; rolling update is still available in the current version, but I believe it did move. You have to go to Devices > 'APS' tab specifically to see it now:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46662[/ATTACH]

 

I have just tried it at home with my 2 AP and nothing seems to happen. It reboots the AP but doesn't seem to update the firmware.

[XiJ]

Are you sure about this? We run RADIUS on our UniFi APs in school and as far as I can tell the RADIUS authentication is between the access point and our RADIUS server. I don't have our Controller IP in our allowed RADIUS clients lists in NPS, but only our AP IPs.

 

We run our controller 24/7 though, and I don't want to try it

 

EDIT:

 

@XiJ; @FN-GM; rolling update is still available in the current version, but I believe it did move. You have to go to Devices > 'APS' tab specifically to see it now:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]46662[/ATTACH]

 

Thanks I missed this. Good to know.