WiFi Network Upgrade

[andyt57]

One of my schools has an old Netgear wifi network with a WC7520 controller and ten WNDAP360 APs (though only 8 are working at the moment). It is 802.11 b/g/n and is set to a maximum of 16 users per AP and 64 users on the system. The school is a single-form primary school, so has 7 classes of up to 30 pupils from Reception to Year 6. It's an extended first school so a bit spread out but all in the same building on the same level.

 

Since the Netgear system was installed the number of devices in the school has increased such that there are now 2 full classes worth of laptops and a number of Chromebooks. The laptops are mainly 802.11n and the Chromebooks 802.11ac.

 

I am looking at replacing the wifi system with a Ubiquiti Unify system as installed in a number of my other schools.

 

My question is, should I just install the UAP-AC-Pro, which would cost the school about £1500 or UAP-AC-HD at over £2000? What advantages would the HD give over the Pro?

 

Andy

[Jcx500]

We are Using the AC-Pro's here, Small secondary with around 200+ users , The most WiFi connections we ever get is 70+, We Put our ap's in every other classroom. They are great access points perfect for education in my view Edited March 25, 2021 by Jcx500

[Sonic007]

Another recommendation for Unifi AC Pro's. I bought the POE License Key which just plugs into your POE port on switch. Manages everything from there in web interface.

Reliable, good range, and no extra licenses to pay.

[MatthewL]

UAP-AC-Pro all the way, no need to buy a cloud key, just install the controller on a server. Doesn't need to be running all the time unless running a guest portal, only needed for config.

[snoerre]

(We once had Netgear WFS709TP controllers way over 10 years ago which actually were Aruba 800 controller with different branding and somehow limited software and few software updates.

What is Netgear using nowadays?)

 

- Regarding UAP-AC-PRO: Aren´t those access points first generation 802.11ac access points, i.e "wave 1"? That would be way too old. In that case don´t buy those units any longer.

- Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-HD would be 802.11ac "wave 2" access points. Instead of those I´d suggest to buy Aruba Instant IAP-315 ("HPE Renew" to reach Ubiquiti´s pricing) as Aruba has way better software support.

- For 802.11ac (wave 2) there would be also Cisco Business 240AC access points with local management, which are less expensive than UAP AC HD.

- As we now have year 2021, I wouldn´t buy 802.11ac devices for class rooms. I´d prefer 802.11ax access points, but not from Ubiquiti, at least nowadays (not the "50% 802.11ax Unifi 6 Lite access point", Unifi 6 Pro is still beta.) So if you want Unifi only, you might wait until that "6 Pro" is officially available.

 

Typical advise for inexpensive or let´s call them "cheap" controller based 802.11ax access points from non-Unifi vendors would be TP-Link Omada OC200 controller (80$) + EAP620HD (2x2:2, 200$) or EAP660HD (4x4:4, 300$). Grandstream will release its GWN7660 (IPQ6000 SoC, 2x2:2, 120 - 160$) in May 2021 with integrated controller. We setup GWN7630/LR last year in some libraries which actually work nowadays without problems (There was a bug with VLAN last year). For management we use Grandstream´s manager software on CentOS7. GWN7630 is 802.11ac (wave 2, 4x4:4) but uses Mediatek MT7615DN only. Fortunately we can use our old 3Com PoE (802.3af) to power them.

 

For high density rooms we actually use more and more Aruba AP-535, AP-555 access points although those are quite expensive, but for smaller class rooms with only 30 clients those would be way too much.

Edited March 25, 2021 by snoerre

[andyt57]

(We once had Netgear WFS709TP controllers way over 10 years ago which actually were Aruba 800 controller with different branding and somehow limited software and few software updates.

What is Netgear using nowadays?)

 

- Regarding UAP-AC-PRO: Aren´t those access points first generation 802.11ac access points, i.e "wave 1"? That would be way too old. In that case don´t buy those units any longer.

- Ubiquiti UniFi UAP-AC-HD would be 802.11ac "wave 2" access points. Instead of those I´d suggest to buy Aruba Instant IAP-315 ("HPE Renew" to reach Ubiquiti´s pricing) as Aruba has way better software support.

- For 802.11ac (wave 2) there would be also Cisco Business 240AC access points with local management, which are less expensive than UAP AC HD.

- As we now have year 2021, I wouldn´t buy 802.11ac devices for class rooms. I´d prefer 802.11ax access points, but not from Ubiquiti, at least nowadays (not the "50% 802.11ax Unifi 6 Lite access point", Unifi 6 Pro is still beta.) So if you want Unifi only, you might wait until that "6 Pro" is officially available.

 

Typical advise for inexpensive or let´s call them "cheap" controller based 802.11ax access points from non-Unifi vendors would be TP-Link Omada OC200 controller (80$) + EAP620HD (2x2:2, 200$) or EAP660HD (4x4:4, 300$). Grandstream will release its GWN7660 (IPQ6000 SoC, 2x2:2, 120 - 160$) in May 2021 with integrated controller. We setup GWN7630/LR last year in some libraries which actually work nowadays without problems (There was a bug with VLAN last year). For management we use Grandstream´s manager software on CentOS7. GWN7630 is 802.11ac (wave 2, 4x4:4) but uses Mediatek MT7615DN only. Fortunately we can use our old 3Com PoE (802.3af) to power them.

 

For high density rooms we actually use more and more Aruba AP-535, AP-555 access points although those are quite expensive, but for smaller class rooms with only 30 clients those would be way too much.

Most of the devices in the school are 802.11n, with only the handful of new Chromebooks being 802.11ac. Bearing in mind the cost of replacing the wi-fi system I don't see any of the laptops or desktops being replaced in the near future, since they are all happy running Windows 10 with 8Gb and an SSD. Even then the school will only be able to afford to buy refurbished machines so they may have 802.11ac. So I can't see any reason for spending twice the money to install 802.11ax.

 

If we can afford it we may go for 802.11ac Wave 2 but I reckon that even the UAP-AC-PRo will be good for another 5 years. And I can run the controller on a Raspberry Pi.

 

Andrew

[snoerre]

If we can afford it we may go for 802.11ac Wave 2 but I reckon that even the UAP-AC-PRo will be good for another 5 years. And I can run the controller on a Raspberry Pi.

 

Unifi 6 Lite might be still cheapest option nowadays while supporting 802.11ax at least with its 5 GHz radio. For UAP Ac Pro, is there any known end of support date by Unifi?

[andyt57]

Unifi 6 Lite might be still cheapest option nowadays while supporting 802.11ax at least with its 5 GHz radio. For UAP Ac Pro, is there any known end of support date by Unifi?

I can't find Unifi 6 Lite anywhere and AC Pros also seem to be out of stock.

 

Does anyone have any experience of the Ubiquiti UniFi AP AC HD?

 

Andrew