Which Ubiquiti Unifi Router? Lite vs Long Range vs Pro

TechiGamer · Dec 20, 2016

Hi,

I would like to purchase a commercial grade router, since I'm tired of these consumer routers not performing to my expectations. So several other individuals on Toms Hardware have recommended that I get a Ubiquiti Unifi AP.
However, there are three options: LR, Lite, and Pro.

This will be used in my household, with maybe 14 users max at any one time. I stream movies videos etc. within a 2500 sq. Ft. house. I will be placing the router dead center in the house and so at most, the signal will need to go through around 3 or 4 walls most of the time.
My Internet plan is 150mbps down and 15 mbps up, and want a router that can fully make use of this connection. So I want the router running at 150 (on the 5g of course) unlike my other routers that bottleneck at 40.

I don't need any extra Ethernet ports (as provided for the PRO), because these are just end units.
I would like the best range I can get, with the highest speeds. However, 2 lites are the same price as 1 Pro, so if the lites can completely do the job, then I can get 2 instead of one PRO.

Here is a comparison chart between the routers:

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why_wolf · Dec 20, 2016

just making sure you know but you have to pair that Ubiquiti AP with a Ubiquiti router, they're two different things. Unlike consumer units that bundle the router and the wireless AP into a single unit.

TechiGamer · Dec 20, 2016

why_wolf :

Really? Do you need a separate router for it? I know you need POE to power the access point, but from my understanding, that's all you need as far as special requirements go (aside from obviously needing a switch which is built into the ISP's modem).

Can you please clarify?

why_wolf · Dec 20, 2016

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/10/review-ubiquiti-unifi-made-me-realize-how-terrible-consumer-wi-fi-gear-is/

relevant quote "Again—and I know I’ve said this more than once, but it’s worth repeating—if you’re thinking of replacing your existing Wi-Fi setup with something like Ubiquiti’s gear, you need keep your existing router or account for the cost of buying a router to work with the new gear."

My understanding is you can use any router, so long as it supports AP (access points), though Ubiquiti obviously wants you to use their router too. To use all the features you need to constantly run some software on your computer, though it's my understanding that their router (or some of them) run this software themselves and don't require your computer to do the work.

why_wolf · Dec 20, 2016

looking into it some more you can set it up once with the controller software for basic functionality, which is probably all a home user wants, and then forget the software unless you reset the AP. you still need a router to do the actual network management. The AP is really nothing more than a remote wireless antenna.

why_wolf · Dec 20, 2016

sorry third post. While Ubiquiti seems to be a good product and great price, it's marketing and general production explanations seem to be strictly enterprise level. In other words they tell you next to nothing about how the stuff actually works and what the limitations are. They clearly want people to talk to resellers so sales people can give them the 'ol hard sale.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

why_wolf :

Thanks for the replies and relevant article. I read through it, and what really caught my attention was how he said it was an amazing improvement over consumer grade wifi gear.

But I have to agree with your point that everything is very enterprise level, but since its a reasonable price, available in my geographic region, and seems to be a good boost over consumer wifi solutions, I think I might give it a shot.

Do you have any other recommendations maybe such as a better brand or better enterprise solution? Or do you have any recommendations as to which unifi router (Pro, Lite, or Long Range) I should get?

What I found really good is that you can install the unifi controller on a raspberry pi if you don't have a server--
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q049Y2ci640

http://www.lowefamily.com.au/

bill001g · Dec 21, 2016

Your main problem is that you assume the pricing has something to do with the coverage. The main difference between the light and pro version is the pro version supports the industry standard PoE and can be powered by a standard PoE switch rather than the power injectors. In addition the version that uses the power injectors run at 24volts which means it will have issue powering device at the maximum 100meter ethernet length.

These are semi commercial units designed for people that already know details like this.

These devices work very well and have many features that consumer devices do not but these feature have little to do with how much coverage you get.

You have made some incorrect assumptions though. These devices do not transmit at any higher power levels that consumer devices. They are all limited by the same FCC regulations on power output. Almost all devices output the same power. In most cases the cause of problems with coverage are the tiny antenna and low power radios in some end devices. Things like cell phones favor battery life over wifi performance.

Next these devices are not routers they are AP. All they in effect do is covert the wifi signal to ethernet. They have no ability to directly connect to a internet connection you must have a router to do that.

why_wolf · Dec 21, 2016

I haven't seen anything else recommended like the Ubiquiti yet so I don't have anything better to recommend. As for what unit to get I think that depends on how big/laid out your house is and how concentrated you expect all your wireless usage to be. If everyone is cramming into the living room on their iPad to watch Netflix at the same time (you know family time) the PRO version probably makes more sense with its higher wireless speed. Though that seems unlikely so having two of the LITE units and spreading them apart to get better coverage throughout the house seems like a better idea to me at least.

Good find with the Pi for the controller server. I was not a fan of leaving a program running just to control an AP on all the time on my main rig, especially since it's written in JAVA.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

bill001g :

Thanks for replying.

I already knew all of these assumptions. However, my post to this forum mainly focused on which Ubiquiti AP would be best. The Lite for example has the fewest antennas and the slowest theoretical transfer speeds. The Long Range has more antennas that have a higher gain, faster theoretical speeds (The LR's from my understanding wouldn't benefit from an area with several walls/obstacles and the device would most likely be the limiting factor). But I wasn't sure if the extra range would be beneficial in some way. Lastly, the Pro is the fastest with the most antennas and as you mentioned uses the industrial standard for PoE, which doesn't matter to me. It has a second Ethernet port and people have been reporting things like better handoff between Pro AP's. Aside from these obvious differences illustrated in the above chart, I was looking for some expert advice that would maybe reveal some other small details that could make or break which one to get. The Lites are the cheapest/bottom range, so I was guessing that maybe the Pro's had features that could potentially be a deal breaker.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

why_wolf :

Thanks for replying.

Ya I think definitely two lites makes the most sense for me and my house. Wireless activity is spread throughout, and with all of these walls, the wireless signal (especially 5G) would become very weak in the peripheral areas of the house.
And on top of that, the Raspberry Pi will be good for being the 24/7 unifi controller.. Its low power and should be more than capable, and I have it lying around doing nothing anyways.

bill001g · Dec 21, 2016

Why would you think the LR has more range....just because the vendors says so. The only way you really know is to look the devices up the fcc database. It would be highly unlikely they would make a device that does not transmit at full power when there is no cost saving to not. Signal level are purely a function of transmit power.

The key thing with these AP is the controller software has the ability to REDUCE the power of the device to optimize the overlap patterns.

There really is no reason a consumer router with exactly the same chipset will not have radio performance exactly the same. The main reason you want to buy a AP rather than use a router is when you want to say mount them where you have no power.

The key reason you buy the ubiquiti product is that they give away the controller software which costs a fortune in high end commercial systems. If you are going to run 1 AP there really is no benefit over a quality router running as a AP.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

bill001g :

Thanks for replying.

I see what you mean those are good points. One of the main reasons I am looking to get the Ubiquiti is because I will likely have 2 or 3 APs, and although I have a similar setup with random routers I have from the past few years, the hand off between the aps and the choice of ap by the device is usually terrible and hangs on to the distant ap. This is a non-issue for a enterprise-level APs such as the ubiquiti since they are designed to do something like that.
The other reason is scalability. At the moment I will only be getting one router. However, in the future I will have 3 APs to get a proper signal throughout my house and on the patio.That way, with the ubiquiti, I can maintain the same quality, software, and reliability throughout knowing that they will just work together. And, of course, its just nice to have PoE when you are placing APs in random/awkward places where power is difficult to source.

So, with this in mind, is the Ubiquiti (Lite or Pro?) still the best option? Or would you recommend something else?

bill001g · Dec 21, 2016

I like the pro models strictly because you can run them off a standard PoE switch. Passive power injectors are a pain in the butt and I constantly worry that I plug them in backward and fry some equipment.

Be aware the ubiquiti is better than consumer device with the handoff but you will never get a non disruptive roaming. It just actually switch but you still get short outage spikes. Only high end commercial equipment can do it without a apparent drop..it still lose 1 or 2 packets though. This is one of the areas the ubiquiti is not actually enterprise level but they give the controller software away for free compared to someone like cisco that want $30,000 plus yearly fees based on number of clients.

I like the ubiquiti line there really is nothing that compares at the price point it is at.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

bill001g :

Oh I see. Either way, I think the level of handoff that it will achieve is decent enough for me. I understand that it will not be perfect given its price, but as you mentioned, alternatives have a substantially higher cost. It will still be a huge improvement over what I have now.
Since I don't have a PoE switch yet, and is not in my budget at the moment, would it be fine in your opinion to get 2 Lites?

bill001g · Dec 21, 2016

I am pretty sure both run exactly the same software. If I remember correctly it is only the PoE function that is different. The PoE chips are expensive for some reason...I suppose the same reason PoE switches have quite a bit of added costs.

The power injectors are fine. If you are planning long runs though you need to check how far they rate the injectors. The reason they choose 48v for standard PoE is you are pulling less amps to get the same number of watts to run the end device. ethernet cable has fairly high resistance so you can not go as far with lower voltages. I would bet it is still well over 150ft but you need to read the fine print.

TechiGamer · Dec 21, 2016

bill001g :

Awesome Thanks!
I'll be buying 2 Lites. Its pretty much the same price as buying one Pro.

clint.polley · Apr 23, 2018

You will like this product. The software is "The Controller" and can run on a pc on the network or you can get the cloud key which will then be the controller which also allows you to remote in anytime.

Hope this helps
Clint
www.politoninc.com

Which Ubiquiti Unifi Router? Lite vs Long Range vs Pro

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