Geekzone giveaway: Ubiquiti Dream Machine

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michaelmurfy

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#270046 20-Apr-2020 22:15

You've read the title right - I am giving my review unit away to one lucky person on here all thanks to Go Wireless! You can read my review Here.

How to enter: Now, I did trick you a little. It may be a giveaway but I need to know you're deserving enough to get this router. So, we're all bored at the moment with lockdown (or working from home as I am). To enter in the competition you need to draw / sketch / plot / doodle / mindmap your home network and devices along with take photos of it pointing out flaws with your setup - you can upload these images and link them in your post using the Geekzone image uploader (ensure your post contains embedded images by using the IMG tag). Using the datasheet (here) list off ways (again, be creative) where the UniFi Dream Machine will assist you with creating the perfect home network.

You're free to search online for inspiration however stealing images that don't belong to you will automatically get you disqualified from this competition so don't do that.

How the judging will happen: Be creative, make other people laugh because they're the ones actually judging here. By using the +1 buttons at the top of the post vote on those who you think are deserving to win the Dream Machine from the content of their post. I'm excluded from this competition. The winner will be announced once we're back at Level 2 COVID-19 restrictions. I'll post a list of qualifying entries at the cutoff to get some final votes in. In the event of a tie-breaker the moderation team will collectively decide on a winner.

General rules: Competition is open to anyone who has had a Geekzone account before the time this competition was posted and the winner will be announced by PM. This giveaway is only open to NZ residents. After confirmation we will post winner's username in this topic. Once confirmed, the winner will receive the prize via post (once courier services are fully operational).

Email notification: this topic may get quite busy, so if you don't want to receive email notifications when new replies are posted, remember to uncheck the "E-mail me when someone replies to this post" option. An unsubscribe option is always sent with every email.

And lastly, stay home, and stay safe out there!

Easy voting: If you make an entry mark it with "set answer" - this way by viewing Answers Only you only get the people who have entered the competition.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
Referral Links: Quic Broadband (use R122101E7CV7Q for free setup)

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wratterus

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#2466968 21-Apr-2020 11:19

My home network is in a real shambles

You can see this without too much squinting

Traffic flow is highly impacted

Even when I am only just printing

You can see that it has some potential

But right now, nothing is central (ilsed)

My WiFi runs at a terribly slow pace

Even PLC is showing its dirty face

Patch cables everywhere

No free power points to be seen

The wife even complains

The linen cupboard is not clean (enough)

To have a UDM would be swell

Tidy things up incredibly well

WiFi for days

The speeds would amaze

If you could hit that +1

My heart would be ablaze

tehgerbil

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#2466971 21-Apr-2020 11:21

Ok, can't beat eracode's set up, but this is mine..

I constantly have issues with wifi dropping out, router crashing and my wife despises the fact the router is mounted on the wall to maximise the pathetic range.

This one device would literally help my relationship, as well as stop the constant disconnects, and changing signals and then using my data whenever I (frequently) drop out of range.

Jase2985

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#2466984 21-Apr-2020 11:43

Currently my network setup is a bit of a mess. The phone line comes in behind the TV in the lounge and that's where the Modem is (VDSL). Behind the TV is an 8 Port Switch which connects all the AV equipment and gaming consoles, all 8 ports are currently used. Right next door in what used to be the dining room, but is now our office is all my computer equipment, and due to working from home there is currently 2 full PC's there. I run all the Vital PC and network gear off an UPS to allow the PC to shutdown gracefully in a power outage, and give us internet and WiFi for about 2-4h. There is a Cambium E400 AP next to the TV doing the WiFi duties for this end of the house.

We have a network cable running under the house from the lounge to the master bedroom where there is a second switch mounted behind the TV which is for the second E400 which does WiFi for the bedrooms. the TV and the media player also connect to the switch so they can talk back to the serviio server on my desktop.

Not the greatest setup at the moment but its working and hopefully this year it will all change.

We are currently in the process of building a garage on the front of our section and as part of this i will be getting an OHUG (Overhead to Underground) conversion done to bring fiber into the garage. This is where the ONT will be placed in a wall mounted cabinet. From there im planning on putting a small server rack under the workbench which will hold some network equipment for sending data back into the house to the APs and the switches. eventually i would like to run 10gbe switches. Having a decent router will allow me to get a gigabit internet connection, as im pretty sure this Netcomm unit will not cut it.

Going forward id like to be able to separate out my IOT devices to their own VLAN, and id like to have a Kids WiFi network to keep them safe online. Finally id like to upgrade the E400's to some newer ubiquity devices to improve WiFi performance around the house. It will also give me the ability to VPN into my network when im away from home to check my security cameras.

The Dream Machine looks like a very capable device and will help me to be on my way to having a more coherent, fast and reliable home network.

Current network topology

Lounge, horrible layout of everything behind/under the TV

Master Bedroom, but more tidy with everything mounted behind the TV

lagbort

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#2466993 21-Apr-2020 11:53

Well, no expectations of winning as my network works pretty well for the most part (other than mobile devices being really stubborn about roaming between APs), but this was an interesting exercise to map the network that has just grown organically over time.

BigMal

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#2467073 21-Apr-2020 13:30

Below is my network topology and accompanying photo.

Those of you with a keen eye will see the main problem with my network is that it's significantly under powered. One guinea pig is simply not enough to provide the power output required to keep things running smoothly. I'm considering improving power output by either

a) Add a wheel for the guinea pig to run on

b) Add a second guinea pig to the network

Input and ideas welcomed.

**edit** I believe the Ubiquiti Dream Machine can be powered by a single guinea pig hence the reason for my entry.

eonsim

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#2475748 3-May-2020 12:40

I'd finally be able to get rid of my crappy ISP router and improve the network security at the same time, and give me a start in moving to a unified system for my networking.

There is far to much IoT stuff from different companies floating around in the cesspool that is this network and it needs a big fat security pill to sit in front of it all!

Sideface

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#2475877 3-May-2020 15:47

I have a Ubiquitii system at home, but the WiFi system is too old and too slow (like its builder) :

Old single-story villa, 2degrees gigabit UFB:

Chorus ONT (Gen 3) > EdgeRouter 4 > TOUGHSwitch PoE switch > 3 x Unifi AP long range WAPs

Wireless performance is limited to 2.4GHz. 😕
I also have multiple PCs and NAS units connected to the ER-4 via a Cisco smart switch - the ethernet LAN works well at gigabit speeds. 😊

(click to view)

Sideface

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JayADee

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#2476702 5-May-2020 08:19

Here is mine!

xpd

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#2476905 5-May-2020 13:25

Will add pic but my network consists of....a mess.

Garage contains ONT, Zyxel router, 2x DLink NAS, 1x Phone, 1x Server, 1 Brother printer

One network cable fires up through the ceiling to the lounge where an 8 port Dlink switch currently feeds an Xbox and Unifi AP - the 8 port should be in the garage, but had to swipe it because I have misplaced my spare 5 port I had....

Another network cable goes across top of garage door into a cupboard which feeds into the master bedroom for media PC.

A third cable goes through the wall, outside under the deck, around the side of the house, under the house, until it pops up in my office into a 5 port switch.

That switch feeds - desktop, PS3, Unifi AP#2, Cisco VoiP phone.......

Then theres multiple wifi devices inc laptops, tablets and phones.

Flaws : See above. Mess. Most hardware is 10th hand/pulled from rubbish bins. CAT5E cable is probably the cheapest I could get that would actually run at gigabit. Holes drilled in walls/floors with cables poked through. The router dosent log anything, and drops the SIP connection at least 2x a week along with random reboots. The eldest gets aggro when her Overwatch pings go nuts due to congestion on the wifi. I go nuts when everyone starts yelling "internet is down" due to the router doing its reboots.

Nothing is done properly because I keep pulling crap out to replace with "new" old gear.

Be nice to have something decent and new so I can take a break from repairing the stuff thats in place.

I'd love a router that works.

How I remain a geek, I don't know. How anything around here works, I don't know.

I work as a remote engineer - how anything works locally, is beyond me.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

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NickMack

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#2477175 5-May-2020 17:21

Hi All,

Quite cool seeing what people have out there.. here's a bit of mine...

Patch Panel in the house - Cat6/RF (Sky/UHF) Patch Panel, Weather Station, ONT (Enable Networks), Flight Aware Node (Raspberry PI), GBe Switch, Earthquake Sensor

Server room in Garage/Sleepout (4 car garage Split into 2 car garage, Sleepout and Server room)

Number of things on the LAN at home... :-)

Nick.

https://nick.mackechnie.co.nz | NZ ISP latency monitoring - https://smokeping.thenet.gen.nz

BarTender

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#2485059 16-May-2020 21:53

So my home network is quite sad and it has always secretly dreamed about being a Unifi network as it is just a hodgepodge of second hand gear off trademe or stuff that I have picked up from a guy named Bob who also sold watches at the train station.

The poor Mikrotik router just isn't cutting it and I think if I put the dream machine near it then it would feel all better.

The internet connection sometimes has issues but I don't know why, this is a photo of the rack from one angle.

Front And the Rear

I think I am doing this right? As I would love a replacement router for home. I would then be able to post the joys of having a real network at home.