Question about Ubiquiti Amplifi

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GSManiac

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#251518 29-Jun-2019 08:50

This was recommended to me as a way to get better wifi coverage in my house.
I just have one question.

Can I plug the Ubiquiti Amplifi box straight into my ONT or do I have to Ethernet cable it into my ISP supplied modem (in the same way i currently have to with my AirPort Extreme)

Thank you.

Jase2985

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#2266614 29-Jun-2019 09:26

you can go straight into it, just need to configure it for your ISP

cyril7

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#2266615 29-Jun-2019 09:26

Hi the amplifi supports vlan tagging on the wan port, so you don't need another router between the ont and amplifi.

Cyril

GSManiac

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#2266619 29-Jun-2019 09:41

Thank you for the replies.

I have also just now seen there is also an Ubiquiti Unifi. What is the difference between this and Amplifi?

Thank you.

Jase2985

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#2266621 29-Jun-2019 09:43

unifi's are access points, and amplifi's are mesh access points.

one us designed to use wifi as the back haul the other uses wifi.

cyril7

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#2266623 29-Jun-2019 09:48

Hi as jase says, however unifi now also supports wireless mesh.

The unifi range are more ceiling install types rather than desktop devices, and use a virtual controller to manage, whereas amplifi is phone app managed.

Unifi waps don't have a router component built in whereas amplifi does.

Regardless what you choose I recommend you cable between devices rather than rely on wireless mesh where possible, amplifi can be cabled between devices .

Cyril

alasta

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#2266705 29-Jun-2019 11:22

Just be be clear, if you want to avoid using mesh, would you have the main Amplifi router connected to your ONT and the slave access points wired up to it via structured cabling?

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cyril7

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#2266761 29-Jun-2019 12:09

alasta:

Just be be clear, if you want to avoid using mesh, would you have the main Amplifi router connected to your ONT and the slave access points wired up to it via structured cabling?

Yes, that way the backhaul between the amplifi router and slave does not consume the 5GHz airspace.

Cyril

cyril7

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#2266768 29-Jun-2019 12:29

As to how to use the ethernet port as a backhaul, as opposed to wireless mesh, see the link below and go to "How to enable wired ethernet backhaul"

https://help.amplifi.com/hc/en-us

Cyril

alasta

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#2266908 29-Jun-2019 16:35

Thanks, that's really helpful.

My current situation is that I have fixed wireless broadband with the Huawei router that has crap wifi. Initially I was thinking I should buy a Unifi, but next year I'll be moving to a place with fibre. So, I'm thinking that maybe I should buy an Amplifi and connect it to the Huawei router in bridge mode as the interim solution, then when I eventually get fibre I can use it as a complete solution for router, wifi and VLAN tagging functionality.

Is the Amplifi categorically better than typical ISP supplied routers?

bignose

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#2266967 29-Jun-2019 18:48

alasta:

Is the Amplifi categorically better than typical ISP supplied routers?

I replace a Huawei HG659 with an amplifi afi-r-hd - coverage is massively better, and also got away from the annoyingly tiny dhcp table issue on the Huawei

Can't quite keep up with a 1gbps fibre connection (maxes out about 800mbps on a wired connection), but otherwise good (and very high WAF - one of the few ap/routers that isn't an eyesore)

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#2266969 29-Jun-2019 18:54

bignose:

... Can't quite keep up with a 1gbps fibre connection (maxes out about 800mbps on a wired connection), but otherwise good ...

Be happy ... 800mbps is as good as it gets in the real world ... 🙂

(so-called "gigabit" can not, and does not, deliver 1,000 mbps to the end user - read the small print from your ISP)

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bignose

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#2266970 29-Jun-2019 18:55

Jase2985:
unifi's are access points, and amplifi's are mesh access points.

one us designed to use wifi as the back haul the other uses wifi.

amplifi (main unit) is a combo router/ap - nearest unifi equivalent would be the new unifi dream machine (all in one usg/uap).

Unifi ap's do support wireless backhaul as well (but it's not a preferred solution - more a fallback for if the wired backhaul goes down)

With amplifi - if you want wired backhaul you need multiple afi-r-hds - as the amplifi meshpoints are wifi only

kotuku4

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#2267779 1-Jul-2019 14:34

I have Ubiquiti Amplifi as wifi router and one meshpoint in a small house, with very limited options for LAN cabling. Fibre 100/ 20. I have found it reliable and provides great wifi, better than any routers I have had eg Linksys/ Netgear (forget the provided Huawei routers for wifi).

I did try a Unifi AP and edgerouter, but had some setup problems. A good option may be Unifi AP with existing router?