Anyone got one of these Ubiquiti AirRouters?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › Anyone got one of these Ubiquiti AirRouters?

SumnerBoy

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Topic # 83632 19-May-2011 14:51

Just wondering if they are any good? I recall Cyril (GZ expert of all things LAN!) recommending the Ubiquiti Rocket M2 for use as a wireless-N AP but was wondering if this would be a more cost effective option?

Only $84 at GoWiFi - http://www.gowifi.co.nz/access-points-802.11/ubiquiti-airrouter-802.11n-wireless-router.html.

Or am I better off going for the Rocket M2 and getting a couple of whip antenna - is this a more sturdy solution? If so, what antenna would you recommend - I am not to sure what specs I should be looking for?!

Cheers,
Ben

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Reply # 471132 19-May-2011 14:52

What exactly are you trying to do?

digitaldivide

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Reply # 471144 19-May-2011 15:04

I'm thinking about getting the Router Station Pro (mainly so I can run a transparent, inline, firewall, antivirus and intrusion detection) http://www.ubnt.com/rspro
So, it would be good to see what your experience is with the M2

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 471152 19-May-2011 15:19

Zeon - I am building a new house and want to install a 'good' Wireless-N AP. I already have the Draytek Vigor ADSL modem and will be getting a 24 port giggabit switch, so the missing piece is the wireless AP.

Do you have any other suggestions? The Ubiquiti gear seems to be pretty high spec stuff - at a reasonable price. But I am open to other ideas.

sbiddle

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Reply # 471182 19-May-2011 16:19

Get a Power AP N as an AP.

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 471193 19-May-2011 16:26

For what reasons do you recommend the Power AP N? Are they better than the AirRouter? How do they compare to the Rocket M2?

Seems like the general consensus is to go with Ubiquity - they question is what model...?!

Zeon

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Reply # 471196 19-May-2011 16:32

Where are you thinking of putting the access point? Probably best to put it in the center of the house (sounds like a big house if you need a 24 port switch) rather than in the garage in your patch cabinet.

Ubiquiti seems to be a good brand but haven't used it myself. You may want to investigate a router with PoE and put a cat5e run up to the ceiling (your switch would need PoE though). That's what they have on the pics for the high end access points so must be a reason why they do it.

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 471200 19-May-2011 16:34

Yeah I have a large hallway cupboard in the center of the house which is where my patch panel will be, along with the ADSL central filter and modem. I figured this is as good a place as any for my wireless AP since it is so central, and right next to the rest of my LAN gear.

It is not a massive house - 267m2 - but I am intending to run a lot of CAT6 so I can send HDMI around the house (using 2xCAT6 baluns). Hence the need for a large switch.

richms

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Reply # 471236 19-May-2011 18:05

SumnerBoy: Yeah I have a large hallway cupboard in the center of the house which is where my patch panel will be, along with the ADSL central filter and modem. I figured this is as good a place as any for my wireless AP since it is so central, and right next to the rest of my LAN gear.

It is not a massive house - 267m2 - but I am intending to run a lot of CAT6 so I can send HDMI around the house (using 2xCAT6 baluns). Hence the need for a large switch.

HDMI around the house has nothing to do with a gigabit switch. I think you need to look at what you are doing more carefully before you get a switch you only end up using a small part of.

Richard rich.ms

cyril7

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Reply # 471267 19-May-2011 19:24

I can send HDMI around the house (using 2xCAT6 baluns). Hence the need for a large switch.

Wooooo there, better check what you are doing before you sink a house load of $ of nothing.

But I agree with Steve, if you want a domestic AP then go for the power AP N

Cyril

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Reply # 471273 19-May-2011 19:45

SumnerBoy: For what reasons do you recommend the Power AP N? Are they better than the AirRouter? How do they compare to the Rocket M2?

Seems like the general consensus is to go with Ubiquity - they question is what model...?!

The AirRouter has very small internal PCB mount antennas (but does have PCB mount ufl connectors). The Power AP has external antennas and delivers vastly superior coverage.

I'm a little puzzled as to why you'd be looking at a Rocket M2 for a home AP solution. The cost of a rocket radio and (presumably) one of the new 2.4Ghz omni antennas is vastly in vastly in excess of what you need to spend, and the benefits of AirMax are lost since you can't use it within your home. It's an outdoor solution, not an indoor one.

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Reply # 471279 19-May-2011 19:59

Hi, Steve before the advent of the current home routers from UBNT I had recommended rockets (not M versions) with an omni fitted.

I also fitted a M2 to a new two story house with concrete floor with steel reinforcing fiitted that had shown coverage issues.

The top floor power switch board was directly above the comms cabinet where I had installed signet 3000, patch panel, modem/router etc. Directly below was a 300mm dia hole in the floor that gave cable access to the lower floor and the ceiling space and rondo beams

By putting two omnis with 500mm pigtails on each radio chain I had one antenna for the top floor and one for the lower floor attached magnetically to the rondo, coverage to both floors from the single radio was excellent, albeit limited to a single chain for each floor.

Cyril

SumnerBoy

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Reply # 471382 19-May-2011 23:20

Thanks guys - yeah I was only looking at the Rockets on Cyrils recommendation and then came across these additional models and hence my question on here. Seems the Power AP N is the way to go for my situation.

I hopefully do know what I am doing but am always open to help and suggestions! I did get a bit mixed up before and when I said 24 port switch I really meant a 24 port patch panel, which in reality will probably end up having to be a 32 port panel. I am intending to get a 16 port gigabit switch which should be plenty for what I need, and give a bit of room for future growth.

I intend to have wired music streaming devices in at least 3 rooms (Squeezeboxen), as well as media streamers in the living and master. I will have a PC in my study along with a networked printer. There will be the central home server and then all the networked HIFI gear, i.e. my amp, MySky and XBox.

By my count that is 11 ports already - so a 16 port switch would be minimum.

I want to ensure I run enough CAT6 to allow for future changes though - whether that be for HDMI over baluns, IR control signals, or whatever else comes along.

Is there anything in there that is obviously wrong or over-the-top or lacking? Seems to be a few comments on this thread which makes me think I might be doing something a bit stupid...

Regs

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Reply # 471388 19-May-2011 23:40

IMO, the rocket M2s also dont do mixed N and BG very well. you have to restrict the N to a channel width of 20Mhz if you run mixed radios. Other AP's will run at 40MHz if there are only N devices and then drop to 20Mhz if a B or G device connects.

you could always run cat-6 to the ceiling of each room and use a ceiling mounted AP in each main room you want to deliver wireless to.... if you want to go overboard :-) something like this: http://www.gowifi.co.nz/access-points-802.11/ubiquiti-unifi-802.11n-3-pack.html

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SumnerBoy

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Reply # 471389 19-May-2011 23:43

Yeah probably don't need that level of wifi coverage...just yet.

I definitely need to run both b/g and n devices at the same time - so the Rockets are out - fine. Is there likely to be a similar problem with the Power AP N or are they more suited to the 'home' environment?

Regs

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Reply # 471390 19-May-2011 23:49

SumnerBoy: Yeah probably don't need that level of wifi coverage...just yet.

I definitely need to run both b/g and n devices at the same time - so the Rockets are out - fine. Is there likely to be a similar problem with the Power AP N or are they more suited to the 'home' environment?

the rockets arent 'out' completely - i am running mixed bgn at home with one. its just that the best speeds i get when i drop the N to 20Mhz channels is between 5MB/s and 7MB/s which is less than 100MBps. Its still faster than the G router i had previously which didnt get much over 2.5MB/s. with other APs you get full N speeds until a BG device joins, at which time the N speeds drop a bit.

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