Home mesh network: stick with UniFi WiFi 5 setup, or go WiFi 6?

[exi]

Will keep it brief:

Upcoming network changes and layout/size of residential site are such that I need to add another WAP or two.

Am aware of limited benefit of WiFi 6 at time of posting, but this may be a chance to future-proof a little and not spend unnecessarily.

Currently: UniFi Dream Machine plus one BeaconHD

Prosumer options and configurability nice, but not entirely necessary.

Priority goes to stability/reliability.

Decent amount of A/V streaming and various other common uses.

Options:
1. Purchase another 1-2 UniFi BeaconHD APs and build in to existing setup, staying with UniFi and WiFi 5;
2. Switch to AmpliFi Alien (WiFi 6), more consumer than prosumer, most expensive as would need 3-4, still okay for needs;
3. Switch entirely to Eero Pro WiFi 6, again 3-4 units;
4. Some other option.

Running Ethernet not an option.

What do you think? TIA.

 

[Clix Pix]

I just purchased and installed and am using an AmpliFi Alien 6 (just the router, no need for any mesh points, as I am in a smallish apartment) and am very pleased with what I am seeing and experiencing so far. I currently have two WiFi 6 devices in my home, and am anticipating shortly adding one or two more so for me it was a no-brainer to go with WiFi 6 in my process of updating from my previous router (Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station).

As far as the "consumer rather than prosumer" aspects of the Alien, I can't really speak to that since my needs were uncomplicated right from the get-go and it was delightfully refreshing to see how quickly I could set up and have this new router doing its thing. I am appreciating being able to use either my iPhone or iPad or the actual touch screen on the Alien to make adjustments in the settings (for example, shutting off the base light and the lighted panel during the night when I'm asleep and not needing to check the current status of the device anyway). Probably for those who do have more sophisticated needs and greater knowledge than I do sticking with or going with Ubiquiti's UniFi with its more tweakable settings might make more sense; my hunch is that Ubiquiti will soon be releasing a version of UniFi which does utilize the new WiFi 6 standard. To me it just seems logical for anyone considering replacing their current router/router plus mesh points setup to be going for WiFi 6.

 

[Dockland]

I just purchased and installed and am using an AmpliFi Alien 6 (just the router, no need for any mesh points, as I am in a smallish apartment) and am very pleased with what I am seeing and experiencing so far. I currently have two WiFi 6 devices in my home, and am anticipating shortly adding one or two more so for me it was a no-brainer to go with WiFi 6 in my process of updating from my previous router (Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station).

As far as the "consumer rather than prosumer" aspects of the Alien, I can't really speak to that since my needs were uncomplicated right from the get-go and it was delightfully refreshing to see how quickly I could set up and have this new router doing its thing. I am appreciating being able to use either my iPhone or iPad or the actual touch screen on the Alien to make adjustments in the settings (for example, shutting off the base light and the lighted panel during the night when I'm asleep and not needing to check the current status of the device anyway). Probably for those who do have more sophisticated needs and greater knowledge than I do sticking with or going with Ubiquiti's UniFi with its more tweakable settings might make more sense; my hunch is that Ubiquiti will soon be releasing a version of UniFi which does utilize the new WiFi 6 standard. To me it just seems logical for anyone considering replacing their current router/router plus mesh points setup to be going for WiFi 6

Thanks for the tip about the Amplifi. Can You turn of the lights completely? Going to have the router in my bedroom. I have a Ubiquiti today that works just great, but I'd like to use WiFi 6 as well som time later this year.

(and yes, the Alien ApliFi really looks good )

 

[Clix Pix]

Yes, you can turn off the lights completely......what I did was to establish a time for the lights to be shut off (12:00 AM, which is when I normally shut down the computer anyway) and then for them to turn back on in the morning at 9:00 AM, and that way the device is glowing green to greet me when I come into the living room in the morning. One can turn them off altogether, too, say, shutting off the ring at the base of the unit and never having it on, or shutting off the information touch panel. The touch panel on its own isn't all that bright anyway, but in the darkness of a bedroom it would be annoying at night. One can dim the levels of both light sources, too, so that during the day one can enjoy the glow without having them shining so brightly that it is bothersome.

I have the modem in my bedroom and it has fairly bright lights which unfortunately cannot be dimmed, which can be disconcerting at night but I've gotten used to it now and it acts as a sort of "night light." Having both the router and the modem casting out bright light during the night would be a bit too much!

So far I am really loving this AmpliFi Alien 6 -- it's expensive but for me well worth it.

 

[exi]

Thanks for the thoughts above. I tend to agree with @Clix Pix - it's low-hanging fruit in terms of future-proofing. "Might as well."

Price difference is there, though. UniFi BeaconHDs sell for ~$130/ea. A new Wi-Fi 6 setup adequate for needs will run $800-$1000ish.

Looking at 20-30 devices on network for time being. Will grow. Unclear to what.

To revise my question, thoughts on the Netgear Orbi RBK853 kit versus Linksys Velop versus AmpliFi Alien? For a true mesh setup needing multiple APs, seems that the Orbi may be the best option. I did try the 852 two-piece kit once, shortly after its release. Speeds were quite nice. However, the firmware was half-baked and seemed buggy, and there was no QoS option at the time, so I returned it. I imagine that's changed since.

 

[Clix Pix]

While doing my research I read a lot of reviews and they seemed mixed on the Orbi.....as well as on the Velop. I'll admit, though, that right from the start the AmpliFi Alien was beaming out signals to me even through the phosphorus screen and the boxes on store shelves and gently enveloping me in Steve Jobs' infamous "Reality Distortion Field....." LOL!!!! Seriously, the thing just attracted me right from the get-go and I didn't even realize until I ran across a review which remarked upon it that there was an Apple connection after all.....Well, now, how could I resist?! It's "Appleness" is delightful!

All that aside, my needs were far simpler than those of many people who have a lot of clients that they need to connect to their network and who live in larger homes with much more space than where I am.....and that does make a difference. For me the single AmpliFi Alien router is working out really well, but in a lot of situations, yes, for many users there would be a need for at least one additional mesh point anyway. Moving forward into WiFi 6 would be a good plan for anyone who needs to do something about their network setup now anyway, but for others probably still sticking with their current setup at WiFi 5 would suffice. Certainly until my ISP said I needed to make a change in my modem I was perfectly happy with my earlier modem and AEBS setup. Everything was delivering as expected, very stable, very reliable. I had to move on, though, and in doing so am now very happy with the change.

Fortunately WiFi 6 is backwards-compatible but in the meantime there aren't yet that many devices (computers, phones, whatever) which are able to take advantage of WiFi 6 anyway.... I have two in the household now: an iPhone 11 Pro and an M1 MBP. Since I am already anticipating some changes of devices in the future, buying and using computers or other devices which will come with WiFi 6, that was a guiding factor in my decision to go with a router delivering WiFi 6 now. Progress forward can be annoying when one isn't really planning to make changes but in the end it all pays off......

 

[Dockland]

While doing my research I read a lot of reviews and they seemed mixed on the Orbi.....as well as on the Velop. I'll admit, though, that right from the start the AmpliFi Alien was beaming out signals to me even through the phosphorus screen and the boxes on store shelves and gently enveloping me in Steve Jobs' infamous "Reality Distortion Field....." LOL!!!! Seriously, the thing just attracted me right from the get-go and I didn't even realize until I ran across a review which remarked upon it that there was an Apple connection after all.....Well, now, how could I resist?! It's "Appleness" is delightful!

All that aside, my needs were far simpler than those of many people who have a lot of clients that they need to connect to their network and who live in larger homes with much more space than where I am.....and that does make a difference. For me the single AmpliFi Alien router is working out really well, but in a lot of situations, yes, for many users there would be a need for at least one additional mesh point anyway. Moving forward into WiFi 6 would be a good plan for anyone who needs to do something about their network setup now anyway, but for others probably still sticking with their current setup at WiFi 5 would suffice. Certainly until my ISP said I needed to make a change in my modem I was perfectly happy with my earlier modem and AEBS setup. Everything was delivering as expected, very stable, very reliable. I had to move on, though, and in doing so am now very happy with the change.

Fortunately WiFi 6 is backwards-compatible but in the meantime there aren't yet that many devices (computers, phones, whatever) which are able to take advantage of WiFi 6 anyway.... I have two in the household now: an iPhone 11 Pro and an M1 MBP. Since I am already anticipating some changes of devices in the future, buying and using computers or other devices which will come with WiFi 6, that was a guiding factor in my decision to go with a router delivering WiFi 6 now. Progress forward can be annoying when one isn't really planning to make changes but in the end it all pays off......

We are getting 10 Gbit from our ISP next year, so I'll think I'll wait for the market around that time and check it out. Not that many 10 GB routers on the market yet.

 

[Clix Pix]

Since my needs at this time are satisfied at "up to 500 mbps" I am happy with the new setup I currently have, but yes, in another year or two things will have changed again and dramatically, so I'll probably be looking at new options at that time if what I've got now isn't going to continue keeping me happy at current levels even if at some point I increase my plan with the ISP to the 1 Gig level......

 

[Mellofello808]

You should definitely wait until wifi 6e equipment to become available.

Wi-Fi is getting its biggest upgrade in 20 years

There’s going to be a lot more Wi-Fi.

www.theverge.com

People who spend top dollar on wifi 6 gear, are going to feel extremely left out.

6e is the real upgrade, especially if you live in an apartment or dense area. You will essentially have the entire band to yourself for a while.

 

[Thirio2]

Ubiquiti advertises 2 models of WiFi 6 access points. It is my understanding that they should work with the Dream Machine. they may be hard to find at this time, though. If I find I need an access point or get devices that have wifi 6 I plan to use Ubiquiti WiFi 6 APs. Currently, my Dream Machine handles all my needs. It is in the middle of my basement (on a shelf) and reaches all my devices including doorbell and garage door opener. It has much more range than my old AirPort Extreme. I still use the APE in bridged mode for TM backups. It sits on the same shelf as the UDM.

 

[Clix Pix]

The store at which I purchased my AmliFi Alien 6 router had the router on its own and then also had a two-pack of the router plus one mesh point which is specifically matched to that particular router. At this time I don't think they sell any individual Alien mesh points separately. Earlier, before they began selling the two-pack they did of course offer the option of someone purchasing two Alien 6 routers and using one of those as the mesh point. That could get a bit pricey, though!

 

[exi]

Thanks again for all the thoughts.

Have tried out the Alien (plus one mesh point) out of curiosity. Quite slick and works well in general.

Some devices at ends of network suffering from lack of a closer AP. Those devices do not require a lot of bandwidth but do require a non-flaky connection.

New question has become: keep the Alien/meshpoint setup, then add a single Alien unit (total cost ~$1000) as a second AP to total actual router plus two Alien mesh APs, have much better radio setup / proper mesh setup than the UDM+Beacon setup offers, but lose UniFi customizability should it be needed, or;

Return the Alien setup, keep the UDM+Beacon plus an additional 1-2 BeaconHDs (~$270), lose some bandwidth and an actual mesh setup in exchange for a more broadly extended but not as fast network (and potential minimal latency hit if a daisy-chained Beacon is required as opposed to uplinking to the UDM directly - unsure how much that would be), and keep UniFi customizability?

Typically don't have multiple streams going on at once. Have 400/20 residential connection.

 

[max2]

Stay with WiFi 5 for now until WiFi 6 becomes more mature and stable.


Plus have over half or more Wifi 6 device.

 

[max2]

How long do you all think it will take hotels and airports to update to Wifi 6 if ever ? It may not be worth it for them sense most people just use their 4g lte or 5g nowadays.

Stupid random question but does anyone know what airport has the fastest Wifi speed ?

 

[Clix Pix]

Since WiFi 6 is backwards-compatible, not a big issue if someone chooses to go with WiFi 6 now. My older devices work just fine with my new WiFi 6 router.

 

[Clix Pix]

In my situation the modem and router needed to be updated now and I do not regret that at all. I am sure that the new WiFi6e will also be backwards-compatible, too……my current router and devices are not suddenly going to be rendered destroyed when the new standard eventually begins appearing in routers and other devices.

 

[max2]

In my situation the modem and router needed to be updated now and I do not regret that at all. I am sure that the new WiFi6e will also be backwards-compatible, too……my current router and devices are not suddenly going to be rendered destroyed when the new standard eventually begins appearing in routers and other devices.

Of course not but Wifi 6 is unreliable right now with being backwards compatible. It works but not great.

 

[Clix Pix]

So far no unreliability here with my current setup of Arris Surboard 8200 cable modem and AmpliFi 6 router serving nine clients of various ages and earlier WiFi standards. Maybe if someone lives in the boondocks without reliable service in general that might apply, but certainly not in my case, as I live in a high-density area with a large population.

 

[max2]

So far no unreliability here with my current setup of Arris Surboard 8200 cable modem and AmpliFi 6 router serving nine clients of various ages and earlier WiFi standards. Maybe if someone lives in the boondocks without reliable service in general that might apply, but certainly not in my case, as I live in a high-density area with a large population.

Cool. Good luck!

 

[Clix Pix]

Thanks! Actually, since we have been having storms in my area tonight I have been reading and writing posts using my 2018 12.9 gen 3 iPad Pro which has both cellular data and WiFi in case the power went out….the cellular data can kick right in if need be. The WiFi 6 works perfectly with this older device, no issues at all.