Mastodawn

🛜 What WiFi system (mesh) do y’all recommend?

@marioguzman Everyone is saying UniFi, and that's technically true. However, I think you need to ask yourself one key question: Can you run Ethernet to all your access points?

Ubiquiti is only really recommendable if all or almost all your APs have a wired backhaul. For the most part you're also only able to take advantage of the broader Ubiquiti ecosystem (cameras, door locks, etc.) if you can run Ethernet to those locations. If you rent, this may or may not be feasible. (1/4)

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Jakob Feb 2

If you're relying on wireless backhaul for your access points, I would not go Ubiquiti. Consider Eero instead.

Eero's TrueMesh implementation is a great example of how their system is better optimized for pure wireless backhauls than Ubiquity. They aggregate multiple wireless links to improve performance between the APs. The Tri-Radio Eero nodes (2.4 GHz, low 5 GHz, and high 5 GHz) mesh with each other wirelessly on all three bands simultaneously. (2/4)

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Jakob Feb 2

This allows them to transmit on more than one radio to another Eero across two frequencies, or transmit and receive across two radios at the same time. They effectively achieved MLO before the Wi-Fi Alliance made it a standard (though it only works between Eeros, not client devices). This implementation is patented, but it's great that it exists in the consumer market rather than being gatekept as an enterprise feature. (3/4)

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Jakob

Ubiquiti, on the other hand, only has a single access point truly built to accommodate wireless backhaul (the U6 Extender), which is Wi-Fi 6 only, has low TX power, and obviously lacks any of the backhaul magic Eero offers. It's clear Ubiquiti isn't really invested in this part of the market and only offers it as a stopgap solution. Your internet connection accross multiple wireless hops will be much better on an eero network if you need to rely on wireless backhauling. (4/4)