Is Unifi Worth It in 2025?

Рет қаралды 19,053

Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 114

@jaybirdls1 Ай бұрын

I cosplay as a sysadmin, running a proxmox VM box and NAS for my home. Just set up a UCG-Max with a switch and AP a couple days ago. This UI stuff is impressive, and addictive. Thank you Tim for helping us get the most of it all!

@Imevul Ай бұрын

lol, "cosplay as a sysadmin" is definitely a fun way to describe this hobby. I just set up an UDM-SE in a rack in my basement and an U7 Pro Wall, and I'm running 2 machines with proxmox, and a raspberry pi 4b. When I can afford it, I'm gonna expand and get the UNAS, a PoE+ switch, and a bunch of cameras as well.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I like that. And you are welcome. Glad I could be of some help!

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

@lmevul - I have said that many times... when I have more money, I will buy a _________.... LOL

@howardzhao4685 Ай бұрын

IMHO, the Unifi system worth every penny. I started few months ago to replace my home Asus mesh WiFi, it stared as a simple replacement with a UDM SE and couple of access points…. But before I realized it, a month into the project, I ended up with additional UNVR pro, UNAS, more switches, cameras, etc. A $1k project, turned into a huge Christmas $8k extravaganza 😂 All I have to say is that Unifi eco systems are addictive. But I am very happy how everything has been turned out! A big shoutout to you and thanks for all the video and suggestions! The best part of this is that I have learned a lot thought out this project!

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

You fell victim to the Unifi project snowball. We have all been there! Congrats on your install and thank you soooo much for watching. I'm glad you have found them helpful!

@howardzhao4685 Ай бұрын

I am sure did😂BTW, love your videos and they are for sure helpful! Thanks for all the efforts to make them.

@robertt9342 Ай бұрын

Thank you for highlighting the smart power strip. The smart power plug seems like a perfect use for me.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

You bet. It’s neat tech.

@Kjaywest Ай бұрын

I started out just wanting to fix my WiFi & fell in love with everything. Now I have a whole home lab & going to expand it next year. Also, I’m having a great time with it. I’ve learned so much in the 2 years I’ve been using them. I’m going BIG. I wish I filmed it all in the beginning because I would have loved to have it for documenting the process.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing. It is pretty cool gear! When are you starting your KZbin Channel then? I'll subscribe!

@Kjaywest Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint I do not know sir.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I'd love to hear how the "going BIG" project goes!

@Kjaywest Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint I'm planning to add another UPS to the network to split the switchers for maximum uptime in case of a power outage. The next item I want to get from UniFi is the UNAS because I'm looking for a larger NAS than the one I currently have from Synology. I don't need all the Docker and apps that typically come with a NAS; I simply want a straightforward backup server without the extra features. I would love to experiment with shadow mode on the UDM, but I'll hold off on that for now. Right now, my main focus is on redundancy within my network. I already have 28 UniFi devices connected to my network! LOL

@Kjaywest Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint Also, my network is the brains of my smart home. I Have an HP mini PC running Home Bridge for Unifi Protect into HomeKit for cameras & Doorbell.

@phillipwithers7520 Ай бұрын

Great video as always. May I suggest a video about creating a management VLAN for those of us who don't want their Default VLAN to also be the pipe that admins are frequenting to perform configs and updates. Just a thought. Thanks again!

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Another fair callout. I actually use mgmt VLANs in my home, but try not to overwhelm Newbies at this. I will work that into my content. Thanks!

@msl28215 Ай бұрын

First! Just installed a UDM-Pro in my house with Alta Labs AP’s. Best. Decision. Ever.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Nice. I also mess with the Alta Labs stuff too. They just sent me their Router 10 and new AP for me to play with. I will probably do a video on that sometime here...

@msl28215 Ай бұрын

@ I’ve been trying to get my hands on the Route 10. I do think Alta Labs AP’s work better than Unifi. Most of Alta Labs exec’s came from there. I put in plenty of Unifi for my clients, and was looking at a solution that wasn’t like putting all your eggs in one basket, making an individual device failure easier to get recovered from.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I have been talking to the Alta Labs guys and they are telling me that production is starting to ramp up on the Route 10 soon. I love that it has POE ports on it... That is fantastic. Add WiFi and it might be the perfect router!... I hope to test soon.

@Ronnocbot 13 күн бұрын

Just ordered a UDM-Pro and other equipment to upgrade my network. It will be here tomorrow!

@ethernetblueprint 12 күн бұрын

Awesome. Good luck. Careful though. This can become an addiction. Lol

@Chukijay Ай бұрын

Unifi is for people with more money than time or skill. This isn’t a bad thing by the way. This market is huge and unifi is a great option for those people. It’s turnkey and works. My main issue is you have to get the “good” one to get the options and that seamless, Apple-like “it just works” experience. A UDR will hit the limit of capability FAST, for me it was out of the box because it only does 700Mbps. A UDM SE or Pro can be a NAS or DVR, but the drive bay count is limited and I can get a router and build an NVR for less, but it’s not that one pane of glass.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I hear what you are saying. Valid comment. I think they have done pretty good with the ultra series and some of the newer products that just came out that help fit that smaller setup and want the horsepower, but don't need and SE like device. But they don't give it away.

@scottekoontz 17 күн бұрын

Home network? Sure, all you have to do is skip a couple of dinner-dates a year and love power and simplicity, but for a small office the costs are minimal and amount to little compared to other costs like rent, software, server hardware. Home options are fairly cheap in the $200 range, small office in the $1,000 range.

@ethernetblueprint 17 күн бұрын

Appreciate you weighing in.

@InternetJunkHuman Ай бұрын

After completing HUNDREDS of installs for different clients, yes Ubiquiti and Unifi are the best for what it does. Absolute king for small and medium sized businesses. The product innovation for new products is off the charts as well. There is just no comparison.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I tend to agree. I have fallen in love with their gear and it keeps getting better and better.

@VincentFSW Ай бұрын

Great content. What are your thoughts on TPlink's Omada's EAP vs Ubiquiti's U6 and U7 offerings? Also, would it be okay to use OMADA POE switches with U6 & U7s?

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

You can always mix and match equipment. It just means you have to look in multiple systems to troubleshoot but if you like their switches better, it should work just fine.

@SteveHowardPhotography 20 күн бұрын

Can anyone explain the pros/cons of the older edge router 4 vs the newer ubiquity cloud gateways? Looking for routing with no built in wi-fi and just trying to learn what the newer routers do the older ones don’t (other than faster rv-45 ports). Love this channel.

@ethernetblueprint 18 күн бұрын

It is a completely difffent interface and you would manage it separately from your other Unifi equipment. So you would go into the Edge Router and make your VLANs, then move over to the Unifi interface and add the VLANs there separately... Almost as if you had a different brand of router all together. They don't sync with each other like it does when you have one of the new Unifi routers... Everyting updates and talks to each other in a single interface.

@SteveHowardPhotography 18 күн бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint Thank you so much for the explanation. I suspected as much but I couldn't be sure. No0w back to binging your videos........

@scottekoontz 17 күн бұрын

@@SteveHowardPhotography We are in the middle of switching from an older EdgeRouter to a Dream Machine (small office) and there's no contest. Power, look and feel, simplicity... all worth it. So nice that I'm going to be getting a cloud gateway for the home.

@SteveHowardPhotography 17 күн бұрын

@@scottekoontz Thanks for the tips. It give me a lot more confidence. Although I am a retired IT guy (Cisco Networks), it's been 12 years so I am behind on the tech. Thanks again for sharing.

@----------------------------- Ай бұрын

Unifi protect works on US government computers. So i can keep at eye on my house/pets at my job where I can't have my cellphone with me. Since the government logs everything, they only get access to a nerfed viewer account with limited access....in case a certain agency has funny ideas.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

That is interesting. Thanks for sharing.

@DerrickDevine Ай бұрын

I'm a cloud engineer in my day job and I find that the juice isn't worth the squeeze for Unifi. It's major overkill for nothing more than pretty dashboards. If you want that, save yourself thousands and grab Omada.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I appreciate your opinion. I have heard many other network engineers share a similar opinions. I get it. Thanks for sharing.

@DerrickDevine Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint Thanks. I appreciate the video. It's always good to discuss things. I liken Unifi to the Apple ecosystem. Tons of people tell you that you need an iphone (Unifi) and that it's the best experience ever and if you listen to them, the hook is set and you're spending lots of money. If you're like me, you buy a cheap android (Omada) because a phone is a tool and doesn't need flash.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Not a bad way to go. I get it!

@mechalchuk 24 күн бұрын

Truth. I was on the fence between Omada and UniFi and ultimately went with some lower priced UniFi products to replace an aging Eero "5" system. Currently (It might be a typo but they're honoring it), U6+ APs are only $129CAD). That, and TPLink website and product filtering doesn't seem to work, and they have far too many products to choose between. Example, filtering power source by POE or DC/POE eliminates 100% of products from the finder. There also seems to be more readily available information on youtube about the UniFi U6 series of APs and cloud gateway units, vs Omada. If price is the same between the two was the same would you still go with Omada for home networking? Does Omada offer the remote device to device VPN as UniFi/AmpliFi does?

@DrivingPhilippines Ай бұрын

Where can I shop online to get Unifi equipment into Philippines?

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I am not sure about the overseas equipment and what available, but I do know there are EU stores for Unifi.

@alonzosmith6189 24 күн бұрын

I wish Unifi would allow local GUI to configured each device. Have the controller as an option. It n 2019 my Unifi network went down, wife working from home (attorney) in the middle of a live case. Had to switch to a 4g mifi. Unifi support, restore from backup was the only option. Sold all my Unifi gear.

@ethernetblueprint 24 күн бұрын

I haven’t tried this in a while, but I thought you could log into locally. I know the APs can be setup as standalone devices or they used to be able to. Now you have me curious. 🧐

@anpc86 Ай бұрын

Yes for the networking... Hearing the wifi 7 ap points are having problems but overall i am happy... Cameras i didnt feel it was worth it... Ill want to try protect and Unify cameras in the future and see rhe difference

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I'm sure the WiFi 7 APs will be fine. I have one in my house and it works great. No issues. So I think it depends on your setup...What makes Protect good is the interface. And they are working on making it work better with ONVIF which would be nice. I hear it is a bit buggy at the moment.

@anpc86 Ай бұрын

@ I have the wifi 7 APs and no issues, knock on wood Something to do with IoT and 2.4 ghz, Ubiquito support was in the Reddit thread and said they were actively in testing to address the issue overall for networking really impressed with the user interface and all the features

@anpc86 Ай бұрын

@ethernetblueprint that AI port seems like how you can take 3rd party cameras and make them essentially "Protect" Cameras. Yeah im hoping the next UNAS iteration supports docker containers or lets us do more than just storage because I would prefer staying within the UI ecosystem and have everything just work easy... Thank you for your videos

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I heard that as well... in fact, i am working with one of my viewers who is experiencing the IOT/2.4g issue. He has been testing the fixes... I hope to learn more about that from him soon.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I am guessing that the NAS/Docker stuff is coming at somepoint. Especially with ONVIF now on the loose. Thanks for sharing with me.

@MarkS-gw6qd 30 минут бұрын

Has anyone used their VPN via Starlink and no public IP?

@dkastra26 22 күн бұрын

I had them all. And i use unifi because of the perfekt mesh. Never worked so well with other stuff

@ethernetblueprint 21 күн бұрын

You like the mesh huh?! 🤔 nice.

@dkastra26 21 күн бұрын

@@ethernetblueprintwhats wrong with it?

@ethernetblueprint 16 күн бұрын

Personally, I don't like the speed loss when APs are talking together via mesh. Since all the wifi equipment is dual band, the overhead of talking to the other meshed APs slows down your throughput. It works well. I just don't like the speed loss!

@dkastra26 16 күн бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint ok. But its faster and has more Range than triband AVM or my tp link be800 and be550 before. So what. When I go upstairs, at the Middle of the stairs im on the Upper AP. Its Perfect.

@ITProSupply Ай бұрын

Paid support offering is a new wrinkle in all this ... but for the longest time you purchased UBNT gear because you could buy 2 and still save money over other brands but the forum only support aspect was more or less on you to get stuff done.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Other than RMAs, I haven't had any personal experience with the support. Some of my clients have though and said good enough things. You are right, the forum was your best bet in the ole days.

@mechalchuk 26 күн бұрын

I've just ordered a new NVR and cameras along with some U6X APs, but went with the Cloud Gateway Ultra instead of a Max or Dream Machine. Why not use the Dream Machine and Protect as my NVR? Well, as tempting as that sounds, UniFi cameras are all kind of junk at this point compared to Chinese cams that are a fraction of the price. Even a G5 Pro is going to be less of a camera than a several year old Dahua 5442 or IPC-Color4K. There certainly still are quality trade-offs with some Ubiquiti products, regardless of their price tag. All in, a basic NVR costs the same as a Dream Machine but it doesn't require a $199+ AI adapter for each camera either.... Hit and miss with this brand. I'm in it for the VLAN, security and multiple SSIDs. Protect is a great system, but until they make some better cameras it's a pretty big compromise over existing, cheaper hardware out there.

@ethernetblueprint 24 күн бұрын

I’m definitely not a security camera expert especially when it comes to other brands. I’ve always been happy with the UniFi cameras but dont doubt what you’re saying. It’s about your preferences I guess.

@jasonjohnston857 Ай бұрын

The Apple of network equipment

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

They really are.... in fact, they came from Apple.

@Vlan3D Ай бұрын

Of course yes! Just spent another 600bucks on 3 camera and one USW ultra poe

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

It is fun to play play with once you have it... Thanks for watching!

@UnixGoldBoy Ай бұрын

TLDR: Yes

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

LMAO: OK

@dustinmoon8282 Ай бұрын

The ecosystem is slick and nice but personally I do not think it is remotely worth the cost. I have bought all Mikrotik equipment for my home network and am completely satisfied with it and wouldn't need/want that extra junk. Especially since the gear can kinda go stupid if your controller isn't online

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

You aren't the first person to promote mikrotik gear and I undestand the appeal. My guess is you are more of an advanced user when it comes to networking. All good!

@RealLordy Ай бұрын

Out of experience I do know the gear keeps working if the controller is offline. However: if the router (in this case also the controller) goes down, your network falls. But that is with any network. That is why you have possibility for hot failover...

@Jad2410 Ай бұрын

Doesn’t the company have a backdoor into your network? If the government comes a knocking wouldn’t they just fold and give access of your network to the government?

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

You got me there. From the movies I have watched, it appears that the government can do whatever they want.

@Jad2410 Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint From the released twitter files they have been doing that.

@slip6699 Ай бұрын

Unless you are building your own hardware you will have to take a leap of faith some where.

@Saidis21 Ай бұрын

I live in a state where porn is banned without identification, I setup Unifi to direct my porn traffic automatically over VPN. I don't even have to sign in, or even think about it. Unifi FTW

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Traffic Filtering and VPN... working together to make users happy. I like it.

@Chasing_The_Dream Ай бұрын

Jesus is a path you should consider

@Saidis21 Ай бұрын

@@Chasing_The_Dream even though I was making a mild joke, I own a quadplex and have friends as renter's, we all use the same network. Using vlans to separate each home is where it's at. Granted, it is how I get past the porn restriction in my state, I haven't watched it since I was a young lad. Jesus is also not the answer to everything.

@greglopez8206 22 күн бұрын

This is not a flex bruh. And yes, Jesus is the answer for everything.

@Saidis21 22 күн бұрын

@@greglopez8206 pretty sure the answer is 42

@Dox023 Ай бұрын

You had a typo in the video. Spelled it echosystem instead of ecosystem at 2m15s.

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

Damn... whoops. Good Catch

@Dox023 Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint stuff like that jumps out at me. At work my job is dealing with records and finding inconsistencies. I really appreciate all the content you put out regarding UniFi gear. I do have a question for you though. I watched your video about design center. If I don’t have a floor plan available to use for planning how would you suggest I proceed?

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I get it... after you said that, I was like "head slap"... anyways, I don't mind it getting pointed out. Keeps me honest. As far as your question goes... will you have a plan at some point? Do you have any kind of rough drawing with distances on it?

@Dox023 Ай бұрын

@@ethernetblueprint I doubt I will have a floor plan of any kind. The people I am buying the house from aren’t the original owners. It’s not a huge house (1350~ish sq. ft of living space and it’s one level) I could probably get away with one access point at each end but I like the idea of using design center for more accuracy. There are probably apps out there I could use to make a floor plan I just don’t know them.

@juhatalimaki6664 Ай бұрын

I like unifi Gateway Ultra. The only thing that is not so good is that if you have a fiber with 600Mbit/s you only get less than half of the speed when using VPN Client, no matter what VPN provider you choose..

@ethernetblueprint Ай бұрын

I have heard that the speeds aren't fantastic with VPN on, but I don't think that is limited to the Unifi space. However, that is something I have heard before. When I setup the S2S VPNs that I talked about in the video, that wasn't the case. Speeds were what they should be.