Making the Switch: Why I Upgraded to a Unifi WiFi Network

[@bobbytaylor3177]

I have to agree... it becomes very addictive...

[@ShaneCreates]

Hey Terry, thanks for sharing! I’m also making the switch to Unify. It was great to hear about your experience!

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Finally! LOL I've been waiting for you to make the switch! You'll love it. P.s. "Unifi"

[@ShaneCreates]

@@TerryLeeWhite 😂 😂

[@ecu8r]

I love watching and hearing people's stories on how they switched to Ubiquiti. My love for Ubiquiti started about pandemic time, I had already been keeping an eye on their products until I watched a video where a guy was installing a 6U network rack in his closet and I said to myself, I can do that too. Lucky for me I already had about 8 CAT5e cables ran throughout my house and just needed to be reterminated, I had a buddy of mine run more cable through the house for APs and a few cameras. Fast forward today I have a 9U rack with UDM Pro, a 48 port PoE switch, bought the cable modem and the UNV Pro and it has been a non stop project since but had a alot of fun in the process. Thank you for sharing your story and look forward to more videos from you sir.

[@richarnold1224]

If you buy Prosumer equipment normally , there is zero reason not to go Unifi

[@idscomm]

Great informative video. I used to be an IT professional and I tried many devices / brands.… Ubiquity is very different but once you understand how things work and get use to it, it works! Ok once in a while updates will break something but overall stable. I, myself just switched from OPNSense to the Gateway Cloud Ultra to unify my environment. I have 5 switches, 4 APs, 1 NVR and probably a dozen cameras… no regrets and love the centralize management (and ease to manage / configure) especially with VLANS.

[@mar1video]

I just picked up the Dream SE. too bad I didn’t see this review before I picked it up. You have a valid point - 2 hard drives are better that one😃 I might be buying their NVR to install more than 6 cameras, so I don’t think I need the Dream Pro Max, but for someone with just a couple of cameras, the Pro Max might be a better option. Thanks for your review ! Them colorful lights are so cute 😆 I wonder if they can be incorporated into the Phillips Hue family 🤣

[@ian.ketterer]

Thanks, Terry. I started watching your channel last June and based upon your reviews and some of my own issues with other vendors, I switched everything to Unifi in July and I've only looked back to see what other gear they have that will work for my purposes at home. Good stuff, man...

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Thank you! I appreciate it.

[@Jwlove36]

Great Video & Great Breakdown!!

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Thanks

[@phillysupra]

Wholey agree with everything except you can't use an nvr in combination with any of the dream machines for the protect aspect. It's either the main dream machine or an nvr for protect making the dream machine useless for it's drive bays for protect. I went the 10gbe aggregation route and now I'm currently going down the access route for door unlocking. Keep up the solid work brother ✊🏾

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@phillysupra sorry if I made it sound like using both simultaneously for Protect was an option. I was saying that depending on the number/kinds of cameras you plan on going with, that you may be able to get by just using the Pro Max INSTEAD OF getting an NVR.

[@phillysupra]

@@TerryLeeWhite yeah I fully understand what you meant. When I was researching the nvr initially this is something I didn't realize(especially for new buyers) . This is when I just went with a udm pro over the se cuz I knew I was just doing to get the nvr outright anyway. I agree fully the udm max should be the only choice if someone is not interested in an nvr.

[@teddymutterperl5492]

more videos on your setup please!

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@teddymutterperl5492 what would you like to see?

[@teddymutterperl5492]

@@TerryLeeWhite update on your network and protect deployments. Take us through your setup, functionality, pros/cons, etc!

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@teddymutterperl5492 great. I’ll put a video together.

[@Photoshopuzr]

well said man, that's the reason why ill go with the udm pro max, thanks man. to bad that modem dont work with att. I remember your switch.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Thanks!

[@wolfk.l.5582]

Got a UDM SE 7 months ago and never looked back. My whole network is unifi and I love it. Just be careful with auto ipdates as sometimes this can break your network depending on the set up. But its super nice.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Congrats! I have auto updates disabled

[@daraghmacgabhann1005]

Just switched (pun intended) to Unifi, night and day. It’s the “Apple” of networking, it just works and its interface console just makes sense!

[@sbdev5853]

Terry, you said no lies here. Going all in with Unifi was the best decision I made. I don't need the new switch, but it is nice. One decision I would change is getting the 10GB aggregation switch instead of the 10 GB flex. I read one of the comments about keystone jacks. I got a VCE 20-Pack from Amazon. Thanks for the review. Excellent and honest insight.

[@mrijohn251]

I'm addicted too. I don't need anything but I want the new stuff coming out too.

[@michael-e5l]

Awesome video!!!!

[@stevelittle9485]

Great video. I switched about 3 years ago, for many of the reasons you mentioned. Works well with Home Assistant also. Zero regrets!

[@uniteddrones7626]

I’m using a ton of ubiquiti stuff and YES it’s like a drug! I’m using 10 gig aggregation switch cloudkey gen2R Us-24-250W Unvr currently 5cams 2 floodlights Security gateway Pro. I love this stuff! eBay finds had to replace the 250watt switch power supply and replace a few blue LEDs and all way great I’m also using the ubiquiti phones

[@keymonne]

Yep you right it works

[@jims8726]

Hi Terry, great review and assessment of Unifi gear. Can you comment on the fan noise level on the Pro Max 24 PoE Switch. I have a client with small rack in their home office about five feet away from their desk with sensitive hearing! Their UDM SE is silent (no drive installed) as well as the USW 24 POE so not looking to ruin it for them and have to take the switch back. If its anything as loud as a Pro-24-POE I might have to look at alternative 2.5 GbE solutions

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@jims8726 I’ve never heard it. Mine is in a bedroom and I’m super sensitive to noise. So if it was audible it would be a deal breaker.

[@jims8726]

@@TerryLeeWhite Thanks Terry, that's helpful. I'll report back once I get it installed for others interested.

[@diceman199]

I started using Ubiquity AP's at work because of the low cost / no license fee. I'm now up to 100 AP's and 36 Switches. Running the console on a dedicated PC. Easy to use, reliable, no ongoing costs.....what's not to like?

[@MikeTaylor-nd8ll]

LMAO at your video. I have a similar evolving story and home setup with Dream Machine, Access Points, Protect, and NVR. So glad that Ubiqiti has overcome their supply chain struggles back during COVID

[@Hollabit1]

Something I learned, even if your access point is connected via 2.5, 5, or 10 GbE, it can’t reach greater than 1Gb WiFi speeds. I think only WiFi 7 is capable of transmitting faster than 1Gb at really close range.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

WiFi 6E does as well.

[@HP2441]

Hi Terry, love your videos. I do miss the Masterclass Fridays though. I'm envious of your new network setup. Its a bit too much for my needs and budget. However, you have stirred my interest in upping my storage game from a desktop WD Mybook drive. I'm looking at the Synology 2 bay NAS setup as mirrored drives. Unfortunately, I saw a video from a so called expert that says Lightroom Classic will not recognize a NAS. I understand that my catalog needs to stay on my internal SSD, but I can't see what the difference would be accessing my images from a NAS vs an external HDD except hopefully improved speed. As the Adobe LRC expert, what say you? Thanks Woody

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Hi, my images are on my Synology NAS and before that a Drobo. No issues here. terrywhite.com/how-to-store-and-backup-your-photos-like-a-pro/

[@HP2441]

@@TerryLeeWhite Thank you Terry for always being responsive.

[@grantwilcox330]

Terry they should have sent you two of them so you can put them in shadow mode.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

I agree! 😂

[@bjorn_]

Have an EdgeMax + UniFi combo since 6 (or more) years. It just works. Probably that’s why I don’t remember when I made the switch. Hope you have a decent kWh price, else that number of devices must add up to quite some power consumption. Probably easy to check in the UI as you seem to have a bunch of PoE devices.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

I do have a great kWh price and solar.

[@fordi_steve]

Don’t forget the Pro Max does not have POE. The SE does and can get you started with 8 POE devices.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Yep, that's correct! The Unifi Dream Machine Pro Max only has 8 1GB Ethernet ports and the Special Edition has 8 1GB PoE Ports. I forgot to mention that difference.

[@fordi_steve]

@@TerryLeeWhite You make a good point about the two drives in the pro max. In my situation the PoE served my need better as i havent got any cameras yet. But i will do! You are right it’s very addictive.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@fordi_steve my problem was that neither the Pro Max nor the SE have any 2.5 GBE ports and I think that’s a miss. I originally had my AP connected directly to the SE and realized I’ll never get 6E speeds until I plug it into a switch with 2.5 GbE PoE+ ports.

[@fordi_steve]

@@TerryLeeWhite I can see me buying the Pro Max 24 in the near future (maybe PoE). This week i purchased the keystone rack gear with some jacks. Now I need to fully plan where to position the jacks to utilise each port and keep my cables neat and tidy. At least with keystone the jacks can be unclipped and repositioned so when the new switch arrives it’s all nice!

[@TerryLeeWhite]

@@fordi_steve which keystone jacks did you go with?

[@neilgreene]

I switched to all Unifi gear maybe 6-7 years ago and I still have some of my original switches from 7 years ago.

[@evelbsstudio]

unifi is great for consumer and offices but lacks features for commercial settings such as hosting etc, no 1:1 nat, no BGP, Basic QOS (for buffer bloat) but no real QOS (very lacking).

[@snowboarderrx]

the SE has poe ports that can power AP's and cameras. The pro max doesnt... so you still have to buy a POE switch on top of that

[@TerryLeeWhite]

Agreed but those ports are still only 1GbE which is where I started and ultimately still needed a switch that supported 2.5GbE PoE+ for my AP.

[@neostephens8980]

Hmm, that sounds a bit fishy to me. Just go ahead and confess that they offered you sponsorship or something else. NO WAY all of those devices failed or were too slow. Nothing wrong with sponsorship,, it's when you try and conceal it or do it under false pretenses that gets you in a pickle, ask Insta 360.

[@TerryLeeWhite]

I have no reason to lie and certainly don't need a sponsorship. None were offered, and none were received. Have a great day with your conspiracy theories.