Ubiquiti Access Points Explained 

It is time to do a 2020 version of this video! :)

2:28 UAP-AC-LITE 6:36 UAP-AC-LR 10:31 UAP-AC-PRO 14:21 UAP-AC-HD

We have definitively solved signal issues by swapping a UAP AC PRO with a UAP AC LR. The difference is big (and real). Thank you for your videos.

The lite versions are just excellent for home use, I've put two in at home to cover an L-shaped house and they just work.. simple. Great video.

Thanks, I came here to see if the HD was overkill for my home. It is. Thanks for saving 200 of my dollars.

Chris, thanks for the review. I do use the HDs in my house. They are about 40-50Mbps faster than the pros and that is before link aggregation. We also use them in most conference rooms and class rooms we support.

Thanks so much for this video.. This sent me down the rabbit hole of getting all my network switched out with Ubiquity products. Great channel.

Thank you for this thorough review. I was on the fence as to what to purchase for a 4K sq ft home. Sticking with the ac pro. This video helped me make my decision. Great work.

Thank you for going through the trouble to make these videos. they are amazing!!!

This is extremely helpful and just what I was looking for, I'm in the planning stages for a Ubiquity home network, thanks so much for putting these videos together I'll be sure to use your Amazon affiliate purchase links when the time comes! 👍

One of the best and professional reviews I have seen on the net, WELL DONE !

Ubiquiti makes some great equipment. I'm still loving my AP-AC-Lite that I installed 2.5 years ago. POE meant that I only had to worry about running one wire. No need to think about how to power it. I don't run a controller. I used the Android app to set up the SSID, channel, and Password. Currently have 12 wireless devices including two Rokus connected to it.

Very educational video. Thank you. I got the Pro form my house...easy to deploy and manage...now I have wireless throughout my house...😊

I had 3 pro in my 4500sqft home, and replaced one with HD in my study room where most computers are. I can say that even with 3x3 clients, there's a significant performance gain from pro to HD. I had 300-400, peak 500 Mbps on pro, but now I'm able to get consistent 650-750mbps, with peak close to 900 on HD.

Every answer I was needing to decide which one. The Pro!

You make great videos man !!! Keep up the good work.

Excellent presentation. No nonsense, concise, and to the point from someone who clearly has real world experience with the product. I'm interested in improving the wifi in my house and am looking forward to viewing your other videos. Subscribed!

I like your videos and the hard work you put to create these videos. I would like to point out and it may not be your forte but mine is being a radio communication guy. Please be aware when some one says they have high gain antenna and in this case 3x3 MEMO ( it means that these antennas are stacked and thus produce gain and gain is never a one sided affair as a transmitter but the same gain works to receive in a weak signal) That is why it is said that instead of going for a high power radio in terms of Tx power, go for a high gain antenna as it would give you Tx and Rx gain both. regards

Great video, very thorough and answered all my questions about the different AP’s.

Thanks for this, been researching Ubiquiti ap's and this was very helpful. I will use your links!

I enjoy your videos. I've used the cloud key cor a couple of locations, you CAN power it via the micro-USB port with a 5 volt - 2.5 AMP power supply.

Very much needed video! Thanks as always!

Multiple HDs work great in my friends home. 8000sq ft with many devices and the high speed is maintained throughout.

Loving your videos dude. Keep it up!

Great information. Helped me so much on equipment I already use in my line of work.

I really appreciate your videos and you sharing your knowledge. I hope you keep it up. Thank you.

In antenna design, when you add gain, you are losing something else. So my guess, is that with the LR model, they are sacrificing vertical signal to get longer horizontal signal (more like an oval). So that would explain why it's not a good antenna for all of their products where they might go for more of a circular signal pattern

Step by step and informative. Thank you for this video!!!

Absolutely the best source for Ubiquiti devices. Thank you!

Finally, a definitive explanation on this product line.

thanks that was very informative! I needed one to put to the basement as the wifi strength is super low down there. The lite version will do just fine

RE time around 9:00, a more sensitive AP means the client doesn't need a stronger transmit signal. In fact, better sensitivity is much better than transmission boost. If everyone is trying to talk louder, the spectrum just gets noisy.

1:06 - 1:30 You don't "need" the software for the wifi or the AP to work. The software is only necessary to set up and configure the access point. You can also install it on a virtual machine running Ubuntu Server and manage it via the browser. This is how I manage it at home and at the office. The cloud key is very convenient, and I'm sure it would allow for faster deployment, but it's not necessary.

Bro hug from the UK. Thanks man. This was exactly the kind of video I needed.

As always - great video and very informative. Thanks!

This is exactly what i have been looking for .. Wonderful .. Thanks

I enjoyed this video Chris.. This is more like it.. You explained very well on network terms that made the understanding abnd use if the Ubiquiti AP's 😊👍

You make great videos. Keep up the good work.

Excellent! I'm down here in Brazil. Even though, this video helped to take a decision on which device to by to my home office! Thank you! BTW, I chose the AP-AC-Lite.

Thanks for the video, it helped me to pick the right model for my needs.

9:13 having a good antenna is about being able to have good listening characteristics. You could transmit on a coat hanger and have good TX (assuming you have good SWR), just add more power for longer range. RX is harder, you need a good antenna design. I agree with the "why didn't they put a better antenna on all of them" though.

Great and simple review! Thanks!

Another informative presentation. Thank you. Q: Ubiquiti UniFi AC in-wall access point wasn't covered. Where does it 'fit' with these?

I upgraded my home network recently from a single Netgear R7000 Nighthawk which worked well for a number of years. I purchase a EdgeRouter 10ER and a NanoHD AP (based on your video series and training videos) which I mounted in the ceiling (fairly centrally) in my 2800 sq ft 2 story home. I have 9 children and at Christmas and holidays have 50+ client devices but throughout the year about 20 clients. The 2.4 GHz signal covers the upstairs and downstairs nicely even through walls on Medium Power/HT20. Both 2.4 and 5 GHz is set to a minimum RSSI of -77 dBm in strict mode (enabled). I have 20 neighbor signals mostly below -77 dBm but no 5 GHz neighbors. I regularly get a experience near 99% or 100% on 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz signal covers the upstairs through walls fairly well but the downstairs does not quite reach a wide area. The 5 GHz setting is VHT80 and medium power and has with no neighbor interference. I am considering adding a BeaconHD to mesh to the NanoHD AP (instead of another NanoHD and cabling between floors) but was thinking about the bandwidth impact on the NanoHD. Since the NanoHD has a capacity of 200 clients maybe this is no strain and a much simpler solution to get better 5GHz coverage downstairs in 2 key areas. I measured the dBm at the plug I'm considering and it is a range of -50 dBm to -60 dBm back to the NanoHD. So it should be fine. Question: does the community agree with my assessment and solution, or should another solution be considered? Thanks Scott

Antennas work both ways; a higher performance antenna will improve both transmit and receive. The LR might also have a higher dynamic range front end and/or a higher power transmitter, both of these increasing the range but also costing more to manufacture.

Very clear language. Purchasing via the link in gratitude. AC-PRO is for me

I got the PRO for my double storey home. Has worked flawlessly over three years.

Great video. I just bought the Unifi Cloudkey using the affiliate link.

Maybe it's already mentioned but you can also power the cloud key with a micro USB power supply. Looking further i also use the AC-LR exactly like you mentioned as a repeater and they work great!

Thank you for the teaching!

Great video - thanks for the concise explanations.

Great video. I went for the ac lite in my home. I thought two ap’s were enough but because of the many competing 2,4ghz networks from neighbors and the incredibly thick’s walls and ceilings in my home I’m thinking of getting one more.

I am a home user and have about 45 devices used at once. I can recommend the PRO over anything else. I was using two lite earlier and the traffic lag was intense. Switching over to one pro is cheaper than two lites and since switching to the pro I now have 83 devices and it is running strong. Get the pro if you are a weirdo like me!

The rule of reciprocity applies to antenna’s. A generally speaking, if an antenna transmits efficiently, it will also receive efficiently. Assuming the transmitter/receiver is close to the antenna, which it almost always is in WIFI applications, the best bang for the buck improvement in T/R is almost always a better antenna.

great explanation, thanks, hope to see more like this :)

Thank you for very clear explanation. Will you be doing the same for their In-Wall devices?

thank you so much i really like your videos, its clear, complete and very instructive

Your review is really helpful :)

Like always nice video with lots of good information. Thanks

Thanks. This was informative!

Great video. I have the LR deployed in an office environment although i think like you about the 2 way communication power issue, my users get amazing connectivity over a wide office space area. I suggest you testing one yourself.

I use the LR at home you get 3x3 in 2.4 and thats honestly worth the small extra cost

I use it on a Raspberry Pi along with other services that I run. I also use a pair of LR's extend my network almost 275 ft. They work great.

I’m using the LR paired with a beaconHD extender on the opposite end of the house... makes for an excellent setup. Full signal WiFi from end to end, upstairs and down. Even outside in the front and back. Not a bad choice at all. I’d rather a full signal in all areas, than a partial signal with higher speed capabilities of the HD unit. Speed takes a hit when a user lacks a full signal.

Thanks for the great overview! Helps to understand their products. One of the reasons I'm interested in them is multiple SSIDs, so I have have one SSID+VLAN for my main computers, and other for my many cheap IOT devices (some of which are older). If I have some 802.11b devices or 802.11g devices that behave badly will they impact my main network? Or should I get two access points to truly isolate them?

You can also power the cloudkey via usb if u dont have a poe switch ;)

You can also setup the AP via the unifi ios/android app and you do not require the unifi controller if your chasing a set and forget and dont want to view any logged data.

A little of topic, but could you someday do a video on what bell/intercom/broadcast you would recommend?

with the use case of 2000+/- sqft homes more-or-less centrally placed on 1acre or less lots, folks that want zero deadspots in the home and minimal deadspots throughout the yard (being immediately opposite a closed metal garage door being the largest culprit), whom want to only install a single device, and where the competing neighbor wifi is ISP AIO boxes, I personally ONLY recommend the UAP-AC-LR units. I have for years, with 100% success. When you are dealing with consumer low-to-mid-grade handheld devices, the LR truly makes a difference in usable range when placed head to head against the lite or pro in this environment. I can real-world confirm that the LR is not hype, albeit a specific use-case, with results that may not be readily apparent when employing high-to-enthusiast-grade connected devices to test with. great video, the cloud key is under-promoted as a preventative measure for just the scenario as you outlined it.

Very, very, very good information!

another great vid. great content.

Great video, helps me a lot! For a basic home setup do I really need a CK (prices here in Brazil are too high)? What happens if I set it all up with the iPhone app and then my phone is lost/stollen or if I change to a new iPhone?

A "long range" antenna will typically mean it has a higher isotropic gain, which will mean a narrower coverage pattern. This may be why they don't just make them long range by default.

Hi Chris. I use the UAP AC HD regularly with great succsess. The situation of the device with low power trying to reach the LR AP. makes sense initially, but remember that the sensitivity of the AP is also improved, thereby allowing connections to weaker signals than the standard AP. Yes definitely a good pick for repeaters, ( I use the unify Mesh) , but in the hotel motel environment, the AP AC LR. definitely increases connectivity for users, without the cost of going to the pro. Also the cloud controller is nice for status and remote monitoring. But in any small deployment like a small business or motel. I have found that configuring the units with a controller and then letting them free run without one, works fine unless you need active guest policies or hot spot fuctionality. I use another user gateway for this downstream. Love your videos.

Hi Chris, nice synopsis. You don't mention the use of the IoS or Android app to manage an access point. For those with simple setup and without other Unifi devices (eg using an Edgerouter-x rather than USG), the app provides all that is needed. It also has a very useful throughput test which helps enormously in finding the best position for the AP. The app also integrates nicely with a controller should you have one and provides simple mobile control. Appreciate this is the "low rent" end of the usage spectrum but there are a lot us about!

keep going clear explanation for those who are not specialized in networks

Great Video Chris.

Perfeito. Falou tudo que é importante.

6:55 New Text Layer Other than that, great breakdown, Chris.

Great video, thanks!

excellent explainations thank you!!

Very Helpful - I am confused in the world of Ubiquity, but due to such the positive reviews EVERYWHERE, I plan to setup a home network with Ubiquity (will need to be completely wireless as I dont and cannot run cable). Your videos have helped me immensely to finally understand what these products are and what the uses are! I plan to have 1 access point hardwired and the rest wireless. Should I do 1 AC-Lite and some of the mesh sticks or maybe 2 or 3 AC lites without mesh sticks? (2100 Sq ft, 2 floor house). I will likely need the 1 AP downstairs and 1 AP upstairs

Thank you, very useful!

Thanks for the video, it was very informative =)

Thanks for your videos Chris. Have you tried the UAPnanoHD or UAP-IW-HD yet?

Enlightning. Thank you for sharing

The secondary ethernet ports on UAP-AC-PRO and UAP-AC-HD aren't for connecting additional devices but for feeding the access point. They both have a throughput larger than 1 Gbps (1000 Mbps), which is the maximum speed of one RJ-45 ethernet port. That is why you need 2 (2x 1 Gbps = 2 Gbps or 2000 Mbps).

Quick question, they come with screws and drywall anchors so when they're installed against a wall or solid drywall ceiling, can they be removed without cutting out the drywall? I just can't see a way to get behind them to release the backing plate to take them back off if needed.

Very helpful video. Thanks.

Awesome, now we need a 2021 version =)

I watched the video on the Mesh APs first. Are these also considered omni directional? I am looking to place this in a 2 story home and am hoping to get coverage upstairs with the AP ceiling mounted on the main level.

Great video! Very helpful

Hi, great video, very easy to follow. I have a question. My internet router is in a bedroom upstairs and the signal is great in the upstairs of the house and the downstairs part right below the bedroom but past the kitchen which has steel beam running across after an extension, the signal is very poor and we cant use internet at all. What set up can I use with Ubiqity? Thank you.

The UAP-AC-LR's innovative (higher gain) antenna applies the gain to transmit and receive just like any other antenna.

Your video was great. A+++

Great video as always Chris, it gave me a better perspective when recommending and designing wifi networks using ubiquiti wifi ap's Is Andy going to do more pfsense videos in the near future? Thank you, cheers 🍻

Great Video! I am a novice in networking but I like Ubiquiti products. I want to upgrade my current wireless system, but don't like any of the mesh wireless systems out now, however, I get a little confused on what each of the Ubiquiti products do. I think a great suggestion would be to walk us through each unit as if you were setting up a home and how everything is connected and set up. For example, what is an edge router, cloud key, unifi swtich and why do we need all those devices. There is almost way too much info and I'm not good at sorting this stuff out. I think that type of video would be helpful for novices like me who have a larger home (I'm at about 4,000 sq ft). Thanks, I enjoy all your videos!

i have the LR and it worked great outdoor

Great video, I'm about to by the pro model for my home to update my older wifi network. Never used this brand before and it looks great. Question can the SSID be different on the 2.4 and 5 GHz band. I currently have my IP cams on a 2.4GHz using a different SSID from my main 5GHz SSID. I really want to continue having two different SSID for the two bands, can the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-PRO do this?

Great videos, always clear and concise! Could you give me some advice on our wifi network? We now have 48 AP's (two buildings on the same network/subnet) and so have outgrown the UCK Gen2+. I was wondering if you could give me some direction for the correct procedure in moving the AP's from one building away from the present UCK to another one on the same network? Thanks for your assistance.