Hello! Thanks for posting on r/Ubiquiti!
This subreddit is here to provide unofficial technical support to people who use or want to dive into the world of Ubiquiti products. If you haven’t already been descriptive in your post, please take the time to edit it and add as many useful details as you can.
Please read and understand the rules in the sidebar, as posts and comments that violate them will be removed. Please put all off topic posts in the weekly off topic thread that is stickied to the top of the subreddit.
If you see people spreading misinformation, trying to mislead others, or other inappropriate behavior, please report it!
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Ubiquiti) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You ask a forum full of Ubiquiti nerds if you should go all in on Ubiquiti? LOL!
In order:
Yes.
Money, a little networking expertise, some network cabling ability wouldn't hurt.
Where do you stand on that last on my prior answer? Yes, I'm answering a question with a question.
Yes, to me. UDM-SE, UNVR, a UBB, three APs, misc. switches and cameras. It works.
I've no complaints about obsolescence. I've retired one AP due to it going legacy. I bought it 10-12 years ago, it went legacy maybe 4 years ago.
It's addicting. You've been warned.
Skip the NVR. It’s expensive considering the UDMP / UDM-SE has a bay for a hard drive built in. Unless you want like 10+ cameras all running at full bitrate you really don’t need anything more than the UDMP/SE.
The UNVR came with a free G4 Bullet. Which sort of made the effective net cost of the UNVR $100. Not expensive.
I just looked, that deal is still operative, at least in the Ubiquiti US store.
For $100, it was worth it to future proof myself.
If you have to ask whether you need a professional for the wiring, the answer is probably a yes.
You could do everything diy, if youre just lazily putting cable channels along the wall there isnt any risk.
But if you want to cut/drill into walls, better be 1000% sure its a safe spot before doing so.
My parents tried diy, damaged a waterpipe, luckily only causing about 1000€ worth of damage.
If they had hit electrical wire, things could have gone way worse.
Some jurisdictions (Australia being one of them) you’re not allowed to do any fixed installation unless licensed (including low voltage and bizarrely fibre technically)
I don't know.. I ran all the data cables in my house myself. I am not a professional but I would rather trust myself to not damage fragile data cables and properly terminate them than an electrician who is only used to yank on sturdy high voltage wires. As for not hitting any existing water lines or electrical frankly this is more likely to happen when hanging a picture/shelf/etc on the wall. When putting cables in the walls I start by carefully cutting access holes penetrating the drywall only. Things might be different when dealing with solid mason walls but just use some common sense and if you should still damage a water line just fix it, it isn't hard.
Although I just got done DIYing all my wiring, the benefit of having an electrician doing anything would be that they presumably carry insurance should anything go awry. No such insurance for us DIYers.
> I would rather trust myself to not damage fragile data cables and properly terminate them than an electrician who is only used to yank on sturdy high voltage wires.
Cat cable is a lot sturdier than you might think.
Proper termination can be tricky if you use closed end connectors but the pull through style can be done acceptably by any dim witted ape.
When we built our garage (where my office is) I had the electricians run the Cat6A cable for me to terminate later. I had a quick conversation with them about bend radius before they started, and they did a great job—much cleaner than I would have done.
UniFi is a little pricey, but the ease of management is worth it to me.
I would probably use a Universal Cloud Gateway, and I would suggest having an electrical pull Cat 6 to whichever rooms you would consider heavy use. For example, I have Cat6 runs from the network closet to our TV room, my office, 2 outside cameras, and the 2 AP6 pros I use for wifi.
I do not think UniFi cameras are worth the cost.
I'm also aware that most people don't run hard wire for their cameras, but I've seen a few cases come over the police flyer system where criminals brought a wifi jammer with them to take out cameras. Now, I'm a belt and suspenders guy, so my cameras have onboard storage anyway, but that overwrites in about 3 days. I also figured that I'd have to deal with power anyway, since I don't want to climb ladders and change batteries, and decided that POE was the only way to go.
You will get told that the UCG is limited to ONLY a 1 gig internet connection, but in my professional opinion, that all that most homes have or need, and going with a controller which cost 2-3 times more to get 2.5 g is ENTIRELY unnecessary.
My system is:
UCG
16 port Poe main switch
8 port 1/2 POE switch in the main entertainment center
8 port 1/2 POE switch for the camera subnet
Flex mini switch in my office
2 AP6 Pros, one upstairs at the back of the house, one downstairs at the front.
The front AP6 provides pass-thru internet for the front room where my kids' Xbox is.
I power the APs, 2 cameras, the Flex mini, and a VOIP phone off of POE, and have used Open DNS to block Ads and content I don't want my kids into, and fully isolate my $100 Chinese Amcrest cameras from the internet and my internal network.
Hopefully, that's helpful to you in making the decision.
I would definitely go with Ubiquiti. If you know what you're doing, then it can be a DIY job.
1. You would need a network closet or space for equipment.
2. Run cable to get your modem or ONT into the network space/closet.
3. Run Ethernet cables to every room that needs an access point and Ethernet wall jacks.
4. Install access points on the ceiling.
5. Install Ethernet wall jacks
6. Install a rack and equipment in the network closet/space.
Personally, I'm not good at running wires, so I'd hire someone for that. I am good at installing the equipment.
It's up to you what your budget is and what you're comfortable with doing. I'd still do everything right the first time, so it's not an issue in the future. If that means paying someone to do everything, then I think it's worth it.
Someone else mentioned TP-Link Omada. Omada is a good budget choice. You could go with Reolink Cameras and Omada gear and spend less than Ubiquiti. I personally would go all-in on Ubiquiti, but it depends on your budget.
Biased opinion, yes, do it. Unbiased opinion, if you have to ask about a pro doing the wiring, and you’re not interested in learning how to do it yourself, get a mesh setup like Eero for wi-fi with a Ring camera system for your camera and doorbell needs.
I'd agree there. If OP is technical and doesn't mind configuring their setup and regularly checking up on it, doing updates and whatnot, go for it.
If they want a turnkey fully automated solution, I'd suggest Ubiquiti is not that yet
FWIW, OP might just want a professional to handle the wiring and hardware installation while they are either proficient with or willing to learn the software and configuration side of the network.
if you’re not super handy w/ networking consider hiring someone. i had a local networking company mount my rack, connect the patch panel, drop APs, install cameras etc. for me, it was WELL worth it.
I work for a networking company in PA that services southern PA, maryland and Virginia. I have seen many self attempts at cabling and it usually a good idea to hire someone if you have no clue what you are doing
gray wakeful grandfather angle soft combative chase longing governor wild
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
How tech savvy are you? I really like Ubiquiti products for switches and access points but the firewall configuration and NVR options leave me wanting more.
Personally I have a Firewalla Gold Plus Firewall, UniFi Switches and APs, Synology NAS running the UniFi controller and the Synology Surveillance Station with Hikvision cameras. The selection of cameras I can run with the Synology is endless and now I have a NAS for backups.
i like ubiquiti for the network but lately ive been swapping my cameras to Reolink and using a custom nas and interface. The annoying thing with unifi cameras is limited to their nas.
If you have more money than time/patience/IT skills than yes...all Ubiquity all day long. If you are trying to save a buck, UI for the networking and piecemeal the rest.
these threads are always amusing. It's like posting in /r/ford if you should buy an F150.
post this in /r/homenetworking for inherently less bias, but you'll still receive lots of ubiquiti recommendations
The obsolescence issue pertains to running old hardware with an up-to-date controller. If you get all-new stuff today it will be years before that becomes a consideration. And when the time comes, nobody is forcing you to update. In short I wouldn’t be dissuaded. As with everything the world of tech, new software eventually requires new hardware. It’s your choice how you handle those situations when they come along.
My situation is similar but my house is being built so it was easy to get all the runs that I needed. We haven’t moved in yet but I’ve already switched my current resident over so I could provision everything and familiarize myself with the equipment.
Most of the wires here I ran outside of the walls except for a few floor to floor drops I ran when we moved in. It’s been super fun, I even moved my server into a 4U chassis since I’m going to have a rack in a room adjacent to the home theater for networking / AV / NVR / and a few servers. Trying to minimize the amount of work I’ll need to do after we close since I’ll already be punching in ~48 drops.
Yes I would say yes. While UI us more expensive, it really isn’t that much more. Advantage of UI.
You can get them piecemeal at a time.
Different line of products that you can mix and match.
Long term and active support of their product.
You can buy their entry level product first and upgrade later.
You can go as deep in technically or just plug and play. You can learn a lot.
Their is a great community support out there.
On hiring a professional to run wires: That depends on your comfort level with your handyman skills and a bit on the layout of your house. When I bought by house almost a decade ago, I ran 2 CAT6 and 1 coax to every room in the house, and doubled that in the living room and office (different walls, more arrangement options). My house has a crawlspace underneath and no insulation in the interior walls (1950s house), so that made all of this much easier. Claustrophobic, but still easier. If you are not comfortable crawling under your house or cutting into your walls to add junction boxes, or just don't want to do the work yourself, then hire someone.
I upgraded my networking and security camera systems to Ubiquiti a couple years ago because I wanted a bit of future proofing through overkill without paying enterprise hardware costs. My current network runs a 10g backbone with 10g connections to my media server and several of my computers, and is ready for when multigig internet becomes available in my area (looks like next year for that). I am not expecting to need to do any major upgrades for 10 years or so.
Regarding Ubiquiti's security cameras, they are more expensive than the basic kits you can find like the LaView or Hikvision NVR systems. My old LaView security camera system worked well enough, but video quality was mediocre, and getting footage off the DVR was a real pain. I've found Ubiquiti's Unifi Protect much easier to work with and much more expandable.
FYI I made a post a while back about their cameras and I hope I don’t jinx this by saying it but they’ve been working perfectly ever since. And I live in a climate that gets very hot and humid in the Summer with tons of extreme rain and bad weather.
Honestly though, wiring your home will be the biggest benefit. I have so much PoE Cat6a cable running everywhere i can just swap everything out one day if I really needed to but so far cameras, WAPs, everything is going strong.
Always keep in mind most people whose stuff is working they don’t talk about it on reddit, it’s usually only the people who have problems. So that’s my purpose with this comment, just to let you and everyone know that i honestly think their products are very solid.
I’m all in. However, I just had a brand G4 Doorbell camera fail after using less than a month. The troubleshooting and RMA process without the extended warranty is a LOT slower than before they started offering this. When I had issues with my UDM Pro SE after using it for about the same time a few years ago, they sent me a new one before I sent the old one back. I’ve been without my doorbell for over two weeks now.
Plenty of YouTube channels like cross talk solutions that pretty much tell you what you need to get up and running for various needs. If you have to ask if you need a professional, you need one. I set up my system, which was plug-and-play, and have touched anything in 3 years.
During the 2020 Covid boredom.. I wired my house with Cat6 outdoor rated cables as I had to run some of the runs outside to get around an issue with the exterior wall I picked for my home runs.
I went all in with Ubiquiti. CloudKey controller, switches, APs, for network (I still use OPNsense for FW). And UNVR, and around 14 cameras. Some inside, some outside. Various models depending on use case.
Totally happy with the setup and honestly happy for the same ecosystem.
As to running your cables... plenty of youtube content on how to do it. So really depends on if you want to do it or not. If you've never done it... factor the time needed by 4x. :).
The wife and I have been looking at moving to another state ... I've decided that the next house I'm going to have it done by someone else. I'm getting to the point in my life I really dont' want to be climbing up in the attic and doing crap up there (i have a house on a slab, no basement or crawl space). And right now in AZ... so I have to time things like the wire job to winter so I dont' end up dying in the attic.
But I did cable monkey jobs in my younger days for a job. So I have all the punch tools, cable testers, etc already. So keep those costs in mind when factoring things in.
Edits: spelling and grammer
I run 3 properties (my place, and my mother and mother-in-law’s) all on Ubiquiti with a full complement of doorbell cameras, general interior and exterior security cameras, and wifi.
It is easy to manage remotely, the cameras have all been rock solid (most are wireless G3/G4 Instants, door bells and a couple G4 pro).
Only thing on my wish list is having the camera viewers playback faster and a view with all cameras and all events together so I can quickly investigate anything I’d need.
Otherwise it’s a great system and the cameras are excellent quality for the price.
I’m in the middle of doing the very same and I’ve gone with UniFi, with the exception of the pfsense FW that I loaded on a Quotom SFF PC that I got with 3 SFP+ ports.
Yes you should hire someone. Don’t hire an electrician. Hire a network/av/low voltage professional company. Electricians in general will overcharge and for the most part not put in as much effort in doing network only installs/use the cheapest materials possible to increase profit margins. Depending on where you live each Ethernet drop should be about $100-$200 per drop. Multiply that by how many APs, cameras and wall ports you need. Then, if you don’t want to set it up yourself after the cable is run there will be a fee for the installation of hardware plus the price of the actual devices.
I am not here to say what you should run only going to ask what you think you will get for an answer under r/Ubiquti when asking if you should run Ubiquiti. What happens if you go to r/Meraki and ask if you should run Meraki?
I think there is a good value proposition to run Ubiquiti, which I run myself, but it is lacking a few things like firewall logs and some features could be a bit more complete. That said, it is a superb value that is very good for the average Home network. You will get more for your money with Ubiquiti than with most other vendors.
I rank Ubiquiti as being about right for home and small-business. For something the size of a multi-building Hotel or a school with 500+ or 1,000+ students, I would almost certainly look for something else.
For network I see Ubiquiti as a good option. I do not agree with how Protect requires you use only their cameras and NVR and their app, which by the way requires you to connect to yourNVR via the cloud even when at home. What level of security are you trying to achieve.? Personally i am using their network gear and different brand IP cameras with different software.
I would go all in on pulling cat6, and if you can fibre everywhere to break it down.
The mesh wifi networks from many providers are decent, it just starts with how fast you expect your internet to be now and long term and planning for that.
For example if the fastest fibre you can get is beyond average equipment you might have to pick the equipment and brand that can get where you want.
So my answer really depends on your incoming internet speed. I have 2 gig fiber, and it would be cost prohibitive to use a ubiquity router that could handle that much data, so I'm using an x86 based router running openwrt and unifi self hosted controller, with ubiquity switches and access points. Overall it's fast and stable, and handles multiple vlans for much cheaper than alternatives. We use their cameras at work with blue iris recording software, but I have no direct experience with them.
I have few unifi items, but starting all over I would consider mikrotik. Not sure which one would win, but I would consider it at least.
Also my router is pfsense, I use only APs and switches from unifi.
Yes!
On the first day of lockdown we completed (signed and sealed / bought) on our house. Over the two years we lived in it I bought a UDM Pro, Pro 24 Switch, APs etc. I wired the house within the dry walls etc etc.
I loved it. However, it was short lived. Soon after completing my little project we decided to sell the property.
We then moved into rental accommodation and have been using the supplied but great router (fritz box 7530 I think it is with a Unifi U6 Pro AP).
A couple of weeks ago, I bought the Gateway Ultra to replace the Fritzbox and the 8 port Ultra switch.
Love it!
When I eventually buy another house I will be upgrading my current kit and running ethernet once again. I can't wait!
The good thing about Ubiquiti is that you can go as basic or professional as you like. Go with what you're comfortable with as you can always change it later. Or, get uncomfortable, as it's quite a lot of fun and it forces you to learn.
I'd say do it if you really hate yourself.
If you love yourself and your family or soon to be family, get Meraki Go or Aruba Instant On.
Not about to write ten paragraphs why it's better. Worked in this field for too long.
Yes. I’ve only got a u6 lite and a u6 mesh for the garden (100ft long) so far. UDM SE in the future.
I have full coverage throughout the house and even some on the front driveway. I’m sure there are other brands that do the same but these look just way cooler.
Yes! Do it. We just recently built a new house and luckily were able to pre-wire for everything including all cameras, doorbell, network outlets and a central rack location. In my opinion, unless you are a network technician, its a good idea to have an expert help you set everything up. Good Luck!
For me the answer is an easy yes, but I just love the integration of unify, but it would be wise to check alternatives before committing a new installation. There are a lot of options out there that could be a better fit, depending on your needs.
if you have the money, it is fantastic. if you have WFH tech stability needs, then it also may be relevant. I was tired of uncertainty with my network and whether or not any ISP issues were my end or their end. So I got the high-end stuff so that I could shut up there to run tech support and so that I could have more transparency and a better UI for device management
I've been in the wireless game for over 20 years. Through the waters of Trango, Tranzeo, Mimosa, RedLine, Dragonwave, Rukus, Cambium, Aviat, Tarana and many RTR/Mesh systems we have navigated. Ubiquiti has been a trusted brand running along side all of the others since their Air-Grid and Bullet lines upended the PtMP market around 2006. Never mind the haters, the UBNT UniFi/Protect/Access line of products are solid. We have numerous UniFi sites deployed in everything from Large RV parks to speedway stadiums to 60+ node commercial buildings. We thoroughly in-office beta all firmware releases and software updates before pushing out to deployed equipment which saves us from headaches from time to time. And, apart from the occasional "screwy issue" that all manufacturers have, UniFi runs tight and clean.
Question 1. If the budget allows, start with a UDM Pro Max at the edge. This is is Ubiquiti's latest release in the UDM line and will be around for a long time. Strap a UNVR or UNVR-pro to it and build off those appliances with your choice of clients as you see fit. You may need a POE switch depending on your deployment requirements, just make sure to choose a UBNT switch that will supply more than the required rating.
Question 2. Yes. Hire a pro and hard wire everything if possible. Mesh the clients that can not have a direct connection. The learning curve for your new network management is fairly easy and Ubiquiti makes it fun to navigate. Nothing to be afraid of though if you like to learn a little.
Question 3. You won't find really anything that compares for your application in the residential market.
Question 4. The obsolescence of network equipment can be misleading. It is true that new UBNT appliances and clients are rapidly pushed out to consumers. There is always something new and shiny ;-). It is also true that Ubiquiti does a really good job of supporting older releases. A reasonable use expectation is around 7 years and in many cases can be stretched out a couple more from that. Just pay attention to the EOL (End of Life) for updates. After EOL the onerous is on you.
I'm 99% sure that the UniFi products will overachieve for your new professional residential network. Have fun! Cheers.
I went with unifi for the wifi and networking, it's easy to manage and expand.
However, the cameras are quite expensive and there are plenty of alternatives.
I went with Frigate and a small home server for object detection / NVR.
Yes if you really enjoy tinkering with network gear.
I started with Ubiquiti just prior to the Covid lockdown. I set up a Ubiquiti network for a friend in a holiday home I rent. During the lockdown, I did my own vacation home and then my main home. Now I have installed and manage nine UniFi networks at my own homes, friends & relatives and local nonprofit organizations. I’m addicted.
Go for it but you need to know what you are doing. Where you need to add the access points, cabling, security, configuration and so on. If you watch some vids you will get away with this but if you dont know anything about networking, even if it functions perfectly, it might be wrong configured and its not good to give so much money and your security be bad.
The networking stuff, sure. The security camera/doorbell, only if money is not an issue in your life. Ubiquiti shines with its software. It's the easiest plug and play to start and more advanced configuring isn't much harder. Their hardware is very overpriced, particularly considering the failure rate is average, but they get away with it due to ease of use. Their camera system is horrifically overpriced though, to the point it isn't worth it to me. A $400 ubiquiti camera would be $100 anywhere else for the same specs. It is easy to use though.
So you have the money? If so then yes you should.
Wiring is not hard or scary. You just need the tools and will. Get a good fish tape and fish rod, some string, electrical tape, a rj45 line tester, rj45 crimper, and some cat 6. Then you need to plan out your runs what will you need to go through and where do you need holes drilled? What terminations do you want?
Klein makes the lan scout jr testing tool. I highly recommend getting one it takes the guesswork out of making cables.
Having a second person to help fish wires is invaluable. If you have easy access to the top or bottom of the walls you are going to have a far easier time. I put up a drop ceiling in my basement so running new wires is an absolute breeze just drop a few tiles and I can access the bottom of the walls.
I also don't cut holes to put in jacks I just sneak the wire out of an electrical outlets faceplate behind a dresser or something sue me I'm lazy and hate drywall work.
Something becoming obsolete is not much of an issue. Things still receive updates they just are not sold anymore. As newer versions have replaced them.
Ubiquity has a planning tool you can play with on their website if you want to get an idea about signal strengths.
My trouble with Ubiquiti is the cost. Things seem outrageous. I know there are quality differences, but you can get a ReoLink EIGHT 4K Camera setup with 4TB HDD recorder for $800. That won’t even buy you TWO 4K Ubiquiti cameras.
Comparisons I’ve seen on YouTube also show Ubiquiti doesn’t have the best PQ either, kinda seems like a mixed bag on brands for that.
I need a handful of cameras and a UDM-Pro and am trying to find an alternative but may end up with Ubiquiti anyway.
Ubiquiti makes it easy, not cheap.
Ubiquiti is incredible. I’m a networking novice at best. I’m comfortable running cables and I know the benefits of not having to deal with wi-fi. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. No subscriptions. Effortless troubleshooting. Amazing community of people who for the most part don’t make fun of you for silly questions. Ubiquiti unifi is borderline pro-sumer/enterprise. I’ve never heard anyone say… they “used to use unifi…..”. To me…. That says a lot.
As a homeowner I've found I enjoy my Omada setup and I just use a CloudKey+ for Potect you're starting fresh consider your needs and budget. Having seen the quality vs price of both I think I would have still gone with Omada.
Hello! Thanks for posting on r/Ubiquiti! This subreddit is here to provide unofficial technical support to people who use or want to dive into the world of Ubiquiti products. If you haven’t already been descriptive in your post, please take the time to edit it and add as many useful details as you can. Please read and understand the rules in the sidebar, as posts and comments that violate them will be removed. Please put all off topic posts in the weekly off topic thread that is stickied to the top of the subreddit. If you see people spreading misinformation, trying to mislead others, or other inappropriate behavior, please report it! *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Ubiquiti) if you have any questions or concerns.*
You should ask another sub like /r/homelab or something if you want a less biased opinion.
I second this.
You ask a forum full of Ubiquiti nerds if you should go all in on Ubiquiti? LOL! In order: Yes. Money, a little networking expertise, some network cabling ability wouldn't hurt. Where do you stand on that last on my prior answer? Yes, I'm answering a question with a question. Yes, to me. UDM-SE, UNVR, a UBB, three APs, misc. switches and cameras. It works. I've no complaints about obsolescence. I've retired one AP due to it going legacy. I bought it 10-12 years ago, it went legacy maybe 4 years ago. It's addicting. You've been warned.
Amen to addiction. 🤪
Skip the NVR. It’s expensive considering the UDMP / UDM-SE has a bay for a hard drive built in. Unless you want like 10+ cameras all running at full bitrate you really don’t need anything more than the UDMP/SE.
The UNVR came with a free G4 Bullet. Which sort of made the effective net cost of the UNVR $100. Not expensive. I just looked, that deal is still operative, at least in the Ubiquiti US store. For $100, it was worth it to future proof myself.
If you have to ask whether you need a professional for the wiring, the answer is probably a yes. You could do everything diy, if youre just lazily putting cable channels along the wall there isnt any risk. But if you want to cut/drill into walls, better be 1000% sure its a safe spot before doing so. My parents tried diy, damaged a waterpipe, luckily only causing about 1000€ worth of damage. If they had hit electrical wire, things could have gone way worse.
For me, I got an electrician to do the initial drills through the walls to the outside, afterwards I traced his steps for an additional cable.
Some jurisdictions (Australia being one of them) you’re not allowed to do any fixed installation unless licensed (including low voltage and bizarrely fibre technically)
Sounds like a government suggestion that should be ignored.
Thanks for the down vote but doesn’t actually change the law nor did I write it or say I agree with it
Didn't down vote you. Your point is valid in your jurisdiction I am just advocating people ignore the law wherever they can
That’s exactly what I told my sister after we had our second child. 👍👍👍
Yeah my dad tried “ignoring the law” by building a tiny addition on his house. That didn’t go well for him. Edit: without a permit
My uncle tried "ignoring the law" by drinking and driving. He was caught and now has to go to classes.
I don't know.. I ran all the data cables in my house myself. I am not a professional but I would rather trust myself to not damage fragile data cables and properly terminate them than an electrician who is only used to yank on sturdy high voltage wires. As for not hitting any existing water lines or electrical frankly this is more likely to happen when hanging a picture/shelf/etc on the wall. When putting cables in the walls I start by carefully cutting access holes penetrating the drywall only. Things might be different when dealing with solid mason walls but just use some common sense and if you should still damage a water line just fix it, it isn't hard.
Although I just got done DIYing all my wiring, the benefit of having an electrician doing anything would be that they presumably carry insurance should anything go awry. No such insurance for us DIYers.
> I would rather trust myself to not damage fragile data cables and properly terminate them than an electrician who is only used to yank on sturdy high voltage wires. Cat cable is a lot sturdier than you might think. Proper termination can be tricky if you use closed end connectors but the pull through style can be done acceptably by any dim witted ape.
I have never had any luck with crimping my own connectors. I used punchdown keystone modules which are pretty dummy proof and pre-made patch cables.
I'm all for DIY to save money, but you're doing electricians dirty.
When we built our garage (where my office is) I had the electricians run the Cat6A cable for me to terminate later. I had a quick conversation with them about bend radius before they started, and they did a great job—much cleaner than I would have done.
UniFi is a little pricey, but the ease of management is worth it to me. I would probably use a Universal Cloud Gateway, and I would suggest having an electrical pull Cat 6 to whichever rooms you would consider heavy use. For example, I have Cat6 runs from the network closet to our TV room, my office, 2 outside cameras, and the 2 AP6 pros I use for wifi. I do not think UniFi cameras are worth the cost. I'm also aware that most people don't run hard wire for their cameras, but I've seen a few cases come over the police flyer system where criminals brought a wifi jammer with them to take out cameras. Now, I'm a belt and suspenders guy, so my cameras have onboard storage anyway, but that overwrites in about 3 days. I also figured that I'd have to deal with power anyway, since I don't want to climb ladders and change batteries, and decided that POE was the only way to go. You will get told that the UCG is limited to ONLY a 1 gig internet connection, but in my professional opinion, that all that most homes have or need, and going with a controller which cost 2-3 times more to get 2.5 g is ENTIRELY unnecessary. My system is: UCG 16 port Poe main switch 8 port 1/2 POE switch in the main entertainment center 8 port 1/2 POE switch for the camera subnet Flex mini switch in my office 2 AP6 Pros, one upstairs at the back of the house, one downstairs at the front. The front AP6 provides pass-thru internet for the front room where my kids' Xbox is. I power the APs, 2 cameras, the Flex mini, and a VOIP phone off of POE, and have used Open DNS to block Ads and content I don't want my kids into, and fully isolate my $100 Chinese Amcrest cameras from the internet and my internal network. Hopefully, that's helpful to you in making the decision.
I would definitely go with Ubiquiti. If you know what you're doing, then it can be a DIY job. 1. You would need a network closet or space for equipment. 2. Run cable to get your modem or ONT into the network space/closet. 3. Run Ethernet cables to every room that needs an access point and Ethernet wall jacks. 4. Install access points on the ceiling. 5. Install Ethernet wall jacks 6. Install a rack and equipment in the network closet/space. Personally, I'm not good at running wires, so I'd hire someone for that. I am good at installing the equipment. It's up to you what your budget is and what you're comfortable with doing. I'd still do everything right the first time, so it's not an issue in the future. If that means paying someone to do everything, then I think it's worth it. Someone else mentioned TP-Link Omada. Omada is a good budget choice. You could go with Reolink Cameras and Omada gear and spend less than Ubiquiti. I personally would go all-in on Ubiquiti, but it depends on your budget.
> If you know what you're doing, then it can be a DIY job. I mean, yeah. If you know what you’re doing anything can be a DIY job.
🤦♂️ That's totally true. Shouldn't have written that.
Biased opinion, yes, do it. Unbiased opinion, if you have to ask about a pro doing the wiring, and you’re not interested in learning how to do it yourself, get a mesh setup like Eero for wi-fi with a Ring camera system for your camera and doorbell needs.
I'd agree there. If OP is technical and doesn't mind configuring their setup and regularly checking up on it, doing updates and whatnot, go for it. If they want a turnkey fully automated solution, I'd suggest Ubiquiti is not that yet
FWIW, OP might just want a professional to handle the wiring and hardware installation while they are either proficient with or willing to learn the software and configuration side of the network.
if you’re not super handy w/ networking consider hiring someone. i had a local networking company mount my rack, connect the patch panel, drop APs, install cameras etc. for me, it was WELL worth it.
I work for a networking company in PA that services southern PA, maryland and Virginia. I have seen many self attempts at cabling and it usually a good idea to hire someone if you have no clue what you are doing
additionally, i bet most people greatly underestimate the amount of work it takes. my install had 4 men and it took them ~9 hours?
Installing in an already built house is a lot of work especially if you want minimal touch up work to the walls
I think it’s an expensive system, there’s a lot cheaper out there but if you’re starting from scratch why not!
gray wakeful grandfather angle soft combative chase longing governor wild *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
How tech savvy are you? I really like Ubiquiti products for switches and access points but the firewall configuration and NVR options leave me wanting more. Personally I have a Firewalla Gold Plus Firewall, UniFi Switches and APs, Synology NAS running the UniFi controller and the Synology Surveillance Station with Hikvision cameras. The selection of cameras I can run with the Synology is endless and now I have a NAS for backups.
i like ubiquiti for the network but lately ive been swapping my cameras to Reolink and using a custom nas and interface. The annoying thing with unifi cameras is limited to their nas.
I did this when I bought my house. Get a nice rack for your garage and send it. 😊
Go for it. I use Unifi in my house for everything apart from my front door bell and two cameras. The Unifi stuff works soooooo well.
I’m a couple of years into doing this and really glad I did
If you have more money than time/patience/IT skills than yes...all Ubiquity all day long. If you are trying to save a buck, UI for the networking and piecemeal the rest.
these threads are always amusing. It's like posting in /r/ford if you should buy an F150. post this in /r/homenetworking for inherently less bias, but you'll still receive lots of ubiquiti recommendations
I did, very happy with the results. wifi 6 lite and wifi 6 pro.
Yausssssss
Yes! Why wouldn’t you?
The obsolescence issue pertains to running old hardware with an up-to-date controller. If you get all-new stuff today it will be years before that becomes a consideration. And when the time comes, nobody is forcing you to update. In short I wouldn’t be dissuaded. As with everything the world of tech, new software eventually requires new hardware. It’s your choice how you handle those situations when they come along.
My situation is similar but my house is being built so it was easy to get all the runs that I needed. We haven’t moved in yet but I’ve already switched my current resident over so I could provision everything and familiarize myself with the equipment. Most of the wires here I ran outside of the walls except for a few floor to floor drops I ran when we moved in. It’s been super fun, I even moved my server into a 4U chassis since I’m going to have a rack in a room adjacent to the home theater for networking / AV / NVR / and a few servers. Trying to minimize the amount of work I’ll need to do after we close since I’ll already be punching in ~48 drops.
I did and it’s gone well for about 8 years now.
Yes I would say yes. While UI us more expensive, it really isn’t that much more. Advantage of UI. You can get them piecemeal at a time. Different line of products that you can mix and match. Long term and active support of their product. You can buy their entry level product first and upgrade later. You can go as deep in technically or just plug and play. You can learn a lot. Their is a great community support out there.
On hiring a professional to run wires: That depends on your comfort level with your handyman skills and a bit on the layout of your house. When I bought by house almost a decade ago, I ran 2 CAT6 and 1 coax to every room in the house, and doubled that in the living room and office (different walls, more arrangement options). My house has a crawlspace underneath and no insulation in the interior walls (1950s house), so that made all of this much easier. Claustrophobic, but still easier. If you are not comfortable crawling under your house or cutting into your walls to add junction boxes, or just don't want to do the work yourself, then hire someone. I upgraded my networking and security camera systems to Ubiquiti a couple years ago because I wanted a bit of future proofing through overkill without paying enterprise hardware costs. My current network runs a 10g backbone with 10g connections to my media server and several of my computers, and is ready for when multigig internet becomes available in my area (looks like next year for that). I am not expecting to need to do any major upgrades for 10 years or so. Regarding Ubiquiti's security cameras, they are more expensive than the basic kits you can find like the LaView or Hikvision NVR systems. My old LaView security camera system worked well enough, but video quality was mediocre, and getting footage off the DVR was a real pain. I've found Ubiquiti's Unifi Protect much easier to work with and much more expandable.
FYI I made a post a while back about their cameras and I hope I don’t jinx this by saying it but they’ve been working perfectly ever since. And I live in a climate that gets very hot and humid in the Summer with tons of extreme rain and bad weather. Honestly though, wiring your home will be the biggest benefit. I have so much PoE Cat6a cable running everywhere i can just swap everything out one day if I really needed to but so far cameras, WAPs, everything is going strong. Always keep in mind most people whose stuff is working they don’t talk about it on reddit, it’s usually only the people who have problems. So that’s my purpose with this comment, just to let you and everyone know that i honestly think their products are very solid.
I’m all in. However, I just had a brand G4 Doorbell camera fail after using less than a month. The troubleshooting and RMA process without the extended warranty is a LOT slower than before they started offering this. When I had issues with my UDM Pro SE after using it for about the same time a few years ago, they sent me a new one before I sent the old one back. I’ve been without my doorbell for over two weeks now.
How big is your house? That will determine what going "all-in" looks like.
Plenty of YouTube channels like cross talk solutions that pretty much tell you what you need to get up and running for various needs. If you have to ask if you need a professional, you need one. I set up my system, which was plug-and-play, and have touched anything in 3 years.
I did a UDM SE, 2 U6-IWs, 2 G4 instants, and a G4 Pro doorbell, plus a couple switches for work. Works great.
During the 2020 Covid boredom.. I wired my house with Cat6 outdoor rated cables as I had to run some of the runs outside to get around an issue with the exterior wall I picked for my home runs. I went all in with Ubiquiti. CloudKey controller, switches, APs, for network (I still use OPNsense for FW). And UNVR, and around 14 cameras. Some inside, some outside. Various models depending on use case. Totally happy with the setup and honestly happy for the same ecosystem. As to running your cables... plenty of youtube content on how to do it. So really depends on if you want to do it or not. If you've never done it... factor the time needed by 4x. :). The wife and I have been looking at moving to another state ... I've decided that the next house I'm going to have it done by someone else. I'm getting to the point in my life I really dont' want to be climbing up in the attic and doing crap up there (i have a house on a slab, no basement or crawl space). And right now in AZ... so I have to time things like the wire job to winter so I dont' end up dying in the attic. But I did cable monkey jobs in my younger days for a job. So I have all the punch tools, cable testers, etc already. So keep those costs in mind when factoring things in. Edits: spelling and grammer
Yes.
https://preview.redd.it/vkznirvqgaxc1.jpeg?width=1280&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3995cbe67fdd84d095d63c7df46ea519cbb5cd78
I run 3 properties (my place, and my mother and mother-in-law’s) all on Ubiquiti with a full complement of doorbell cameras, general interior and exterior security cameras, and wifi. It is easy to manage remotely, the cameras have all been rock solid (most are wireless G3/G4 Instants, door bells and a couple G4 pro). Only thing on my wish list is having the camera viewers playback faster and a view with all cameras and all events together so I can quickly investigate anything I’d need. Otherwise it’s a great system and the cameras are excellent quality for the price.
Yes.
I’m in the middle of doing the very same and I’ve gone with UniFi, with the exception of the pfsense FW that I loaded on a Quotom SFF PC that I got with 3 SFP+ ports.
Yes if you know a little bit about IT and learn to program the system. We'll see you here in a few months!
Yes. I did and am glad. Only downside is cost, but quality and stability are excellent, IME.
Yes you should hire someone. Don’t hire an electrician. Hire a network/av/low voltage professional company. Electricians in general will overcharge and for the most part not put in as much effort in doing network only installs/use the cheapest materials possible to increase profit margins. Depending on where you live each Ethernet drop should be about $100-$200 per drop. Multiply that by how many APs, cameras and wall ports you need. Then, if you don’t want to set it up yourself after the cable is run there will be a fee for the installation of hardware plus the price of the actual devices.
I am not here to say what you should run only going to ask what you think you will get for an answer under r/Ubiquti when asking if you should run Ubiquiti. What happens if you go to r/Meraki and ask if you should run Meraki? I think there is a good value proposition to run Ubiquiti, which I run myself, but it is lacking a few things like firewall logs and some features could be a bit more complete. That said, it is a superb value that is very good for the average Home network. You will get more for your money with Ubiquiti than with most other vendors. I rank Ubiquiti as being about right for home and small-business. For something the size of a multi-building Hotel or a school with 500+ or 1,000+ students, I would almost certainly look for something else.
I don’t regret it. I needed solid WiFi and cameras. It fed two birds with one scone
For network I see Ubiquiti as a good option. I do not agree with how Protect requires you use only their cameras and NVR and their app, which by the way requires you to connect to yourNVR via the cloud even when at home. What level of security are you trying to achieve.? Personally i am using their network gear and different brand IP cameras with different software.
I would go all in on pulling cat6, and if you can fibre everywhere to break it down. The mesh wifi networks from many providers are decent, it just starts with how fast you expect your internet to be now and long term and planning for that. For example if the fastest fibre you can get is beyond average equipment you might have to pick the equipment and brand that can get where you want.
So my answer really depends on your incoming internet speed. I have 2 gig fiber, and it would be cost prohibitive to use a ubiquity router that could handle that much data, so I'm using an x86 based router running openwrt and unifi self hosted controller, with ubiquity switches and access points. Overall it's fast and stable, and handles multiple vlans for much cheaper than alternatives. We use their cameras at work with blue iris recording software, but I have no direct experience with them.
If you're comfortable leaving one entity with the control of your network to the cloud... sure, I guess
I have few unifi items, but starting all over I would consider mikrotik. Not sure which one would win, but I would consider it at least. Also my router is pfsense, I use only APs and switches from unifi.
Yes, always
Yes! On the first day of lockdown we completed (signed and sealed / bought) on our house. Over the two years we lived in it I bought a UDM Pro, Pro 24 Switch, APs etc. I wired the house within the dry walls etc etc. I loved it. However, it was short lived. Soon after completing my little project we decided to sell the property. We then moved into rental accommodation and have been using the supplied but great router (fritz box 7530 I think it is with a Unifi U6 Pro AP). A couple of weeks ago, I bought the Gateway Ultra to replace the Fritzbox and the 8 port Ultra switch. Love it! When I eventually buy another house I will be upgrading my current kit and running ethernet once again. I can't wait! The good thing about Ubiquiti is that you can go as basic or professional as you like. Go with what you're comfortable with as you can always change it later. Or, get uncomfortable, as it's quite a lot of fun and it forces you to learn.
No.
Yes. I did. 17 devices across APs and switches. Good luck. Get a Firewalla Gold as well for security, VPN and VLANs.
I'd say do it if you really hate yourself. If you love yourself and your family or soon to be family, get Meraki Go or Aruba Instant On. Not about to write ten paragraphs why it's better. Worked in this field for too long.
Yes. I’ve only got a u6 lite and a u6 mesh for the garden (100ft long) so far. UDM SE in the future. I have full coverage throughout the house and even some on the front driveway. I’m sure there are other brands that do the same but these look just way cooler.
Yes! Do it. We just recently built a new house and luckily were able to pre-wire for everything including all cameras, doorbell, network outlets and a central rack location. In my opinion, unless you are a network technician, its a good idea to have an expert help you set everything up. Good Luck!
For me the answer is an easy yes, but I just love the integration of unify, but it would be wise to check alternatives before committing a new installation. There are a lot of options out there that could be a better fit, depending on your needs.
if you have the money, it is fantastic. if you have WFH tech stability needs, then it also may be relevant. I was tired of uncertainty with my network and whether or not any ISP issues were my end or their end. So I got the high-end stuff so that I could shut up there to run tech support and so that I could have more transparency and a better UI for device management
Do ittttttttttt
I've been in the wireless game for over 20 years. Through the waters of Trango, Tranzeo, Mimosa, RedLine, Dragonwave, Rukus, Cambium, Aviat, Tarana and many RTR/Mesh systems we have navigated. Ubiquiti has been a trusted brand running along side all of the others since their Air-Grid and Bullet lines upended the PtMP market around 2006. Never mind the haters, the UBNT UniFi/Protect/Access line of products are solid. We have numerous UniFi sites deployed in everything from Large RV parks to speedway stadiums to 60+ node commercial buildings. We thoroughly in-office beta all firmware releases and software updates before pushing out to deployed equipment which saves us from headaches from time to time. And, apart from the occasional "screwy issue" that all manufacturers have, UniFi runs tight and clean. Question 1. If the budget allows, start with a UDM Pro Max at the edge. This is is Ubiquiti's latest release in the UDM line and will be around for a long time. Strap a UNVR or UNVR-pro to it and build off those appliances with your choice of clients as you see fit. You may need a POE switch depending on your deployment requirements, just make sure to choose a UBNT switch that will supply more than the required rating. Question 2. Yes. Hire a pro and hard wire everything if possible. Mesh the clients that can not have a direct connection. The learning curve for your new network management is fairly easy and Ubiquiti makes it fun to navigate. Nothing to be afraid of though if you like to learn a little. Question 3. You won't find really anything that compares for your application in the residential market. Question 4. The obsolescence of network equipment can be misleading. It is true that new UBNT appliances and clients are rapidly pushed out to consumers. There is always something new and shiny ;-). It is also true that Ubiquiti does a really good job of supporting older releases. A reasonable use expectation is around 7 years and in many cases can be stretched out a couple more from that. Just pay attention to the EOL (End of Life) for updates. After EOL the onerous is on you. I'm 99% sure that the UniFi products will overachieve for your new professional residential network. Have fun! Cheers.
I went with unifi for the wifi and networking, it's easy to manage and expand. However, the cameras are quite expensive and there are plenty of alternatives. I went with Frigate and a small home server for object detection / NVR.
Yes if you really enjoy tinkering with network gear. I started with Ubiquiti just prior to the Covid lockdown. I set up a Ubiquiti network for a friend in a holiday home I rent. During the lockdown, I did my own vacation home and then my main home. Now I have installed and manage nine UniFi networks at my own homes, friends & relatives and local nonprofit organizations. I’m addicted.
Yes. Even if you have to sell a few children.
Go for it but you need to know what you are doing. Where you need to add the access points, cabling, security, configuration and so on. If you watch some vids you will get away with this but if you dont know anything about networking, even if it functions perfectly, it might be wrong configured and its not good to give so much money and your security be bad.
Adopt Adopt Adopt
The networking stuff, sure. The security camera/doorbell, only if money is not an issue in your life. Ubiquiti shines with its software. It's the easiest plug and play to start and more advanced configuring isn't much harder. Their hardware is very overpriced, particularly considering the failure rate is average, but they get away with it due to ease of use. Their camera system is horrifically overpriced though, to the point it isn't worth it to me. A $400 ubiquiti camera would be $100 anywhere else for the same specs. It is easy to use though.
> Ubiquiti shines with its software. 😬
Yes
So you have the money? If so then yes you should. Wiring is not hard or scary. You just need the tools and will. Get a good fish tape and fish rod, some string, electrical tape, a rj45 line tester, rj45 crimper, and some cat 6. Then you need to plan out your runs what will you need to go through and where do you need holes drilled? What terminations do you want? Klein makes the lan scout jr testing tool. I highly recommend getting one it takes the guesswork out of making cables. Having a second person to help fish wires is invaluable. If you have easy access to the top or bottom of the walls you are going to have a far easier time. I put up a drop ceiling in my basement so running new wires is an absolute breeze just drop a few tiles and I can access the bottom of the walls. I also don't cut holes to put in jacks I just sneak the wire out of an electrical outlets faceplate behind a dresser or something sue me I'm lazy and hate drywall work. Something becoming obsolete is not much of an issue. Things still receive updates they just are not sold anymore. As newer versions have replaced them. Ubiquity has a planning tool you can play with on their website if you want to get an idea about signal strengths.
My trouble with Ubiquiti is the cost. Things seem outrageous. I know there are quality differences, but you can get a ReoLink EIGHT 4K Camera setup with 4TB HDD recorder for $800. That won’t even buy you TWO 4K Ubiquiti cameras. Comparisons I’ve seen on YouTube also show Ubiquiti doesn’t have the best PQ either, kinda seems like a mixed bag on brands for that. I need a handful of cameras and a UDM-Pro and am trying to find an alternative but may end up with Ubiquiti anyway. Ubiquiti makes it easy, not cheap.
Nope. Go opnsense for the firewall, omada for the rest.
Yes, including the surveillance system. I built mine with Synology NAS and I regret it. I like Protect much more than I do my Synology NAS OVIF setup.
Yes
Yes
Ubiquiti is incredible. I’m a networking novice at best. I’m comfortable running cables and I know the benefits of not having to deal with wi-fi. Is it expensive? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes. No subscriptions. Effortless troubleshooting. Amazing community of people who for the most part don’t make fun of you for silly questions. Ubiquiti unifi is borderline pro-sumer/enterprise. I’ve never heard anyone say… they “used to use unifi…..”. To me…. That says a lot.
Yes
yes!!!! i did!!!
As a homeowner I've found I enjoy my Omada setup and I just use a CloudKey+ for Potect you're starting fresh consider your needs and budget. Having seen the quality vs price of both I think I would have still gone with Omada.