Ubiquiti or Regular Wi-Fi? What Changes When You Upgrade

Most homes and small offices run on one box from the internet provider or a store. It works until the house gets bigger, the family adds a dozen smart devices, or a video call keeps freezing. Ubiquiti is the usual next step. Here is what actually changes, and when it is not worth it.

Key takeaways

  • An all-in-one router does everything in one box. A Ubiquiti network splits the jobs: a gateway, a switch and one or more access points.
  • The biggest everyday gain is coverage: several access points placed around the space beat one router at one end of the house.
  • You can also keep guests and smart devices on separate networks from your work computers, and see what is connected from one place.
  • It costs more and needs proper setup. For a small apartment with no problems, a good router is enough.

What is different

A regular router is one box that is the internet connection, the firewall, the switch and the Wi-Fi all at once. A Ubiquiti network splits those jobs across separate pieces of equipment, managed together from one screen:

  • A gateway connects to the internet and acts as the firewall.
  • A switch connects wired devices such as computers, printers and cameras.
  • Access points provide Wi-Fi, and you can place as many as the space needs.

What you notice day to day

  • Even coverage. Several access points mounted where you use the space remove the dead spots a single router leaves. If your Wi-Fi keeps dropping, see why it happens and how to fix it.
  • Separate networks. Guests, smart devices and your work computers can each have their own network, so a visitor's phone never touches your files.
  • One place to look. You can see what is connected, which device is hogging the connection, and whether something is wrong.
  • Room to grow. You add another access point or switch, not a whole new router.

Cameras on the same system

Ubiquiti also makes security cameras that join the same network, so cameras, Wi-Fi and wired devices are managed together. They are a good fit when you are already moving to Ubiquiti or already have it.

What it costs, and when not to bother

  • It costs more than a router, because you buy several pieces, not one box.
  • It needs proper setup. The gear is flexible, which means a poorly configured system can be worse than the router it replaced.
  • It may be more than you need. A small apartment with steady Wi-Fi and no problems is usually fine with a good router.

It is worth it when you have dead spots, a larger home or an office, lots of devices, a home business, cameras, or a wish to keep guests and work apart.

Getting it done right

David Support installs, configures and troubleshoots Ubiquiti networks and installs Ubiquiti cameras, including recommending and ordering the equipment. Read about Ubiquiti network and camera installation, or see business network and Wi-Fi setup for offices.

Frequently asked questions

Is Ubiquiti better than a regular router?

It is more capable and more flexible, and better for larger spaces and many devices. For a small home with no problems, a good router is often enough.

Do I need more than one access point?

Often, yes, in a larger home or an office. Several well-placed access points give more even coverage than one router at one end.

Can you set up Ubiquiti for me?

Yes. David Support recommends and orders the equipment, installs it, configures it and shows you how it works.

About the author. David Support is run by David, an AWS-certified engineer with more than 25 years in IT, data centers and engineering leadership, helping San Francisco Bay Area homes and small businesses with computer repair and IT support. Free diagnostics, and if we cannot fix it, you pay nothing. See Ubiquiti network and camera installation.

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