Open mesh vs. Ubiquiti – what should you pick for your mesh network?
We understand very well that using a good Wi-Fi router is not an easy thing, when there are many routers that promise you similar good results. That is why we embark on reviewing the Open Mesh and the Ubiquiti routers.
The best routers in the market need to provide you with a combination of various features, coverage, and speed, which make it mucheasier to use the internet from the comfort of your home. You do not need to settle for any router though – there are plenty of good options to pick that will offer you good results in connectivity and speeds.
Mesh networks are a good way of achieving this, according to extensive tests that we have done in the realm of Wi-Fi routers. The two routers we will review in this article are both mesh routers, and we will discuss more about them below to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Open Mesh and Ubiquiti?
Open Mesh |
Ubiquiti (Winner) |
|
Wi-Fi technology in use |
802.11n/g WLAN |
802.11ac Ethernet |
Wi-Fithroughput speeds |
300 Mbps |
800 Mbps |
Number of antennas |
2 |
1 to 4 |
Dimensions (inches) |
3.75 x 1 x 2.75 |
6.2 x 5.1 x 2.1 |
Open mesh vs. Ubiquiti – How they compare
Speed tests performance
Both of these routers employ a similar approach to their design – both rectangular, both horizontal. The Open Mesh router is smaller than the Ubiquiti though, and the number of Ethernet ports is also slightly different.
For the Ubiquiti, it has a design that employs a 2×2 port system if you use the 5GHz band, and this means that it has 2 data traffic lanes. This allows it to use beam forming that will direct the wireless signals to all connected devices, and manage the traffic in a more efficient way by using MU-MIMO systems. On the other hand, the 2.4GHz band uses a 3×3 MU-MIMO configuration that gets its speed for both bands at 826 (minimum) to 928 Mbps (maximum), making it among the fastest routers we have tested so far.
The design is also quite innovative, which allows it to cover wider areas and have more efficient performance parameters compared to a one-way transmission.
The Open Mesh uses a dual-band system, though there is no distinction with the 2.4- and 5GHz bands. Both have a peak speed of 300 Mbps, which is much lower than the Ubiquiti. If you want a backhaul connection though, there is an additional radio connection that caters to this, and it can increase the number of devices you use while keeping the router on.
LED indicators
These do not have much difference between them. However, the Ubiquiti has a bigger range of colors that indicate different states of the router, in contrast to the Open Mesh that only has one – green, which indicates the router is on.
The Ubiquiti uses the following colors: alternating blue/white means that the firmware of the device is under an upgrade, blue means the router is fully adopted, white means the status is full booting, and blue flasher means the device locator is under activation from the router’s controller.
Firewalls
When using a firewall for a small business network or home setting, it should prevent users from finding open ports and that networks are present at specific IPs. This is because many hackers will use automated software that locates networks that have weaknesses, so the firewall is meant to protect you from these attacks.
In the instance of the Ubiquiti, the default rules here ensure you are always safe when surfing the internet – but the main issue we noticed was the Ping (ICMP) from WAN was enabled by default and you need to manually disable it through the CLI interface, which is not really an issue for the Open Mesh router firewalls. If you fail to do so, you might compromise on your security in the long term.
Once you disable this feature, the network is safe enough for plenty of deployments. If you want additional security though, then you need to organize for the installation of a strong antivirus, proxies, and other mechanisms to boost your online security.
Open mesh vs. Ubiquiti – A comparison review
Open mesh router – Overview
- 300 Mbps 802.11n mini cloud-managed access point with passive and 802.3af PoE support
- Dual PoE Support: Use either passive 12-24v PoE or standard 802.3af PoE as used in PoE switches
The principle behind Open Mesh is similar to that of the Ubiquiti – but it is for the vendors that want a small part of the small prosumer or business access point market.
The design of the router is meant to integrate with other products from the same company seamlessly – in fact, they even include a monitoring app for iPhones, for free. The router itself provides plenty of functionality, as well as a responsive and super-fast processor that handles high-usage demands with ease.
With a speed of 300 Mbps, it is possible to carry out your activities with a number of devices when using it, while still under support from the 802.3af PoE system.
Management of the system is easy. Aside from the iPhone app we have mentioned, thecompany integrates the use of the router with their cloud system OMs CloudTrax, which allows you to set up a number of things – key, security, a free account, your network name’s configuration, and so on.
Pros
- Has quite the good coverage of 4000 sq. ft.
- Easy to set up and use
- Very powerful and good performance
- It comes with very powerful analytics
- Does not require a central hub, unlike many other routers
Cons
- The setup can be difficult for an inexperienced user
Ubiquiti router – Overview
- Product Type:Networking Router
- Item Package Dimension:7.112 cm L X 10.16 cm W X 14.986 cm H
While the Ubiquiti router also uses a mesh network system like the Open Mesh router, it is a much more affordable option in many ways. However, you should note thatyour home needs to have Ethernet wiring before you install it, as its APs (Access Points) will broadcast Wi-Fi signals by connecting to the Ethernet port. Aside from that, you will also need a modem and a router, then install the Ubiquiti app (it is available for Linux, Mac, and PC, as well as an Easy Setup app for Android).
The greatest weakness and strength of the system is the controller app, as it depends on your skill of managing mesh networks, as well as your own desire to do so. This system will give you network functionality at an enterprise level, but at a budget-friendly cost – and you can also configure it to reduce bandwidth use, manual assignment of Wi-Fi frequencies, set up guest passes, and control the access times for children.
The Wi-Fi it gives is really reliable and fast, but it will need some commitment and knowledge to set it up and make the most of it. At the end of the day, this makes the Open mesh option much easier in comparison and more appealing.
Pros
- The tools and apps that come with it are very useful
- It is easily scalable and customizable
- Great coverage and very adaptable
- It includes Pseudo-PoE power
- Matches well with a vast range of devices
- It has multiple options for mounting
Cons
- It can be very complex if you are not tech-savvy
Verdict: So which is better? The Open Mesh or the Ubiquiti?
All Wi-Fi mesh networks are great for increasing the extent of coverage in your home, at least in a more efficient way. In this case, both of these routers are great at what they do – but our experience using both routers reveals that the Ubiquiti is the best choice when it comes to reliability of the internet connection.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to adjust the bandwidth throttle on an Open Mesh switch? Is it also possible to set an overall bandwidth throttle?
Yes, it is possible to do both. You can do so on the basis of individual ports, and this is through the Rate Limit field that sets will allow Transmit (Tx) and Receive (Rx) bandwidths. If you want to set the overall bandwidth, you can take these two values and set them on the uplink port – this is the point of the router where the switch connects to the gateway with.
The switches are also compatible with other routers and switches, just something to note.
Is it possible to load balance multiple WAN connections in the Open Mesh router?
No, this is not possible. The setup of the system demands that only one of the WAN ports can be active at a time, and it does not support load balancing or bonding.
When using the Ubiquiti, will I need to have the complete UniFi security gateway, access points, topology, and switch, or is it possible to use third-party devices?
No, you will not need the complete topology system in order to use the router or its controller. There is something important to keep in mind though; when you use a third-party device, you are losing the opportunity to use a centralized management system that the controller gives you. Moreover, you will also miss important aspects that are available for configuration in the controller.
If I am using the Ubiquiti, how many access points do I require?
This will really depend on your needs, as well as the size of your office and its physical aspects.
