Ruckus vs. Ubiquiti – Which Wireless Access Points should I settle for?
Sometimes, the quality and performance of wireless access points often depend on how it has been manufactured. Among the network providers that manufacture high performing access points are Ruckus and Ubiquiti.
Perhaps the main factors when looking for the best access points for your network would be one that provides you with a fast and strong network connection. Aside from that, you would always consider an access point that delivers a secure and reliable network for all your smart Wi-Fi devices. However, did you know that the quality and performance of any access point that you intend to purchase is often determined by the technology used by its manufacturer? Well, let’s take a look at the features and notable differences of Ruckus and Ubiquiti network devices in the table below.
Table of Contents
What are the differences of Ruckus and Ubiquiti?
Company |
Ruckus Networks (Winner) |
Ubiquiti Networks |
Year founded |
2004 |
2005 |
Developed for |
Small-to- Medium sized businesses and enterprises |
Homes and small businesses |
Network management options |
On-site or remote controllers (hardware, cloud, virtual, clustered or standalone) |
UniFi wireless controller software |
Radio Frequency Performance |
BeamFlex technology |
Multi-lane RF technology |
SmartMesh networking |
Dual band |
Single band |
Ruckus vs. Ubiquiti- How do they compare?
Radio Frequency Performance
The Ruckus Wireless WAN has been fitted with BeamFlex technology on its antennas which allows for reliable throughput on all your connected devices as it reduces interferences from surrounding signals. Its Smart channel optimization feature balances the load and the frequency band which works to improve its performance. It also has multicast optimization and airtime fairness for better radio frequency performance.
The Ubiquiti Wireless on the other hand is optimized with 2 x 2 MIMO alongside its Omni antennas for better Wi-Fi coverage. It has been fitted with Multi-lane RF technology on its Unifi AP and Access Points which significantly reduces signal interferences on the channels and comfortable allows for reception by the access point in busy radio frequency environments. However, it has no signal steering enhancements. This therefore means that the Ruckus Wireless WAN has better radio frequency performance than the Ubiquiti wireless.
SmartMesh Networking and Polarization Diversity
Smart Mesh networking on Ruckus devices is enhanced by capacity-based path selection, self-healing and forming applications, adaptive wired failover, adaptive BeamFlex antennas and one-click set up while Ubiquiti devices are only able to support basic wireless uplink options for connections between wireless AP and wired AP that are on the same band.
Ruckus devices have been optimized with a smart antenna design which incorporates both horizontal and vertical polarization that allows them to match client device orientation and predictability while Ubiquiti devices do not have an option to match client polarization or even device orientation with the antennas of the access points. Generally, Ruckus access points have better SmartMesh networking capabilities and polarization diversity than the Ubiquiti access points.
Functionality
The Ruckus access points have been designed for Small-to-Medium sized business and enterprises. Also, they include advanced features which allow for their flexibility to meet future business needs. Ubiquiti access points, on the other hand, have been designed for home environments and small businesses. They have basic features support and they have very limited appeal for higher end enterprise markets because of their minimal long-term flexibility. This means that Ruckus access points work better in high density environments than Ubiquiti access points.
Ruckus vs. Ubiquiti – A Comparison Overview
Ruckus Networks
Ruckus is a technology company that was started in 2004 and it is formally based in Sunnyvale, California. It specializes in the selling and production of wireless networking software and equipment. In addition to that, it offers switching, cloud & software products and Wi-Fi to broadband service providers, corporate enterprises and mobile carriers.
Aside from that, it has invented and personalized wireless video, voice and data technology for instance the adaptive antenna rays which work to increase client data rate and extend signal range in such a way that it avoids Wi-Fi interferences. This way you are able to access a strong and reliable network.
Access point: Ruckus R750
- 802.11ax
- 901-r730-us00
The Ruckus R750 bridges the network gap from the gigabit Wi-Fi to the multi-gigabit Wi-Fi through its newest Wi-Fi 6 technology. It provides you with a faster, stronger and more reliable network and it is recognized as the first access point in the Wi-Fi industry to be given a Wi-Fi 6 permit by the Wi-Fi Alliance. It has been designed to deliver high performance and secure connectivity in high traffic indoor spaces such as auditoriums, transit hubs and conference centers. It delivers throughput speeds of 3.5 Gbps to your devices that is distributed as 1148 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 2400 Mbps on the 5 GHz band.
Its optimal performance is enhanced by its dual-band functionality that supports 8 spatial streams on its frequency bands. Additionally, it has been fitted with MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies that allow it to hold a large connection log and still maintain sustainable coverage and performance. It further allows you to manage and control your network through the Ruckus virtual and physical cloud management options.
Ubiquiti Networks
In 2005, Ubiquiti Networks was founded in San Jose, California with the intent to manufacture wireless data communication products for both enterprise and wireless broadband providers. As a technology company, it works to provide you with a strong, reliable and secure network for all your devices through its access points, routers and switches. Its product lines include AirFiber, UFiber, EdgeMax, UniFi and AirMax with UniFi being the most renowned. UniFi by Ubiquiti majorly focuses on both business and home wired and wireless networking.
Access point: UniFi AC HD
- Connectivity technology: Ethernet
The UniFi AC HD is an indoor and outdoor access point that comes with a compact design. It supports 802.11 ac wave 2 Wi-Fi technology and it has been designed to deliver throughput speeds of 2.533 Gbps to your connected devices. The bandwidth speeds are distributed as 800 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1733 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. Aside from that, it boosts your Wi-Fi signal over a range of up to 400 feet/ 122 meters.
Its performance has been optimized with simultaneous dual band operation with 4 x 4 MU-MIMO technology. Also, it features 802.3at PoE compatibility and allows for easy mounting. Additionally, it allows you to easily configure and administer your network through the UniFi Controller software. With the UniFi Controller software you are also able to access advanced options such as real-time status, RF map & performance features and also automatic UAP device detection.
A summary table of the Ruckus R750 and the UniFi AC HD access points
Model |
Ruckus R750 |
UniFi AC HD |
Wi-Fi technology |
802.11 ax |
802.11 ac |
Environment |
Indoor |
Indoor / Outdoor |
Frequency band |
2.4 and 5 GHz |
2.4 and 5 GHz |
Throughput speed |
1148 + 2400 Mbps |
800 + 1733 Mbps |
Range |
400 feet |
400 feet |
Availability |
Conclusion
Both Ruckus and Ubiquiti are technology companies based in California and they both seek to provide you with a fast, strong and reliable network. When looking at overall performance and advanced technologies Ruckus Wireless devices top the notch as compared to the Ubiquiti wireless devices.
Final Verdict: So, which is better, Ruckus or Ubiquiti?
Ruckus is the clear winner among the two network providers. Ruckus provides you with great-end connectivity experience as it works to reduce the amount of time that you would spend managing your network. It is recognizable for the fact that it packs more capability into every network element which allows you to build your network at lower costs for every connection.
FAQs
What are SmartCast and BeamFlex on my Ruckus devices?
SmartCast technology has been designed to ensure different types of traffic on your connection log are all handled based on their specific requirements while BeamFlex technology directs radio frequency signals to your connected devices to reduce interference in such a way that it eliminates Wi-Fi dead spots as it increases the range and performance of your Wi-Fi network.
What do I use to connect my Ruckus products to my home network?
You should connect your Ruckus multimedia router to your broadband gateway or router using an Ethernet cable.
