Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro Review

A wireless access point can be very effective when you’re having problems with your wifi connection in certain areas in your home, office, hotel, and commercial premises. The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro is an indoor and outdoor access point that will provide high performance and you can easily deploy and manage.

Extending your wifi range using an access point can make a huge difference if you want to have speedy access when you go online from anywhere in your home. These small gadgets do a great job of extending your wifi signal from your router so you don’t have to deal with dead spots that can cause endless stalling and buffer in your devices. I had this same problem at my home a few weeks ago and I had to find a solution because it was starting to irritate me. A wireless access point as a great solution to help boosts the existing signal to make it stronger.

Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro review and breakdown

Ubiquiti Unifi Ap-AC Pro - Wireless Access Point - 802.11 B/A/G/n/AC (UAPACPRO5US)

• Ubiquiti Networks networks Unifi AP AC Pro 5-Pack

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The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro is a wireless access point that is widely used because you can rely on it to provide a reliable business network for your small business and even be an alternative to your regular consumer-like routers and the wifi mesh systems that promise to cover your home with wifi using many devices. This access point is designed for indoor use, but can also be used outdoors since it has rubber doors for the vents and ports to give it a weather-proof design, but you shouldn’t install it in the open because it can only withstand temperatures between 14-158 degrees F. and humidity between 5-95%.

The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro comes with a software controller that you can install on your windows, Mac, or Linux machine which you can easily access through your web browser. However, if you don’t want to run the controller on your computer, Ubiquiti provides an Unifi cloud key that you can connect to a PoE switch to use the hybrid cloud technology that will allow you to either run the controller locally or connect to the cloud. The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro supports simultaneous dual-band wifi 802.11ac MU-MIMO technology that can deliver wifi speeds of up to 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band, and an exceptional signal range of up to 400 feet. However, these speeds and range can be affected by the surrounding environment and any obstacles and walls in your home, office, or business premises.

What we liked

• Provides plenty of advanced features
• Can be configured locally and on the cloud
• Reliable and strong wifi connections
• Excellent coverage range
• Very easy to setup

What we didn’t like

• The Unifi controller requires some tech knowledge
• Doesn’t work well with Apple products

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Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro specs

Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro features

Design

The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro access point has a round disc-like shape with a white matte finish and a round LED light ring at the top that has a bright light. It has the same design as the AC-LITE model, but it’s a bit larger and heavier. It’s designed to be mounted on your ceiling or wall with the help of a metallic plate, nuts, and screws, but not to be placed flat on a surface. This access point is completely sealed without any ventilation holes and this causes it to get warm quickly, especially when under stress. The single LED light at the middle indicates the status of the device and you can use the manual to know all that all the different light colors mean.

At the base is a rubbery section you can remove which hosts 2 gigabit Ethernet ports (the main to connect your AP to your router, a switch or PoE injector for power, while the second is used as a bridge to connect your devices or another UAP device), a pinhole reset button, and a USB 2.0 port that you can use to connect your PA system.

Hardware

The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro is run by a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9563 chipset at 750 MHz with 16 MB of flash memory and 128 MB of RAM. It’s an AC1750 access point that provides a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. The power over Ethernet (PoE) function allows both data and power to be carried through a one Ethernet cable to your device.

Setup and features

The Unifi series wasn’t really designed for home use, so the steps you follow aren’t the same as those for setting up a regular wireless router. All the Unifi devices have a controller that you use for managing and configuring your device. You need to connect the Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro to your PC using the secondary port and a power source using the main port. Install the controller on your PC and run it following the instructions. You can also use the mobile app for quick access to the interface or log into the Cloud to access the controller remotely, but you need to register a separate account.

Who is it best suited for?

The Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro is ideal if you want a reliable wifi system that will cover a larger area than your regular wireless router can’t. You can use the controller to extend and centrally manage the wifi signal both indoors and outdoors using a combination of Unifi APs.

Are there alternatives to the Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro?

Yes, there are alternative access points that will provide high-quality solutions for both indoor and out, to provide fast speeds and consistency for your home and business. These access points include Tp-link Omada AC1750, Netgear AC2000, and Netgear WAC540.

Features of alternative access points    

Final verdict. Should you get the Ubiquiti Unifi AP-AC Pro?

Yes, you should get it because it’s not only popular, it can also deliver a good wireless performance, you can use the controller that comes with plenty of advanced features and is packaged in an elegant casing. Although you might need some tech knowledge,it can offer you a better experience than other alternative devices.

FAQ

Which is a better access point or router?

If you just want to have a simple wireless network at home that will cover a few devices, a router will do, but if you want a more reliable wireless network, wireless access points are better.

Should I use the same SSID for my access point?

It’s a good idea to give all your access points on your network the same SSID to reduce clutter so they will appear as one single network.