Ubiquiti Unifi vs. Edgemax – which networking router option is better?
Choosing an impressive Wi-Fi router is not always easy, and it is essential to do your homework before choosing one always; this is why we review these two networking routers – Edgemax and Unifi.
The choice ofa router will really depend on several factors – speeds, coverage, and features, which make them easier to use in accessing the internet. However, you can still experience limitations, which is why networking routers exist to bridge the gap and increase speeds. We review two of them in this article, so read on for more on that.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Unifi and Edgemax?
Unifi |
Edgemax |
|
Number of ports |
4 gigabit |
2 to 4 gigabit |
Wi-Fi throughput speeds |
167 Mbps |
300 Mbps |
Measurements (inches) |
19.06 x 6.46 x 1.73 |
6.2 x 5.1 x 2.1 |
Ubiquiti Unifi vs. Edgemax – How they compare
Design
In the Unifi, the build of every component is of the highest quality, using both USG and Switch connections. Both of them use a full-metal enclosure design, which will give complete EMI protection and a durable appearance. However, these are not what complete the package in this router; the Unifi Controller does.
For the Edgemax, the design is that of a dual-port design. The method it uses to achieve this is through beam forming. The beam forming process will allow it to direct any wireless signals coming through it into connected devices, and it utilizes MU-MIMO systems to manage internet traffic in a more efficient way.
Performance
There is a reason why the Unifi shines so well in the realm of networking: USG. This is also referred to as the Unifi Security Gateway. This is a 3-port enterprise gateway router, which provides you with gigabit internet connection. In order to deploy it in the Ubiquiti Unifi, it is important to directly connect it through the WAN port in the router to the AT&T modem, and then connect one of the Unifi switches to the LAN port.
The controller is the hardware or software that is responsible for central management and control of Unifi products, and allows you as the typical consumer to manage and setup your own networks. Its integrated wizard will take you through the setup of the time zones, setting up your wireless SSID, as well as setting up your devices and the login. From here, you can use the controller to launch the dashboard, and manage all your devices independently.
You can choose to use it as it is, or buy a Unifi cloud key, a hardware device that you can use to operate the Unifi controller software aspects. If you choose the key, it will allow you to operate it without the need to have a VM, computer, laptop, or any additional hardware that you can use to install the controller on.
It is important to note that you will not find an in-built wireless radio in the USG. Because of this, the result of you enabling the bridge mode will not disable or negatively impact the wireless guest networks or additional significant features. Additionally, the acceleration of the USG hardware will allow for maximum speeds of 3 Gbps, at least when the speed of the ISP can match.
The most useful features to find in the USG include:
- VLAN support
- Hardware acceleration with a line rate of 3Gbps
- SSH (shell) and console access
- The ability to bridge at least two Ethernet interfaces
- A variety of VPN modes, which include a VPN server, VPN client, site-to-site VPN, and so on
- There are some features that are missing from the USG, which are:
- A built-in VPN client that supports certificate (X.509) based authentication
- Hardware-acceleration in the bridging, which will help to achieve Gbps speeds even when you bridge the port
On the other hand, the Edgemax is meant to be a data center router. It has a chassis that has permanent mounting brackets, and the cooling fans produce quite the loud noise – so you do not want it as your desktop router.
The functionality that is present in the Edgemax is due to its use of Vyatta, which is an open source system – so the best way to know whether it is for you is to familiarize yourself with the Vyatta OS. The basic systems that are present here include connection management, which controls the flow accounting and connection tracking systems, the CLI, SNMP, systems management, and your logging process as well as the devices that are connected to it. It does this through a variety of services, such as UBNT discovery, DNS, logging, web cache, and so on.
Speeds
Throughout the process of setting up the Unifi system, the speeds are what we checked next. Our expectations of having the system to give speeds that are on par with gigabit standards were certainly delivered, and the Unifi does not disappoint.
The Wi-Fi is definitely on point with this router; the 2.4GHz band gives a speed of 167 Mbps, while the 5GHz band gives a speed of 852 Mbps. If you have plenty of mobile devices like notebooks, tablets, and smartphones, it is reasonable to expect about 400 to 500 Mbps out of the router if you are using a 2×2 adapter, which is enough to cover plenty of surfing and streaming needs.
On the other hand, the Ubiquiti Edgemax The 2.4GHz band uses a 3×3 design, which gives it very high speeds in general. TheWi-Fi speeds to expect here will range from a minimum of 826 Mbps to a maximum of 928 Mbps.
Ubiquiti Unifi vs. Edgemax – A comparison review
Ubiquiti Edgemax – Overview
When it comes to the Ubiquiti Edgemax, it is among the most affordable choices among Ubiquiti routers.There are other Edgemax routers in this line of products: the Edgerouter Lite, the 8-Port Edgerouter, and the Edgerouter Pro. Each of these Edgemax routers has their unique attributes; the 8-Port and Pro routers can achieve speeds of 8 Gbpsthroughout their operation.
The routers to find here are:
EdgeRouter Pro
- Connectivity Technology: Ethernet
- Country of origin : China
This has an internal power supply, as well as a power cable that connects to its back side. On its front, you will find network ports and indicator lights, and you can configure it through the command line interface.
8-Port EdgeRouter
- Hardware Accelerated Routing (Layer-3 Base Forwarding): 2 million packets-per-second for 64-byte packets.
- Compact 1U Rackmount Form Factor, Only 164mm (6.5") in depth.
This router provides you with powerful Edge OS software as well as higher performance. It comes with 8 Ethernet ports and 2 SFP ports as well.
EdgeRouter Lite
- (3) Gigabit routing ports
- Compact, durable metal casing
This is a smaller router than the previous two, and is meant to handle more dynamic networks, and also for those that want a super-reliable quality of connection as well.
Pros
- It comes with advanced routing features
- Includes wire-speed gigabit routing
- Easy to configure
Cons
- It does not have a plug-and-play option out of the box
- Limitations in the GUI configuration (instead, it has CLI)
- The documentation is not as easy to understand
Ubiquiti Unifi – Overview
- Product Type:Networking Router
- Item Package Dimension:7.112 cm L X 10.16 cm W X 14.986 cm H
The Ubiquiti Unifi is something we have had the privilege of using extensively, as well as configuring it – and our experiences have mainly been positive. We highly recommend it as well as other routers, because there are little to no issues with its controller updates or firmware – though the only issue we have experienced is the auto negotiation of the 10 Gigabit links to the 10GBase-T module with SFP+, an issue that we solved by forcing 10G on the server, making it a difficult choice if you are not savvy with networking knowledge.
Unifi products specifically will support a wide variety of technologies that you can commonly spot in enterprise gear. The enterprise technologies you will find here include Guest Wi-Fi access, VLANs, Captive portal, central management, multi-SSID wireless, and so on. Aside from that, they also have a very good switch line up that consists of many PoE options, different port options, and uplink options (including SFP+, SFP, and so on).
Pros
- Very reliable and fast internet connection
- Coverage is great
- Comes with very useful apps
- Easy to customize and scale
Cons
- Difficult to use for novice users
Verdict: So which is better? The Ubiquiti Unifi or the Edgemax?
Both of these are great options when you want good networking router options, and will offer you similar benefits. However, the Edgemax is a better choice as it is friendlier for novice users, although that is far from what you can expect from Ubiquiti routers – and it also has greater connection reliability.
Frequently asked questions
Will I require the access points, security gateways, switches, and topology, when I am using my Unifi router?
The good news is that you do not need all this data. However, it is also important to keep in mind that using third-party devices will reduce the levels of control you have when using the Unifi-provided controllers.
How many access points do I need for a Unifi router?
There is no fixed number – this will really depend on your specific needs, bandwidth requirements, as well as the size of your home or office.
