Ubiquiti Unifi Vs Pro-For the best mesh network for your home or office
Wireless access points offer broad transmission with high signal strengths; they are, therefore, effective networking devices that create a Wireless Local Area Network in a home or office setting.
Access points have taken networking to a whole new level by enhancing coverage and rarely compromising on the speeds offered. Better yet is that the units can be deployed in different parts of your home including the outdoors to ensure comprehensive coverage. With the introduction of access points into the market, people no longer have to sit close to the router to get strong signal strengths on their internet-enabled devices.
The initial installation cost of access points can be considerably high, but if you look at the bigger picture the cost tends to even out. Access points when adopted in a business setting offer flexible networking via the installation of nodes. The units also encourage Multi-AP interconnection in an enterprise setting given that single AP’s tend to be limited and can only suffice a home setting.
What are the differences between Ubiquiti Unifi vs Pro
Model |
Ubiquiti Unifi |
Pro |
Speeds |
450mbps-Upload speeds
867mbps-download speeds |
450mbps-Upload speeds
1300mbps-Download speeds |
Item Weight |
2 pounds |
12.3 Ounces |
Ubiquiti Unifi vs Pro- How do they compare?
RF optimization features
While both the Ubiquiti Unifi and the pro have been equipped with the RF technology to help in monitoring and analysis of the radio frequencies, which would later help in placement configuration and troubleshooting, only the Ubiquiti Unifi has been equipped with the powerful RF performance features. So some of its features that users of the access point stand to benefit from are such as airtime fairness, spectral analysis, and band steering.
Increase in Capacity and throughput
So while the Pro is visibly lacking the powerful RF optimization features, the AP can still increase its capacity and throughput. To this end, the access point has integrated the innovative multi-lane RF technology. The above features help client devices to optimize the operating channel in high-density areas that constantly experience noise and interference from multiple APs that utilize the same operating brand.
The innovative feature incorporated in the Pro, therefore, works by rejecting interference, which it does by utilizing a special circuitry also known as the high selectivity receiver (HSR). AP’s installed in the high-density areas will experience increased wireless capacity and throughput, which then gives the AP’s the option of operating in close proximity with minimal or no interference whatsoever.
Excellent outdoor performance
Outdoor performance of the access points is dependent on the integrated advanced features, so while utilizing your Ubiquiti Unifi outdoors, most of the units operate on channel 6, and since the unit has been equipped with the HSR filter then all the frequencies which are not channel 6 will be eliminated automatically.
Thus creating a clean spectrum with less noise; also, since the unit features the multi-lane RF technology, users will be provided with high-speed multi-lane channels. Important to note is that the Ubiquiti Unifi access point has not been equipped with the above features, but you could still benefit from the powerful RF Optimization feature.
Indoor and Outdoor models
Pro Outdoor model
The Pro specially features the outdoor models while the Ubiquiti Unifi features both the indoor and outdoor models. The above, therefore, indicates that there are going to be differences in structure and performance to suit their respective environments. So for the Pro access points, the unit comes in a sleek and professional design to suit the various deployments and with all the mounting accessories included.
And no matter your deployment the AP has been equipped with LED lighting necessary for administrator location tracking complete with alerts for each of the devices. And given that the access point has been configured for use in the outdoor environment, the outer casing has also been made to suit this type of deployment. To which end it is weatherproof thus can stand the changes in climate.
Another unique but equally significant feature that is missing on the Ubiquiti Unifi is the Advanced Acoustic Speaker, designed to produce high-quality sound; the unit, therefore, produces accurate voice necessary for announcements over Wi-Fi.
The unit has also been equipped with POE, the above feature, is not available on most of Ubiquiti’s access points, such as the Unifi AC, the in-wall PRO AP, and the Pro AP. Power over Ethernet helps in the delivery of data and power over one of the cat5e or cat6 ethernet cable, thus users won’t need to use AC or DC.
Ubiquiti Unifi Outdoor model
So apart from the sleek wall or pole mountable design incorporated in the Ubiquiti Unifi, the unit has been equipped with at least two Omni-directional antennas that offer users a 360° wireless coverage. Another significant feature that you won’t be able to find in the Pro is the liberty that the users have been granted for choosing between the 2G or the 5G models that will best suit their respective environments.
Important to note is that users have been granted the capability of either connecting the Ubiquity Unifi access points outdoor or the outdoor 5 straight to a dual-polarity antenna or an Omni antenna, the above is to increase the gain of the AP.
The Indoor model
Ubiquiti Unifi as mentioned earlier is the only unit with both the outdoor and indoor AP’s. And some of the significant features that users will be able to interact with are such as the ability to mount their AP’s either on the wall or the ceiling in a seamless fashion. The led provisioning is provided to users either in the ring or square form and works similar to the Pro’s AP.
The Power over internet option is a feature deployed on the Ubiquiti’s Access Points, and they basically function the same, for example, they can be powered using the Unifi switch, the Tough Switch, or the PoE injector. You must, however, be keen because devices such as the UAP-IW will rarely be powered by the Toughswitch or the PoE injector.
What we like
- Feature a wall or pole mountable design
- The units are PoE enabled
- Set up and configuration is pretty easy
- Comes with a virtual Unif controller software
What we don’t like
- The casing allows water and moisture to seep through
- Offers poor signal strengths
Ubiquiti Unifi vs pro- A comparison overview
Ubiquiti Unifi- Overview
The Ubiquiti Unif indoor models are available in up to four different units, each offering unique 2.4GHz and 5GHz speeds. The models are ( the UAP-IW, the UAP, the UAP-LR, and the UAP-Pro). So as you pick one of the above units for your Wi-Fi needs, you must consider the coverage range of each of the devices because they vary.
- 4x4 MU-MIMO on 5GHz (1733Mbps Max PHY rate), 2x2 MIMO on 2.4GHz (300Mbps Max PHY rate).
- 802.3af for base functionality. 802.3at required if using PoE pass-through.
For example, the UAP model will offer 300mbps at 2.4GHz speeds, while covering up to 400ft and the incorporated Wi-Fi standards are 802.11 b/g/n respectively. Now when we move over to the UAP pro, you will notice that you will be able to access up to 450mbps at 2.4GHz and 300mbps at 5GHz, the unit will then cover about 400ft and the integrated Wi-Fi standards are 802.11 a/b/g/n, which is quite different from the UAP model except that they offer same range coverage.
- UniFi Outdoor 5 AP Unit capable of 300Mbps speeds and links of up to 180m (600ft).
- Sleek wall-mountable and pole-mountable design.
Ubiquiti Unifi also has the outdoor models which functions differently from the indoor models and here you will get the Unifi AP-outdoor+ and the Unifi AP-Outdoor 5G. The former offers 300mbps at 2.4GHz, while the latter offers the same speeds but at 5GHz, the range of both the units is the same at 600ft, but there is some slight difference in the Wi-Fi standards. So for the UAP –Outdoor + you will get 802.11 b/g/n while the UAP-Outdoor 5 will offer you 802.11 a/n.
Pro-Overview
- Manage Your Networks from a Single Control Plane
- Intuitive and Robust Configuration, Control and Monitoring
For the Pro, users are provided with up to six options some of which are outdoor, while others can be utilized both in the outdoors or indoor. For users who want a versatile unit for both their outdoor and indoor needs, they can get the UAP-AC-PRO, which will provide up to 450mbps at 2.4GHz and 1300mbps at 5GHz. The remaining 5 models can only be utilized indoors such as the UAP-AC-LITE that offers speeds of up to 300mbps at 2.4GHz and 867mbps at 5GHz.
What we like
- Equipped with three dual-band antennas
- Maximum power consumption is 9W
- Has incorporated the 3×3 MiMO technology
- The units are easy to mount
What we don’t like
- The range is not reliable
- Support not very responsive
Conclusion
When it comes to equipping your home with strong Wi-Fi signals you have to consider your needs such as coverage and use. The upload and download speeds vary, and this goes to users who want to engage the bandwidth-intensive activities. Coverage is also of prime importance and that is why Unifi offers both indoor and outdoor application on one device and has models that can offer outdoor and indoor separately.
Verdict
The Ubiquiti Unifi AP is the better access point because they are available in both the indoor and outdoor devices, while the pro only offers the outdoor devices.
FAQ’s
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What default username and password can I use on my Unifi UAP-Outdoor 5?
The username is root and password ubnt or both the password and username can input ubnt
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Is it necessary to install the host software before I use my Ubiquiti Unifi access point?
If you are setting up a few Unifi access points and are not interested in the host, you could use the Unifi mobile application standalone mode.
