Ubiquiti vs. Aruba- Which access points work better in high density environments?

If you are looking to establish a network in high density environments then you would need to find an access point with fast throughout speeds and appropriate technological advances to maintain your connection stability. Let us take a look at access points by Ubiquiti and Aruba.

In the event that you do not have a quality access point in a high density environment such as conference halls, auditoriums and malls, you may find yourself experiencing connectivity failures such as dropping Wi-Fi signals and lost internet connections on your devices. Among the network technology companies that specialize in manufacturing quality devices to enhance your network experience and prevent such scenarios are Ubiquiti and Aruba. Let us summarize their features and differences in the table below.

What are the differences between Ubiquiti and Aruba?

Ubiquiti vs. Aruba- How do they compare?

Network management and Control

Through the UniFi Wireless Controller Software, you are able to easily configure and administer your network. When using Aruba access points, on the other hand, you are provided with the Aruba Central which allows you to monitor, configure and administer your network. The difference here is that the Unifi Controller is free while the Aruba Central is a service that is paid for.

What makes the network management and control of the Aruba access points better than the Ubiquiti access points are the advanced features that come with the Aruba Central.It allows for tunneled connections which allows for the seamless movement of data from one network to another, bandwidth throttling, network assignment and role based firewalling.

Functionality

Both the Aruba and Ubiquiti access points support multi user experience. However, the Aruba access points are specifically designed for high density environments such as conference halls and auditoriums among others while the Ubiquiti access points were developed for homes and small businesses. The Aruba access points make better high density environment access points than the Ubiquiti access points.

Performance

The Aruba and Ubiquiti access points both deliver fast throughput speeds of 2533 Mbps to all your connected devices. Their technological advancements differentiate their performance levels. The Ubiquiti features Multi-lane RF technology enhances its performance in high density environments. What makes the Aruba access points better however, is the Client Match feature which constantly monitors a client’s radio frequency environments so as to provide load balancing and ongoing client band steering. It further enhances the access point reassignment for roaming devices. Additionally its Aruba beacon technology provides indoor location data for all your mobile devices. For this reasons, Aruba access points are higher performing than the Ubiquiti access points.

Ubiquiti vs. Aruba – A comparison overview

Ubiquiti

Ubiquiti Networks exists in San Jose, California and it was founded in 2005. It is an American technology company that specializes in the manufacture of wireless data communication products for both enterprise and wireless broadband providers. Generally, Ubiquiti tries to provide you with an easily manageable network, a strong and reliable connection for your clients and a secure network.

In addition to that, Ubiquiti Networks sells both wired and wireless networking products such as access points, mesh routers and switches under various brand names. 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. EdgeMax, on the other hand, is largely invested in routers and switches only. Aside from that, AirFiber is used by Wireless Internet Service Providers and UFiber is used by Internet Service Providers. Lastly, AirMax is customized to create Point to Multi Point and Point to Point links between networks.

Access points: UniFi AP HD

Ubiquiti UniFi HD 802.11ac Wave 2 Enterprise Wi-Fi Access Point (UAP-AC-HD-US)

• Connectivity technology: Ethernet

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The UniFi AP HD is an 802.11ac wave 2 access point whose high performance is accelerated by its 4 x 4 MU-MIMO technology for performance-critical and high-density applications. It is both an indoor and outdoor access point with a compact design that raises the aesthetic fabric of your home.

It delivers throughput speeds of up to 2533 Mbps which is distributed as 800 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1733 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. It has been designed to boost your Wi-Fi signal over a range of up to 122 meters/400 feet from your router. It provides unparalleled multi-user support and it has unlimited scalability that allows you to expand your network.

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Aruba

Based in Santa Clara, California and founded in the year 2002, Aruba Networks is a technology company that is a supplementary of the Hewlett Packard Company. For networking, Aruba wireless has specialized in the manufacture of both indoor and outdoor access points, Wireless LAN Controllers, SD-WAN products and Ethernet switches. Aside from that, it allows for network management through its AirWave Management, Activate for asset inventory management & provisioning and cloud-based central.

In addition to that, it enhances network security through its customized IntroSpect for User & Entity Behavior Analytics and ClearPass Policy Manager for Network Access Control. All these have been integrated to provide you with a secure, strong and reliable network for all your connected devices. Generally, Aruba devices support 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology, support multiple users and you are able to get full access reports of your network.

Access Point: Aruba IAP 325

Aruba Instant IAP-325-US Wireless Network Access Point JW327A (802.11ac, 4x4 MIMO, Dual Band Radio, Integrated Antennas, Business Class Enterprise)"

• 5 GHz (1.733 Mbps max rate) and 2.4 GHz (800 Mbps max rate) radios
• 4x4 MIMO support with maximum antenna gain of 3.5 dBi in 2.4 GHz and 5.0 dBi in 5 GHz.

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The Aruba IAP 325 provides you with exceptional 802.11ac connectivity and a seamless user experience. Its performance has been optimized by the Client Match feature and Aruba Beacon technologies which allows for its efficiency in high density environments. It delivers throughput speeds of up to 2533 Mbps to your connected devices which is distributed as 800 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and 1733 Mbps in the 5 GHz band.

It supports 4 spatial access point streams and MU-MIMO technology for better network performance. With the Aruba IAP 325 you are able to choose your preferred operating mode to meet your unique deployment and management requirements. It offers you a controller-managed mode that allows for centralized configuration, policy enforcement and data encryption and the Aruba instant mode that allows your AP to distribute the network configuration to all the other instant Aps that are in your network.

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A summary table of the UniFi AC HD and the Aruba IAP 325

Conclusion

When we look at the UniFi AC HD by Ubiquiti and the Aruba IAP 325, we can identify multiple similarities in their specs. However, the difference in their performance is seen in their technological advancements.

Final Verdict: So, which is better- Ubiquiti or Aruba?

Aruba is better than Ubiquiti when it comes to providing you with a stable network for your high density environments and activities. Its Client Match feature and Aruba Beacon technologies enhance its performance in high density environments and maintains a secure and stable connection to your devices no matter how heavy the load is on the connection log.

FAQs

Is my Aruba access point covered by the HP’s manufacturer’s warranty?

Yes, it is.

Does my Aruba access point come with mounting kits?

Yes it does, the Aruba wireless access points come with mounting grids.