This is it folks. If you want an uncompromising WiFi signal, this is your device.
I've done a lot of research before spending 600 dollars on an Access Point and it totally paid off. If you want to know the most impressive feature and the reason why you will never buy another WiFi device, keep on reading.
PROs:
- enterprise grade built, enterprise grade features. QoS, priority packets, bandwidth throttle-ing, remote server logging... whole slew of other features that I don't use as they are an overkill for a simple home network.
- Signal Strength, Range and Quality is mindblowingly surreal
- 2 separate transceivers. One on 2.4GHz band and one on 5GHz band.
- up to 8 SSIDs on each transceiver
- ability to hide SSID broadcast
- interference mitigation
- PoE
- 5GHz channel width of 20/40/80
- ability to setup both: different VLANs, as well as different local SUBNETs
- 2 Ethernet connections for whatever your networking needs
CONs:
- you can not combine the two transceivers into one dual band. (I suspect you could set up 2 identical SSIDs with same password on each of the transceivers but I haven't personally tested it)
- does NOT come with power adapter. You could use any 1A 12V adapter that you already have, but I found it was impossible to plug it in because the back plate plastic is in the way. You would have to have an L shaped plug and not the straight one. This unit was designed with the intention of it being powered via PoE Ethernet. The wall power seems as an afterthought.
- documentation on how to upgrade the firmware is non-existent. No joke. I had to exchange emails with customer support for 3 days before they told me how to do it.
WORTH MENTIONING:
- 5GHz transceiver operates on all the usual channels PLUS channel 165. This was a problem for me. By default, this AP has Smart Channel Hopping enabled. Some of my devices are not capable of listening on channel 165 and thus would disconnect when smart channel hopping chose channel 165. I had to disable smart channel hopping and manually pick one static channel. This was only problem on 5GHz. 2.4GHz seems fine as it only uses the known 1-11 channels.
- NOT a router. You will still need a router or a switch if you have multiple devices that you want to connect.
- this is an enterprise device. It is meant to be configured, placed, and forgotten. As such, some "customer convenience in mind" features are not there. It does not have WPS (connect to network with one push of a button if you don't know the password). It's not a router so it cannot assign a custom / specific IP address to a particular MAC address via DHCP tables. The AP Management website could use a facelift, but I haven't had any problems finding the settings I needed. (If you're buying a Ruckus product, you already know what you're doing and thus they don't really need to impress you with a shiny, pretty UI)
Final Note:
I already knew this AP was going to be b@d@$$. For 600 bucks, my expectations were set pretty high and Ruckus DELIVERED! This AP looked at my expectations, giggled, and said "is that all you got?".
I became accustomed to seeing WiFi speeds being 30% of what the wired connection could do. I expected Ruckus to deliver 65% of the wired speed, for me to not return it.
My download speed over cat6 ethernet was 125.27 Mbit/s. I placed my laptop next to the access point and ran the speed test again. 125.19 Mbit/s. I couldn't believe it. I ran the speed test 4 times in a row. Each time, nearly lossless signal. I went 3 rooms down. I still got over 60 Mbit/s download speeds. Balcony, kitchen, bathroom with closed doors...it does not seem to matter to this access point. It will punch through any wall / barrier / obstacle with relative ease and deliver speeds that will blow your socks off!
This one!
Get it!
NOW!
| Wireless Type | 802.11ac |
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