I recently decided to replace my aging wireless router because it was beginning to have some reliability problems. I could reset it, but it would happen again a day or two later.
I went through a few wireless routers before I found the AR HP. That's not exactly true, I found it in my research, but no local retailers carry it in my area. I was impressed with it, but because I am impatient and did not want to wait for a delivery from Amazon, I hit the local computer store and bought what looked like a decent wireless router that was not overly expensive. I returned it a couple of days later because it proved to be more unreliable than the device it was replacing.
I repeated this process three more times. Buy it, try it, return it (for multiple reasons).
I finally admitted defeat and ordered the Ubiquiti. I would like to emphasize that this is NOT a plug and play wireless router. Joe Consumer should think twice about buying it. I am an IT professional and the AR HP is designed for professional installation. Even as a pro with 25 years of experience, I found the myriad of options a little confusing.
If you do buy this, both the consumer and IT person should definitely "RTFM" (Read The Flippin Manual). The included documentation is a little sparse, but a well documented 57 page manual is available for download online here - [...] All of the options are covered in coherent English in the manual.
If this is your first Ubiquiti, expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours setting it up and tinkering with it, depending on the complexity of your network. One of the nifty features that you will see right away is a warning from the router itself, telling you that you are using the default login and should change it when you first boot it up.
If you are already familiar with Ubiquiti devices, the AirOS firmware is the same interface across their spectrum of gear and you can dive right in.
The wireless tab is where the complexity and configurability of this device really starts to show itself. The Wireless Mode setting will allow you to configure it as a Station, Station WDS, Access Point and Access Point WDS. The typical consumer is going to use Access Point.
Don't do like I did and configure it for something else. I did and could no longer access the firmware via the default IP Address. I had to connect to my DSL router and determine what IP address the Ubiquiti was now using, reset my PC's IP address and then connect to change it back. Which brings me to another nifty feature of the AR HP. When you make a settings change you are presented with an option to "Test, Apply, or Discard", Clicking Test gives you a 3 minute window to see if the change you just made is working the way you think it will. If you lose control of it, no worries, it will revert back in 3 minutes. It only took one close call for me to start using the Test option first.
For security purposes I white listed all eight wireless devices in my home by MAC address: That's two laptops, a desktop PC, two smart phones, a tablet and two Roku's. Even if you know the ridiculously long pass phrase to connect to my router, if you aren't on the ACL (Access Control List), you aren't getting connected.
Speaking of security, WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) is not supported. WPS is insecure and devices using WPS can be easily compromised.
Performance has been very good. I located the Ubiquiti in my basement near my home office. I routinely make wireless Voice Over IP calls from my cell phone and I can still access the internet easily from the second floor bedroom and the detached garage about 80 feet away from the house.
Pros & Cons:
Pro - Well designed device, using a mature firmware interface. Good signal at reasonable distances. Highly configurable for a multitude of situations. Good security options. Well documented, the manual clearly explains the various options and functions. You are not going to find anything even close to this level of sophistication at this price point.
Con - Not available at your local electronics retailer. The AirOS firmware is designed for IT pros, there is a bit of a learning curve even for tech savvy users. The manual is not included and must be downloaded. Some enterprise level options are Ubiquiti proprietary and will only work with other Ubiquiti devices.
Summary: If you are an ordinary household consumer, many of the features of the AR HP will be overkill or unused. Personally I am sick of paying for cheap junk, with poor documentation, that will get tossed in a few months. Ubiquity is mostly unknown at the consumer level, but has a good reputation in enterprise IT for reliability. If you are an IT pro setting up an enterprise grade wireless solution, Ubiquiti Networks should definitely get consideration. Not just for this device, but their impressive array of solutions.
| Wireless Type | 802.11n |
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