What are UniFi scalable solutions?
You’ve probably heard of UniFi in some form or another, but most people don’t know what it is or how it can benefit them.
Most provider-provided home routers are several devices rolled into one. They simultaneously act as a modem, a router, a switch, and a Wi-Fi router. Every device connected to this system is part of the same network, but to extend it, you need an additional switch and router, which leaves you with at least two Wi-Fi and LAN networks (depending on how many additional routers you connect).
UniFi networks differ from classic home networks in that they can have as many Wi-Fi access points connected to the same network as you need, opposed to your classic all-in-one-spot Wi-Fi router/modem/switch. This spreads the one initial Wi-Fi network over a larger area. They’re the first choice of enterprises and anyone with a large area to cover. Let us break it down for you.
The issue
You probably have an all-in-one-spot router at home currently, so you know that you might not have the same signal strength in your bedrooms as you do in the living room, or your home office, depending on your router location and your distance from it. The further from it, the lesser the signal. A single device has a set distance it covers and thick walls, chimneys, and other seen and unseen obstacles will do you no favours. We covered this in a previous post.
UniFi solutions were very costly in the past, and as a result, a rare occurrence, meaning only large companies had the means to implement them. A household with a large property would have to resort to additional routers, leaving them with a slower speed as they got further away from their routers, not to mention if they went a floor below or above. This would result in manually switching between Wi-Fi connections throughout the property, desktops connected to different networks, and other functionality issues.
Needless to say, this was not a good solution.
The smart solution
Today, any household can opt for an UniFi solution. They’re scalable, reliable, and easy to install. But, what does scalable even mean to the average user? Imagine you have a large property, with a several-story house. Your standard router would be able to cover only a portion of that house and property, with significant signal strength deduction as you changed stories within the house. That’s due to the signal being emitted from one spot. An UniFi network allows your signal to be emitted from several spots at the same time, extending your Wi-Fi to a scale of your choice. That’s exactly what scalability means, you can scale the coverage of your Wi-Fi network throughout your property, tailoring it to your specific needs.
It might seem like a complication in comparison to your run-of-the-mill router but it’s a very simple system. The difference is that you get a system of devices instead of your all-in-one modem/switch/router.
The setup consists of a modem (connecting you to the internet), a router (communicates between networks and devices), a switch (a device that splits your internet signal according to specific device addresses), an UniFi controller (the software that controls the system), and the Wi-Fi Access points (as many as you need). It might seem like a lot to take in (to the house), but it’s the best possible option when covering large areas.
Wi-Fi Access points
Wi-Fi Access points are PoE (Power over Ethernet) meaning no additional power cables or positioning the access points according to power sockets. Running LAN cables throughout the property is all that’s required to connect the access points with the switch, from which they draw their power. This means you can place them on your ceilings, beams, walls, even trees if need be. These access points spread your Wi-Fi signal over as large an area as you choose and each of our access points has a range of 600ft (not counting obscuring obstacles).
The perks
Reliability is the No.1 benefit of the solution. Even when one access point fails, there are others to fall back to. And, if this does happen (which is a really rare occurrence), switching out one access point, as opposed to switching out most of the network, is much cheaper, quicker and easier. Our scalable system also offers dual-band broadcasting over 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, meaning you can connect your old devices and newer ones all the same.
We covered recommended connections in step 2 of a previous post called “Better Wi-Fi in 7 simple steps”.
Another perk is most definitely scalability. There might be places on your property you don’t need strong signal strength, like a path on your property leading from point A to point B. Point B can be connected via cable and access point to the same scalable system in point A using WISP’s solution. The UniFi controller immediately encompasses the additional access point using the initial predetermined settings set for the entire system. Scalability also means you can add (as many) access points as needed, so if you ever build that room over your garage, you can add an access point for it rapidly.
Setting up our scalable system is rapid, as the devices are plug-and-play, so any later addition is connected within minutes with little additional effort. The long range of WISP’s access points will leave you enjoying a continued Wi-Fi signal strength regardless of whether you’re lounging in the backyard, cleaning the garage, cooking in the kitchen, or just laying around in the living room. There will be no interference from obstacles or walls, thick or thin.
More bells and whistles
Another perk of this type of system is that you can connect any smart home appliances and devices like VoIP phones with ease, including home security systems and wireless cameras. To find out more about what you can achieve with a good Wi-Fi system be sure to read our post “Various ways to use Wi-Fi around your home“.
How WISP can benefit you
This is what WISP’s UniFi solution is all about. It covers your property with one single huge Wi-Fi and as many access points as you need. Be sure to check out our dedicated UniFi page here to find out why our solution works best for you and then call our representatives at 1-877-955-9477 for more information on how WISP can help you achieve Wi-Fi perfection.
