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Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

amplifi.com

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Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#31

Post by behexen »

zamadatix wrote: post #13
gouggoug wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Since you mention Unify, I've come to absolutely despise the Unifi (from Ubiquity) wifi routers and avoids them at all cost, here's why: In order to set them up, you need to download a terribly confusing software (the "Unify controller") that has never worked well on my mac os machines. Said software then needs to "adopt" the wifi routers you want to configure. The configuration is then saved onto your computer (as o…

I think unifi is meant to be managed via cloud/cloud key. They also have the dream machine which is an all in one for smaller deployments.

I had a terrible experience with the first version of the cloud key. Any time it lost power it would be corrupted and I had to go through the whole ordeal to restore a backup and re-adopt all the APs. A new version of the cloud key is out with a battery, so that would seem to solve the problem. However, like all unifi hardware, it's not cheap.

My current solution, which I am very happy with, is running the controller software in a Docker container on a $5/month vps. It's lightweight enough that it does not use enough resources to affect the other things I had on the vps.

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#32

Post by walrus01 »

LeoPanthera wrote: post #10
noodlesUK wrote: post #8

Does this mean that the unifi line is getting wifi 6 some time soon? I can’t really see why anyone who wants such a router would use amplifi now things like the Unifi dream machine exist (which are fantastic).

The Unifi machines don't pass the "mom" test. I would never give something that has anything like the Unifi management UI to my parents.

One of the possible solutions if you want to pre-configure wifi APs for your parents, is to set the APs up for layer 3 management in advance. All an AP needs is:

1) default route out to the internet

2) ability to resolve DNS names

Then you can run your own unifi management controller somewhere offsite, like in a $4/month VM. The APs will find the controller by its hostname and talk to it over https/443.

But if you're just setting up wifi for your parents, how often do things need to be reconfigured? A unifi AP runs just fine with the absence of the controller, just no settings can be changed. If all they need is the wifi key and to put all their TVs, tablets, xboxes, whatever on the wifi, just give them the key, plug in the AP, and let it go.

If you need to reconfigure it in the future you can run a really small debian-stable VM with the controller inside virtualbox on your laptop.

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#33

Post by bearcobra »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #14

What is the use of the display on a Wi-Fi router? I did not touch mine since I have installed it and the next time I will touch it will be when I will replace it. It is as fire and forget as possible.

For a good portion of the population understanding that this blinking light = powered on but not connected to the internet vs that blinking light = powered on and connected to the internet isn't particularly easy, but can still perform some basic levels of troubleshooting. Having a display to show those errors would be useful to them.

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#34

Post by gouggoug »

cafxx wrote: post #27
gouggoug wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A few years back, they did not offer the cloud solution and only offered that "controller" software. I haven't tried their cloud solution, but it's in my opinion not ideal to depend on a cloud solution to configure my internet access.

Your previous message used the present tense ("avoids") though. Also it looks like their "cloud solution" is not really (public-)cloud based at all, it looks like a standalone piece of metal: https://unifi-protect.ui.com/cloud-key-gen2

Haa, the nitpicks, let me be more explicit: through my past (and current, because I still own those routers) experience with Unify, I've come to avoiding them, because of [everything I explained].

I'm glad they offer an on-premise hardware turn-key solution (it wasn't available in the past).

Now, see my other commment[0]: I understand that my user experience might very well be due to Unify not being ideal for my use case.

[0]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=21589894

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#35

Post by r00fus »

altmind wrote: post #19

It feels like ubnt tries to capture the audience of what airport extreme used to be - mesh networks, self-contained device, minimal config, telemetry and services lock-in. The same for unifi dream machine pro. They are almost explicit that these devices are not for tech entusiasts, who used to be their largest customer base.

What telemetry do they gather, and why is it a big deal? (honestly asking). Simple duck/goog searches don't yield anything other than this [1], which seems innocuous.

[1] https://community.ui.com/questions/Update-UniFi-Phone-Home-P...

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#36

Post by mikelabatt »

r1ch wrote: post #7

I thought WiFi 6 mandated use of WPA3? According to the specs this only supports WPA2 which means either WiFi 6 is not implemented properly or the listed specs are incorrect.

Indeed WPA3 is required for "Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6" only, but Ubiquiti already stated in a post that they are working on WPA3, even offering it as a software upgrade for many of their older models:

https://community.ui.com/questions/WPA3-for-existing-Unifi-f...

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#37

Post by IshKebab »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #14

What is the use of the display on a Wi-Fi router? I did not touch mine since I have installed it and the next time I will touch it will be when I will replace it. It is as fire and forget as possible.

It's extremely useful when diagnosing problems that occur before you have managed to connect to the router.

I be a lot of people don't have an ethernet cable and a USB-ethernet adapter for the laptop lying around, so you have to connect via wifi. What if wifi isn't working? Very annoying.

It is quite useless after everything is set up though.

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#38

Post by r00fus »

tinus_hn wrote: post #20
LeoPanthera wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Unifi machines don't pass the "mom" test. I would never give something that has anything like the Unifi management UI to my parents.

The point is that you can manage it remotely and they have exactly 0 buttons to push. They don’t have to manage anything at all.

This is absolutely the answer (my parents live close to us and even a no-button interface combo item results in more work than I want).

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#39

Post by r00fus »

AdrianB1 wrote: post #14

What is the use of the display on a Wi-Fi router? I did not touch mine since I have installed it and the next time I will touch it will be when I will replace it. It is as fire and forget as possible.

My parents have an Amplifi, and it's useful for them to issue the update (shows up on screen) - easy for the most part. They can also reboot the Amplifi without the plug/unplug.

Re: Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 Router

#40

Post by windexh8er »

tinus_hn wrote: post #20
LeoPanthera wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Unifi machines don't pass the "mom" test. I would never give something that has anything like the Unifi management UI to my parents.

The point is that you can manage it remotely and they have exactly 0 buttons to push. They don’t have to manage anything at all.

Amplifi is also going full remote support. If you're willing to log in with Facebook you can do it already.
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