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Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

blog.ui.com

81–90 of 196 posts

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#81
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're dramatically less expensive than original OEM, but UB clearly is targeting them with this release/aggressive pricing. It remains to be seen if UB's pricing (particularly $50 on the "Wizard") is just temp to get their foot in the door. I suspect it is; and we'll see the price increase later.

> I suspect it is; and we'll see the price increase later. I used to use Ubiquiti gear a number of years ago, but left when they started moving into an Apple-esque "prosumer" direction with corresponding price increases. That, and the constant bugs.

Just to add context:

Ubiquiti's G3 Instant entry level camera was launched at $30 in 2021; which is $55 adjusted for inflation, but they're actually selling it for $80. The G4 Instant is $99 and G6 Instant is $180(!). Keep in mind this is their cheapest, entry level, offering in the camera space.

Whereas if you contrast these prices with a Reolink E1 Pro which is $55 (with free shipping) and superior to the G4 Instant in every metric (lens quality, pixel count, PTZ, ONVIF support, et al). This essentially makes this a space that Ubiquiti is no longer interested in competing in.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#82
post #13

For those outside the IT/networking realms, SFP use uniform connectors for both the networking device and the fiber cable, but the major vendors (Cisco and friends) have used firmware flags and settings to provide vendor lock-in for at least the last 15 years. It used to be that in the event of a major outage or hardware failure you would need to issue additional debug commands to the effect of "I know this isn't you…

> TAC would more or less laugh at you and hang up if you sought support. This is common belief and even a dire warning when filing TAC tickets. However, unless the third-party SFP is the prime suspect, I have never experienced a TAC from any major networking vendor[1] refuse support, let alone "laugh and hang up," even metaphorically. It's good SOP to keep at least a couple SFPs for each networking manufacturer on th…

Don't think I ever had a case there TAC said anything about my sfps. Most of the time if it's the SFP you replace it, code it correctly with a device like the one linked, or it's the wrong kind of SFP anyway.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can someone explain what "just works" when compared to other networking gear? IE I use ASUS and their mesh, and it all "just works". Have a mix of routers over 10 years and they all mesh together.

I started with TPLink gear in a mesh mode, and it kinda sorta maybe worked? I had an access point on the ground floor, a range extender + option to connect RJ45 (for devices with out WiFi), on the middle floor, and an additional meshed AP / range extender on the top floor. The top floor meshed thing basically didn't work, the RJ45 thing got me like 50 Mbps while wireless was getting me 200 Mbps. It 'just worked', but…

Ah, so based on your last paragraph I guess you're in "prosumer" territory? My router has dual WAN, SFP, can do cellular over USB, tells DHCP clients to use the pihole for DNS, and I don't have speed issues in or around the house with the mesh nodes, but maybe it falls short if I was looking to do more advanced routing/firewalls.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#85

For those outside the IT/networking realms, SFP use uniform connectors for both the networking device and the fiber cable, but the major vendors (Cisco and friends) have used firmware flags and settings to provide vendor lock-in for at least the last 15 years. It used to be that in the event of a major outage or hardware failure you would need to issue additional debug commands to the effect of "I know this isn't you…

I have installed 100s of SFP connections and I've never had an issue with compatibility. I've never even heard of this. Is it just for some ultra high end products or something?

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#86
post #50

This is not for me as I'm not a professional network engineer, but I do want to say that Ubiquiti has made home networking SO fun for me. Everything truly "Just Works." My setup is definitely more on the prosumer side, but it's been so build out and inspect my network with their tools.

Tangentially related: is Mikrotik as bad for wireless as some say? I want to like them, even though their equipment seems complex, I root for a company from the Baltics that have carved out a respectable niche. But they appear to struggle with wireless?

I've been using Mikrotik in various capacities since 2008, I even made IoT devices using RB450 boards before the word "IoT" was coined. I also love supporting a small company that is successfully competing with the giants.

Their long-distance wireless and outdoor wireless are great, but their regular WiFI access points and software are at most adequate. They are not keeping up with the state of the art.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#87

FiberStore (fs.com) have offered vendor neutral and reprogrammable SFPs and other modules for years (they're also dramatically less expensive).

Now if only the fiberstore SFP programmer didn't require an app that is basically malware as far as I'm concerned.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#88
post #15

Anybody go through the trouble of outfitting their entire home/condo with fiber? Probably overkill for residential but I am also thinking it might need to be shrouded in EMT conduit

Yeah, but it’s a km from one end to the other, and a WiFi relay wasn’t cutting it, and Ethernet couldn’t stretch the distance - so fibre it was.

Utter pain in the ass, broke one fibre pulling it through conduit with way too much force (like, 2000+N), another got eaten by a fox before I’d put it in a conduit, and terminating fibre is a royal pain if you have to do it.

But yeah, totally worth it.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#89
post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I suspect it is; and we'll see the price increase later. I used to use Ubiquiti gear a number of years ago, but left when they started moving into an Apple-esque "prosumer" direction with corresponding price increases. That, and the constant bugs.

Just to add context: Ubiquiti's G3 Instant entry level camera was launched at $30 in 2021; which is $55 adjusted for inflation, but they're actually selling it for $80. The G4 Instant is $99 and G6 Instant is $180(!). Keep in mind this is their cheapest, entry level, offering in the camera space. Whereas if you contrast these prices with a Reolink E1 Pro which is $55 (with free shipping) and superior to the G4 Instan…

One of the more egregious examples in my opinion is their rack mounted cable modem. I would love to get it but -- $279? No thanks.

Re: Ubiquiti SFP Wizard

#90
The technical information for this thing seems to be light on the ground. What kind of diagnostic stats are provided? How is it figuring out true Rx/Tx power without a light meter?

Also, reading "Just insert any brand’s SFP or QSFP module, select Copy, and insert any UI module to write the profile." suggests that this only works to reprogram UI optics

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