ubiquiti beacon HD

kev2009

Hi,

Does anyone have a Ubiquiti Beacon HD? I'm considering switching to Ubiquiti and using one of these to extend wifi but i'm not sure on the specs. The web page says 300+ mbps but then later goes on to say upto 1.733gbps.. so which is it? My issue is i don't have a network point where i want to place the access point (was thinking FlexHD initially) but then i saw the beacon HD and thought this would work well as have a power socket nearby so would be ideal.

Still undecided on whether to get dream machine OR get the USG, I like the idea of the Dream machine as a all in one but no POE is a bit of a bind but I may decided to live with it.

Does the Beacon HD work well? he last netgear wifi extender i had kept dropping off and needing frequent reboots to get it to stay connected.

Thanks

Kev

arciere

300 Mbps is what you could (theoretically) achieve with 2.4Ghz networks.

1733 Mbps is what you could (theoretically) achieve with 5 Ghz networks.

That being said, it all depends on the client. You can have the most powerful WiFi radio in the world, but if your client only supports 802.11n, you will never see any of those advertised speed.

Another thing to bear in mind is MIMO. MIMO simply speaking means using more than one antenna simultaneously to have more than one data stream to/from the access point. It goes without saying that, in order to have a 5x5 MIMO, both access point and client need to have the same number of MIMO antennas, otherwise you are only limited to one data stream (frankly speaking, pretty much no commonly used device has 5x5 MIMO antennas today, or even 3x3)

On a side note, I don't have any direct experience with the Beacon, but I'm a big fan of Ubiquiti products, definitely another level compared to Netgear stuff.

kev2009

Thanks @arciere. I've been looking at them for a while but never taken the plunge. Would you recommend the dream machine or getting individual products?

I personally been on the fence for a while as whilst it seems good equipment, i wasn't a fan of fixing access points to the ceiling etc. I saw the FlexHD and thought, could go for that as I have a network switch by the TV so could stand the FlexHD just behind the TV or maybe lay it down on the 2nd shelf, depending where the antennas are on the device.

The draw back in having another device, the modem as i'm tight for sockets and depending on the plug for the modem, will depend if it fits or not as I already have a square 3 way adaptor plugged into the power socket to allow the router & another device to have power. So it depends on what the power plug is like for Ubiquiti & the modem (thinking the draytek 130 modem at present).

I've heard the main issue is you can't control multiple devices in separate locations from dream machine but you can from the USG but for my usage, I think it wont make too much difference as I can upgrade one location at a time (thinking might get the same for parents place in the future, if it works out). However, parents have BT youview box ad I've heard there is some issue that you then have to go in and write some commands to make it work, not ideal as i'd sooner just plug in and it all works as i fear any upgrades might remove the code and you have to re-enter it.

Would you recommend the dream machine? My thinking was dream machine would give wireless at one part of the property and I can put the beacon at the back of the property to give better coverage as it can be quiet slow my wifi and i'm not too sure why but i'm hoping this will help. I thought about upgrading to BT smart hub 2 & discs but i'm not too sure how successful it would be or the drop outs whereas it seems ubiquiti products are designed to work and remain working, not needing frequent reboots etc.

Its a bit expensive but if i go for it, i'm hoping it works better.

Alternate if USG, could key gen 2, and then beacon but not sure i'd gain much by having separate devices or if there is any real advantage?

Could the flexHD work if i sit it just behind my TV or would the TV block the wifi signal significantly?

Still undecided what to get so weighing up options.

Thanks

Kev

arciere

I haven't worked with the Dream Machine as I use Ubiquiti for personal use but mainly for work, so we buy exactly what we need.

Another thing worth considering, if your main issue is the lack of network ports, would be the UniFi Access Points with the free UniFi controller: you connect all the access point to your main network (router, switch...) but if you have one or two that cannot be physically connected, you can use the so-called 'Wireless uplink'. What it does, it joins an access point wirelessly to your network as soon as it is powered on (with its PoE injector) by making it a sort of 'repeater' (obviously it will need to be installed within range of other access points). This would probably be the cheapest option with Ubiquiti.

In regards to router/modem, I use a Draytek 2860 at home and I'm very happy with it. Not sure about the USG but I believe we are pretty much on the same level.

kev2009

Thanks @arciere. I thought about joining it wirelessly BUT it says it needs an existing ubiquiti AP. If i bought the USG, it is effectively only a router, no AP so that means buying another AP to put in close proximity to the router and draytek modem and then placing another AP further away and joining it wirelessly.

Whereas, if buy the dream machine, it has a built in cloud-key, router, switch and AP so then just means joining a separate AP to the dream machine (assuming the AP can be of any type and not the same type). which is basically what i need. he beacon is a extender whereas the FlexHD implies it needs to be wired, which is a issue for me and don't really want to start chasing out walls and running a network cable and fitting a socket etc.

Thanks

Kev