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Aruba vs unifi AP

bittihuduga

i am in search of 2 ceiling mount AP for my house.

i was looking at unify AP wifi 6pro and came across Aruba on ebay.

i can get used aruba 325 on ebay for around 70GBP each.

but i read somewhere it needs a special management software which is not free (paid service)

is that so?

unifi AP can be managed using their software on any local machine if i am correct.

new unifi is each 160euros

so not sure which one to go for.

i have several devices plus home automations sensors/bulbs too

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smuggler.ie

Not Aruba specialist at all, but have it in mind for potential my own WiFi setup in the future

Have installed several "sites" with AP11, AP12 and AP303 - simple initial setup, Plug&Play for sub units and serve well for average home/SB setup.

Aruba Instant On does VLAN's for net separation for various scenarios

New Aruba, model depending, might run similar price to Ubi, AP325 seam to be from high(er) tier so 70 is a gift i guess, but...

As long Aruba model support "instant" it does not require any licensing, extra hardware or even software/subscription to run. Pay attention to some models that are AP vs IAP. Per say, JW327A is IAP-325(can run instant as well as under controller) where JW186A is controller based AP-325(cannot be converted to IAP), also, certain models are region specific(JW327A = US, JW325A = RW(rest of the world)), see here https://www.arubanetworks.com/assets/og/OG_AP-320Series.pdf

So, before commitment, ensure is IAP compatible and/or ready converted to IAP

Some here https://community.arubanetworks.com/community-home/digestviewer/viewthread?MID=25790 and all over WWW at your disposal.

Have no real "hands on" experience with Ubi, seam OK as well from what i read. Ubi had some "scandal" re personal* data siphoning ... but who to say others doesn't/didn't do same, just didn't got caught 😏

Good luck and keep us informed whichever way you go

bittihuduga

i read the same online that JW186A is not instant but controller based and which is not free.

hence the question here. i did ask the seller and he did say it was 2016 model so may be 512mb ram on it (prior to 2015 it was 256mb)

other option is omada but then i am going away from the top 2 i wanted to a totally new option

Cuddlesworth

I wouldn't buy the Aruba 325's, odds are they need a controller and licensing. Its a headache I wouldn't go near.

You can pick up a U6-Lite or wax214 new for around 100 quid. You don't need a pro model in a household, its a waste of money. They are meant for office environment's where 100+ devices are spamming traffic in all directions.

bittihuduga

thank you @Cuddlesworth for your guidance. probably will give aruba a miss and look for Unifi AP.

do they need a controller if you are having 2 of these AP in a house?

Cuddlesworth

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118748916#Comment_118748916

No, you just give each of them the same SSID + Password and your good. They get configured via a app usually. The devices connecting to the wifi will try figure out which is better to use.

I would power them via a POE switch, like a netgear GS305P or a USW-Lite-8-PoE-EU.

bittihuduga

i am planning to buy a normal 24port switch and get an additional poe adapter for the 2 APs to cut cost unless i find a 24port POE switch at a bargain

smuggler.ie

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118754211#Comment_118754211

While shopping, pay attention to the content - it use to be that some single Ubi units would include PoE injector in the box, where others wouldn't. Sets of x3, x5 would not if i'm not mistaking.

niallb

Most of the older ones that used 24V passive included one with a single purchase, but not as you say in a multipack.

Now that most of them support 802.3af or 802.3at POE they rarely include adapters at all. The injectors are cheap and ship fast from their EU store.

They have nice inline adapters to convert proper POE to 24V passive and they're not much more than a tenner either.

POE switches are rarely silent and the injector bricks are which may be another plus, but you may eventually use the POE ports for things you might not think of now. There's a 5 port unifi switch that runs from POE which is pretty handy behind a TV.

bittihuduga

thanks for the tips. will keep that in mind.