Assistance with Ubiquiti devices and solutions.
Assistance with Ubiquiti devices and solutions.
They provided me with a PPPoe username and password, though not many routers are compatible. One of my TP-Link models supports it, but I wondered if that might be affecting performance—perhaps through blacklisting or rate limiting. The test results were close to the AP, like the phone was placed directly on top. A bit further away (on a floor above), speeds dropped by about 40-50%, which makes sense given the distance of around 25 meters. I’m considering adding more APs on the upper level if it helps achieve the full speed I need, even if it means sacrificing remote management for higher speeds. I found a used Cisco AP on eBay for around £20, which should be worth more than what I paid. If it delivers solid speeds, I’m okay keeping it. Regarding Cisco APs, used ones on eBay are very affordable, but some require special licensing—though a jailbreak workaround exists. I’m open to using full Cisco gear (routers, switches, APs) if it improves everything, though their licensing and setup seem more complicated than UniFi Cisco models I’ve seen.
You need a controller or to get an AP with (if I recall) the CAPWAP/controller image loaded instead of the default Lightweight image. Any old IOS stuff doesn't do smart licensing and it's basically honor system in most cases (aside firewall stuff I think) Meraki stuff on the other hand requires a license to function, there is a 30 day grace period and that's about it. It's a subscription license for the enterprise Meraki stuff. There is also the Meraki-Go line but from what I hear it's pretty bad in terms of features but depending on what you need could get you by and is a single time license.
The licensing is primarily for remote management solutions like Ubiquiti, and without it you may face limitations in basic setup. Pricing varies widely, from around $50 to over $10,000, which makes budgeting uncertain. It functions more as an operating system than a standalone app, similar to how Unif runs the UniFi controller. You might need to purchase a comparable hardware solution if you want full functionality.
License applies to device features. For APs you don’t need a license since they’re Cisco-branded. For the Meraki switch (owned by Cisco), a license is required. The cost is around $150 per year, though multi-year options are available in 1, 3, 5, 7, or 10-year plans.
A controller is essential to program and direct AP actions, it can be a standalone device or integrated onto one AP, though only certain APs support acting as the controller. Unlike Ubiqiuti where it’s mainly for stats and can be disabled, Cisco AP controllers must remain active continuously because access points send traffic through them before routing it elsewhere (in default mode, flexconnect is available but adds complexity).