Check if Ubiquiti's claims about their access points are accurate.
Check if Ubiquiti's claims about their access points are accurate.
The page mentions a maximum aggregate rate of 3.0 Gbps on the 5 GHz band. The access point description lists a PoE port as 1 Gbps Ethernet RJ45. This seems contradictory since a 1GbE port typically supports up to 1 Gbps, not 3 Gbps. Comparing newer Netgear APs shows they offer 2.5 GbE ports, which aligns with expectations.
This setup can handle up to 3 Gbps, though the Ethernet controller itself is limited.
Wouldn't you wonder if they'd invest more in a quicker access point than a quicker Ethernet controller? I appreciate Ubiquiti products, but it doesn't make sense to purchase these since Netgear devices offer the same price for 2.5 GbE compared to 1 GbE.
It's unlikely you'll reach more than 1GbE with most Wi-Fi connections, and 2.5GbE switches are uncommon, so it doesn't greatly affect things. The maximum combined data rate on 5GHz is around 3Gbps, but you rarely hit that speed on Wi-Fi.
This promotion isn't exclusive to Ubiquiti. Every producer employs similar tactics to attract new customers. Still, Ubiquiti stands out by explicitly mentioning aggregate speed. They should clarify that speed refers to the combined performance of multiple clients across various bands when connected optimally to a single AP. A wireless AP will never achieve its full theoretical speed in practice, but it can typically reach at least half of it. This is just a simplified view—50% of 3000 is still better than 50% of 1000. Regarding the NIC speed, it's unlikely this is the only WiFi 6 AP they'll release. They're vying with other brands that offer stronger specs on paper, and WiFi 6E is becoming more common, so multi-gig support for the uplink NIC should appear soon.
I believe Ubiquity offers affordable options even in the business hardware segment. I’m considering Zyxel for WiFi 6e since I dislike Unifi software and find Ubiquity firmware often riddled with issues at release. My nanoHD is becoming increasingly sluggish with each firmware upgrade, and there’s no clear sign it’s due to crosstalk. I definitely won’t use anything without a 2.5Gbit port.
This means the system handles both transmission and reception at 3Gbps, resulting in 1500Mbps per way. They might suggest a half-duplex setup for marketing reasons, which isn't ideal.
The main point to grasp is that not every data exchange between devices passes through the router and the AP’s physical link. Layer 2 frames travel straight between hosts. For traffic between different VLANs and without a smart switch, the data often returns to the router. Thus, there’s no requirement to align maximum throughput with wired speeds. Also, most Wi-Fi usage is closely linked to internet activity, where speeds over 1Gb are rare—especially for large file transfers or editing.