Syncing all Wi-Fi 7 gadgets can be a challenge to set up.
Syncing all Wi-Fi 7 gadgets can be a challenge to set up.
Unify has been promoting Wi-Fi 7 compatible networking gear over recent weeks. I think they are releasing these products quickly without fully checking compatibility with other devices they sell. I bought a Unify Express unit and two wall APs, both supporting Wi-Fi 7. Since the APs are more affordable than Wi-Fi 6, my supplier recommended it and everything went well. After setting up my existing Unify network, I expected a straightforward installation. The Unify Express setup was smooth, but connecting the APs failed—the controller didn’t recognize them. After several attempts, both the APs and Express couldn’t be configured. When I reached out to Unify, they explained the APs need a specific version of the Unify OS that isn’t installed on the controller. To make matters worse, there’s no official update planned, though a trial version is available. After some time, the technician flashed the controller with the trial OS, and suddenly the APs worked. It’s puzzling why Unify would push such devices if they can’t be easily deployed on networks with their own controllers.
It's unusual to see Unify promoting the UX7. From what I understand, the UX isn't getting much attention. If I had purchased another controller, I wouldn't have faced any issues. My 3-year-old UDM is already running Network 9.x. I chose the UX because it's compact enough to fit in a cabinet and the network will be quite limited.
Unfortunately, without staying updated on Ubiquiti releases, issues like these can arise. After seeing YouTube reviewers discuss the UX, I initially thought it had potential but soon noticed problems similar to the original UDR. It makes sense that they upgraded to WiFi 7 versions that seem to work better now (based on reviews only). I guess Ubiquiti recognized the challenges and stopped regular updates, which unfortunately led to the problems you faced. It’s unclear why they keep the UX listed online; they might need to clear inventory. If I were you, I’d trade it in for a UX7—better support there in the future.