It used to be that with home users, a mismatch of networking and WiFi kit was normal. You had your ISP’s Internet Router and if you were lucky, it had WiFi built-in. You then just had to position it so that you could run a cable to behind the TV.
If not, you added an Access Point. More wires to hide!
Enter Ubiquiti’s Dream Machine!
It’s an advanced enterprise-class router, WiFi and firewall, packed into a beautiful and compact box that wouldn’t look out of place in any home. Indeed aesthetics aside, Ubiquiti Networks was formed in 2005 by the ex-Apple employee, Robert Pera. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pera) No wonder the products all look great.
The UDM (Ubiquiti’s Dream Machine) does however require a separate modem to connect to your ISP, but this does mean that the UDM is capable of hosting either Fibre or Cable.
Switching on the UDM, the unit is configurable via Ubiquiti’s mature Unifi application – the same application used to manage your home network and also by installers to configure every Unifi product deployed – at home or in the enterprise. There are no shortcomings here, and this is part of why the UDM is so powerful.
Mesh your WiFi
The WiFi power of the UDM is great out of the box, but should you find that your study doesn’t get a fast enough WiFi or you’re on the fringe of the signal, then this is where the power of the Unifi range comes into play; It’s easy and cost-effective to add an extra Access Point. There are various within the Unifi range that do the job, but specifically for the home environment, the HD-Flex make a really good choice. Positioning the HD-Flex at the nearest plug-socket between the UDM and your study will provide a boost to the WiFi signal and you’ve created your first MESH network – easy! This MESH is centrally managed, so if you decide to change your WiFi password (or create a separate speed limited WiFi for the Kids), then you do this in one place and the whole MESH is changed. No more changing passwords on separate WiFi boosters anymore.
After several installs of UDM in the home environment, I can honestly say that my experience in installing the UDM is really really good, it’s straight forward to install and easy to support – this can even be done remotely.