Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD review: Simple mesh Wi-Fi with a unique design

The mesh Wi-Fi marketplace is growing, and many companies are refining their ideas to deliver a seamless high-speed network that can encompass an expanse much larger than what a traditional router can cover. Ubiquiti is one of these companies, and its AmpliFi HD (which stands for High Density) system is its most powerful mesh kit with a theoretical range upwardly to 20,000 square feet.

I live in a ane,100 square-foot house with a basement, so I don't quite need that kind of coverage, but my stock ISP Hitron router does have a tough fourth dimension getting a strong indicate to the dorsum corners downstairs. I ran a number of speed tests and folded in ease-of-use, setup and management, and availability of settings to go a good idea of whether or not the AmpliFi HD is worth the money.

About this review

Ubiquiti provided Windows Central with a review unit of measurement of the dual-band AC1750 AmpliFi Hard disk drive mesh Wi-Fi system. It costs about $340 for the router and two mesh satellites (which hither are called MeshPoints). Standalone routers and MeshPoints are sold separately if you'd like to slowly build your mesh network, costing virtually $150 and most $120 respectively.

See at AmpiFi

Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD hardware and specs

Category	Spec
Performance	AC1750 3 x iii (450 Mbps + 1,300 Mbps)
Frequency	2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Wireless standards	802.11b/grand/north/air-conditioning
Antennas	Iii dual-band
Security	WPA2-PSK AES/TKIP
Processor	Qualcomm Atheros QCA956X 750 MHz
Memory	32 MB Flash 128 MB RAM
Ports	Router: USB-A USB-C (charging)
Ethernet	Router: Iv LAN 1 WAN
Dimensions	Router: 3.91 inches 10 3.85 inches x iii.92 inches (99.5 mm x 97.8 mm x 99.half dozen mm) Mesh node: nine.sixty inches x 2.xiii inches x 2.27 inches (243.83 mm x 54 mm 10 57.75 mm)

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Hard disk design and features

The AmpliFi HD sets itself apart from the contest with a unique design for both the main router and the nodes, which hither are branded as MeshPoints. The boxy router is mainly white with a soft-bear on end, information technology has an adjustable LED underglow, and at that place'due south a rather large touchscreen in the middle that can be used for unproblematic controls too as displaying the current fourth dimension or cyberspace speeds. Equally far every bit routers get, it's one of the nicest I've seen, and fifty-fifty without external antennae, information technology performs quite well on its own.

The AmpliFi HD has a unique pattern, setup is a snap, and it offers excellent performance and range.

The MeshPoints are a different story. They're fabricated up of two parts with a magnetic joint in the heart. The bottom piece plugs into a wall socket, and the top piece acts every bit an antenna which can be pointed in the general direction of the main router or, say, the desk in your office. The MeshPoints have the same soft-touch on paint on them, and they are aesthetically pleasing, but they're a chip bulky to have hanging off your wall. If you're not able to hide them behind something, they're going to look a chip out of identify.

The dorsum of the router has a WAN port for connecting dorsum to your modem and four Gigabit LAN ports for connecting other wired devices. At that place was an issue with full Gigabit speeds only available if the router was in bridge mode, simply that seems to have been resolved with a firmware update. On the back is as well a USB-A port that doesn't do anything — which is a existent sore spot for AmpliFi owners — and a USB-C port that'due south used for powering the device. Equally for the MeshPoints, there are no ports. For this reason, wired backhaul is not possible, so you'll have to rely on wireless unless y'all opt for two main routers rather than the router and MeshPoint setup.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi Hard disk drive setup

Like about mesh Wi-Fi systems, AmpliFi HD relies heavily on an app to get things set up. The app is available for Android and iOS, and there's a browser setup method that can also be used if a mobile device isn't handy.

Yous plug the AmpliFi Hd router into your modem with the provided Ethernet cable, plug in the ability adapter, and let information technology do its thing. I used the Android app for first-time setup, and the entire procedure took most five minutes. In one case the router is powered on, the app on your phone volition detect it and enquire you to create a wireless network with a password. Once that's washed I updated the router's firmware — which again just took a few minutes — and was so free to plug in MeshPoints around my firm.

One time plugged in, the MeshPoints connect back to the main router automatically, taking about 3 minutes to set themselves up. Once both were online and recognized in the app, I again took a few minutes to update the firmware, then got busy testing network speeds. If you're looking for a mesh system that'southward pretty much foolproof, this one volition certainly do the pull a fast one on. Within the app and in a browser there is also 24/7 live support should you see any obstacles.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD performance

For these experiments, I used Ookla'due south Speedtest to measure how well AmpliFi HD works. First, I tested the main AmpliFi router alone in the same room, and then again in my office, and finally downstairs in the back corner furthest from the router. I repeated the distance tests with a MeshPoint plugged into an outlet near the middle of my home (upstairs) and some other plugged in downstairs, likewise near the center of the layout but on the other side, forming sort of a multi-level triangle. They both continued dorsum to the router without need for a daisy-chain, which is recommended by Ubiquiti.

I too tested speeds using my standard Hitron modem and router combo that comes from my ISP. My internet plan is rated at 250 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up.

AmpliFi HD router ii.iv GHz (no MeshPoints)

Location	Ping	Down speed	Upward speed
Living room (10 anxiety)	14 ms	53.69 Mbps	16.24 Mbps
Role (30 feet)	11 ms	34.29 Mbps	sixteen.36 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	11 ms	27.76 Mbps	16.x Mbps

AmpliFi Hard disk router v GHz (no MeshPoints)

Location	Ping	Down speed	Up speed
Living room (10 feet)	xi ms	179.94 Mbps	16.22 Mbps
Office (30 feet)	11 ms	133.53 Mbps	xvi.37 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	10 ms	20.02 Mbps	9.57 Mbps

The AmpliFi Hd router might not quite have the same 2.four GHz speed as my old Hitron router when up close, but moving to my function and basement, I saw better functioning. The v GHz radio upwards close was on par with my old router, and the AmpliFi HD router delivered considerably better speeds at a 30-foot range and slightly better speeds in the basement.

AmpliFi Hard disk drive 2.4 GHz (two MeshPoints)

Location	Ping	Down speed	Up speed
Office (thirty feet)	eleven ms	38.54 Mbps	16.25 Mbps
Basement (forty anxiety)	11 ms	41.65 Mbps	sixteen.22 Mbps

AmpliFi HD 5 GHz (2 MeshPoints)

Location	Ping	Downward speed	Up speed
Office (30 feet)	12 ms	127.82 Mbps	16.24 Mbps
Basement (xl feet)	11 ms	86.39 Mbps	sixteen.22 Mbps

With the full mesh setup humming, I was able to get smashing 2.four GHz download speeds, doubling what my Hitron router is capable of. It substantially capped my upload speed in each test besides. As for the v GHz radio, I again saw double speed in my role and almost viii times the speed when in the dorsum corner of my basement.

Hitron 2.four GHz

Location	Ping	Down speed	Up speed
Living room (ten anxiety)	11 ms	80.39 Mbps	16.23 Mbps
Office (30 feet)	11 ms	xviii.99 Mbps	15.42 Mbps
Basement (forty feet)	15 ms	fifteen.29 Mbps	11.19 Mbps

Hitron 5 GHz

Location	Ping	Downward speed	Up speed
Living room (10 anxiety)	10 ms	179.90 Mbps	16.30 Mbps
Part (30 feet)	10 ms	64.02 Mbps	sixteen.26 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	xiii ms	thirteen.32 Mbps	11.41 Mbps

Information technology's clear from these tests that the AmpliFi Hard disk iii-pack with the chief router and two MeshPoints is best cut out for a dwelling house larger than mine. While the main router does accept the range to hitting the back corner of my basement from the forepart corner upstairs, adding a node near the center of the house cranked upwardly the speed far past what I was getting with my one-time Hitron router.

It'south a shame at that place's no wired backhaul selection and no dedicated band for backhaul, but yous tin prepare which radio is primarily used for communication on each MeshPoint. I did some testing with different radios gear up as the courage but didn't run into whatsoever meaning changes. However, on a crowded network, I believe this would come in handy.

The AmpliFi HD uses a unmarried SSID across the router and MeshPoints, so at that place's no need for your devices to make a switch when you motility out of range. Information technology seems to have a fleck of problem choosing either 5 GHz or ii.4 GHz radios right away, but I constitute that as soon as I was doing something heavy information technology flipped over to the 5 GHz radio, and if I moved too far out of range information technology flipped me dorsum to the ii.4 GHz radio without me really noticing.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD app and management

The Android app I used here is laid out well and is thus easy to navigate. At the height are five tabs. Overview gives a quick look at signal strength between MeshPoints and main router every bit well as how many clients are connected to the network. From here you can tap a node or router to bring up a sub-bill of fare that has further settings, similar the power to ready up a separate SSID on a specific radio, security protocol, guest network, and toggling band steering and router steering. Steering tells the MeshPoints to connect back to the router if at all possible fifty-fifty if the signal is weaker). Y'all can also tweak DNS and toggle IPv6, as well as toggle Bridge Manner.

The Operation tab contains a live graph of throughput and usage, and you can perform a quick Internet access provider exam to see what speeds are coming through the wall. The Guest tab lets you lot set up an additional guest network with a specific number of guests allowed, and the Family tab has a toggle for pausing cyberspace on all devices as well as a list of devices currently connected to the network. Tapping a device brings up a sub-bill of fare where you can set priority from standard to either gaming or streaming. As far as quality of service (QoS) goes, that'south about it.

Finally, the Diagnose tab will let you know if something'southward wrong, and you tin can attempt to ready the trouble(due south) with the tap of a push. In my testing, I however haven't come across any issues. The router does a congenital-in firewall, simply it's about as bones as can be. There is besides no congenital-in VPN support.

Ubiquiti AmpliFi HD review: Conclusion

It's clear that Ubiquiti'due south AmpliFi Hard disk drive is going to evangelize impressive range and speed, but the $340 toll tag for the kit is a fleck much for a lot of people, especially if they're not living in an enormous house. The master router is sold separately, though, and so you lot can start at that place and build as needed. Since you lot can also utilise the router with other routers, including other AmpliFi Hard disk routers, the setup can have a practiced amount of variance.

The AmpliFi HD certainly has its flaws — no Ethernet ports on the MeshPoints, the USB-A port doesn't do anything, and there'south non a ton of command over the arrangement once you accept it set and running — only then practice most other mesh Wi-Fi systems.

Who should purchase this mesh Wi-Fi arrangement?

Anyone with a large area to cover can benefit from the range and performance AmpliFi HD mesh Wi-Fi system. Information technology might not take the most advanced user settings, and it lacks a USB port for local file or printer sharing, merely it's easy to ready and foolproof to manage. If you want to ability it on and for the most part forget nigh it while enjoying a robust and far-reaching betoken, information technology will practise the trick. Don't forget; yous can commencement minor with a single router and build from there as needed.

See at AmpliFi

Pros

• Great router blueprint with touchscreen
• Iii spatial streams
• Easy setup
• Four LAN ports on the router
• Excellent range and performance

Cons

• No Ethernet ports on MeshPoints
• No wired backhaul options
• USB-A port doesn't exercise annihilation

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/ubiquiti-amplifi-hd-review-mesh-wi-fi-unique-design

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