Ubiquiti AirRouter HP Indoor WiFi Router

I recently decided to replace my aging wireless router because it was beginning to have some reliability problems. I could reset it, but it would happen again a day or two later.I went through a few wireless routers before I found the AR HP. That's not exactly true, I found it in my research, but no local retailers carry it in my area. I was impressed with it, but because I am impatient and did not want to wait for a delivery from Amazon, I hit the local computer store and bought what looked like a decent wireless router that was not overly expensive. I returned it a couple of days later because it proved to be more unreliable than the device it was replacing.I repeated this process three more times. Buy it, try it, return it (for multiple reasons).I finally admitted defeat and ordered the Ubiquiti. I would like to emphasize that this is NOT a plug and play wireless router. Joe Consumer should think twice about buying it. I am an IT professional and the AR HP is designed for professional installation. Even as a pro with 25 years of experience, I found the myriad of options a little confusing.If you do buy this, both the consumer and IT person should definitely "RTFM" (Read The Flippin Manual). The included documentation is a little sparse, but a well documented 57 page manual is available for download online here - [...] All of the options are covered in coherent English in the manual.If this is your first Ubiquiti, expect to spend anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours setting it up and tinkering with it, depending on the complexity of your network. One of the nifty features that you will see right away is a warning from the router itself, telling you that you are using the default login and should change it when you first boot it up.If you are already familiar with Ubiquiti devices, the AirOS firmware is the same interface across their spectrum of gear and you can dive right in.The wireless tab is where the complexity and configurability of this device really starts to show itself. The Wireless Mode setting will allow you to configure it as a Station, Station WDS, Access Point and Access Point WDS. The typical consumer is going to use Access Point.Don't do like I did and configure it for something else. I did and could no longer access the firmware via the default IP Address. I had to connect to my DSL router and determine what IP address the Ubiquiti was now using, reset my PC's IP address and then connect to change it back. Which brings me to another nifty feature of the AR HP. When you make a settings change you are presented with an option to "Test, Apply, or Discard", Clicking Test gives you a 3 minute window to see if the change you just made is working the way you think it will. If you lose control of it, no worries, it will revert back in 3 minutes. It only took one close call for me to start using the Test option first.For security purposes I white listed all eight wireless devices in my home by MAC address: That's two laptops, a desktop PC, two smart phones, a tablet and two Roku's. Even if you know the ridiculously long pass phrase to connect to my router, if you aren't on the ACL (Access Control List), you aren't getting connected.Speaking of security, WPS (WiFi Protected Setup) is not supported. WPS is insecure and devices using WPS can be easily compromised.Performance has been very good. I located the Ubiquiti in my basement near my home office. I routinely make wireless Voice Over IP calls from my cell phone and I can still access the internet easily from the second floor bedroom and the detached garage about 80 feet away from the house.Pros & Cons:Pro - Well designed device, using a mature firmware interface. Good signal at reasonable distances. Highly configurable for a multitude of situations. Good security options. Well documented, the manual clearly explains the various options and functions. You are not going to find anything even close to this level of sophistication at this price point.Con - Not available at your local electronics retailer. The AirOS firmware is designed for IT pros, there is a bit of a learning curve even for tech savvy users. The manual is not included and must be downloaded. Some enterprise level options are Ubiquiti proprietary and will only work with other Ubiquiti devices.Summary: If you are an ordinary household consumer, many of the features of the AR HP will be overkill or unused. Personally I am sick of paying for cheap junk, with poor documentation, that will get tossed in a few months. Ubiquity is mostly unknown at the consumer level, but has a good reputation in enterprise IT for reliability. If you are an IT pro setting up an enterprise grade wireless solution, Ubiquiti Networks should definitely get consideration. Not just for this device, but their impressive array of solutions.

Easy setup. Seems to have much better range than the former 3 routers from WD, Linksys and Netgear. Doesn't look like it but really performs well. It will drop the signal from time to time but so far not as much as the former routers I've owned. However, it drops more than I expected it given other reviews where the router is used in commercial settings. Mine is on the top floor of a 2 story house (plus a full basement) and I get decent signal in the basement (a first) and even on the driveway in certain areas.Docking 1 star simply for the dropouts.

It was working great until I'd DIED. One minute it's working the next wireless SSID is gone. I only had it for 7 months and apparently Ubiquiti does not cover under their warranty. They did not give reasons only declined my RMA "due to unit being Out-of-Warranty." REALLY, only 7 months? Something to keep in mind if you're thinking about buying this unit.UPDATE 1: (6/23/2015)Ubiquiti support replied asking for proof of purchase on 6/16/2015 and after sending them the proof they replied back on 6/17/2015 with "We will be sending a new RMA approval shortly." I have yet to receive that "approved RMA." After several attempts of emailing Ubiquiti support, they have completely ignored my emails. Twice, I have provided proof of purchase. Very disappointed with their support.UPDATE 2: (7/8/2015)Ubiquiti finally approved RMA on 6/24/2015. Item was returned that same week, now just waiting for replacement. The only unfortunate part about all this is I am now on about 3-weeks without a router.UPDATE 3: (7/20/2015)Ubiquiti sent a replacement router. When the device is working it works really well. Speed tests are 40% much faster than my previous Linksys wireless. The Ubiquiti AirRouter HP is a great device if it stays working and doesn't die. I am keeping it at 3-stars because it took much persistence on my behalf to get them to RMA my dead device only after 6 months. Something to keep in mind before you purchase, customer support (if needed) will requires lots of time, patience, and persistence. If it doesn't fail, it's a 5-star device.

I am not sure what to say here. I worked with this router for many, many hours over several days. I looked at YouTubes, etc. I had chat conversations with tech support. The wireless signal was there when I went to bed, it would be gone the next day, I checked the leases, reset IP addresses, everything I could think of or find to try. No luck. I finally gave up and returned it.I bought a TP-LINK TL-WR841HP 300Mbps High Power Wireless N Router with twin 8dBi antennas. It has worked flawlessly for several weeks now with great coverage all over the house and yard. It also cost half as much as the Ubiquiti Router.Here's the deal. I have other Ubiquiti products. They are great and I swear by the brand. That's what makes me think I was just doing something wrong with this router. It was probably my fault. I know little about networks and am not a professional. If I was convinced the router was a bad product, I would have given it one star. If you are not an expert, you should probably look elsewhere for a wireless router. The TPLink router hooked right up and worked; the Ubiquiti did not.One more thing, if you need documentation, don't look here. Ubiquiti is known for its poor documentation, but its products are generally worth the hassle.