Pro Networking for a Beginner 🌐 How to Setup Ubiquity UniFi Express
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 9 มิ.ย. 2024
- The UniFi Express: a gateway, controller, and WiFi 6 router all-in-one, ideal for homes and small businesses. I'll guide you through the setup process, showcase its features, and help you decide if it's the right fit for your network needs.
Chapters
0:00 Intro
0:53 What is UniFi?
4:47 What comes in the box
7:53 Setup the UniFi Express
11:37 Manage the UX via app
15:08 Manage the UX via web
20:29 WiFi coverage test
23:45 Is this for you?
Tech Specs techspecs.ui.com/unifi/unifi-...
Installation Guide dl.ui.com/qig/ux/#index
🛒 Buy it directly from Ubiquiti (UniFi) Store: ui.com/cloud-gateways/express
or get the UDR from UniFi: store.ui.com/us/en/collection...
or UDR on Amazon (when not in stock UI.com): amzn.to/48uvTa4
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Bedankt voor je zeer heldere uitleg. Je video is heel duidelijk en als beginner kom je veel te weten over de mogelijkheden.
Glad you found it helpful!
I’ve ordered a couple myself for mesh so it’s nice to get an overview/quick tutorial. Many thanks for making the video!
Awesome! Thanks
Dude first of all, I have watched basically every Unify video you've made this past week and I love your content. Best on TH-cam hands down for this kind of stuff. I had a question about this unit in particular. I know you can Mesh these together, but can you also Mesh them to a traditional AP, such as a U6 etc? I can't seem to find that info online. I don't have LAN in my downstairs hallway, so I just need a powered Mesh unit to go there.
Wow! Thanks! Yes, they mesh with other UniFi APs. And I would do what as you're saying, the "traditional" UniFi AP rather than the extender. Extender is easy but what's nice about the AP, is that if you'll ever want a better connection, you can run a Cat 6 line to that downstairs hallways to get power & data to that AP from your UX (although you'll need a PoE switch or PoE injector).
Does it have static route and bridge mode?
Hoping to get your help on this. Moving into a new home and I currently have a plethora of smart devices, work and home devices, etc. I’m new to IT but learning more everyday. I’m looking to segment the various devices on my home network utilizing VLAN. Originally I had in mind to purchase the Edgerouter X, a lite 8 Poe switch and 2 ap. 1 Ap for all my smart devices and guests. The other for my personal devices like my wife’s iPad etc. my pc/work devices will be connected to the switch. Each all in their own vlan. For the vlan segmentation would this setup be solid or should I get an express, lite switch for expansion and an extra AP. Can the express act an access point as well as the controller? Saving me the $$ of buying 2 extra ap? Mind my knowledge if I’m getting things mixed up here. I’m just not sure which set up would be better.
How many WiFi devices total? If under that 60 range, it’ll be great. If your square footage is under 1,300; the UniFi Express would be great. And yes, the Express is everything in one (the controller, and gateway, and WiFi access point). You shouldn’t need two APs. And if you do, buy another AP, probably the U6 lite will do. Depends on your situation. Another more expensive setup can be your and UCG-Ultra and an access point like the U6. Watch my video on the UCG-Ultra. The UCG Ultra already has some ports built in. The Express only has one. But can add any switch as needed.
Thanks for the overview. I am curious, would it be possible to add a TP Link Deco Mesh to this to extend the coverage? If so, how would you go about adding that?
I have a video coming on that next week but with a Netgear wifi router.
You need to set your TP Link into "access point" mode. It'll need to be hardwired to the Express (or a switch off of the Express). However, if you have more than one of the TP Link Deco Mesh units, I'm not sure a second one will mesh to the first TP Link that's hardwired. A UniFi device (such as the Express) definitely won't mesh to it which is why you need to change your TP Link settings as I described, and hardwire it.
Let me know if the meshing still works.
When used as an access point via wire, is the LAN port still useable say to connect to a Flex Mini?
I haven't tried it out yet but I'm sure it can support a flex mini on the other end but there's limitations if you're using several VLANs. The UX can be used an access point to an existing UniFi network and the LAN can cannot to another device, say a macbook via ethernet.
Question - My goal is to use the Wifiman app with lidar/heatmapping capability for my existing, non-UniFi network (on an Asus router). But in order for me to use the wifiman app, I need to have a Unifi cloud gateway enabled device. Is it possible to use the UX router as a simple switch by disabling the wifi and just using for purposes for Wifiman?
You can give it a try. But consider that the WiFiman Wizard (the add on hardware) cost less than a UX. And it’ll let you scan any network. If you go the UX route, let us know if it works.
Very much enjoyed your TH-cam. I plan to use this to connect to 2 8PoE Lite Switches that connect and power my CloudKey+, 3 wired and 2 WiFi Protect Cameras in addition to a about about 10 WiFi devices. Will it handel all that? My current router is an Asus AC66U that is getting a liitle old in the tooth but currently does the job. Any advice is appreciated.
Thank you! With the UX (UniFi Express), you'll exceed the 5 unifi devices limit (including the UX itself). I would recommend you get the UDR (UniFi Dream Router). I probably have it linked in the description. If you have fast internet and want to use the Threat Detection in UniFi Network, then consider going with the UCG-Ultra and a UniFi Access Point since the UCG Ultra doesnt have built-in wifi. With Threat Detection, the UDR coudl be throttled down to as low as 300 Mbps but the UCG-Ultra can still be up to 1,000 Mbps. Let me know which way you decide to go.
@@ApexOneTech Thanks for the advise. I have an order in process for the express and I am attemting to cancel and wait for the UDR (UniFi Dream Router).
Can you use old iPads on WiFi 6… if not should you get the WiFi 5 AP’s? We have some iPads that are 4 and 7 years old (maybe older)…
Older devices will work with WiFi 6 APs. The older devices will not benefit directly but more and more newer devices have WiFi 6. You would get WiFi 5 APs if you’re just trying to save money or sometimes save on energy (negligible difference at a home environment though).
Hi can I set this up as a wifi controller only and keep my existing router? What is the setup to do this?
Do you mean just to set it as a Unifi controller and then add your existing router to it? I'm not sure if that's possible. It might be possible if you can disable the UniFi Express (UX) routing because I'm quite confident it won't allow you to have two routers on one network. And if so, just bad practice and sounds like a mess.
Why do you want to keep your existing router? or is it because it's also your wireless AP? If so, most of the wifi router combo units can just be set to be an access point only. So your UX can be the Unifi Controller and router, and then set your existing wifi router as just a wifi access point.
If your existing router has additional ports, it's quite inexpensive to get a small switch. And even one with POE that your router most likely does not have.
Can you use a non unifi 8 port unmanaged switch to the unifi express?
Yeah for sure. I have non-Unifi POE switch attached to this one currently. Clients on the switch show up as wired connections but of course you don’t have visibility of the switch ports in Unifi.
Thanks for the video. My USG gateway died and I replaced it with UniFi express. My network was setup by someone that is no longer accessible. It consists of Unifi switch 8, two APC Lites and an AP AC In Wall. I have the Express setup but my concern is adopting the other devices. Is it as simple as connecting the switch to the express and adopting those devices. Thanks in advance.
If the person who setup your network did some advanced configuration, like VLANs, then it might be worth it to try to restore the backup from the USG if you have it. Otherwise, just start fresh. So yes, you can plug in the UX. Set it up as a new device. Then, you can plug in the switch and it’ll prompt you to adopt to the new UX you just setup. The other unifi devices should also do that. Or they’ll say that you’ll need to reset that device. Another option is just go and reset all your unifi devices (physically). Then, plug the switch to the UX, and add adopt your existing Unifi devices to the UX. That would be simple. You’ll of course, at minimum, would need to setup the same WiFi name and password on the APs you reset.
One thing to note, is that you’ll be at the maximum (4) additional Unifi devices that the UX can support. And 2, you’ll most likely want to disable both WiFi radios on the UX since your existing network has setup enough APs and you don’t want the UX WiFi to interfere.
Thanks for quick reply. I was wondering about the 4 device limitation. Doesn’t the switch count a device or does everything connected through the switch plus the switch. If the later is the case, should I upgrade to the Dream Router or Ultra. I would like to add cameras down the road. Thanks again.
I will have UniFI Express and the Power Strip at my Airbnb in Jamaica. Can I manage the express remotely? or would I have to VPN into it? I have Dream Machine Pro and everything at the remote location.
If you’re set them up in the same account, then you can access them from your Unifi site manager no problem. And if not in the same account, you would need to be added as a user to whatever Unifi console you’re trying to connect to remotely.
@@ApexOneTech got it thanks. Yes. Will setup with same account.
Can I add an ubiquiti AP on the LAN cable and use it in mesh?
If you're adding on the UX as an access point to existing UniFi controller, then it should mesh with other UniFi APs that have meshing. I'm guessing, but haven't tested, that it'll also work if the UX is the controller.
UX will be main controller and AP has to be on the first floor of the house. @@ApexOneTech
I don't know if it'll work in true mesh mode but you can definitely connect an UniFi AP to the UX as the main controller. The LAN port is not POE so you'll most likely need a POE switch or POE injector to power the AP. You can add up to 4 UniFi devices to the UX when it's the controller so that means up to 4 APs if you're not using a UniFi POE switch (because that would also count towards the 4 limit).
Will the Unifi LTE Backup Pro work with this?
Yeah Unifi LTE Backup or the LTE Backup Pro should work with any Unifi gateway. Just goes into a LAN port. It's a bit different than a dual-WAN failover--which this doesn't have. As an example, the UCG Ultra does have dual WAN.
I am confused... the wifi 6 band is greyed out. Is it not built in?
It’s greyed out for you? It is built in and mine is using WiFi 6 for clients that support it.
@@ApexOneTech The UniFi Express has no 6 GHz. Only the U6 Enterprise and U7 have 6 GHz at the moment.
@@magnuserlandsson1327 WiFi 6 and 6 Ghz shouldn't be confused. WiFi 6 is only up to 5 Ghz. It's Wifi 6E that goes to 6 Ghz.
@@ApexOneTech I see now that @Voiceguitar wrote "wifi 6 band". My brain read that as 6 GHz band since wifi 6 is not a frequency band just a friendly name for the standard.
Put second device and switch to 5gjz 80mhz, it will boost your wifi experience 🎉
Thanks for the tip! Surprised it’s not on 80 MHz width by default.
@@ApexOneTech does it support 160mhz? 🤔 Thinking about this device for my small lab
It's really bsht with 1gb/s rj45 ports , unfortunately it's not enough...😅
Only good for very small networks. Very slow start-up process. But good otherwise
For sure. It starts up slow but’s just for the entire console. You’ll be connected to the internet much sooner than that. So not too bad. Shouldn’t need to reboot other than for updates anyways.
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