ubiquiti

Connected Home, Technology

How To: Home Network 5.0 with Ubiquiti WiFi 6 Long Range & Protect G4 Review & Calibration

Previously in my smart home series, I covered: the basic principles of wireless networking including using a consumer grade wireless router upgrading to a prosumer/SMB grade managed network with a firewall appliance and multiple discrete WiFi access points recommendations for configuring a Unifi Network, including WiFi spectrum allocation, access point settings, VLANs for IOT devices, and integration of Sonos devices maintaining a separate SonosNet wireless … Continue reading How To: Home Network 5.0 with Ubiquiti WiFi 6 Long Range & Protect G4 Review & Calibration

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Home Network 4.0 with Ubiquiti Unifi Dream Machine Pro, Switch Pro, Flex Mini, Smart Power Plug & UPS Review & Calibration Updated

My friends laugh (and my wife sighs) at how often I upgrade our home networking gear. Our biggest equipment swap occurred two years ago, when we consolidated our entire home network on Ubiquiti Unifi gear. Last year, I upgraded our firewall, network controller, and WiFi access points. I also added a PoE-powered switch to our data closet. Separately, we replaced one of our home security camera systems with the Ubiquiti Unifi Protect system. Now it’s time for more upgrades… Continue reading How To: Home Network 4.0 with Ubiquiti Unifi Dream Machine Pro, Switch Pro, Flex Mini, Smart Power Plug & UPS Review & Calibration Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Lutron Caséta Lighting Control System Review Updated

Although we were first introduced to Lutron when we purchased their traditional switches and outlets, Lutron is reknown for their residential and enterprise lighting control systems. Lutron’s residential lighting control systems include Caséta, RA2 Select, RadioRA2, and HomeWorks QS. Caséta and RA2 Select are intended for the DIY user segment while the RadioRA2 and HomeWorks QS product lines are intended for the system installer/integrator segment. Continue reading How To: Lutron Caséta Lighting Control System Review Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway Pro 4 & Intrusion Prevention (IPS) Updated

The focus of this article is the upgrade of our security gateway from the entry-level model, USG, to the mid-level model, the USG Pro 4. Because our primary reason for upgrading was to enable Unifi’s new intrusion prevention system, that will be covered in detail, below. This is the fourth of my articles covering our family’s experiences with Ubiquiti’s Unifi product line including the security gateway, controller, switches, and WiFi access points in a home environment Continue reading How To: Ubiquiti UniFi Security Gateway Pro 4 & Intrusion Prevention (IPS) Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Ubiquiti Cloud Key Gen2 Plus Review & Migration Updated

We just purchased the Ubiquiti Unifi Cloud Key Gen2 Plus to replace our original Unifi Cloud Key appliance. The Cloud Key Gen2 Plus currently serves as a UniFi SDN controller and as both a controller and storage device for UniFi Protect. Unlike the pricer Unifi XG Server, the Unifi Cloud Key Gen2 appears to be positioned as a relatively low-cost and low-power solution for SOHO’s. Continue reading How To: Ubiquiti Cloud Key Gen2 Plus Review & Migration Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 2) Updated

Following are my recommended configuration changes for an optimized Ubiquiti UniFi home network. I use them in our home with a gigabit-speed Internet connection. To get the best results, you will need to tune your wireless home network. This includes accounting for neighboring networks, interference, the density of your APs, the number of your wireless clients and their idiosyncrasies in terms of wireless standards support. If you don’t use Sonos, IoT, or femtocell devices, some of these settings below may not be necessary for you. Continue reading How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 2) Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 1) Updated

For years, I have constantly upgraded and maintained our home network. While I embrace new technology solutions, I am not an IT administrator. Figuring out what is broken–and why–is often time consuming and aggravating. This is particularly true at home, where I lacked the necessary tools to view the health of our home network and to easily upgrade it. My wife would frequently tell me that “the Internet is slow” or “the Internet isn’t working”. In reality, something went haywire within our home network. Continue reading How To: Deploying a Ubiquiti UniFi Home Network including Multiple WiFi Access Points (Part 1) Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home, Music

How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST Updated

Even if you have a Wave 2 Wireless AC WiFi network, I recommend connecting your Sonos speakers as follows: Ethernet, else SonosNet 2.0 (“BOOST” mode), else your existing WiFi network (“Standard” mode). This will reduce the likelihood of audio drop outs, particularly as you connect more Sonos speakers and/or run them in pairs. This article describes Boost mode and how to configure up to three Boost hardware devices. Continue reading How To: Advanced Sonos Wireless Network Configuration Using Sonos BOOST Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Optimizing Your Multiple Access Point, Wireless-AC WiFi Network (Part 2) Updated

A weakness was found in the WPA2 security protocol used by almost every modern phone, computer and router. This is called a KRACK attack. You should update your firmware and also disable EAPOL Key Retries to protect your network against KRACK attack against unpatched clients. Continue reading How To: Optimizing Your Multiple Access Point, Wireless-AC WiFi Network (Part 2) Updated

Mike Connelly
Connected Home

How To: Optimizing Your Multiple Access Point, Wireless-AC WiFi Network (Part 1)

Mesh-network based, multi-unit WiFi access point solutions from Google, Eero, Luma, and other vendors are popular now. Compared to typical networking gear, they look unobtrusive, so you won’t mind placing the access points out in the open for maximum wireless reception. Mesh WiFi systems connect multiple units (nodes) to move data from the client to the router. If your goal is to fill in wireless dead zones with the minimal amount of installation effort (meaning no wire pulling), then this approach will give you the largest coverage but at the expense of throughput. Continue reading How To: Optimizing Your Multiple Access Point, Wireless-AC WiFi Network (Part 1)

Mike Connelly