Seeking recommendations for a reliable home router and system

If you want immensely extensible and capable, but with the definite expectation of networking knowledge, Ubiquiti Unifi networking gear.

One of the better spots to read about that is the /r/Ubiquiti reddit, as well as the Ubiquiti forums.

Here is the Ubiquiti Unifi entry-level deployment intro: https://ui.com/us/en/how-it-works

Ubiquiti UniFi gateway boxes can run apps such as Protect and Access, and various of the gateway boxes will have integrated or optional storage for Protect video, which are integrated security functions and access control features, for instance. This in addition to running the Network app. (Network 11 is just arriving too, and with access into Matter and Thread network information including network mapping.)

While Ubiquiti UniFi supports remote access, by default UniFi stores data and video and the rest entirely locally, not cloud-based.

Ubiquiti UniFi is not particularly integrated with HomeKit, though Matter and Thread do work.

If you want simpler and contained and cloud-hosted, probably Amazon eero.

I switched from Apple Extreme routers to eero mesh years ago (this before Amazon acquired eero).

eero is managed via a smartphone app.

I have a 3 node mesh network. I get about a 250 foot radius of connectivity around my home.

While you can do some customization, it is not nearly as extensive as what you can do with Ubiquity.

And when I replaced the original eero units, I was able to add the new units to the existing mesh network, and they all received the existing network configuration, then remove the originals. I did not need to do any setup when replacing the old with the new.

Finally, if the mesh node acting as the router dies, I can move one of the other mesh nodes into its place, and continue with all the same network configuration.

Tesserax wrote:

…Depending on what your networking goals are, configuring a UniFi-based network shouldn't be difficult at all. UniFi hardware ranges from home to small business to corporate levels ... so, you can pretty much cover just about anything you can think of.

Yeah; a three-pack of UX7 Express 7, as one of the various entry-level options.

Downside of the three-pack for some installations: Network only, no integrated Protect support.

But NVR network video recording storage and cameras can be retrofit. Then add switching. And a UPS. And a NAS. Backup cellular links. And pretty soon…💸

Kinda like Apple there, too.

The UniFi design center goes way past a UX7 three-pack, though:

https://blog.ui.com/article/introducing-the-next-generation-of-unifi-design-center

I will second MrHoffman's recommendation on Ubiquiti networking hardware. Since 2018, when Apple got out of the network hardware business, I replaced my aging Apple/Linksys/Cisco gear with those from the Ubiquiti UniFi line. I haven't regretted that decision ever since.

The key with UniFi is that it offers far greater administrative control of your overall network ... BUT works best with all UniFi hardware. However, that isn't much different than any other manufacturer.

Depending on what your networking goals are, configuring a UniFi-based network shouldn't be difficult at all. UniFi hardware ranges from home to small business to corporate levels ... so, you can pretty much cover just about anything you can think of.

I use a Draytek modem/router/firewall but all my wireless access points are Apple Airports so I can't comment on wireless and meshing. I use the Airports because they are easy to add to the existing network and they have Airplay and an ethernet port. I know that the security is old but they work and I've got a drawerful of spares for when they start to die.

I like Draytek kit - it's my second router of theirs (changed for better modem). They get regular updates and tech support is OK - they reply to emails within couple of days. The firewall is good - I use it to keep my NAS and printers off the web, but my home network isn't complicated enough to give a view as to whether it's best in class.

Edit: thanks Mr Hoffman for the Ubiquiti links. I accept that sooner or later I'll have to ditch the Apple Airports. I've bookmarked the Ubiquiti links for when the time comes.

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John Galt wrote:

... One reason is that its CEO had been Apple wireless engineer in its early days.

FWIW, that one reason is why I decided to eventually migrate my Apple network ecosystem to Ubiquiti ... and, I was able to do so piecemeal. Again, no regrets for that decision. Let me know if I can be of any assistance to answering any of your questions about the migration, should you decide to go that route. I'm sure Zurarczurx and MrHoffman can provide you their respective takes as well.

Zurarczurx wrote:

…but all my wireless access points are Apple Airports so I can't comment on wireless and meshing. I use the Airports because they are easy to add to the existing network and they have Airplay and an ethernet port. I know that the security is old but they work and I've got a drawerful of spares for when they start to die.

Among other networking projects, one Time Capsule access point network I was managing started having Wi-Fi drops. No faults. No logs. No amber flashing. Just Wi-Fi clients losing the plan. Ended up buying WiFi Explorer app for macOS, and that showed the TCs had started randomly dropping out for 20 or 30 seconds, and then silently recovering.

UniFi does have an AirPlay-capable audio amp available, but I have no experience with their audio streaming gear.

…The firewall is good - I use it to keep my NAS and printers off the web, but my home network isn't complicated enough to give a view as to whether it's best in class…

Here’s an intro to the UniFi zone-based firewall, though that is well more than your current usage:

https://help.ui.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003173168-Zone-Based-Firewalls-in-UniFi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRnUqQGApIs

Home Wi-Fi intro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo6GeZdJp88

UniFi is web-managed, and app managed, depending on your preferences. Quite programmable, too.

One difference from eero and Ring and other options is UniFi is all local, with all data and recordings local, not hosted.

All my devices including routers are Apple also. They have been solid and reliable. Unfortunately Apple exited the router market long ago, so all that equipment is now "old".

Eventually I will need to migrate everything to a new system, but if it were now it would most likely be built around Ubiquiti equipment. One reason is that its CEO had been Apple wireless engineer in its early days. His efforts were unappreciated at Apple, and having spent less than a year there he left to start his own company. It has since gone public but he owns nearly all of it. You can do the math.

Thank you; I will certainly keep that in mind. As systems evolve, available alternatives may either grow or diminish in attractiveness. If I had to decide a few years ago it would have been Eero, but Amazon's acquisition of it has made it less attractive. Not that Amazon is incompetent or anything, but Amazon's focus will always be Amazon.

At present everything works extraordinarily well with exclusively Apple equipment, more so than I would have thought possible given my installation complexities. It will not always be so.

If Apple was going to abandon the market altogether (as they did) why didn't they split it off as an independent division, or solely owned subsidiary? Maybe that's kind of what happened anyway, but having everything under one roof is what made AirPort networks great.