Wi-Fi 7 Router advice

[Black_Mage]

I'm getting a Mac Studio with a 10 Gbit Ethernet port and will eventually get a MacBook Pro with Wi-Fi 7 because I want to increase LAN speed. I was thinking about getting this Wi-Fi router.

Dream Router 7 - Ubiquiti Store

Desktop 10G Cloud Gateway with integrated WiFi 7, PoE switch, microSD storage, and full UniFi application support.

store.ui.com

Is this a good router, or do you recommend something different?

 

[drrich2]

I have very limited experience with the brand and that was many years ago. By reputation, here is what I've come to associate with the name Ubiquiti:
1.) Quality gear.
2.) Targeted at contractors more so than consumers, so the kind of clear, simple, step-by-step 'spoon feeding' documentation guidance on how to do things with it may be...lacking, because it assumes a technically advanced user to begin with.

I used your link to get a product. Looks like the 3 LAN ports at 2.5 Gbps, faster than most American's home internet speeds but you paid for a 10 Gbps ethernet-capable Mac Studio, and you might want that functionality (though unlike the M4Pro Mac Mini, it's not an optional upgrade; you get an M4 series Mac Studio, you get 10 Gbps ethernet). I do see where it has 10G (doesn't say Gbps) 10G SFP+ WAN (not LAN) port. And there's a $65 optional accessory, the SFP+ to RJ45 10GbE, that can do this:

"SFP+ to RJ45 transceiver module that supports 10G connections up to 100 m.

Supported data rates: 10 / 5 / 2.5 / 1 Gbps"

So...can this thing support a 10 Gbps ethernet connection to your Mac Studio, and if not can it do so with the optional $65 accessory?

A little more poking around online trying to find out whether a WAN port can be used as a LAN port suggested to me...yeah, often, sorta, might impact performance...

Until someone more advanced comes along and affirms or challenges by views on Ubiquity's reputation for not catering to the basic consumer, and clarifies some of the questions I raised, my closing questions for you:

1.) Do you want/need 10 Gbps ethernet capability, or is 2.5 Gbps fine (if you even intend to use such a thing, or some might use it to connect a NAS to their computer)?

2.) Do you need a product targeted at consumers with simpler documentation?

 

[Black_Mage]

10G SFP+ WAN (not LAN) port.

One of the YouTube reviews I listened to said the 10 Gbit port can be configured for LAN, but it would be nice if it had more than 1 10 Gbit LAN port. Nice, but not necessary.

2.) Do you need a product targeted at consumers with simpler documentation?

I am comfortable going into the advanced settings of a router to configure them. I even installed open-source firmware on a router once. If all else fails, YouTube is full of step-by-step tutorials if I get lost in the sauce.

 

[goodthymes]

I just bought this router recently, been using for about 3 weeks so far and it's decent. I've yet to play with the VLAN feature or some of the more complex setups, but even for a lay person like me, it's not too difficult to parse. Using in a 1800sqft single-story stand alone house and the wireless coverage is good within the house itself, but is getting marginal signals in the garage just about 30 ft away from the router, but going through 3 walls. Slot #5 is empty so if you want to use it you have to buy an SPF adapter.

Had a power outage recently and the DR7 didn't auto connect to the cable modem(Specturm) upon resumption of power - my Apple Timecapsule had no problem - I had to reboot the DR7 again for it to connect.

Other than that, it's been solid. I have about 20 devices on it so far (5 wired through a unmanaged switch). Incidentally I have a mini-pc that I use as a htpc (Windows Media Center) for over the air TV with Silicondust receiver on wireless and it's getting better signal than when it was on my beloved Apple Timecapsule's WIFI.