Ubiquiti UniFi UDM Dream Machine

I bought this Sunday lunchtime and had it installed and running replacing myself made OpenSense firewall and Asus RT-AC88U AP by 2pm.

A great bit of kit.

Process was to power on whilst connected via RJ45 in its WAN port to my current network. Connect via the App for configuration on the phone, I used android, simple app and easy to run through. Let it upgrade its firmware, then power cycle with it connected straight to the RJ45 of the Chorus box ( assuming your on Fibre) Part of the new firmware has a pause where you can specify the VLAN tagging for 10 for the fibre connection.

After that, it was plane sailing. It took me a fe...view more I bought this Sunday lunchtime and had it installed and running replacing myself made OpenSense firewall and Asus RT-AC88U AP by 2pm.

A great bit of kit.

Process was to power on whilst connected via RJ45 in its WAN port to my current network. Connect via the App for configuration on the phone, I used android, simple app and easy to run through. Let it upgrade its firmware, then power cycle with it connected straight to the RJ45 of the Chorus box ( assuming your on Fibre) Part of the new firmware has a pause where you can specify the VLAN tagging for 10 for the fibre connection.

After that, it was plane sailing. It took me a few hours tracking down all the Wi-Fi devices in the house and reassigning their Wi-Fi to the new network.

Top tip, once you're done and have your old kit unplugged, take a system only backup and then restore it, which will purge any old MAC addresses its seen during setup if connected to the old system, plus purge the cache history. For some reason it said my 8-year-old had downloaded 32TB in 20 mins, on his tablet. One backup and restore and everything is reset and gathering fine.

Looking forward to adding a switch and AP when I can afford to in the future.

The dashboard and details are amazing, plus the updates are frequent.

I really like the UniFi hardware and the Dream Machine is great to pair up with WiFi access points and switches to build a robust network around the house. The software can be a mixed bag though. When it works.. it's stable, fast and well... runs like a dream. But there are many complaints in the UniFi forums about software issues and I've had my fair share of issues over the last year with random network crashes and firmware corruption during power cuts. The software seems to be improving but do expect the odd issue here and there. I'm a sucker for good looking dashboards and was hooked by the screenshots but they don't actually offer that...view more I really like the UniFi hardware and the Dream Machine is great to pair up with WiFi access points and switches to build a robust network around the house. The software can be a mixed bag though. When it works.. it's stable, fast and well... runs like a dream. But there are many complaints in the UniFi forums about software issues and I've had my fair share of issues over the last year with random network crashes and firmware corruption during power cuts. The software seems to be improving but do expect the odd issue here and there. I'm a sucker for good looking dashboards and was hooked by the screenshots but they don't actually offer that much value. I thought I would learn much more about my network usage than I did. It's eye candy.

Cons: the only thing I would add to this beauty would be WiFi-6. But again, unless you have a ton os users (I’m talking hundreds) connected to your network wirelessly, or maybe you own a store and have heaps of other Access Points all around you (which would cause interference), then WiFi-6 can’t really do much for you. WiFi-5 still kicks ass and the Dream Machine is more than enough for the home user or the small-business owner. Not mentioning that most devices out there still can’t support WiFi-6.

Pros:
This is probably the best WiFi router I’ve ever had in my life!!! I’ve had it for a few weeks now and can’t stop being amazed by it. PB...view more Cons: the only thing I would add to this beauty would be WiFi-6. But again, unless you have a ton os users (I’m talking hundreds) connected to your network wirelessly, or maybe you own a store and have heaps of other Access Points all around you (which would cause interference), then WiFi-6 can’t really do much for you. WiFi-5 still kicks ass and the Dream Machine is more than enough for the home user or the small-business owner. Not mentioning that most devices out there still can’t support WiFi-6.

Pros:
This is probably the best WiFi router I’ve ever had in my life!!! I’ve had it for a few weeks now and can’t stop being amazed by it. PB Tech has a wide range of products, but the reason why I went for the DM specifically is because it is a combination of multiple devices all-in-one: Access point, router, switching, firewall, intrusion detection system, intrusion protection system, VPN, etc. I can also use it to support security cameras if I want to, without having to spend too much on additional devices. I can tweak everything from my mobile phone app, it can tell me how my internet is being used (which appplications/web services are being consumed the most), I can prioritize certain type of traffic over another (example: voice over video), etc. And the user interface... Oh boy!!! What a beauty!!!
All these functionalities would require buying separate devices if you went with a different brand. If you are a home user (newbie or a nerd) or you have a small business... the Dream Machine will do it for you.

By: YuesesoaresM 21/05/20

Verified Owner

This includes a WiFi access point, Cloud key and controller. In my setup I also have two additional UniFi APs. It is fast and very flexible as anyone in the UniFi ecosystem would know.
I'd give it 5* but at this stage there is a bug/limitation in the firmware that means it doesn't do NZ fiber broadband so well. Ideally it needs to sit behind another gateway. When the new firmware is released (due soon) it will earn 5*.
Setup is super easy using either phone or laptop. This includes a WiFi access point, Cloud key and controller. In my setup I also have two additional UniFi APs. It is fast and very flexible as anyone in the UniFi ecosystem would know.
I'd give it 5* but at this stage there is a bug/limitation in the firmware that means it doesn't do NZ fiber broadband so well. Ideally it needs to sit behind another gateway. When the new firmware is released (due soon) it will earn 5*.
Setup is super easy using either phone or laptop.

As the title says, this unit is a great way to get Unifi into your home. I've had the unit for a few days, and so far I am very impressed. Wifi performance is awesome and its nice getting to utilise the unifi controller software on my home network as it has given me a lot of insight on how to improve my network.

The one thing that may be a problem for some is that it doesn't support VLAN Tagging for PPoE connections via the wizard and you can not bypass the wizard without first connecting the unit to the internet. If you are setting this up, make sure you have some way of being able to connect the Unifi to the internet first (i.e via your ...view more As the title says, this unit is a great way to get Unifi into your home. I've had the unit for a few days, and so far I am very impressed. Wifi performance is awesome and its nice getting to utilise the unifi controller software on my home network as it has given me a lot of insight on how to improve my network.

The one thing that may be a problem for some is that it doesn't support VLAN Tagging for PPoE connections via the wizard and you can not bypass the wizard without first connecting the unit to the internet. If you are setting this up, make sure you have some way of being able to connect the Unifi to the internet first (i.e via your existing router over DHCP). Once the unit is set up you can set up a VLAN tag for PPoE via the controller, but this is a hurdle.

Other than that I am very happy. Would defitenly recommend to anyone who wants to get more out of their network.

I really like the UDM - the wifi (2.4g) range is great - way better that the default device supplied by my ISP. Configuration isn't straight forward - you do have to get your head around things.

The first unit I got constantly rebooted (like 12 time during the night) not a good thing when the UDM chimes after a reboot. UniFi Support tried to help - update firmware, factory reset - that type of thing. I did a lot of looking on the UniFi community pages. But i couldnt sort the reboots.

PB Tech were great and just swapped the unit out and I've had no problems since I got the new UDM. Would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for this false...view more I really like the UDM - the wifi (2.4g) range is great - way better that the default device supplied by my ISP. Configuration isn't straight forward - you do have to get your head around things.

The first unit I got constantly rebooted (like 12 time during the night) not a good thing when the UDM chimes after a reboot. UniFi Support tried to help - update firmware, factory reset - that type of thing. I did a lot of looking on the UniFi community pages. But i couldnt sort the reboots.

PB Tech were great and just swapped the unit out and I've had no problems since I got the new UDM. Would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for this false start.

I added a UniFi FlexHD as an AP - this was to cover a dead spot in my house. These two devices paired has worked really well for me.

Only thing I'd like to see is a option to configure the LED on the UDM - its either off or on. But the FlexHD can dim and have different colours. Would have been a nice touch if the UDM could do this - but hey, I'm just being picky now :)

I bought and installed this in our house with a Ubiquiti switch and six in-wall APs - it's been brilliant so far. The Dream Machine didn't directly plug and play though, and it took me calling in some expertise to figure out the VLAN advanced options setting, but after that it all came together nicely. The controller software is relatively intuitive for the basics, and there looks to be a huge amount of extra functionality I probably won't need - but if you're tech savvy / geeky I'm sure you'd love it! I bought and installed this in our house with a Ubiquiti switch and six in-wall APs - it's been brilliant so far. The Dream Machine didn't directly plug and play though, and it took me calling in some expertise to figure out the VLAN advanced options setting, but after that it all came together nicely. The controller software is relatively intuitive for the basics, and there looks to be a huge amount of extra functionality I probably won't need - but if you're tech savvy / geeky I'm sure you'd love it!

As the title states, the UDM arrived in good time and looked awesome. Until I plugged it in! It took ages to detect my fibre connection, and when it did everything was terribly unstable. This was apparently due to the firmware it was shipped with. So as soon as you get it you will need to download and update the firmware. This will mean you need to SSH into the device and execute some commands as there is no way to update it otherwise. This was quite a pain to figure out because the info on ui.com was fairly vague, however a good look through the forums revealed a solution.

Everything has worked fine ever since.

Not quite plug and pla...view more As the title states, the UDM arrived in good time and looked awesome. Until I plugged it in! It took ages to detect my fibre connection, and when it did everything was terribly unstable. This was apparently due to the firmware it was shipped with. So as soon as you get it you will need to download and update the firmware. This will mean you need to SSH into the device and execute some commands as there is no way to update it otherwise. This was quite a pain to figure out because the info on ui.com was fairly vague, however a good look through the forums revealed a solution.

Everything has worked fine ever since.

Not quite plug and play, but still a cool unit :)

I was hesitant to spend this much on a router but am so glad I did! Setup was simple once I used the iOS app (chrome didn't like it as the SSL cert in the console had expired). Aside from enabling mDNS for my apple devices I'm running the default config and everything connected and is working perfectly. I'm loving being able to monitor the network performance and packet inspection is a neat feature as I can see just how much YouTube my child is watching. Wi-Fi coverage is impressive for a small AP with no external antenna, covers our 1 acre property from within the hallway cupboard (aside from blackspot behind the metal shed). I'm...view more I was hesitant to spend this much on a router but am so glad I did! Setup was simple once I used the iOS app (chrome didn't like it as the SSL cert in the console had expired). Aside from enabling mDNS for my apple devices I'm running the default config and everything connected and is working perfectly. I'm loving being able to monitor the network performance and packet inspection is a neat feature as I can see just how much YouTube my child is watching. Wi-Fi coverage is impressive for a small AP with no external antenna, covers our 1 acre property from within the hallway cupboard (aside from blackspot behind the metal shed). I'm looking forward to trying out some of the more advanced configuration when I have time.

well worth the price paid and very easy to set up I did it all on my phone in about 10min and thanks to PB for getting it to me asap during covid-19 after my old unit had had enough of me trying to work from home well worth the price paid and very easy to set up I did it all on my phone in about 10min and thanks to PB for getting it to me asap during covid-19 after my old unit had had enough of me trying to work from home

It’s a good router for sure, no drama, never needs manually restarting, but it did die on me out of warranty. (which is only 1 year unless bought directly from unifi). Pbtech did replace the unit under consumer guarantees act though.

Not sure it’s worth the premium price. Maybe has more value if you also invest in more unifi access points, but this one is adequate coverage in my 180sqm T shaped single level house.

If it dies again I would purchase something cheaper I think. Not really worth the premium price to me.

Has some nice traffic monitoring features, but not really any filtering. Initially I hoped I could block YouTube etc ...view more It’s a good router for sure, no drama, never needs manually restarting, but it did die on me out of warranty. (which is only 1 year unless bought directly from unifi). Pbtech did replace the unit under consumer guarantees act though.

Not sure it’s worth the premium price. Maybe has more value if you also invest in more unifi access points, but this one is adequate coverage in my 180sqm T shaped single level house.

If it dies again I would purchase something cheaper I think. Not really worth the premium price to me.

Has some nice traffic monitoring features, but not really any filtering. Initially I hoped I could block YouTube etc at certain times of the day for certain devices, but it doesn’t seen to be able to do that

Excellent item, easy enough
to setup and working well thank you Excellent item, easy enough
to setup and working well thank you