Ubiquiti UniFi Express (UX) Compact UniFi Cloud Gateway

Easy to set up and Unify makes it easy to manage your network. I need coverage for the house and 2 independent offices, one of which is 100m from the house. Using a ubiquity bridge, this gateway, a switch and 2 access points we have good coverage in all of the areas. We have multiple devices, printers, tablets, phones etc., as well as many household appliances, plus the lawn mower all able to access the network. The only downside with this gateway is it seems to get quite hot. I've placed it on its side with good airflow to both of the main surfaces which has solved the problem, but it is not a device that could be left lying flat on a...view more Easy to set up and Unify makes it easy to manage your network. I need coverage for the house and 2 independent offices, one of which is 100m from the house. Using a ubiquity bridge, this gateway, a switch and 2 access points we have good coverage in all of the areas. We have multiple devices, printers, tablets, phones etc., as well as many household appliances, plus the lawn mower all able to access the network. The only downside with this gateway is it seems to get quite hot. I've placed it on its side with good airflow to both of the main surfaces which has solved the problem, but it is not a device that could be left lying flat on a flammable surface.

A lot has been written about the UniFi ecosystem so if you're not familiar with it, I'd suggest looking up some YouTube videos on that system as a whole, first. Given the cost of these devices in the ecosystem, I wasn't sure if I want to dive head-first into it, so wanted to test out the waters by buying the UniFi Express (UX) and a Flex Mini switch to pair with it, and see how I go. The intention is for me to eventually add a "proper" gateway (perhaps the UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra) and another Access Point (perhaps the UniFi U7 Pro) and then repurpose this UX as an AP upstairs, wirelessly meshing with the AP downstairs (this household is...view more A lot has been written about the UniFi ecosystem so if you're not familiar with it, I'd suggest looking up some YouTube videos on that system as a whole, first. Given the cost of these devices in the ecosystem, I wasn't sure if I want to dive head-first into it, so wanted to test out the waters by buying the UniFi Express (UX) and a Flex Mini switch to pair with it, and see how I go. The intention is for me to eventually add a "proper" gateway (perhaps the UniFi Cloud Gateway Ultra) and another Access Point (perhaps the UniFi U7 Pro) and then repurpose this UX as an AP upstairs, wirelessly meshing with the AP downstairs (this household is cable-adverse), or perhaps use the UX for my parent's home when they need a router replacement.

I did none of that. The little UX, despite being rated for a coverage of 140m2 and has a tiny footprint with 2 built-in antennae, outperforms my old massive 802.11ac (WiFi 5) AP/router/modem that has a rated coverage of 160m2 with 4 external antennae. That was a very pleasant surprise. At the far corners of the house, even with a signal reception of -80dB, it maintained a stable 5GHz connection and still achieves my max internet throughput of 300/100Mbps. I'm keeping it as my sole AP/router/modem. Its very inoffensive look makes placing it in plain sight acceptable, which opens up more areas it can be located for better AP placement.

For context, I have under 30 client devices so the limited abilities of the UX as a gateway works for me. Your mileage may vary.

I do wish that it can be cheaper - this single budget-oriented device cost more than the price of a 2 or 3-node mesh router from the likes of TP-Link or Asus, and those setups have good reviews as well. Also, the UniFi Network application setup can be a bit techy, but with techiness comes great flexibility - my IoT devices (both wired and wireless) are finally on their own VLAN, my camera feeds are not longer going out to the internet (although I will need to temporarily enable internet access for the cameras if I want to change their settings - not the fault of the UX, just the way the cameras are designed) etc.

Overall, I'm very happy with this device.

Great device for a basic (but customizable and performant) network. Bought for my parents to replace their USG and has been working great with a U6-LR for total home coverage. UI is pretty sluggish compared to a self-host or Cloudkey, UDM etc but gets the job done. Great device for a basic (but customizable and performant) network. Bought for my parents to replace their USG and has been working great with a U6-LR for total home coverage. UI is pretty sluggish compared to a self-host or Cloudkey, UDM etc but gets the job done.