Abstract

• The Dream Router 7 presents an all-in-one Unifi setup, packing 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and Wi-Fi 7 assist.
• Integrates with the complete Unifi ecosystem so you should use entry factors and cameras each new and previous.
• At $279 with twin WAN capabilities, totally managed VLANs, NVR capabilities, a 10Gb SFP+ port, and extra, the Dream Router 7 is a strong selection for any house networking setup.

Unifi launched the Dream Router 7 on February twenty fifth, and I positioned my order the next day. Delivering the complete Unifi software stack, alongside Wi-Fi 7, the Dream Router 7 remodeled my whole house networking setup—although there may be one factor I want it did higher.

Worth and Availability

The Unifi Dream Router 7 prices $279 and is obtainable immediately from Unifi’s internet retailer.

All Unifi Options in One Compact Bundle

Not all Unifi gateways are created equal. The Unifi Express 7, for instance, solely runs Unifi Community and not one of the model’s different functions, like Shield, Discuss, or Entry.

The Unifi Dream Router 7, however, is full-featured and might deal with any and all Unifi duties. Because of this you can run not simply Unifi Community, but additionally Shield, Discuss, Join, and Entry with the Dream Router 7.

It additionally helps 30+ Unifi units, whereas the Specific 7 helps 30 and the unique Specific solely supported 4.

One of many important causes that I needed to modify to Unifi for my house community was the truth that it is totally managed prime to backside. By way of the Unifi Community app on the Dream Router 7, alongside its managed community swap on the again, I will create VLANs and complex firewall guidelines on my community.

That is actually one of many important causes that I made a decision to drag the set off on the Dream Router 7. I will create a number of networks and VLANs in order that means my IoT units will be separate from my important computer systems, defending them from a possible intrusion or hack.

All-in-all, the Dream Router 7 is among the greatest methods to get into the Unifi ecosystem, because it delivers all the pieces you may have to dive deep. Plus, it comes with a 64GB microSD card pre-installed for Shield recordings, which will be simply upgraded to extra storage if crucial.

A Wi-Fi 7 AP With 6GHz Assist

With different Cloud Gateways on the market, just like the Cloud Gateway Fiber, you is perhaps questioning why I selected the Dream Router 7 as an alternative of a separate Cloud Gateway and Entry Level. The reply is straightforward: worth.

The Cloud Gateway Max is $199, and the Cloud Gateway Fiber prices $279. Each of those models supply multi-gig networking, Shield, and extra, similar to the Dream Router 7.

Nonetheless, the Dream Router 7 comes with a extra highly effective U7 Pro access point built-in. The Dream Router 7 delivers 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 to your community with 2×2 MU-MIMO assist. The U7 Professional does the identical, however with decrease antenna achieve and max transmit energy than what the Dream Router 7 has to supply.

The factor is, the U7 Professional prices $189, so even a Cloud Gateway Max with a U7 Professional would value $388, and the Cloud Gateway Fiber with a U7 Professional would run $468. The Dream Router 7, however, prices simply $279. That is no less than $100 off a Cloud Gateway with entry level setup for comparable general efficiency.

This is among the key causes I picked the Dream Router 7, although the Specific 7 did tempt me a bit because it additionally has the identical wi-fi specs as the newest Dream Router. Nonetheless, its lack of assist for Shield and different Unifi apps did push me towards the Dream Router 7.

Nonetheless, a downside right here is that the Dream Router 7 cannot be used as an entry level in the event you get one other Cloud Gateway from Unifi, just like the Dream Machine SE.

The Dream Router 7 Is Designed for Multi-Gig Networking

The Dream Router 7 is Unifi’s all-in-one system that is designed with multi-gig networking in thoughts.

On the again of this all-in-one router, you may discover 4 2.5Gb Ethernet ports and one 10Gb SFP+ port. Ethernet port 4 is marked for WAN, and the opposite three as LAN. Whilst you can change the WAN from port 4 to port three or 5 (or use two of them collectively for twin WAN), the highest two Ethernet ports are LAN solely.

Port one, nevertheless, units itself aside by providing 15W PoE+ so you should use it to energy an entry level, digital camera, or the rest that wants PoE proper from the Dream Router 7.

I really like that there is each 2.5Gb and 10Gb networking built-in right here, and I really use it in my community already. Whereas my WAN is just Gigabit, I’ve my servers linked to the Dream Router 7 over 2.5Gb Ethernet with the Unifi Flex Mini 2.5G switch, which is powered by the built-in PoE port.

This enables me to entry my storage servers at multi-gig speeds on my Wi-Fi 6E and seven units round the home. I’ve really examined this utilizing OpenSpeedtest operating on my server, and was capable of obtain 2.1Gb/s obtain wirelessly on my OnePlus 13R, which helps Wi-Fi 7. My iPhone 15 Professional hit almost 1.4Gb/s obtain on Wi-Fi 6.

Because the SFP+ port can perform as both WAN or LAN, each Google Fiber and United (an area fiber firm) will enable me to plug the fiber coming into my house immediately into the Dream Router 7, bypassing any provided modem. With Google Fiber offering an 8Gbps plan, and the Dream Router 7 supporting as much as 10Gbps on the SFP+ port, I am prepared for no matter networking wants could come my means sooner or later.

The SFP+ port additionally means that you can uplink different units to the Dream Router 7 at 10Gbps. A variety of Unifi’s different units assist 10Gb SFP+, together with the UNAS Pro, UNVR, and plenty of of their switches. Linking them to the Dream Router 7 at 10Gbps means you can benefit from the quickest connection potential between the 2, permitting for decrease latency and sooner knowledge transfers the place potential.

Unifi Shield Integration Makes the Dream Router 7 Excellent for Dwelling Safety Too

Whereas the Dream Router 7 handles my whole community with ease, it does greater than that. It is also a NVR (community video recorder) to report and monitor cameras round your private home.

Unifi sells their very own Shield-branded cameras, which combine seamlessly with the Dream Router 7. Nonetheless, in a latest replace, Unifi additionally allowed for any ONVIF-compatible digital camera to be introduced into Shield. You will not get AI detection with ONVIF cameras, however they’re going to nonetheless report simply the identical.

Both route you go, the Dream Router 7 can simply deal with preserving your private home protected with its built-in NVR. It will formally assist as much as 5 HD cameras, two 2K, or one 4K. In actuality, you’ll be able to have greater than this in your setup, however there’s simply an opportunity of potential efficiency loss in the event you go above the official restrict.

The included 64GB microSD card will report on movement detection solely, although swapping it out for a bigger capability drive can internet steady recording in the event you’d desire that.

With the one PoE+ port on the Dream Router 7, you’ll be able to even run a single digital camera with none further {hardware}, which is kind of good. Any greater than that and you may both want PoE injectors or a separate swap.

I’ve personally gone the route of shopping for a 48-port 500W PoE Unifi swap secondhand. Whereas these switches can run about $850 new, I used to be capable of pay $250 used, and it has been an important purchase for my house as I have already got a number of entry factors and cameras operating on it.

No 4×4 Radios Is the Solely Downside

I completely love the Dream Router 7, and I am very glad that it is changing my growing old Amplifi Alien Wi-Fi 6 router. Nonetheless, I’m a little bit dissatisfied within the lack of 4×4 radios on the Dream Router 7.

The unique Unifi Dream Router, which is now not being supplied now that the Dream Router 7 is out, had 4×4 MU-MIMO for each 2.4GHz and 5GHz. The Dream Router 7 steps again to 2×2 MU-MIMO for two.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz.

Why Unifi did this downgrade I am undecided, and I want they hadn’t. Having 4×4 delivers much better protection capabilities when in comparison with 2×2, and it might have actually pushed the Dream Router 7 to a different degree.

Ought to You Purchase the Unifi Dream Router 7?

The Unifi Dream Router 7 is among the greatest Wi-Fi routers available on the market proper now. Most other Wi-Fi 7 routers with 6GHz assist are within the $200 to $300 vary (with some Wi-Fi 7 systems going for upward of $2,000), however lock you into shopping for equivalent fashions so as to add additional entry factors. Likewise, most of those are solely routers, with out the power to deal with the additional issues that the Dream Router 7 can, like appearing as an NVR.

The Dream Router 7, however, works with all of Unifi’s whole lineup of merchandise, new and previous. I’ve my Dream Router 7 powering an older AC Professional entry level, and I simply picked up an AC Lite entry level for $25 shipped to additional broaden my community. Sure, these are older requirements and will not give me Wi-Fi 7 speeds, however I do not want Wi-Fi 7 speeds within the areas I am putting in them in.

If you happen to’re searching for a strong, all-in-one networking setup that is strong, has an important ecosystem of merchandise, and a supportive neighborhood, then look no additional than the Dream Router 7. I bought mine the day after it got here out, and I’ve not regretted it a single time, and I do not suppose you’ll both.