Why the UniFi Network is the Essential Backbone of My Smart Home
Today, I’m going to show you why the UniFi network is the backbone of my smart home.
From connecting all of my devices with fast and secured WiFi to giving me the peace of mind with pro-level security features as well as no more network slowdowns.
Basically, UniFi Has GOT ME Covered and it just works. And Let me show you why it’s worth it!
Hello and welcome to my channel! And as part of my Smart Home Journey, In today’s video I’m giving you an inside look at how I set up my home’s computer network using the UniFi system. I’ll also share how much I spent on this setup and show you how it connects with everything—from my entertainment system to my work-from-home station—while keeping all my smart home devices safe and secure.
Now Before I dive into the details of my home computer network, let’s take a step back and see how much our homes have changed over the years.
The thing is that – Homes today aren’t just homes anymore. They’re smart, they’re connected, and they’ve become work-from-home spaces and even business centers. With all this connectivity and the speed at which data flows in our homes, having a secured and uninterrupted network is crucial.
With that in Mind – when it came to designing our Homes computer network – I first needed to address my 4 Needs –
- Network Coverage: Many homeowners deal with dead zones, poor data throughput or spotty WiFi coverage. To fix this, I knew had to install access points on every floor for seamless WiFi coverage, eliminating weak signals in those hard-to-reach spots. For devices that need constant, uninterrupted data—like our Apple TVs for streaming, I used Ethernet cables to hardwire them directly into the network. This ensures reliable, high-speed connections where it matters most.
- Security: Standard home networks often lack proper security, leaving smart home devices vulnerable to attacks. For my Smart Home I knew I had to group and link devices to specific networks as well as implement robust network rules to securely separate IoT devices from their main network, protecting sensitive data and preventing unauthorized access.
- Device Management: Managing multiple devices from smartphones, smart home gadgets, and guest connections can overwhelm traditional routers. I needed a simplified way together with an intuitive interface, making it easy to control and monitor all devices, plus creating separate guest networks without compromising security.
- Reliability & Scalability – Most consumer-grade home routers aren’t reliable, aren’t scalable, and often need to be replaced every couple of years just to keep up with the latest WiFi standards. They also have limited network ports. Well, I wanted a network that could grow with my needs, control costs, and power devices like cameras. It also had to be easy to use, offering the perfect balance between reliability, flexibility and scalability.
And To solve these needs – there were 2 Brands out there that offered a solution – There was the TpLink Omada or the Ubiquiti UniFi.
Without a Doubt I chose the UniFi network because it follows Apple’s philosophy of seamless integration between hardware and software which was a clear winner. Plus it integrated quite well with HomeAssistant & Homebridge.
It also doubles down as a security system with no subscriptions, full local control & access to all of the camera footage,
which was a top priority for me. And I’ve already made a video on my UniFi Protect setup for security.
Now lets deep dive into my home network setup – And it all starts with a
- Modem
- To connect your home to the internet, you need a modem. Think of it like a magic box that helps your house to talk to the internet. Most service providers give you a box that works as both a modem and a router.
- In my case, the connection to my house is a fiber line with a speed of 600 Down & 300 up which for now is sufficient for our family needs.
- I also asked & ordered from the provider to configure this box as a modem only and to give me a dedicated IP address.
- Now A dedicated IP lets me connect to my home remotely, makes it more secure, and reduces connection issues to the wider network around my house.
- Router
- Next up is the router, which is the brain and heart of the network—the UniFi Dream Machine Pro. Now This unit is connected to the modem.
- Think of the router like a traffic officer for the internet in your house. It directs all the data ( just like cars) to the right places—your tablet, phone, or computer—so everything runs smoothly when you’re watching videos, playing games, or working online.
- But it’s not just a router; it also acts as a security system together with a Network Video Recorder called UniFi Protect. Now the NVR connects to the directly to the cameras and stores the video feed Locally.
- It is also responsible for displaying the live camera feeds and for playing back recordings via computers and mobile devices that connect to it.
- The Unifi Dream Machine Pro replaces the traditional routers provided by your ISP. Additionally, This comes with a combo of services that truly makes the product stand out from the traditional systems.
- Access Points
- To make sure WiFi is strong everywhere in my home, I’ve set up using 4 units of U6+ access points in the ceiling & a U6 In-Wall located in the office delivering WiFi 6 across the entire home.
- That means super-fast speeds, no matter where you are in the house. You are always connected to the nearest access points.
- Think of an access point like a big WiFi speaker. It’s like having a speaker that plays music all around your house.
- If the sound doesn’t reach far enough, you add another speaker to keep it clear and strong in every room. That’s exactly what access points do—they help the WiFi reach every corner.
- Plus, with these access points, I can adjust the power to fine-tune both the 5GHz and 2.4GHz WiFi bands and tweak network channels to avoid interference from my neighbors’ WiFi or even my own Zigbee network.
- And when technology advances, I can simply & easily upgrade them!
- Network Switch
- Now, let’s talk about the network switch. My cameras and access points are connected and powered using Ethernet cables—specifically called Cat 6E—so there’s no need for extra power adapters.
- This is possible because of a feature called PoE, or Power Over Ethernet, which is my 16-port PoE managed switch.
- This unit is connected to the router using a 10G Direct Attach Cable for a High Speed Data Transfer and High performance network connectivity.
- Now Think of a network switch like a super helpful power strip, but instead of giving electricity, it provides network connectivity to different devices in the house.
- Since my home is a new build, I ran network cables to key areas: the office, where the servers are, and the media center, which connects the Apple TV, LG TV, Bose soundbar, and Hue Hub.
- The main benefit of using a wired connection is speed and reliability—it’s faster and definitely stable than WiFi.
- Additionally, We decided not to run cables to the bedrooms because, as a family, we wanted them to be a distraction-free space for rest. Our focus is on the living room as our main gathering spot.
The great thing about investing in the UniFi system is that you don’t have to worry about finding the perfect spot for your router to get the best WiFi coverage. Since it’s a wired solution with wireless access points attached to it, I installed everything neatly under the staircase.
Once I connected the internet to the Dream Machine Pro, I linked it to the switch, access points, and cameras. The setup was easy using the clean web interface or the app, however for initial setup I found the process better thru the Wb page than the app.
But the real power of UniFi isn’t just the setup and flashy display panels — it’s how you can create separate networks, control device communication and also apply security settings to keep your network secure from internal & external access.
Now, let me explain how I keep everything secure in Our Home.
I’ve first set up VLANs — one for my core network which consists of my Apple Devices, Computers, phones & the Synology NAS,
Second one for IoT which consists my Smart Home services, Smart Devices like the Tuya lights, The robot vacuums, The Air conditioners, The Xiaomi / Yeelight Devices , and anything thats IoT like the water flow sensor as well.
Lastly a Third separate one for guests as the name suggests for those who visit our home and need temporary limited Internet connection.
Now think of VLANs, or Virtual Local Area Networks, as a house who is having different parties in different rooms—one for your family, one for your friends, and one for guests. Each group stays in their own room and doesn’t mix with the others.
A VLAN is like having these separate rooms for different devices on your network. It makes sure they stay in their own space, so they don’t get in the way of each other, even though they’re all in the same house! This separation ensures security and reliability across the board.
Once I set up the VLANs, I created 3 separate WiFi networks, each linked to its own VLAN. Additionally Each WiFi network also has its own unique password for added security.
Once the VLANS were setup and connected to its WiFi network – the next layer was to Create Network Rules. Now With the UniFi network system, I can create infinite network rules that ensure no one can access parts of the network they shouldn’t. Thus allowing me to keep the network secure from internal & external access.
Right now, I’ve set up 5 main network rules:
- Only registered devices can connect, ensuring only established connections are allowed.
- Devices on the main network can access other networks.
- IoT devices are blocked from accessing the main network.
- Guest devices are blocked from accessing the main network.
- Both IoT and guest devices are blocked from accessing the router’s IP address.
In addition to these rules, I’ve also set up parental controls to limit screen time for kids on specific days and times. You can also block certain websites and apps, giving you easy-to-use tools for managing your network!
Additionally, I watched alot of YouTube videos to complete this setup and you can reach out to me to design and setup your Home network remotely.
Now, the big question—how much did all of this cost?
When I decided to go with the Unifi network for our home, I knew there would be some upfront cost, but I saw it as a long-term investment. In total, I spent around $2,700, which was only about 1% of the total cost of the home.
Now, Considering the size of the house and all the benefits this system brings which is both network as well as security, it’s definitely worth it and not as expensive as it might seem!
Closing
So Whether you’re looking to secure a smart home, set up a reliable network for working from home, or just want a better WiFi experience, the UniFi system can handle it all.
The best part? It’s easy to upgrade as your needs grow, so you don’t have to spend a lot upfront.
Thanks for watching! Don’t forget to Like & subscribe for more updates on our Smart Home journey and other exciting DIY smart home projects.
Until The next time, cheers and happy automation
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS ⏱️:
================
00:00 Opening
00:21 Introduction
00:43 Current Smart Home Networks
01:12 Designing My Computer Network
03:08 Available Network Brands
03:44 The Modem
04:33 The Router – UDM Pro
05:34 Access Points – U6
06:33 Network Switch – 16 Port PoE
07:51 Why I Chose UniFi ?
08:44 Setting Up VLANS
09:55 Setting up WiFi Networks
10:09 The 5 Main Network Rules
11:03 Unifi Parental Controls
11:16 Remote Services
11:26 UniFi Network Costs
12:01 Closing
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