Unifi Router Buyer's Guide in 2021
If you use Unifi at your home, you are probably not so happy with the speed and stability of the WiFi network. That’s because TM is still a business and they cannot give an expensive router while remain profitable. But, luckily, TM doesn’t stop you from buying your own router.
While the router provided by TM isn’t too bad, they have slower CPU and weaker WiFi coverage. This means they aren’t very good if you stay in a bigger home or if you have more WiFi devices at home. Thus, in this article, I will show you some WiFi routers that I’ve tested that will recommend for you to upgrade your home WiFi router.
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⚠️ This guide is only intended for Unifi Fibre users!
Table of Contents
Unifi Fibre Equipment Overview
All Unifi Fibre installation come with 2 devices which is the fibre modem and WiFi router. The Fibre modem comes with lifetime warranty from TM and it is non-user replaceable. But, don’t worry as the WiFi router rarely breaks down and it performs well. What we will be focussing is the WiFi router part which will impact all your home networking performance.
Unifi Router Brands
Once you purchased the new router, please request your Unifi login ID and Password from TM. You will need them when configuring your new router. Once you got everything ready, remove your old wireless router and connect the new router to the ONU. You have to reconfigure your new wireless router. The process depends on the brand of the router but generally, you just need to insert the PPPOE ID and password and select the Unifi profile on the router.
TP-Link Unifi Router
TP-Link routers are fully compatible with Unifi. TP-Link offers really good value for money as their routers are usually cheaper while delivering the same level of performance compared to their competitors. They offer a 3 years warranty on all their networking products.
You can refer to my guide on how to setup TP-Link Unifi router here.
Model WiFi Specification Suggested Plan Beamforming MU-MIMO Maximum NAT speed Retail Price Archer C5400X Gaming AC5400 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM1499 Archer C5400 AC5400 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM949 Archer C4000 AC4000 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM999 Archer C3150 AC3150 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM799 Archer C2300 AC2300 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM639 Deco M9 Plus Mesh AC2200 500Mbps ✔ ✔ 800Mbps RM999 Archer A10 AC2600 800Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM639 Archer A9 AC1900 500Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM439 Archer C9 AC1900 500Mbps ✔ – 941Mbps RM469 Deco M5 Mesh AC1300 500Mbps ✔ ✔ 800Mbps RM439 Deco M4 Mesh AC1200 300Mbps ✔ ✔ 800Mbps RM399 Archer C7/ A7 AC1750 500Mbps – – 800Mbps RM312 Archer C6/ A6 AC1200 300Mbps ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM209 Archer C1200 AC1200 300Mbps – – TBD RM279
Do note that HyppTV do not work on their Deco mesh series of products but Internet is working properly.
Asus Unifi Router
Asus is another well known brand in the wireless router industry. They are slightly more expensive but they have really solid performance and the AsusWRT firmware offers the most comprehensive set of features. Asus also pioneer their AiMesh technology which allows you to use several compatible Asus routers to form a high performance mesh network. Asus routers come with 3 years of warranty in Malaysia.
You can refer to my guide on how to setup Asus Unifi router here.
Model WiFi Specs Suggested Plan AiMesh BF MU-MIMO Maximum Internet Speed Price Range RT-AX88U AX6000 800Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 941Mbps Unreleased Asus ROG Rapture GT-AC5300 Gaming AC5300 800Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM2489 RT-AC5300 AC5300 800Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM2209 RT-AC88U AC3100 800Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM1809 Asus Blue Cave AC2600 800Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 941Mbps RM1099 RT-AC68U AC1900 500Mbps ✔ ✔ – 850Mbps RM1039 Lyra Trio Mesh AC1750 500Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 850Mbps RM1579 Lyra Mesh AC2200 500Mbps ✔ ✔ ✔ 850Mbps RM999 RT-AC66U B1 AC1750 300Mbps ✔ ✔ – 941Mbps RM859 RT-AC1300UHP AC1300 300Mbps ✔ ✔ ~500Mbps RM569 RT-AC58U AC1300 300Mbps ✔ ✔ ~500Mbps RM479 RT-AC1200G+ AC1200 100Mbps – – ~400Mbps RM449
D-Link Unifi Router
You probably heard of D-Link before as they are one of the oldest brand selling networking gear in Malaysia. They also produce some really great networking equipment. New D-Link routers are fully compatible with Unifi. They are also rather affordable while delivering good performance.
You can refer to my guide on how to setup D-Link Unifi router here.
Other Brands (Tenda, Netgear and etc)
There are also other brands in the market and most if not all Enterprise level gear can be configured to support Unifi. But, we do not include them in this list as they may be harder to configure for most users.
Netgear is known for requiring manual setup of VLAN for it to work with Unifi.
Hi, i am currently using RT-N12HP but i still couldn’t get enough coverage in my house, i live in a 2 and a half stories house. Is it possible if i replace my current router to RT-AC55UHP and make my RT-N12HP as an acess point? Or do you have any other suggestion?
I think it is a very good plan. Maybe you can think of how to connect your N12HP to your AC55UH.
Does ASUS AC1200G router can replace original UNIFI modem router?
Yes
Blacktubi,I currently have an issue,that is my wifi signal is so weak that it can only cover my living room,but sometimes the signal is working normally.Is it the problem related to my router/router adapter?
Probably, make sure your router is functioning well
Hi blacktubi,
I know that currently TM Router are suck. I plan to change the router. Is the router need to come with VLAN tagging feature in order need to use the unifi with new router?
Secondly, I will buy new router for temporary use on TM Unifi. Once contract arrive, I will change to TIME. Do you have any recommended that the router able to support TM unifi & TIME. The router I plan to buy high spec for currently and future use.
Thanks
Yes, TM run their services on VLAN. All Unifi compatible routers are Time compatible. I suggest a better one as you know Time is very fast.
will unifi work on tplink archer c9 or synology ac1900/ac2600?
recently i saw router on several shopper website mention unifi/maxis? will this indicate conpatibility to TM unifi?
Works on the Archer but I dont think it will work with the Synology.
Hi boss. Just want to ask is there any company doing lan cablling job. I heard is better to use direct lan cable from main router to the ap on the 3rd floor. Then using powerline sometimes not that stable. Any idea is there any company doing lan cabling job? Thanks
You need a networking company. A physical link is definitely more stable than powerline.
Hi Black Tubi,
Does Google Home WIFI supports UNIFI? Thanks.
No
Hi blacktubi,
Currently my Unifi speed is 30mbps, and i gonna upgrade my Unifi plan to 50mbps. The technician TM told me is better than buy a asus brand modem because my modem is the oldest version. I live a double storey house. So, which asus modem you can suggest me to buy?
It depends on your budget. RT-AC55UHP is a good pick.
Between AC55UHP and Archer C7, which one would you recommend? I’m living in a 3 storeys house and Unifi’s router is at the top floor. I have a Linksys router configured as an access point (or a repeater, I can’t remember) which recently keep losing connection, where I placed it at 2nd floor. I had it rooted with DD-WRT. Wifi connection from Ground floor is bad, even viewing Facebook videos are lagging. My house’s a 3-phase power config and maybe that’s why powerplug didn’t work. Tried 2 brands – Aztech: frequently required repairing; TP-Link: paired and connected but no connection.… Read more »
Both are great routers but I am a fan of the Asus simply due to the firmware.
The performance of wireless repeaters are terrible. Maybe you can try to determine which power socket is on the same phase for better powerline connectivity.
Bro, I just got my ThankYouSuprise gift as free upgrade to Unifi ProPlan 100mbps. Currently I’m using the old tp link router tl-wr1043nd (2012). So in order to get optimum stability and coverage which router you will recommend?? I’m staying in double storey house and router been placed in my room.
Get a router with Wireless AC. It depends on your budget.
me too, i’m going to get a new ac router n living in double storey house. can i get a 5ghz signal on 1st floor if my router is placing at living hall on ground floor?
Weak signal.
Hi,
May I knw the VPN, WDS & WPS izit important when we purchase the router?
Not really, 90% of users never use them.
how about tenda ac 1900, is it compatible with tm unifi? thanks
Tenda routers compatibility are not that strong and may have stability issues currently.
Hi blacktubi, I live in a 3 storey house, and the TM guys will be coming over to install UniFi after CNY. I have a few questions though: 1. Is my understanding correct that if i were to install the router at the first floor, that would be the best location, so that signal can be received equally at the ground floor and second floor? 2. Just incase they say they cant fix it at the first floor, and have to fix it at the ground floor, which router would you recommend? As my room is on the second floor,… Read more »
They will probably install it near your TV rack for HyppTV. It depends on your budget of course but I recommend something high power and if you want really optimum signal. Get a set of powerline access point.
i am considering to set up an Asus RT-55UHP router at the ground floor.
then to extend the signal using WiFi range extenders or a powerline access point.
which would you recommend? the extender or powerline access point?
and one thing that’s confusing me is, with so many SSIDs (from the dual band router and dual band extender), do I sign in to all of these SSIDs and let my devices latch on to the strongest connection? Or should I choose manually?
thanks mate!
I would prefer to have a powerline access point as the stability and throughput is better than a repeater. As for SSID, I prefer to have a different SSID for the 5Ghz and 2.4Ghz network as certain devices may have issues if they have the same SSID. I always configure the repeater/secondary AP to have the same SSID as the main AP.
I tot there will be conflict if using same SSID, hmm
That’s how routers in enterprise environment is configured for seamless switching between AP. You can have different SSID if you prefer that.