Unifi build notes

The wifi settings are configured centrally.

Ubiquiti APs ship with a default URL that they use to inform the console that they are available for adoption into the network.

They show up under UniFi Devices along with the existing APs. You can then click to adopt them.

Wifi is configured centrally. After adopting an AP, you must go to Settings > WiFi > click on the wifi network > Broadcasting APs tick the new AP.

WIFI STRENGTH

Do not crank up the transmitter power to improve wifi. This can have a detrimental effect, because the client devices may receive better but they can’t transmit better. They merely take longer to disconnect from a weak AP and rehome to a closer one.

The only way to improve wifi quality is to add more APs.

1. New Unifi access points find the controller by the default inform address, which is http://unifi:8080/inform. Name resolution should work for unifi and point to the server, and TCP 8080 should be reachable from the new AP.
2. If you can’t do that, then:
   1. Find the new AP in your DHCP leases (for example, 10.7.7.53)
   2. SSH to it with ssh ubnt@10.7.7.53 (password: ubnt)
   3. If not updated, they may only support archaic ciphers: ssh -v -oHostKeyAlgorithms=+ssh-rsa -oPubkeyAcceptedAlgorithms=+ssh-rsa ubnt@10.7.7.53
   4. Update the inform URL: set-inform http://foo.bar:8080/inform
3. The device should show up as “not adopted” in the console. Adopt it.
4. After adoption, they no longer allow login on the default password. Use the console login instead.

Vlans

Untagged packets are always treated as vlan 1. You can rename the default network, but you cannot tag it or set a VLAN ID. Obviously it is whatever the native vlan is on the switch. All other VLANs must be tagged.

Open Wifi

Settings > System > Interface > set to Legacy (ignore warning about reduced feature set)

Then you can create SSIDs without a PSK.

They still work when you set the interface back (obvs. a different page navigation):

Settings > User Interface > New User Interface > Apply