UniFi Enterprise Wi-Fi 7: E7, E7 Campus, and E7 Audience Overview
Originally Posted: December 3rd, 2024
UniFi Enterprise Wi-Fi 7
E7, E7 Campus, and E7 Enterprise Overview
On December 2nd 2024, Ubiquiti announced the first Early Access build of UniFi Network version 9 with some big feature additions: zone-based firewall rules, an optional CyberSecure subscription to improve Suricata IDS/IPS, and the Network Application API. They also released a video announcing three new Wi-Fi 7 access points: the E7, E7 Campus, and E7 Audience.
While UniFi Network version 9 is exciting, this article focuses on the new hardware. Let’s take them one by one before we zoom out and discuss where they fit in the lineup and what this all means.
UniFi Enterprise 7: A preview of the E7, E7 Campus and E7 Audience Wi-Fi 7 access points
E7: Don’t Call It Enterprise?
Curiously, the first model is simply called E7. Ubiquiti has mostly used a naming convention of generation-model for their UniFi access points. The U7-Pro followed the U6-Pro, which followed the AC-Pro. Following that, I would expect this to be the U7-Enterprise, a generational jump over the Wi-Fi 6E flagship U6-Enterprise.
It’s actually a bit deeper than the shortened name. The three E7 models are part of a new enterprise category, a tier above the normal flagship models. The U6-Enterprise is not an “enterprise” model, only these three new E7 models are.
Ubiquiti explains the different categories like this:
Enterprise: Incredible 1,000+ client capacity, long-range 6 GHz performance, and 10 GbE PoE connectivity with native high availability architecture for critical enterprise environments.
Flagship: High-performance ceiling-mounted access points.
Wall: Sleek APs that plug directly into a wall outlet for meshed connectivity*, or transform an ethernet drop into an AP.
Outdoor: Versatile, weatherproof APs that can be mounted to poles outside, or conveniently placed on a surface indoors.
Mega Capacity: Great for stadiums or amphitheaters with a very high density of connected devices.
Building Bridge: Serves as a high-performance network bridge, without the wire.
No matter how you categorize it, the E7 is for sale now in the US ($499 USD) and other regions. From the Ubiquiti store page for the E7:
Enterprise-grade indoor access point with 10-stream WiFi 7 performance, a 10 GbE uplink, and a redundant GbE port for high availability.
- WiFi 7 with 6 GHz support
- 10 spatial streams
- Real-time spectral analysis for enhanced channel selection
- Dedicated spectral analyzer radio
- Long-range 6 GHz performance with AFC (Available in FCC/IC region only)
- 185 m² (2,000 ft²) coverage
- 1,000+ connected devices
- (1) 10 GbE RJ45 port and (1) GbE RJ45 port for power & data redundancy
- Backwards compatible mounting system (WiFi Access Point Ceiling Mounts)
- Powered using PoE++Note: 6 GHz operation is supported in these countries.
Until now, the best Wi-Fi 7 omnidirectional indoor access points you could get were the U7 Pro or U7 Pro Max. The U7 Pro ($189) was the first, and is still the entry-level model for Wi-Fi 7. It is a tri-band BE10800 class AP with 2x2 radios for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. It requires PoE+, can only be used indoors, and has a single 2.5 Gbps RJ45 Ethernet port.
The U7 Pro Max ($279) upgrades the 5 GHz radio to 4x4 and increases transmit power, client capacity, and coverage area. It also adds a spectral analysis radio which is used in the UniFi Network Application to scan the RF environment, pick better channels, and monitor for issues.
So, what does the E7 ($499) add over the U7 Pro and U7 Pro Max? More spatial streams and more throughput on 6 GHz, more coverage capacity and area, dual uplinks with one 10 Gbps and one 1 Gbps RJ45 port, and — because, of course — RGB lighting. The E7 is also the first standard power 6 GHz AP from UniFi, where all previous models were low-power indoor. I covered the difference between SP and LPI back in 2021, but I’ll discuss that more below.
There are a lot of details to consider, so it’s helpful to see a direct spec comparison of all of the Enterprise models, and all of the Wi-Fi 7 UniFi APs.
Across all categories, the E7 is the most technically impressive omnidirectional AP UniFi offers. For nearly double the price of the U6 Enterprise or U7 Pro Max, you get more features and more power. You’ll need to weigh how much those are worth to you.
On the other hand, if the E7 isn’t enough or you want 6 GHz coverage outdoors, let’s take a look at the E7 Campus.
E7 Campus: Outdoor with PRISM RF-Filtering
The E7 Campus looks like the regular E7 at first glance, but it’s different in a few key areas.
The name lines up with their new Enterprise Campus line of UniFi switches, which are focused on very-high throughput and high availability. The E7 Campus AP features the same 10-stream set of radios as the E7, with the same transmit power. The E7 Campus adds a few unique features:
High-gain directional antennas: 9 dBi for 2.4 GHz, and 12 dBi for 5 GHz and 6 GHz.
You can use the U7 Campus outdoors. It’s waterproof and rated at IPX6, or IP67 if you use the included port and cable cover kit. See their UniFi Device IP and IK Ratings help article for more specifics.
You can mount it to a ceiling, wall, pole, or 100x100 VESA mount with the included articulating mount.
It features PRISM™ RF filtering — previously found in the AirMAX 5AC Gen2 point-to-multipoint APs like the AirMAC Rocket 5AC Prism or PrismStation 5AC. The feature is all-caps now, but it performs the same function as before. It filters out surrounding RF noise from the environment or other APs. This leads to less noise, higher SNR, improved efficiency, and ultimately, better performance.
It’s not for sale yet, but it will be available for $799 USD in January 2025. From the Ubiquiti store page for the E7 Campus:
Enterprise-grade indoor/outdoor access point with 10-stream WiFi 7 performance, PRISM™ active RF filtering technology, and integrated directional antennas.
- WiFi 7 with 6 GHz support
- 10 spatial streams
- Real-time spectral analysis for enhanced channel selection
- High selectivity PRISM™ RF filtering technology
- Dedicated spectral analyzer radio
- Directional high gain antenna array
- Long-range 6 GHz performance with AFC (Available in FCC/IC region only.)
- 465 m² (5,000 ft²) coverage and 1,000+ connected devices
- (1) 10 GbE RJ45 port and (1) GbE RJ45 port for power & data redundancy
- Versatile articulating wall/pole mount for precise position (included), VESA 100x100 compatibility
- Powered using PoE++Note: 6 GHz operation is supported in these countries.
E7 Campus Antenna and Coverage Differences
The E7 Campus spec list is light on specifics, but the antenna differences are worth discussing. The lower-gain antennas in models like the U7 Pro, U7 Pro Max, and E7 are omnidirectional and designed to evenly cover a broad area. The higher-gain antennas in the E7 Campus are meant for long-range coverage in a concentrated area.
As a general rule, the higher gain an antenna is, the more directional it is. To reach long distances, you have to give up broad coverage. These high-gain antennas make the E7 Campus not the best option for evenly covering a broad area. You can still mount it on a ceiling, but the coverage pattern of the E7 Campus won’t be the same as other omnidirectional models like the E7 or U7 Pro.
They haven’t updated their antenna radiation charts to show these new models yet, but I suspect that the E7 Campus is going to be heavily weighted to push signal out of the top of the AP. Whether you mount it on a ceiling, wall, or pole, you’ll want to face the flat white top of the AP towards the area you want to cover. You’ll also want to carefully consider placement and cell sizes when planning a network with these APs.
A better model to compare the E7 Campus against might be the U7 Outdoor. The U7 Outdoor also has high-gain directional antennas. The U7 Outdoor’s internal 5 GHz antenna is specified as 12.5 dBi, with a 45° beamwidth. The 12 dBi antennas in the E7 Campus should be similar, and cover a roughly 45° arc over long distances. The U7 Outdoor features RP-SMA to connect other antennas like the included 4 dBi omni antennas, but you’re stuck with the internal ones on the E7 Campus.
You don’t have to use the E7 Campus outdoors, you could also use it in a large indoor space, like say in a warehouse. You could use multiple E7 Campus APs to break up a large space into multiple smaller coverage cells. Combined with the spectral analysis radio and RF-filtering, the E7 Campus should be a significantly more capable AP for those kind of situations.
We’ll need to wait until January 2025 to get real-world reviews of how this all works in practice. Until then, the promise of what this AP can do is exciting, just don’t expect it to be a drop-in replacement for an omnidirectional AP you currently have.
E7 Audience: An Upgraded BaseStation XG
Finally, we have the most expensive and most niche of the three models. The E7 Audience is a spiritual successor to the Wi-Fi 5 BaseStation XG (UWB-XG). These two mega capacity models are designed for truly large networks — picture an arena or stadium, convention center, or large outdoor event.
Their unique design and capabilities are meant to be used in those kind of demanding situations, and are definitely not meant to be a normal AP in a normal Wi-Fi network. These are for the highest-density and highest-end Wi-Fi networks.
From the Ubiquiti store page for the E7 Audience:
Enterprise-grade, indoor/outdoor access point designed for high-density environments with 12-stream 5 GHz and 6 GHz WiFi 7 performance, a 10 GbE uplink, and a redundant GbE port for high availability.
- WiFi 7 with 6 GHz support
- 12 spatial streams
- Real-time spectral analysis for enhanced channel selection
- High selectivity PRISM™ RF filtering technology
- Dedicated spectral analyzer radio
- Selectable directional beamforming antenna (15 dBi, 50° or 11 dBi, 90°) allows for cell size optimization
- Long-range 6 GHz performance with AFC (Available in FCC/IC region only.)
- 465+ m² (5,000+ ft²) open space coverage
- 1,500+ connected devices
- (1) 10 GbE RJ45 port and (1) GbE RJ45 port for power & data redundancy
- Versatile wall and pole mounting
- Powered using PoE++
- IP68 Waterproof
Also, one small thing worth noting. There is a small screen on the bottom of the U7 Audience which shows the current IP address and number of connected clients. Is it necessary? Probably not, but it’s a nice little extra feature only found on this AP.
I’ve wondered for a long time if we would ever see an updated BaseStation XG. The Wi-Fi 6 era came and went without one. I can’t image Ubiquiti sells a ton of these, so maybe it was a lower priority. Maybe they wanted to wait until all the technical pieces — Wi-Fi 7, 6 GHz, and standard power operation — were in place before releasing a new model.
Either way, the E7 Audience is a big jump over the BaseStation XG. The BaseStation XG may be the better option for 5 GHz today. As we build our way to the Wi-Fi 7 and 6 GHz future, the E7 Audience will stand alone as the top option when it’s released in March 2025.
UniFi E7 Details and Nit Picks
Low-Power Indoor (LPI) 6 GHz APs
As I mentioned above, the differences between low-power indoor (LPI) and standard power 6 GHz APs are important. This is a complex topic, but I’ll try to keep this simple and understandable. If I’ve missed anything or got anything wrong, please let me know. We’ll start with LPI models like the U7 Pro.
Effective isometric radiated power (EIRP) is a measure of the power output of a radio. Based on where you are in the world and which channels you are using, there are different limits to EIRP. For 6 GHz in the US, LPI models like the U7 Pro are limited to 30 dBm EIRP. Also, as the name implies, they can only operate indoors.
6 GHz isn’t the same as 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz when it comes to EIRP and power limits. The maximum EIRP for LPI APs changes based on channel width. 6 GHz mandates a maximum Power Spectral Density limit, or PSD. For LPI APs, this limit is 5 dBm/MHz.
This means that the EIRP limit for 6 GHz LPI access points increases with wider channels. For the U7 Pro to operate at the maximum 30 dBm EIRP, you need to use a 320 MHz channel. With every reduction in channel width comes a reduction in power. This is a good thing though, as it encourages the use of wider channels.
With 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, there is a noise penalty with wider channels. Every time you double the channel width, you also double the noise. With a static maximum EIRP, narrow channels have an advantage. Wider channels tend to be noisier and less efficient.
With LPI 6 GHz APs, there is still a noise penalty with wider channels. However, every time you double the channel width, you can offset this by doubling (+3 dBi) your transmission power.
AFC and Standard Power 6 GHz APs
Standard power APs like the E7 or E7 Campus have slightly different constraints. They can be used outdoors, and have a much higher PSD limit of 23 dBm/MHz. They are limited to just the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 channels, and an absolute maximum of 36 dBm EIRP.
While a 6 dBm increase over LPI may not sound like a lot, the logarithmic scale means that is a 4X increase in power. Also, it’s important to remember that due to a higher PSD limit, you can operate at higher power even when using narrower channels.
While standard power APs can operate at higher power and outdoors, they are required to use Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC). The AFC system leverages GPS to ensure that there are no incumbent users trying to access the same channels in the same area. These would typically be for things like links to geostationary satellites, or television broadcasts.
On top of all this complexity is the fact that 6 GHz operation rules vary by region. Currently these E7 models can only operate as standard power in the USA (FCC) or Canada (IC). They operate as LPI APs in all other regions, but that may change in the future as regulations are approved and rules are changed.
Along with these higher power limits, the addition of outdoor operation is a huge landmark. It’s been a long few years of waiting for the AFC system and everything to be worked out, but I am so glad to see more outdoor and standard power 6 GHz equipment available.
These features excite RF nerds like me. More importantly, they allow for better and more-scalable Wi-Fi networks to be built, which will improve everyone’s experience going forward. It’s an exciting time for wireless networks and the wireless industry as a whole.
Nit Pick: Coverage Area and Concurrent Clients
Recently Ubiquiti started specifying the estimated coverage area for each AP model. It was a useful addition, but it’s worth taking this claim with a grain of salt. A claim of 185 m² / 2,000 ft² doesn’t mean that it’s guaranteed to cover exactly that much area. It also doesn’t mean that a 20,000 ft² building is going to be covered by exactly 10 APs. That said, it’s a useful metric to have when comparing models. It’s much clearer than the complicated math of TX power, antenna gain, and EIRP.
The flip side of this has been the client capacity numbers that are advertised. These numbers are absurd, with the U7 Pro claiming over 300 clients, and the U7 Pro Max claiming over 500. Can they connect that many clients at once? In a lab, I’m sure. The real world is different.
It doesn’t matter how great the AP is, if several hundred clients are connected and active at once, no one will be happy. All of those clients will have low throughput and high latency, or try to roam to a less-crowded AP. Even with Wi-Fi 7, 6 GHz, and the widest channels possible, there’s a limited amount of airtime for transmissions. The more clients you have, the less each can use.
While you may be able to get 300, or 500, or even 1000 clients to associate to a single access point, if more than a small fraction of them are active at once, it’s not going to work well. Ubiquiti was challenged on this by Wi-Fi legend Keith Parsons in their Wi-Fi Field Day talk. That whole session is worth watching, but I really enjoyed that portion.
Despite the push back from professionals, they are still making these inflated concurrent client claims. I think you should dismiss them as marketing numbers, and never plan to push a single AP to the limits they define. High-density wireless networks are hard to design and perfect, and claims of 1000+ clients per AP only muddy the water and set up false expectations.
Is UniFi Enterprise-Grade Yet?
To wrap up this news, I can’t help but reflect on this past year and all of the hardware and software we’ve seen from Ubiquiti. It’s pointed out often that despite their marketing, UniFi isn’t truly enterprise-grade. Discussions from 5 years ago sound a lot like the discussions you’ll hear today. A lot of it comes down to the definition of the word enterprise, and what that means to you or your company.
For me, in my day job and my career as a network engineer, UniFi is not enterprise-grade. We use Cisco for switching and wireless, and our CTO will never approve of UniFi in our production facilities. If it were up to me, I would be OK with using UniFi switching and wireless in our offices or smaller locations. UniFi gateways and their firewall and routing capabilities are a discussion for another time, I just want to focus on wireless and switching here.
UniFi has had a reputation for a long time of being pretty to look at but sometimes ugly to use. There are years of history backing that up with buggy software, and promises that were bigger than what was delivered. Their lack of licenses and subscription fees are good things, but their perceived unreliability and lack of support are non-starters.
I believe that time may be coming to a close, but there is always some lag between reality and reputation. It will take time for their perception to change, and for more businesses and “enterprise” customers to start considering a UniFi network. It’s up to Ubiquiti to prove that, and that work is ongoing.
On the UI Chat podcast, we’ve been reviewing the monthly Ubiquiti news. I pay more attention to Ubiquiti’s every move than most people, but even for me it’s been overwhelming at times. I think for the average technical person, they’ve either made up their mind years ago that UniFi isn’t serious enough for their needs, or they just aren’t aware of all that has changed.
Just focusing on the UniFi Network software itself, the amount of progress over the past year or two has been impressive. BGP, OSPF, spectrum analysis, native packet capture, NetFlow, custom NAT, better logging, SNMP, Wi-Fi 7 MLO, L3 and L2 ACLs, PPSK, an API — the list goes on. Add in the countless hardware options and the ecosystem they’ve built around it, it’s a good solution for a lot of different networks and needs.
I still have complaints and you probably still have some reservations, but I believe this year has proved that UniFi is a serious competitor and worth considering. They are growing up, expanding, and maturing. They are fixing long-standing issues and delivering a seemingly non-stop flow of major software and hardware releases. They do some things better than their competitors — design, ease of use, cost — but still have things to catch up on and areas to improve. No vendor is perfect.
These three new access points are just another step on UniFi’s Enterprise-Grade™️ journey, but when you take a broader view, it’s hard to be unimpressed with everything they’ve done in 2024.
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited for what’s next.
