Help us make the Firewalla AP

Pinned Featured

Comments

648 comments

  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    @DanM, there are a lot of software going inside the Firewalla AP, so it is not possible running it on generic platforms. 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    John

    @firewalla

    Thanks. It’s all dependent on our homes’ sizes, walls, etc.

    For example, in my 3k sq foot home I have 2 asus et12s running, one at each end of the home on the main floor. That provides very good coverage (400-500 Mbps) throughout all three floors.

    My assumption is I would replace those two units with firewallas. If they’re priced similarly to other high end consumer router/AP solutions (like these asus, decos, netgear etc) I would expect at least that type of coverage. These (consumer grade) competitors do provide expected square footage coverage, hence my question.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    @John, since APs are optimized differently, we can't compare to how our potential units will work the same at your place. But, one thing we can control is to have awesome software that's better :) (edit: the last part is just marketing)

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    John

    Yes of course, totally agree it’s potentially apples to oranges. I’ll clearly be getting them when they’re released :)

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Adam Zell

    My company uses Ruckus Unleashed ceiling-mounted access points for all new construction homes. Layouts are heatmapped using Ekahau heatmapping software.

    The Ruckus APs are inserted into the ceiling using the Paramount AP mount 
    https://accesspointmount.com/

    We'll occasionally use wall-mounted APs in retrofit situations or places where we can't get to the ceiling.

    Ruckus is by far the most rock-solid AP we've used in the residential market, and Unleashed is an extremely easy to use management platform.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    DummyKid

    hope the spec would be out next week, aka contract signed. 

    -1
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Derek Seaman

    @adamZell I've used Ruckus R650 (WiFi 6) and currently have Rucksu R770s (Wifi 7) at home. I used Unleashed with the R650 and Ruckus One with the R770s. Ruckus, due to their proprietary antenna design, certainly are by far the most stable and performance APs money can buy. The WiFi 7 firmware was a bit bumpy, but now it's great. 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    These are $1000+ USD per unit? they better be great :) 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    DummyKid

    when the deposit would be made? 

    -1
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Derek Seaman

    @firewalla The Ruckus R650s are the best value, even new, can be had for a few hundred each. Very few people actually need WiFi 7. Yes the R770s are expensive, but it's aimed at enterprises. If the Firewalla APs can perform similarly to the R650s and in a similar price range, that would be a win. 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Stuart

    I'm quite skeptical about Firewalla APs performing anywhere near those from Ruckus. Ruckus is several cuts above anything on the consumer or "prosumer" market. (Cambium is up there too.) 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    At their price point, yeah, if Firewalla performs better, we will be charging a minimum $1000

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Adam Zell

    90% of the time we sell the R550 and R650 access points. The R750 is nice but overkill and mostly unnecessary in a residential environment.

    Beamforming and built-in Wi-Fi calling are two of the best selling points for Ruckus.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Andre

    Firewalla

    $1000 for Firewalla AP ?

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Adam Zell

    @Andre, sounds to me like Firewalla was making a point about the cost IF they added every possible Wi-Fi access point feature that’s on the market.

    If they are white-labeling another manufacturer’s AP, then they need to charge their cost +30% for profit, plus the cost for developing and maintaining their SDN.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    I don't think we will charge $1000 ... our market segment is a niche between that and consumer units, so we need to carefully balance the cost (hardware + software, developers are not cheap + maintenance). Enough, you get a good unit that grows with you (as with our other projects) at a reasonable cost (enough to feed our developers)

    2
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    DummyKid

    is contract signed or deposit made? just want to know the spec of WIFI7 APs

    -2
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Adam Zell

    @DummyKid Give them a break. I'm sure they will post when they have more information. 

    2
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    For your information, we are pretty close to signing the contract and white-labeling a desktop version. We hope to get some units ready with early access (awsome) software in late December (not a committed date). There will be lots of cool integrations with the firewalla. 

    2
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Eibensl

    @Firewalla:  thanks for posting updates; all very exciting and I'm looking forward to the new products.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    Good news! The contract with ODM has been signed, and we are now working out the details (costs) and finalizing the software. The first unit will be a desktop unit, available only in the USA (and later to countries supporting CE). The ceiling mount unit will come later.

    Can't share the hardware details until we are ready. On the software side, there will be deeper integration with the firewalla, with the AP controllers running inside the firewalla box locally. 

    5
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Troy Dampier

    when can we get one to test with? 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    DummyKid

    Nice, can wait to see the detail spec of the product, then I would decide if I would get rid of my Asus routers.

    1
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    John

    @firewalla

    Great news! Where will you announce the preorder page?

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Andre

    Firewalla

    I may go with desktop version instead of sealing one, just need to see what its look like.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    mikehuxley

    This is upsetting that the USA will be only initially targeted, The UK uses CE so @firewalla how long of a delay are we looking at until you remember a world exists outside of the US.

    I do understand that there are requirements for radios etc, but I won't lie this is disappointing, we get the leftovers at the end of the meal.

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    We are pushing our vendor to make this (CE) happen as soon as FCC is done. Both of these take time, effort, especially for wifi units.

     

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Bob O'Hara

    Will you be obtaining Wi-Fi Alliance certification to ensure interoperability with the thousands of existing Wi-Fi client devices?

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    atif.ahmad

    Any status update on this. I am thinking of getting a new Access point but will wait eagerly for firewalla. Following

    0
    Comment actions Permalink
  • Avatar
    Firewalla

    @bob, wifi alliance tests is likely to happen, since this is a white-box unit. 

    0
    Comment actions Permalink

Please sign in to leave a comment.