Our NEW NEW Office WiFi - Alta Labs AP6 Pro

ShortCircuit
31 Mar 202413:31

Summary

TLDRIn this video, the host excitedly introduces and sets up a new switch and AP networking system from Ala Labs, aiming to solve their office's internet connectivity issues. They discuss the features of the S2 PoE switch and the AP6 professional access point, highlighting their ease of installation, robust management capabilities, and impressive responsiveness of the system's dashboard. Despite a few concerns regarding the hardware's DRM and potential lack of redundant power supplies, the host is optimistic about the system's performance and looks forward to future updates, such as a local self-hostable controller.

Takeaways

  • 🌐 The video discusses the setup and testing of a new switch and AP networking ecosystem from Ala Labs.
  • 🔌 The S2 switch supports PoE with 24 plus 2 ports, and features rack studs and a single power supply.
  • 💡 The AP6 Professional is a 4x4 dual-band Enterprise wireless access point, supporting 2.4 and 5G Wi-Fi but not Wi-Fi 6E.
  • 🛠️ The AP6 has a variety of mounting options, including a plastic mounting bracket and t-bars for drop ceilings, with an IP54 rating for splash resistance.
  • 🔄 The video highlights the ease of installation and setup of the AP6, including the use of the Ala Labs app for configuration.
  • 🔒 The app allows for multiple Wi-Fi networks with different settings based on the password used, such as download caps and content filtering.
  • 📊 The dashboard provides real-time traffic monitoring and device management without the need for a subscription or additional payment.
  • 🔄 The switch and AP6 demonstrated fast software updates and responsiveness, with the switch showing a variety of network management features.
  • 🌈 The concept of 'colors' in the app is used to group APs and Wi-Fi networks together for broadcasting specific networks.
  • 🚀 The video expresses excitement for the potential of local, self-hostable controllers in the future for even more network control.
  • 🔒 There is a concern about the device's DRM linking to an account, which could be problematic if selling or transferring ownership of the hardware.

Q & A

  • What problem were the hosts trying to solve at the beginning of the video?

    -The hosts were trying to solve the problem of not having internet access in their office.

  • What is the S2 switch used for?

    -The S2 switch is used for Power over Ethernet (PoE) and is part of the networking ecosystem that the hosts were exploring.

  • What feature did the hosts appreciate about the rack studs of the switch?

    -The hosts appreciated that the switch came with rack studs, which they found cool, as it facilitates easy installation in a server rack setup.

  • What was the hosts' concern regarding the power supply of the switch?

    -The hosts were concerned that the switch only had a single power supply instead of redundant power supplies, which could potentially be a drawback for reliability.

  • What type of Wi-Fi capabilities does the AP6 Professional access point offer?

    -The AP6 Professional access point offers 4x4 dual-band Enterprise wireless capabilities, supporting both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies.

  • What is the IP rating of the AP6 Professional, and what does it signify?

    -The AP6 Professional has an IP54 rating, which means it is protected against dust and splashes of water from any direction.

  • How did the hosts find the process of updating the firmware on the AP6 Professional?

    -The hosts found the firmware update process on the AP6 Professional to be very fast and responsive, with updates completing almost instantly.

  • What feature of the AP6 Professional did the hosts find particularly useful for managing different user groups?

    -The hosts found the feature that allows setting multiple passwords and defining different settings based on those passwords particularly useful for managing different user groups.

  • What was the hosts' observation about the switch's port configuration options?

    -The hosts observed that the switch allowed for detailed port configuration, including setting the native VLAN, tagged allowed VLANs, PoE speed, isolation, download/upload limits, voice VLAN, loop detection, and storm control.

  • What was the hosts' main concern regarding the switch's software DRM?

    -The hosts were concerned that the switch's software was DRM-protected with cloud hosting, which could be an issue if they wanted to sell the device or if it was accidentally bound to another user's account.

  • What feature did the hosts wish the switch had that it currently does not?

    -The hosts wished that the switch had a screen for easier management and navigation of its features.

Outlines

00:00

🌐 Introducing Ala Labs' Networking Solution

The paragraph introduces the problem of lacking internet connectivity in the office and presents Ala Labs' switch and AP networking ecosystem as a potential solution. The speaker expresses excitement about experiencing this new ecosystem. The S2 switch for PoE is discussed, including its accessories, rack studs, power cable, and the lack of redundant power supplies. The switch's features, such as PoE power LEDs and rack mounting options, are highlighted. The paragraph also covers the unboxing of the s24 PoE switch with its 24 ports, 16 of which support PoE plus power, and the remaining 8 are normal gigabit ports. Additionally, two SFP plus ports are mentioned, which are expected to support 10 gigabit speeds. The design of the switch, including its fans, single power supply, and the placement of the reset button, is critiqued. The speaker also discusses the AP6 Professional, a 4x4 dual-band Enterprise wireless access point, its features, form factor, and the various mounting options included.

05:00

🔧 Setting Up Ala Labs' Wi-Fi and Networking Devices

This paragraph delves into the setup process of Ala Labs' Wi-Fi and networking devices. The speaker describes the initial connection to the neighbor's Wi-Fi and the ease of setting up the access points. The user interface of Ala Labs' website is explored, including the ability to add multiple Wi-Fi networks with different passwords and settings. The paragraph also discusses the features announced by Alta Labs, such as the capacity to set different network conditions based on the password used to connect. The speaker expresses appreciation for the ability to manage devices without a subscription or additional payment. A speed test is conducted to demonstrate the Wi-Fi performance, and the results are reported. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's realization that the switch is not initially detected but later appears in the setup interface, prompting a discussion about the device's software DRM and the need for a local, self-hostable controller.

10:02

🛠️ Exploring Switch Features and Customization Options

The speaker provides an in-depth look at the switch's features and customization options. The ports are described as being in a condensed manner, and the ability to power cycle the PoE is noted. Individual port settings, such as native VLAN, tagged allowed VLANs, PoE speed, isolation, download/upload limits, voice VLAN, loop detection, and storm control, are detailed. The inclusion of 802.1x for network access control is highlighted. The concept of color-coding to group specific APs together is explained, allowing APs to broadcast Wi-Fi networks that match their configured colors. VLAN settings and the ability to turn off link lights are discussed. The speaker expresses a desire for a screen on the switch and reflects on the overall responsiveness and live feed functionality of the dashboard. The paragraph concludes with the speaker's enthusiasm for the new competitor in the market, especially for small businesses and home enthusiasts, and the anticipation for a local, self-hostable controller to address the concerns about device DRM.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Internet connectivity

The ability to access the internet, which is a crucial aspect of the video as the hosts are trying to solve a connectivity problem in their office. The main theme revolves around setting up networking equipment to establish a stable internet connection.

💡Switch (S2)

A networking device that connects multiple devices together, allowing them to communicate and share resources like internet access. In the video, the S2 switch is a specific model they are using to create a network and provide power over Ethernet (PoE).

💡Access Point (AP6 Professional)

A device that enables wireless network connectivity, allowing devices to connect to the internet without the need for Ethernet cables. The AP6 Professional mentioned in the video is an enterprise-grade access point designed for robust wireless connectivity.

💡PoE (Power over Ethernet)

A technology that allows network cables to carry both data and electrical power to devices like wireless access points or IP cameras. The video highlights the use of PoE to power the AP6 Professional without needing a separate power cable.

💡Rack mount

A method of installing equipment, such as networking devices, in a standardized way for space efficiency and ease of maintenance. The video discusses the inclusion of rack studs and mounting brackets for installing the switch and access point.

💡SFP+ ports

High-speed network interfaces that can support data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps. The video mentions the presence of SFP+ ports on the switch, suggesting the potential for high-speed network connections.

💡Cloud management

The ability to manage and control networking devices remotely through an internet connection. The video emphasizes the ease of managing the devices through a cloud-based dashboard, which provides features like traffic monitoring and network configuration.

💡IP rating (IP54)

A classification that indicates the degree of protection a device has against the ingress of solid particles and water. The AP6 Professional has an IP54 rating, meaning it is protected against dust and splashes of water, making it suitable for indoor use.

💡Wi-Fi network configuration

The process of setting up a wireless network, including defining the network name (SSID), security settings, and other parameters. The video discusses the setup of multiple Wi-Fi networks with different passwords and settings to cater to various user groups and requirements.

💡Network optimization

The practice of adjusting network settings to improve performance, such as selecting the best Wi-Fi channel to minimize interference and maximize speed. The video includes a segment where the host optimizes the Wi-Fi channel settings for better network performance.

💡DRM (Digital Rights Management)

A system that controls the distribution and use of digital content, often to prevent unauthorized copying or sharing. The video mentions the switch's DRM with cloud hosting, which prevents the device from being reused without proper account deletion or permission.

Highlights

The introduction of a new networking solution to address the lack of internet in the office.

The presentation of a switch and AP (Access Point) networking ecosystem from a new, yet unnamed manufacturer.

The switch, named S2, supports Power over Ethernet (PoE) and comes with an accessory pack.

The S2 switch features 24 PoE ports and 2 SFP plus ports, with the potential for 10 gigabit speeds.

The lack of redundant power supplies on the S2 switch, which might be a concern for some users.

The AP6 Professional is a 4x4 dual-band Enterprise wireless access point with the capability to support 2.4 and 5G Wi-Fi.

The AP6 has an IP54 rating, meaning it can handle splashes and is suitable for various installation environments.

The ease of installation for the AP6, with features like spring-loaded tabs for mounting on different surfaces.

The demonstration of the manufacturer's app, which allows for easy management and configuration of the networking devices.

The ability to set up multiple Wi-Fi networks with different passwords and settings, providing flexibility for various user groups.

The quick and efficient software updates for the networking devices, showcasing the responsiveness of the manufacturer's cloud-based management.

The switch's features, including 802.1x for network access control, VLAN settings, and storm control.

The color-coding system for grouping APs and Wi-Fi networks, which simplifies device management.

The potential for a local, self-hostable controller in the future, which could enhance the system's appeal.

The concern about the device's DRM linking to a cloud account, which could pose issues for resale or if a reset is not thorough.

The overall positive impression of the new networking ecosystem, its competitive pricing, and its suitability for small businesses and home enthusiasts.

The mention of April Fools' and the humorous conclusion that the office move was a prank.

Transcripts

00:00

hi welcome to Short Circuit I'm really

00:02

excited for today because we're solving

00:04

a problem that we've had for about 1 day

00:07

we don't have Internet in our lovely

00:09

office that is definitely not the old

00:10

Langley house but ala Labs is hopefully

00:13

here to save the day this is a switch

00:16

and AP and networking ecosystem that I

00:19

have not had the pleasure of

00:20

experiencing yet and I'm really stoked

00:23

to be doing it in this exact environment

00:25

Belle's here with me to fact check we're

00:26

staying 5p to fart don't worry we're

00:28

going to start with the switch the S2

00:29

for Poe we've got the accessory pack

00:32

here what do we got in here propaganda

00:34

Community Forum technical support oops

00:38

sorry there's stuff in there the elater

00:40

did you pee is that why it's warmer uh

00:42

don't don't think about it okay oh they

00:44

come with rack studs that's so cool

00:46

power cable only one which makes me

00:49

think that this is not going to have

00:50

redundant power supplies not my

00:52

preferred but here we are and then we've

00:53

got the little rack here that we're

00:55

going to have to put on the switch in a

00:56

minute oh we've got some free

00:58

floaties

01:00

wonderful oh nice nice

01:03

foam oh that went right on my

01:06

laptop okay this is the s24 poe it's a

01:09

24 plus two Port switch here 16 of them

01:13

you can see in the Box here can do Poe

01:15

plus power and the other eight are just

01:17

normal gigabit and then on this side we

01:19

have two SFP plus ports so those in

01:22

theory based on it being sfb plus should

01:24

do 10 gig although it doesn't say I'm

01:27

just hoping that is the case around back

01:30

we have two fans and a single power

01:32

supply I would have really liked to see

01:34

two power supplies here if I'm being

01:35

honest I don't know what the price point

01:36

is but I imagine it's reasonable and

01:38

that's probably why I do like they have

01:40

discreete uh LEDs for the poe power

01:43

which is nice and I think that's pretty

01:45

much it for here you can screw on the

01:47

rack ears on the side but let's look at

01:48

the Wi-Fi that's what people want hey

01:50

look at that ap6 professional it's a 4x4

01:54

dualband Enterprise wireless access

01:56

point so it's not going to be doing

01:58

Wi-Fi 6E with 6 gz but it will do 2.4

02:01

and

02:02

5G on 4x4 which is nice wow it's a cool

02:07

it's a nice form factor I will say I

02:09

imagine this is an LED here we got a

02:11

little that must be their logo yeah it's

02:13

their logo on the back heat sinking a oh

02:17

this reset button good job ala Labs it's

02:21

on the back of an access point nobody's

02:23

going to accidentally like push it we've

02:26

got the poe plus input which is a 1 gig

02:29

R j45 what else is in here

02:33

propaganda uh plastic mounting bracket

02:37

screws oh and little Feats if you want

02:38

to put it on your desk that's a good

02:40

good inclusion oh nice a bracket for

02:44

installing on drop ceiling t- bars it's

02:45

got the little ears so you would click

02:47

it on and then screw in the presumably

02:49

the blast the plastic bracket so it's

02:51

ip54 which means I should be able to do

02:54

this

02:56

no we've got two I wouldn't go all the

02:59

way way I think the 54 what does 54 mean

03:02

you remember what ip54 is like splashes

03:04

indirectly ip54 is pretty good I just

03:07

dipped the tip that should be fine right

03:09

yeah yeah tip dip tip dip here I could

03:10

try this tip too or I'll tip dip this

03:12

tip too what are you trying to do is

03:15

this like a ubiquity competitor or

03:16

something yeah but we need internet at

03:18

the house right so that light you're

03:21

welcome yeah brilliant how does this

03:23

work ah wait what the hell how does this

03:26

go oh oh uh so it just clicks in I this

03:30

would be a lot easier to do if it was on

03:31

a wall cuz you would just like tilt the

03:33

end in and then slide it I imagine

03:35

there's two little like spring-loaded

03:37

tabs on the

03:39

side well that screw's gone forever it's

03:41

really really springy sprongs oh there

03:44

we go and then you said wiggle it back

03:46

and forth oh yeah that come came out

03:48

pretty easily you'd imagine it would be

03:49

on a ceiling and you would just stick

03:51

the screwdriver in there that would pop

03:52

that side out and then you just do it a

03:55

wiggle yeah that's that's pretty easy I

03:57

like that you don't need a special tool

03:59

and uh this is just another one of those

04:01

I guess that means we can deploy some

04:03

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04:04

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04:07

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04:15

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04:16

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04:18

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Suite today all right we've moved inside

04:34

I've been allowed to use a little bit of

04:35

power so we can try this out and uh we

04:37

got the aps here it linked up to the

04:39

neighbors's Internet which is great I

04:41

mean uh our internet great let's see if

04:43

the Wi-Fi works got these great ubiquity

04:47

ether that cables there's one see do we

04:50

get any lights

04:52

hey blue I downloaded their app and got

04:55

signed in oh yeah look at that right

04:56

there so yeah I see them on my phone

04:57

already which is cool wait oh they even

05:00

show on my laptop sick I just am on the

05:04

Ala Labs website connected to the

05:06

neighbor's Wi-Fi and it's working just

05:09

fine so here let me go set up looks like

05:11

they both have for more updates

05:13

unfortunately damn that was uh that was

05:17

fast connect it I want the most Wi-Fi

05:20

five we'll do 160 wide why not it's not

05:24

letting me pick DFS channels which is a

05:26

little strange look at that oh that's

05:28

cute it's even got like a traffic graph

05:31

let me add a Wi-Fi network that we can

05:33

connect to here neighbors Wi-Fi that

05:37

seems

05:37

appropriate add password oh oh yeah I

05:41

forgot you can do that uh it was one of

05:43

the big features that they announced

05:44

when Alta laps kind of came to Market

05:46

with these new APS uh you can have

05:48

multiple passwords and Define different

05:51

settings based on that password you can

05:53

do this on ubiquity access points now

05:55

too but you could have like one Wi-Fi

05:57

network and you have a password for you

05:59

and your partner and then you have a

06:01

password for your kids and you want to

06:03

have no download cap where you set them

06:05

a cap where you can set a schedule so

06:07

they only get Wi-Fi at certain times or

06:09

uh you can make it so you bypass the

06:11

like adult filtering and they don't

06:14

blocked applications what can I add

06:16

ooh look at all these applications oh

06:19

there's no search here that's a little

06:20

lame let's try that Tik Tok yeah no Tik

06:23

Tok in this house I'm going to update

06:25

these and then let's try them out you

06:27

know curiously actually I don't see the

06:28

switch it's not detecting the switch I

06:31

don't know if the switches work on their

06:33

dashboard maybe it's just a dumb switch

06:36

wow they actually updated feels like in

06:39

seconds I mean we cut the camera for a

06:41

few minutes there but I wasn't really

06:42

paying attention and they're already

06:44

done oh yeah look at that wow the

06:46

traffic it's already there it's very

06:48

responsive I like that and it's cool

06:50

because this isn't like a cloud key with

06:52

ubiquity or like a paid online service

06:55

this is just what you get by default you

06:57

can have full management of your devices

06:59

on their Cloud uh without having to pay

07:02

for anything or pay for a subscription

07:04

which is pretty cool for like normies um

07:07

it would be nice to have the option to

07:09

self-host the controller and I imagine

07:11

they're probably working on that I can

07:12

see my device here look I got an IP

07:14

address we can see our negotiated rates

07:16

are around 1,300 Meg let's run a speed

07:20

test I think the neighbors only have one

07:22

gig up and down so that's the best we're

07:24

going to get here probably should uh

07:26

here let me let me let me optimize this

07:29

a little more here look at how optimized

07:30

my Wi-Fi I don't know if these channels

07:33

are already in use though so let me

07:34

check that really quick let's try the

07:36

scan feature and it will tell us scan

07:39

quick scan shouldn't interrupt your

07:41

Wi-Fi network that's cool oh wow that

07:43

was look how fast that was it's already

07:45

done it looks like I should use I need

07:49

160 wides so I need quite a few are the

07:51

only 160 wides we got okay so I could do

07:53

like 112 let's try that WiFi

07:57

channel there we go yeah the DFS Channel

07:59

channels are working now too so maybe

08:00

that's just an app thing or because they

08:02

were out of date I'm not sure and then

08:03

for AP1 let me just disable AP1 oh look

08:08

at that you pick the channel and you

08:09

just hit disable so easy I love you

08:12

ubiquity but the amount of times I've

08:15

asked for just let me turn off the

08:17

goddamn radio on an AP without having to

08:20

screw around with like AP groups that

08:22

was so easy and that's how easy it

08:24

should be we do have it up on the 160

08:26

wide now let me connect and then we'll

08:29

do a proper speed test and see how fast

08:31

she goes it's not Wi-Fi 6C so we're

08:33

probably not going to see beyond gigabit

08:35

speeds and we only have a 1 gig uh

08:37

neighbor connection here but it should

08:39

still be pretty quick looks like about

08:42

560 down getting pretty close to 700 up

08:47

if you had faster internet and um maybe

08:49

not other people using it sorry

08:51

neighbors it'd probably be faster but

08:53

that's pretty good try it on my phone I

08:54

guess it looks pretty similar 450 down

08:57

360 up not not the best ever but also

09:00

not ideal circumstances whatsoever

09:04

something I realized I missed earlier on

09:05

the front of these switches is the reset

09:07

button but it's not recessed now I liked

09:09

it on the access point right there

09:11

because it would be hard to accidentally

09:13

press this it's on the back you can't

09:14

even get to it if you wanted to here

09:17

when you're fumbling around in the rack

09:18

trying to plug in a cable I could see

09:20

you accidentally pressing this that

09:22

being said you probably have to hold it

09:23

for some amount of time uh so it's

09:25

probably a nonissue but seems a little

09:28

bit sketch hey look at that actually the

09:31

switch is picking up now here let's

09:33

click set up appears to have been

09:35

factory reset do you want to set up this

09:36

device again

09:37

yes is currently assigned to another

09:40

user's

09:41

account this can happen if the previous

09:43

owner of this device has not deleted

09:44

this device from their account do you

09:45

want to request permission to use this

09:47

device oh okay yeah I guess it's

09:52

software drmed with their Cloud hosting

09:55

even though I reset it I don't know how

09:57

I feel about that I mean it's good from

09:59

the perspective of it getting stolen and

10:01

not being able to reuse but also if you

10:05

were to sell one of these and not reset

10:07

it from your account that would be not

10:10

great they tested it in the lab and

10:12

that's why it was adopted to somebody's

10:14

account they reset it and now we are in

10:16

it also has a software update but this

10:18

time I'm going to roll because I want to

10:20

know how fast it updates so there we go

10:22

update click let's see oh there's a

10:26

little no way there's no way it was that

10:29

fast update 100% complete it says bullsh

10:33

I'll refresh let's see no it still says

10:35

100% complete I don't know about this

10:37

Chief the update status went away oh I

10:40

think it's rebooting now that's pretty

10:42

fast let's see how fast it reboots

10:43

though yeah I don't have internet

10:45

anymore that makes sense internet gone

10:47

no I have to connect to the neighbor's

10:48

Wi-Fi now the signal

10:51

sucks okay I'm doing stuff now Blinky

10:55

blink hey there we go okay a couple

10:58

minutes pretty pretty fast pretty

11:00

respectable let's take a look at what

11:02

the switch features are really quick

11:04

okay open it up there I see the ports in

11:07

a very condensed manner power cycle the

11:10

poe that's good I can click on

11:12

individual ports I can set the native

11:14

VLAN the tagged allowed vlans Poe speed

11:18

isolation a download upload limit a

11:21

voice VLAN Loop detection storm control

11:23

Mac control seems like most of the

11:26

things here oh it even has

11:27

802.1x uh so you can do network access

11:30

control that's pretty cool I can mirror

11:32

ports combine them I don't know what

11:34

this color stuff is what does this even

11:35

mean colors are a way to group specific

11:37

APS together APS will only broadcast

11:39

these Wi-Fi networks that match their

11:40

configured colors both APS and Wi-Fi

11:42

networks can be part of multiple colors

11:44

and groups okay so that's basically AP

11:46

groups that's what the colors mean they

11:48

probably should have just called it

11:49

groups and given the groups colors

11:50

rather than calling them colors but here

11:52

we are I can set vlans I can select all

11:55

it's it's pretty much what you would

11:56

expect it feels very new like this

12:00

is software has existed for I don't know

12:04

you know a year and they've got all the

12:06

features in there but maybe the layout

12:08

and whatever isn't the most optimal yet

12:11

but it seemingly Works link lights hey

12:14

you can turn them off let's try

12:17

it hey look at that the link lights are

12:19

off that's a good feature LED white red

12:22

oo I can change the color let's go

12:26

green eh ah green I wish it had a screen

12:30

but the green is cool too so overall I

12:32

mean I'm pretty stoked that there's

12:34

another competitor in this kind of price

12:36

point and space for small businesses and

12:39

kind of like Enthusiast at home where

12:41

you want more control over your stuff I

12:43

look forward to when there's a local

12:45

self- hostable controller I know that

12:46

that's in beta right now but we'll have

12:48

to see how that goes don't really like

12:51

that it was DRM to another account as

12:54

physical Hardware really wish that

12:56

wasn't a thing maybe the local

12:57

controller will make that not a problem

12:59

but overall it cool it's a very

13:02

responsive dashboard that much I like

13:04

like look at this this is like a live

13:06

feed of what's going on like the

13:07

ibiquity one is pretty responsive but

13:09

this is this might be another League

13:12

especially considering it's currently

13:13

cloud-based it's pretty impressive if

13:16

you like this video like it get

13:18

subscribed um April fools by the way

13:21

we're not actually moving into the house

13:23

we're not actually doing short circuit

13:24

from a cold cold tub thank

13:29

gosh

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