Ubiquiti earlier this week announced that it is rolling out firmware version 3.7.0 for its AmpliFi Alien router, which delivers HomeKit support. HomeKit support allows the router to be managed from the Home app across Apple's platforms to adjust security settings for various HomeKit accessories installed in the home. The functionality serves to firewall HomeKit devices by allowing them to communicate only with other approved devices, helping secure potentially sensitive accessories such as cameras from unauthorized access.

Only a few brands such as Linksys and Eero have supported HomeKit on select routers so far, so Ubiquiti is a notable addition.

Ubiquiti says the firmware update is a staged automatic rollout, but instructions for manually updating to the latest version are linked in the announcement. Users will also need the latest version of the AmpliFi WiFi app for iPhone.

(Thanks, Scott!)

Article Link: Ubiquiti Rolling Out HomeKit Support for AmpliFi Alien Router

This router is crap don't waste your time with it. Many far better options around. The specs are killer but the software is a total let down.

The Asus Zen ET8 or XT8 are much better. They allow for the simple setup and control plus advance options for power users. Also the performance of the network itself is far better.

Apple….iPhone…..Alien….home kit…alien….home

ET phone Home

Would be more interesting if the Unifi Protect product line would get HomeKit support.

Ubiquiti consumer products really took a dive over the last ~5 years. They were one of the first to make a truly seamless AC mesh system, but then they just kinda stopped updating and modernizing their equipment.

It's obviously a different story for commercial products, but I've given up and sold off their mesh router a few years ago. Linksys, Orbi, Eero Pro all run circles around them.

it's the best brand for network equipment, they are doing great with the value they bring. hope they add this to their edge Routers.

Stones said:

Would be more interesting if the Unifi Protect product line would get HomeKit support.

UniFi Protect would be interesting if UniFi had cameras in stock.

Silly question but why does a router need HomeKit support?

RogueWarrior65 said:

Silly question but why does a router need HomeKit support?

I think it does the vlan configuration management to isolate a network with your HomeKit devices and firewall appropriately. Easier for Joe Sixpack than digging into a router box or command line to make separate vlans and firewall, the same Joe who probably thinks firewall and nat are the same thing.

I tried this before, it’s huge and ugly and sticks out. The screen is cool but totally useless at the end of the day. Also in the U.K. it’s a rip off, because it’s only dual band, it’s tri band in the US, yet the U.K. model is around £350. You can get it with a mesh point too for around £600 but that point can only be used with your original Alien router as it’s locked to it in the factory!
I gave up with all that and others and just use Eero. Better value and more reliable, good support too. The Alien firmware was buggy too from what I remember with many users having to go through loop holes to get a PS4 to connect to it on the 5GHZ network.
You can buy much better more powerful UniFi kit for less then the Alien system.

Amplifi also need to launch a WiFi 6 version of their HD system, lots of people still use that as it’s the best system they’ve made small and fits in well, but they seemingly have no interest to do so and you must buy the big ugly black gaming centric style router for WiFi 6.

dlewis23 said:

This router is crap don't waste your time with it. Many far better options around. The specs are killer but the software is a total let down.

The Asus Zen ET8 or XT8 are much better. They allow for the simple setup and control plus advance options for power users. Also the performance of the network itself is far better.

The "router is crap" is a false statement. You might not like the customizability of it, but the range and speeds are fantastic. I'm a network architect and deal with many different routers and networking equipment daily; this is a great "set it and forget it" router. Price is high, but it works, and customers seem to love the ease of use.

Router is not crap. Router is good. But feature-wise, yeah it could use some extra features for power users aka the <1%

TimmKook said:

The "router is crap" is a false statement. You might not like the customizability of it, but the range and speeds are fantastic. I'm a network architect and deal with many different routers and networking equipment daily; this is a great "set it and forget it" router. Price is high, but it works, and customers seem to love the ease of use.

Router is not crap. Router is good. But feature-wise, yeah it could use some extra features for power users aka the <1%

I like mine. I didn't purchase the router with the mesh node, i purchased a separate router to use for mesh node. Pricey, but it works. I like the fact that it has ethernet for backhaul, and ethernet ports on the mesh node. Downside: it will not support internet speeds over 1gbps.

Stones said:

Would be more interesting if the Unifi Protect product line would get HomeKit support.

You can if you use HomeBridge, it's fairly easy to set up.

Out of the box support would be great, but the HomeBridge route is a solid solution.

TimmKook said:

The "router is crap" is a false statement. You might not like the customizability of it, but the range and speeds are fantastic. I'm a network architect and deal with many different routers and networking equipment daily; this is a great "set it and forget it" router. Price is high, but it works, and customers seem to love the ease of use.

Router is not crap. Router is good. But feature-wise, yeah it could use some extra features for power users aka the <1%

A wifi router that did not let you choose your wifi 6 radio channel till recently because of complaints, defaults to channel 36 in auto mode for 5 GHz no matter whats going on around you and then doesn't let you choose the upper channels of the 5 GHz band is crap.

Trying to make it easy and not be as customizable is fine, but then don't auto select a channel your neighbors wifi is using leading to horrid performance at a high price. There is noting wrong with making the software simple if it actually worked. Eero and Orbi do this far better.

I have dealt with every brand of networking gear, from consumer to commercial. Ubiquiti makes great products, this is not one of them.

They charge $379 for this when you could now go and get a Ubiquiti dreamrouter for almost half the price that is a much better product. And if you really want simple, just get an Eero.

dlewis23 said:

A wifi router that did not let you choose your wifi 6 radio channel till recently because of complaints, defaults to channel 36 in auto mode for 5 GHz no matter whats going on around you and then doesn't let you choose the upper channels of the 5 GHz band is crap.

Trying to make it easy and not be as customizable is fine, but then don't auto select a channel your neighbors wifi is using leading to horrid performance at a high price. There is noting wrong with making the software simple if it actually worked. Eero and Orbi do this far better.

I have dealt with every brand of networking gear, from consumer to commercial. Ubiquiti makes great products, this is not one of them.

They charge $379 for this when you could now go and get a Ubiquiti dreamrouter for almost half the price that is a much better product. And if you really want simple, just get an Eero.

Click to expand...

I have mine on auto everything and it’s currently using channel 161 for 5GHz. Under what circumstances were you seeing it always choosing 36?

Can you temporarily disable the 5ghz radio for HomeKit setup with this router? My biggest issue with HomeKit devices is that my Orbi router can not disable the 5ghz radio. Each time I add a device I have to disable the Orbi and set up my ATT router to use the 2.4ghz radio.

Unggoy Murderer said:

You can if you use HomeBridge, it's fairly easy to set up.

Out of the box support would be great, but the HomeBridge route is a solid solution.

True! Actually I currently prefer scrypted to do this.

Ubiquiti doesn't take security seriously, and the support is terrible...when you can get it at all.

Hey I’ve got this router, 2 of them in fact, I’ve had 0 issues, such a good, fast, sleek router, nothing but good things to say I wish it supported more then 1Gbps, but there’s not a lot of routers that do right now.

Downside of this announcement is it only works if you use 1 Alien router, if you have 2 it won’t. Hope that’s a fix they’ll be rolling out.

Let's hope that at some point they also bring it to the UniFi Dream Router.

I only regret that the Alien is not compatible with the "old" HD, but the HD system is very good and reliable (using 3 routers in my case).

macsimcon said:

Ubiquiti doesn't take security seriously, and the support is terrible...when you can get it at all.

Actually that was fake, that ‘leak’ was a disgruntled employee who made it up to extort money. And the media ran with it. Perosnally I think Ubiquiti firmware can be poor and buggy, but they are as secure as anyone else.

gordon1234 said:

I have mine on auto everything and it’s currently using channel 161 for 5GHz. Under what circumstances were you seeing it always choosing 36?

May have been older firmware as it didn’t use higher frequencies till recently as I understand.

macsimcon said:

Ubiquiti doesn't take security seriously, and the support is terrible...when you can get it at all.

This was not a breach by outside hackers, it was an employee with credentials/access who tried to stage a hack to extort Ubiquity, then when he was caught he tried to hide behind whistleblower legislation. More to the story than the original headlines.