[regnerba]

Interesting. I have 2 Google Homes (1 regular and 1 mini), a Chromecast and a Chromecast Audio, and a Pixel 2. I haven't noticed any particular network issues.

My network is all Ubiquiti gear. A USG, switch, and AP AC Lite. I have the private WiFi on the same network as my desktop PC and Steam Link. My home lab is on separate VLANs. Other then that its a pretty default configuration.

Not home right now but when I get home I shall look into it a bit more. Curious if whatever update thats causing this hasn't rolled out to Canada or if the Unifi products are handling it better/some special way.

[espeed]

Indeed, my Ubiquiti Unifi AP and Edge router have also been handling the mass influx of Chromecast and Google Home devices in my house - there's one of each in almost every room in addition to the slew SmartTVs of Android devices sitting around the house -- prob at least 5 pairs of Chromecast & Google Home devices (10 total) and prob at least 30 devices in total connected to that AP full time. Over Christmas when the entire family was here there was prob double that (60 total), including all the new devices received as gifts that were connecting to the AP for the first time all at once as people were playing with and configuring the new devices they got. The Ubiquiti wifi AP and router handled it without a blink.

HOWEVER, over the last few weeks I suddenly started experiencing continual wifi drops on my Fedora 26 and 27 desktop workstation. At first I thought it was related to an overflow of devices and/or a noisy channel, but it turned out not to be the case. None of the Chromebooks or other devices were experiencing frequent wifi drops so then I thought it might be related to my workstation wifi card antenna flaking out and causing the signal to weaken and drop. It turned out the issue was also not due to a failing wifi card. It took me at least a week to isolate and resolve the issue, but it's fixed now -- no more wifi drops and the signal is strong -- turns out it was a software issue with the more or less default Fedora 26 and 27 wifi config that I had been running for years. The issue might have been exacerbated by the increased Chromecast and Google Home devices on the network, but the issue wasn't because the devices were overloading the router or AP like I (and I presume others) initially thought.

When I have time, I'll go back through my logs and command history, and distill the resolution procedure into a gist.

[Godel_unicode]

I have a very similar setup and similar lack of issues even in a pretty challenging WiFi environment. Ubiquiti is so good for the price, I'm always amazed when I run into technical people who are running something else. It just seems like such an obvious choice to me...

[regnerba]

Got into the Ubiquiti gear a while ago and definitely no regrets! Not a network guy myself and so really appreciate the controller just making it easy to mange things. I have myself, my mom's and several other family members properties all managed by one cloud controller. Things just work, and when for some reason they don't I have a fairly easy way of figuring out whats wrong and fixing it remotely. So very happy with their products.

[toast0]

I would consider the Unifi gear, but I have issues with the form factor: how do you put that round thing on the top shelf of a bookcase or whatever?

The in-wall ones might work better for me though -- although I think it's silly to have to terminate an in-wall cable to a plug to plug into the back.

[regnerba]

Is there a reason you cannot mount it on the wall just above the bookshelf? One of the things I really like about the Unifi gear is how just small and inconspicuous it is. It really helped sell it when I suggested it to my mom and other family members. Mounted most of the APs for them on the ceilings, but a few of them are wall mounted as well. The ceiling ones look nicer than any smoke detecter I have ever seen.

So I actually really like the UniFi gear for that when compared to some crazy Linksys gamer router that just looks... so over done.

[Consultant32452]

This is unrelated but could you explain what the Chromecast Audio offers over just playing audio on a regular Chromecast?

[regnerba]

The Chromecast Audio allows me to plug it into any standard stereo. Bang for the buck I can get much better speakers for the dollar when buying just normal speakers instead of "smart" speakers. I then plug the Chromecast Audio into it and get the same ability to Cast to it, and include it into groups. The ability to add it to Cast groups is one of the key reasons I like it over just a Bluetooth connection.

So to sum up: * Bang for the buck get better audio quality * Still get all of the same Cast features (WiFi casting, group casting, etc.)

Hope that helps! :)

[bsimpson]

I just got the Google Home Max. It sounds better than the Google Home, but not as good as I'd expected. I'm tempted to send it back and replace it with a Home Mini and a regular set of home stereo speakers.

[_puk]

Not explicitly mentioned elsewhere is the digital audio connector (TOSLINK/optical out) on the Audio.

This allows it to be connected directly to a half decent amp, rather than relying on the onboard DAC.

[KozmoNau7]

The ordinary Chromecast is HDMI only, ie. a 100% digital connection. You have to plug it into a HDMI-capable device obviously, but most people use AV receivers these days.

Besides, the onboard DAC in the CCA is more than good enough. No need to mess around with an external DAC.

[KozmoNau7]

If you have multiple CCAs, you can set them up for multi-room playback. AFAIK you cannot do that with the ordinary Chromecast.

[filoleg]

IIRC you plug it into speakers instead of a TV, which you can't with the regular one for the lack of aux output.

[taurath]

Audio without a display (or audio with an unrelated display) is very nice, especially for parties