So, you don't actually "need" one of these to have a UniFi set up - you can install a program on your computer to set up and manage all your UniFi devices, but, this device makes the whole thing easier especially considering home computers are becoming a thing of the past for the majority of homes. For business, though, they are essential and you may want to look a the 2nd gen instead.

To use this you will also want to plug in into a PoE switch, ideally a UniFi PoE switch, otherwise you're looking at powering it with a micro-USB adaptor and that's just messy.

This device is at the heart of your UniFi Software Defined Network, it's alwa...view more So, you don't actually "need" one of these to have a UniFi set up - you can install a program on your computer to set up and manage all your UniFi devices, but, this device makes the whole thing easier especially considering home computers are becoming a thing of the past for the majority of homes. For business, though, they are essential and you may want to look a the 2nd gen instead.

To use this you will also want to plug in into a PoE switch, ideally a UniFi PoE switch, otherwise you're looking at powering it with a micro-USB adaptor and that's just messy.

This device is at the heart of your UniFi Software Defined Network, it's always on and manages the configuration of all your UniFi devices. It allows you to effortlessly update firmware on every UniFi device as well as being the interface to report on the usage and performance of your network - pair this with a USG and there's nothing you don't know about your network.

It's called a "cloud" key because you can link this to your UBNT cloud account and view/manage your network remotely which has obvious benefits.

*It's not fair to blame the steep learning curve of moving to a managed network on this device, as with everything Ubiquiti/UniFi you do need to know what you're doing around networking before taking the plunge into SDN.

Alternatives:
- Most Unifi devices will work on their own without this after a one-time setup using the software - but that's missing the point of UniFi SDN
- Leave the controller software running on a PC most of the time
- 2nd gen Cloud Keys do the same but are faster, have internal battery backup, run UniFi Protect video surveillance and are rack-mountable
- There's a good Docker image that can run on a server or a NAS that supports Docker (I also do this on a QNAP)

The only real downside of the controller as a whole is that only one controller can run at any one time. UniFi devices will keep running without it but data collection stops and you'll need a solid backup/recovery strategy to restore the config and data/logs to your spare controller.

So this is going for about $130. Of the $130, only about $30 is actually for the cloud key itself. The other $100 is for the worlds strongest, most high quality ethernet cable ever conceived by man. Yes, its a short ethernet connector - no big deal, right?
No.
This is the epitome of ethernet connectors, designed by higher beings and bestowed upon us mere mortals. I fear we're neither ready, nor worthy.

The cloud key is pretty good too tho, so would recommend. So this is going for about $130. Of the $130, only about $30 is actually for the cloud key itself. The other $100 is for the worlds strongest, most high quality ethernet cable ever conceived by man. Yes, its a short ethernet connector - no big deal, right?
No.
This is the epitome of ethernet connectors, designed by higher beings and bestowed upon us mere mortals. I fear we're neither ready, nor worthy.

The cloud key is pretty good too tho, so would recommend.

Replaced a $1000 a month hosted controller with this lovely piece of hardware to control 12 UAPs. Definitely worth the cost and effort to learn it! Replaced a $1000 a month hosted controller with this lovely piece of hardware to control 12 UAPs. Definitely worth the cost and effort to learn it!

Very cool product! Now I don't have to leave the computer on 24x7 to have cool WiFi reporting and features :) Very cool product! Now I don't have to leave the computer on 24x7 to have cool WiFi reporting and features :)

Does what it says. Great to be able to manage kids wifi from my phone! Does what it says. Great to be able to manage kids wifi from my phone!

So I use this cloud key to control multiple Unifi sites and monitor my connected Unifi products. This is a great all in one solution if you don't want a local machine running a controller or pay out a monthly fee for a cloud hosted option. If you have a always on internet connection and a static IP you can login from anywhere and maintain sites, adopt new hardware etc all remotely. Great product. So I use this cloud key to control multiple Unifi sites and monitor my connected Unifi products. This is a great all in one solution if you don't want a local machine running a controller or pay out a monthly fee for a cloud hosted option. If you have a always on internet connection and a static IP you can login from anywhere and maintain sites, adopt new hardware etc all remotely. Great product.

If you're new to the unifi range, then it's a bit confusing that you need to get the cloud key as well. Basically, the antennas are dumb devices, so you need something like this for them to work and if I didn't do the research before then I wouldn't have known that. But once it arrived it was really easy to install. The key looks a bit dumb sitting in the switch hanging out of one of the ports, but I guess you could tidy that up with a separate cable if you really wanted. But really nice interface and I've been impressed with how easy it is to use. If you're new to the unifi range, then it's a bit confusing that you need to get the cloud key as well. Basically, the antennas are dumb devices, so you need something like this for them to work and if I didn't do the research before then I wouldn't have known that. But once it arrived it was really easy to install. The key looks a bit dumb sitting in the switch hanging out of one of the ports, but I guess you could tidy that up with a separate cable if you really wanted. But really nice interface and I've been impressed with how easy it is to use.

If you need multiple wifi access points around your house (and you know what you are doing) then this controller and some Unifi access points does the job well. If you need multiple wifi access points around your house (and you know what you are doing) then this controller and some Unifi access points does the job well.

This is great This is great

Awesome tool. Control everything from phone. 4 stars as sometimes the UI get laggy. Awesome tool. Control everything from phone. 4 stars as sometimes the UI get laggy.

Give great insight into network from anywhere. Give great insight into network from anywhere.

Superb, makes network management (of other Unifi kit) a breeze, whether local or remote. Superb, makes network management (of other Unifi kit) a breeze, whether local or remote.