I previously had a Cisco RV345P network switch managing my home network, along with several Cisco APs. After about 5 or so years however the Cisco RV345P stopped responding to web requests, I could not connect to it without forcing a reboot, and then the config pages would stop responding again after a few hours.
I decided it was time to upgrade.
I was looking for an enterprise level network for home, something robust, but inexpensive. Easily managed, and all in one, meaning I could manage the APs, along with the core router in one interface.
Consumer grade APs were appealing, they had a integrated boarder gateway functionality with integrated APs, however if I wanted to extend the AP range, not every manufacturer had AP extenders, and they were usually grabbing existing Wifi and rebroadcasting. I wanted something stronger.
I went with the Unifi Dream Router 7.
Unifi had been getting a lot of coverage from tech Youtubers, and I was using it at work, felt it was great to have it at home to play with, learn, and experiment on. On top of that it provided everything I wanted. It was an all-in-one device, the Dream Router 7 was a boarder firewall, router, and included AP. I could purchase additional APs and connect them via wired to broadcast my SSIDs throughout my home without the use of repeaters. The icing on the cake is that it’s all controlled from a web interface that I can manage away from home.
In addition, it gave me VPN access to my home network. I could now VPN when I was away to manage my IoT devices, or anything else I needed remotely.
To top it all off it is more expensive than a consumer level wifi router, but the I felt the benefits out weighed the cost.