Ubiquiti experts, help me choose equipment

[brandonh]

Hello, I'm looking for some help from someone with more experience than I with Ubiquiti products on what to get for this project, specifically which 5 GHz AP to use. Each bridge location has good LOS and they already have 2 NanoStation M5s to use for bridges so I'm planning to get a 3rd. I guess my main question is, would a NanoStation have a wide enough directional signal to catch all 3 or is there a much better option for an AP? TIA

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Pretty low cost. So you're doing a Point to Multi Point.
You want a base station at the building in the bottom of the pic, figure out what the degrees of spread will be and that will determine which antenna you want (like 90* or 120*). A PrismStation or LiteBeam would be my choice (I'd probably do the LiteBeam AC AP)

For each of the 3 clients you want a "CPE" unit...end unit. Like the little LiteBeam AC, or NanoBeam, AC. Or even those Nanos.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

https://help.ubnt.com/hc/en-us/articles/205197750-airMAX-Which-product-should-I-use-

 

[brandonh]

Thanks for the input, I was leaning towards the LiteBeam LBE-5AC-16-120 and your post confirms it! It's 29* so 120 should be plenty but I'd rather have plenty than weak on the edges as they are the 2 most important signals, the middle is just a shop.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Only 29* eh. Heck a Prism 45 horn or 60 would also work just fine.
Typically you want to keep it narrower...less chance of catching interference from neighbors. Although based on that pic, the next 10km might not be overly filled with other radios eh?

 

[brandonh]

Shucks, I hadn't noticed those Prism horns and just ordered the LBE but yeah I'm not too worried about interference at this location, especially on 5 GHz