Ubiquiti Outdoor Wireless Links and Networks

Ubiquiti airMAX: TDMA using pre-designated time slots

airMAX™ is Ubiquiti's primary platform / protocol, and is mostly on their outdoor access points and bridges AirMax 802.11n products:

AirMax MIMO 2x2 technology & dual-polarity antenna technology enable much faster data-throughput & higher bandwidth: Therefore these technologies enable high concentrations of VOIP, streaming media, IP cameras, IPTV.

Ubiquiti Airmax: Data-Alliance.netAirMax products have a capital M in the sku or the name (example NanoStationM2 sku NSM2). For Data Alliance has almost all Ubiquiti items in stock maximum data-throughput & highest bandwidth: Use AirMax products that are MIMO / 2x2, and if an external antenna is required, combine with a dual-polarity antenna.

Unlike standard WiFi protocol, Ubiquiti’s Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) airMAX protocol allows each client to send and receive data using pre-designated time slots scheduled by an intelligent AP controller. This “time slot” method eliminates hidden node collisions and maximizes airtime efficiency. It significantly improves performance in throughput, reduces latency, and increases scalability compared to all other outdoor systems in its class.

  • Intelligent QoS Priority is given to voice or video for seamless streaming.
  • Scalability High capacity and scalability.
  • Long Distance Capable of high-speed links up to 100+ km.
  • Latency Multiple features dramatically reduce noise.
See also:

Ubiquiti Rockets: Use Dual-Polarity 2x2 Antennas (or the MIMO does not work)

If you use an antenna that is not 2x2 MIMO (if it only has one connector) you will not get 2x2 MIMO from the Rocket:

If the antenna only has one connector, you will only get one spatial stream rather than two (1x1 rather than 2x2) hence the throughout will be half of the throughput you would get with 2x2 MIMO.

The best antennas for the Ubiquiti Rockets are the 2x2 dual-polarity antennas from Ubiquiti - because:

  • the two connectors for 2x2 MIMO and
  • the rocket snaps right in to the back of the UBNT antennas.

Ubiquiti legacy products: Great low-cost alternative to AirMAX by upgrading firmware

First-generation Ubiquiti products such as NanoStation2 and NS5, Loco2 & Loco5, Bullet2, Bullet2HP are a great alternative to AirMAX CPE at a significantly lower price.

By upgrading your legacy Ubiquiti products to V.4 firmware, you will have compatibility and benefits of AirMAX protocol. Be sure to have your APs using AirMAX firmware V.5.5 or a newer version.


Ubiquiti POE switches: management of

Ubiquiti switches set up in the same IP subnet will appear in the AirControl management software and you can manage them there: Set ports as POE or Ethernet or both.

UAPOutdoor : How to make them mesh for best path?

The Ubiquiti UAPs (indoor and outdoor) will mesh automatically if they all share the same SSID (and of course have to be on the same IP subnet). To set the best path:  You have to do that manually in the UniFi management software

In response to customer question: Our testing was excellent for the Ubiquiti OutdoorAPs. We're finalizing our proposal and will be purchasing more of them from you. My only question is how to make them mesh automatically for best path? I only see how look and see manually which is best path and them connect them. (Using the UniFi management software).

Posted by George Hardesty on 22nd Apr 2021


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