Point-to-Point & Point-to-MultiPoint
Choosing a remote wireless network linking system
Linking locations
Point-to-Point (PtP) and Point to MultiPoint (PtMP) links are cost effective solutions to extending your network to another location wirelessly, without digging cables. This guide recommends PtP and PtMP solutions for different distances, densities and environments using Ubiquiti airMAX and airFiber devices.
Contents
- Point-to-Point – what to consider
- Short distance Point-to-Point links up to 0.5km
- Medium distance Point-to-Point links between 0.5-5km
- Long distance Point-to-Point links between 5.15km
- Point to MultiPoint – what to consider
- Short distance Point-to-MultiPoint links between 0-2km
- Medium distance Point-to-MultiPoint links between 2-4 km
- Long distance Point-to-Multipoint links between 4-7 km
![](https://www.4gon.co.uk/gb/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ui-logo.png)
![](https://www.4gon.co.uk/gb/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/logo-airMax.png)
Point-to-Point
A Point-to-Point (PtP) solution is a method of connecting two remote locations via a wireless data link. Presenting an Ethernet port at each end, a wireless point-to-point link link will provide a totally transparent connection between your two chosen points.
Solutions are available in different frequencies (2.4,5 or 24GHz) and form factors to suit different environmental conditions and distances. Dish antennas are typically used for Point-to-Point wireless links due to their high gain and interference rejection properties. Here’s a few more factors to consider when choosing PtP solutions.
What to consider when choosing a PtP solution
- Line of site – always required for PtP. If anything gets in the way you’ll lose data
- Distance
- Throughput requirements
- Antenna gain
- Antenna design, shape and size
See our PtP buying guide for details of these factors to consider.
This guide offers powerful PtP solutions for short, medium and long distances:
Ubiquiti airMAX NanoBeam NBE-5AC-GEN2 CPE
Creates an ideal CPE and PtP network over 500m.
Ideal for rural locations with no interference.
- Gain: 19 dBi
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 189mm
Ubiquiti airMAX LiteBeam LBE-M5-23 CPE
Lightweight solution for lower-throughput requirements (up to 180Mbps) and where RF interference is more prevalent.
- Gain 23 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 108+ Mbps
- Antenna size 362 x 267mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam PBE-M5-400 CPE
Directs RF energy through a tight beamwidth, rejecting Interference and improving signal quality at each end of the link.
- Gain: 25 dBi
- Frequency: 5 GHz
- Throughput: 150+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 400mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE
Ideal for CPE deployments requiring maximum performance as it directs RF energy through a tighter beamwidth.
- Gain 29 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size 620mm
Please Note: If you require enhanced noise immunity and wind loading performance for cold, coastal environments (for example), add the PowerBeam PBE-RAD-400 Radome to the PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE for extra weather shielding.
Ubiquiti airMAX LiteBeam LBE-M5-23 CPE
Lightweight solution for lower-throughput requirements (up to 180Mbps) and where RF interference is more prevalent.
- Gain 23 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 108+ Mbps
- Antenna size 362 x 267mm
Ubiquiti airMAX LightBeam LBE-5AC-Gen2
Provides similar RF characteristics as the LBE-M5-23, but supports greater Throughputs up to 450Mbps
- Frequency: 5 GHz
- Gain: 23 dBi
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 358x272mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE
Provides higher gain characteristics. Add the ISO-BEAM-620 for improved noise immunity and wind-loading performance.
- Gain 29 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size 620mm
Long distance Point-to-Point links
airMAX CPEs (Customer Premises Equipment), base stations and radios are recommended with compatible antennas depending on range, frequency and environment. Dish antennas are recommended for longer Point-to-Point links due to their high gain and ability to reduce interference.
The base station is usually located on top of a building with the height determining maximum coverage. When choosing a base station, it’s normally recommended to choose an antenna with the smallest coverage for the desired area to avoid interference.
Recommendations for creating long distance PtP links between 5-15km:
Ubiquiti airFiber AG-5XHD Radio System with the Ubiquiti airFiber AF-5G34-S45 5X Antenna
Designed for use in the 5 GHz frequency band, the airFiber AF-5XHD is Ubiquiti’s first LTU radio, offering greater channel bandwidths of up to 100 MHz, and more advanced RF components. The airFiber AF-5G34-S45antenna provides outstanding gain characteristics maximising RF reception from a distance.
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Gain: 34 dBi
- Antenna size: 1050mm
- Throughput: 1.34Gbps
Ubiquiti PowerBeam PBE-5AC-620 CPE
The PBE-5AC-620 is a high performance, AC powered CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) with improved noise immunity, innovative mechanical design and 5 GHz frequency and throughput. In particularly high interference areas, pair with the ISO-BEAM-620 for improved noise immunity and wind loading performance.
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Gain: 29 dBi
- Antenna size: 620mm
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
Ubiquiti Rocket BaseStation with Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna
Recommended options:
Ubiquiti Rocket M5 MIMO BaseStation
A great alternative to AC powered Rocket BaseStations when lower throughput is required. Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna options for long distance PtP links include:
- RD-5G30, gain: 30 dBi
- RD-5G30-LW, gain: 30 dBi (light weight)
- RD-5G34, gain: 34 dBi
Ubiquiti Rocket 5 AC Lite BaseStation
The R5AC-LITE is powered by airMAX ac technology for when higher throughput is required. Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna options for long distance PtP links include:
- RD-5G30, gain: 30 dBi
- RD-5G30-LW, gain: 30 dBi (light weight)
- RD-5G34, gain: 34 dBi
Point-to-MultiPoint
A Point-to-MultiPoint (PtMP) solution is a method of connecting three or more remote locations via a wireless data link. PtMP solutions are typically used to provide data to buildings within a large site or campus or where slower/unstable VPN tunnels over existing connections are not ideal. PtMP performance depends on both sides of the link. If you want to reach long distances, you must choose the right Base Station AND the right Customer Premises Equipment for each case
Base Station
The base station is usually located on the top of a tower, building or mast with the height determining maximum coverage. When planning the base station, it’s usually ideal to plan for an antenna with the smallest coverage that still covers the desired area. Antennas with wider beamwidth, covering a wider zone reaching more stations, may be more susceptible to interference, resulting in decreased scalability and performance.
What to consider when choosing PtMP solutions
- Distance between locations
- Speed (throughput)
- Interference
- Degree of coverage (density)
- Form factor (size, shape, physical specifications
View our PtMP buying guide for details of these factors to consider.
This guide offers powerful PtMP solutions for short, medium and long distances:
Ubiquiti airMAX NanoBeam NBE-5AC-GEN2 CPE
Creates an ideal CPE and PtP network over 500m.
Ideal for rural locations with no interference.
- Gain: 19 dBi
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 189mm
Ubiquiti airMAX LiteBeam LBE-M5-23 CPE
Lightweight solution for lower-throughput requirements (up to 180Mbps) and where RF interference is more prevalent.
- Gain 23 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 108+ Mbps
- Antenna size 362 x 267mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam PBE-M5-400 CPE
Directs RF energy through a tight beamwidth, rejecting Interference and improving signal quality at each end of the link.
- Gain: 25 dBi
- Frequency: 5 GHz
- Throughput: 150+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 400mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE
Ideal for CPE deployments requiring maximum performance as it directs RF energy through a tighter beamwidth.
- Gain 29 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size 620mm
Please Note: If you require enhanced noise immunity and wind loading performance for cold, coastal environments (for example), add the PowerBeam PBE-RAD-400 Radome to the PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE for extra weather shielding.
Ubiquiti airMAX LiteBeam LBE-M5-23 CPE
Lightweight solution for lower-throughput requirements (up to 180Mbps) and where RF interference is more prevalent.
- Gain 23 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 108+ Mbps
- Antenna size 362 x 267mm
Ubiquiti airMAX LightBeam LBE-5AC-Gen2
Provides similar RF characteristics as the LBE-M5-23, but supports greater Throughputs up to 450Mbps
- Frequency: 5 GHz
- Gain: 23 dBi
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size: 358x272mm
Ubiquiti airMAX PowerBeam AC PBE-5AC-620 CPE
Provides higher gain characteristics. Add the ISO-BEAM-620 for improved noise immunity and wind-loading performance.
- Gain 29 dBi
- Frequency 5GHz
- Throughput 450+ Mbps
- Antenna size 620mm
Ubiquiti airFiber AG-5XHD Radio System with the Ubiquiti airFiber AF-5G34-S45 5X Antenna
Designed for use in the 5 GHz frequency band, the airFiber AF-5XHD is Ubiquiti’s first LTU radio, offering greater channel bandwidths of up to 100 MHz, and more advanced RF components. The airFiber AF-5G34-S45 antenna provides outstanding gain characteristics maximising RF reception from a distance.
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Gain: 34 dBi
- Antenna size: 1050mm
- Throughput: 1.34Gbps
Ubiquiti PowerBeam PBE-5AC-620 CPE
The PBE-5AC-620 is a high performance, AC powered CPE (Customer Premises Equipment) with improved noise immunity, innovative mechanical design and 5 GHz frequency and throughput. In particularly high interference areas, pair with the ISO-BEAM-620 for improved noise immunity and wind loading performance.
- Frequency: 5GHz
- Gain: 29 dBi
- Antenna size: 620mm
- Throughput: 450+ Mbps
Ubiquiti Rocket BaseStation with Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna
Recommended options:
Ubiquiti Rocket M5 MIMO BaseStation
A great alternative to AC powered Rocket BaseStations when lower throughput is required. Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna options for long distance PtP links include:
- RD-5G30, gain: 30 dBi
- RD-5G30-LW, gain: 30 dBi (light weight)
- RD-5G34, gain: 34 dBi
Ubiquiti Rocket 5 AC Lite BaseStation
The R5AC-LITE is powered by airMAX ac technology for when higher throughput is required. Ubiquiti RocketDish Antenna options for long distance PtP links include:
- RD-5G30, gain: 30 dBi
- RD-5G30-LW, gain: 30 dBi (light weight)
- RD-5G34, gain: 34 dBi
Ubiquiti airMAX
Ubiquiti airMAX connects hundreds of millions of people all over the planet, even in the most remote areas, setting the global standard for Last Mile Connectivity.