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Wave - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Wave Technology?

Products built on the proprietary Wave Technology platform are engineered to maximize speed/performance across long distances using the worldwide, unlicensed 60GHz band.

For PtMP networks, the Wave AP product family includes:

  • Wave AP (8 km)
  • Wave AP Micro (6 km)
  • Wave Long-Range (8 km)
  • Wave Professional (8 km)
  • Wave Nano (5 km)
  • Wave Pico (1.3 km)

Starting with firmware version 3.2.0, the Wave family stations support PtP mode:

  • Wave Professional (15 km)
  • Wave Long-Range (15 km)
  • Wave Nano (12 km)
  • Wave Pico (1.5 km)

For PtP links, the following airFiber devices support Wave Technology as well:

  • AF60-LR (15 km)
  • AF60-XR (15 km)

Which Ubiquiti wireless products are compatible with Wave devices?

Only the following 60GHz Ubiquiti radios may be connected to Wave AP and Wave AP Micro:

  • Wave Long-Range
  • Wave Professional
  • Wave Nano
  • Wave Pico
  • AF60-LR (when upgraded to a compatible firmware version)

Moreover, Wave Technology products use a proprietary platform, so devices are incompatible with GigaBeam and other 60GHz products.

Can Wave client radios be configured as AP devices?

The Long-Range, Nano, Pico, and Professional models support configuration as PtP AP starting with firmware version 3.2.0. In PtMP networks, Wave clients cannot operate as Access Points.

What are the advantages of deploying 60GHz Wave products?

Characteristics Description

60GHz unlicensed band

Deploy 60GHz Wave products in most regions worldwide without a license.

More frequency flexibility

Multiple hi-capacity/bandwidth channels are available (up to 2.16GHz) for reuse in PtMP networks.

Ultra-high capacity

Multi-gigabit radio architecture to deploy future-proof ISP technology at subscriber sites today.

Virtually noise / interference-free

60GHz signals undergo significant path loss & higher oxygen absorption, meaning there is virtually no risk of encountering competing in-band signals.

Co-location friendly

Robust antenna plots (i.e. strong front-to-back ratios) & ready for cluster AP deployments at tower sites.

Backup 5GHz radio

Available on certain products, 802.11ax backup radio means hi-speed performance in failover scenarios.

Breakthrough economics

Cutting edge, multi-gigabit speeds at cost-disruptive price point to retrofit existing wireless systems & compete with next-gen fiber networks.

What is the recommended number of clients to connect to a single Wave AP?

The Wave AP and Wave AP Micro support up to 24 concurrent clients when running the most updated firmware. By deploying multiple, co-located Wave APs in clustered, multi-channel scenarios, operators can scale the PtMP network density to virtually limitless clients across full 360° coverage.

How does rain/precipitation impact my 60GHz links?

Although 60GHz signals are susceptible to oxygen absorption & face greater attenuation from rain fade, you can estimate their performance impact using UISP Design Center's powerful link simulator. The rain map & slider functions both provide detailed insight into the average rainfall amount in the deployment area, as well as uptime/speeds based on user-adjustable scales to simulate precipitation.

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What is the sector coverage supported by the Wave Access Points?

The sector coverage for Wave Access Points varies depending on the model. The standard Wave AP has a sector coverage of 30°, whereas the Wave AP Micro offers a broader coverage of 90°.

Can the backup 5GHz radio on Wave devices be disabled?

For Wave devices operating in PtP mode, there is an option to disable the 5GHz backup radio. In PtMP mode, the backup 5GHz radio remains active at all times. An option to disable it may become available in a future update.

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