Wave 60GHz - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Wave Technology?
Products built on the proprietary Wave Technology are engineered to maximize speed/performance across long distances.
What products are part of the Wave 60GHz family?
The Wave 60GHz family is built on Wave Technology and designed to operate in the worldwide, unlicensed 60GHz band.
For PtMP networks, the Wave 60GHz product family includes:
- Wave AP (8 km)
- Wave AP Micro (6 km)
- Wave AP Gen2 (6 km)
- Wave Long-Range (8 km)
- Wave Pro (8 km)
- Wave Nano (5 km)
- Wave Pico (1.3 km)
Starting with firmware version 3.2.0, the Wave 60GHz family stations support PtP mode:
- Wave Pro (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 60GHz devices?
Only the following 60GHz Ubiquiti radios may be connected to Wave AP, Wave AP Micro, and Wave AP Gen2:
- Wave Long-Range
- Wave Pro
- Wave Nano
- Wave Pico
- AF60-LR (when upgraded to a compatible firmware version)
Wave 60GHz products use a proprietary platform and are not compatible with airMAX GigaBeam, airFiber 60 XG, or other 60GHz products.
Can Wave 60GHz client radios be configured as AP devices?
The Long-Range, Nano, Pico, and Pro models support configuration as PtP AP starting with firmware version 3.2.0. In PtMP networks, Wave 60GHz 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, Wave AP Micro, and Wave AP Gen2 support up to 31 concurrent clients when running the latest 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.
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 and Wave AP Gen2 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 5GHz backup radio remains active at all times on the AP, while PtMP stations have an option to disable the 5GHz backup radio when running the latest firmware.