Unifi related inquiry about distances
Unifi related inquiry about distances
Hi everyone, I'm looking for some guidance on extending my Wi-Fi signal. I have a setup about 300 feet behind my garage and am trying to reach it from outside. Right now I use a UniFi AP with an ADMU and a 10GB switch, and I just installed fiber to the garage. I'm considering two outdoor antennas: the AC Mesh Pro for broader coverage but slower speeds, and the UniFi 6 Mesh for faster speeds in open areas. Could you help estimate how far each would reach while still providing good performance for solar cameras or video feeds? Thanks a lot!
You require an outdoor AP to link wireless cameras. Signal strength varies widely depending on the setup. The best approach is to test with actual devices in your specific area. Powering APs via PoE through a setup between the garage and the field could work, but you’d need to verify it in practice.
Unless the devices use WiFi 6, adding an AP won’t offer any advantage. I’d aim for a solid outdoor AP to avoid signal drops from cable losses. Make sure the antenna doesn’t have to go through walls, as that would severely cut your signal. Also check the beam pattern—avoid spreading the signal too widely when all cameras are clustered near the AP.
I'd prefer the AC unit since it offers a more focused direction compared to the Unifi 6 Mesh units, which spread evenly. At that range, you're more likely to be using 2.4Ghz. Also, the U6 mesh units tend to get very warm in direct sunlight; I had one outside recently, but that's separate.
At 300 feet, connecting to a building or pole usually requires direct hardware. This distance makes it tough for Wi-Fi to stay reliable without extra gear. If your current setup isn’t Ubiquiti UniFi, think about an EnGenius EnStation5-AC for outdoor use. For UniFi, AC Mesh Pro is the top choice now, unless future U6 models come with better directional antennas.