Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US Review
Nowadays, most people use the internet when at home, work, school, and even for entertainment which means it’s very useful. That’s why it can be frustrating if you can’t use the internet properly, but thanks to access points like the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US that can accommodate multiple devices that will give you a flexible network and a broader range of transmission.
A wireless access point will ensure you’re up to speed when it comes to the fast pace of tech development by implementing some of the latest technologies that will are suitable for your home and small to medium-sized business networks. With an AP you can create large scalable networks and you can use it as a mesh wifi system, especially for large homes. After moving to a bigger two-story house, I knew my wifi router will not provide an adequate internet connection to all rooms and to an added study room that is at the top far end of the house.I needed an access point like theUbiquiti UAP-AC-M-US that wouldprovide high performance over a wide coverage area.
Table of Contents
Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US review and breakdown
- Country of origin : United States
- Model Number : UAP-AC-M
The Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US is a high performing 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO access point that you can use for both indoor and outdoor use. The access point has mesh multi-hop that will cover a large outdoor area with just a few mesh access points and minimal infrastructure. This access point comes with adjustable omnidirectional dual-band antennas that can also be used with any 5 GHz Omni antenna to provide spot-beam coverage in highly dense places with multiple access points and clients. With this access point, you benefit from a wide area coverage that can reach up to 600 feet with enhanced data transfers of up to 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz frequency. These great capabilities are supported by 2×2 MIMO internal antenna configurations that support multiple data paths to give you a more efficient network connection. It’s very simple to install the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US as its 802.3af PoE compliant.
Once you have installed it, you can take advantage of the 802.11ac wifi access that can deliver speeds of up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz band. You can install the Unifi controller software on your PC which you can easily access from your web browser that you can quickly configure and manage without any special training. For a faster and quicker way of managing your Unifi devices, you can opt to use the Unifi mobile app from your phone or tablet.
What we liked
- Can be used for both indoor and outdoor installations
- Create a wireless mesh network
- Provide wired uplinks for superior performance
- Easily configure, manage, and upgrade your network through the controller
- Can handle a lot of throughputs
What we didn’t like
- Lacks antenna options
- Issues with range
Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US specs
Model |
Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US |
Suitable environment |
Indoor and outdoor |
Simultaneous dual-band |
Yes |
PoE mode |
24V passive PoE 802.3af alternative A |
Power supply |
24V 0.5A Gigabit PoE adapter |
Max. TX power |
2.4 GHz – 20 dBm
5 GHz – 20 dBm |
Max. power consumption |
8.5W |
Antennas |
2 external dual-band Omni antennas, 2.4 GHz (3dBi) 5 GHz (4 dBi) |
Mounting |
Pole/wall/fast mount with the kit included |
Throughput |
2.4 GHz – 300 Mbps
5 GH – 867 Mbps |
Ports |
1 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet RJ45 |
Operating temperatures |
-22-158 degrees F. |
Availability |
Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US features
Design
The Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US is a mesh access point that is designed to be discreet and help in blending with any environment. It looks like a high-tech upgrade of the Harry Potter wand and with its antennas attached, it’s about 40cm long and comes with a small wall mount bracket that you can either screw or glue onto a wall, use a zip tie to secure it onto a pole, or use the fast mount adapter. There’s a small a weatherproof port cover at the bottom that houses a reset pinhole and an Ethernet port and a cable grommet for passing through the Ethernet cable. The 2 external antennas are removable and can be replaced. The Gigabit PoE adapter will help you to create a mesh network. Using the 2 antennas, your access point can operate a 2×2 MIMO configuration with 11200 Mbps total bandwidth.
Management
The Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US uses the Unifi controller software that you can easily access through your web browser and the Unifi controller mobile app on your phone. The controller will help you to quickly and easily install, configure, and manage your network. The controller software is intuitive which makes it easy to learn the user interface with no special training required. You can also use the Unifi Cloud Key with built-in software. It has unlimited scalability that will allow you to build your wireless network as big or small as you like. The controller comes with lots of features that will allow you to map out networks, manage system traffic, get detailed analytics to help you manage multiple users, and expedite troubleshooting.
Features
Wireless uplink
This feature enables wireless connections between the access points to deliver an extended range. One wired access point uplink can support up to 4 wireless downlinks on one operating band and this allows for a wireless adoption of devices in their default status and real-time changes in your network structure. This functionality is extended to allow for a multi-hop wireless uplink for devices that support plug and play mesh. This means that access points with a wireless uplink can support uplinks to other wirelessly uplinked access points.
Hotspot support or guest portal
The guest portals have easy customization options that include using your own external portal server, hotspot setup, and authentication, apply different bandwidth rates for both upload and download, limit usage duration, and total data usage. The hotspot functionality includes built-in support for voucher-based authentication, billing using major credit cards, and many more.
Who is it best suited for?
The Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US mesh access point is best suited for both indoor and outdoor use which makes it very easy to use to create expandable networks in your home, business, internet café, hotels, and other highly dense areas.
Are there alternatives to the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US?
Yes, there are alternative mesh access points that will provide a wider range coverage even in the outdoors. These alternatives include Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-PRO US, Tp-link Omada AC1200, Tp-link CPE210.
Features of the alternative access points
Model |
Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-PRO US |
Tp-link Omada AC1200 |
Tp-link CPE210 |
Environment |
Outdoor |
Outdoor |
Outdoor |
Bandwidth |
Dual-band |
Dual-band |
Single-band |
Wifi speeds |
1750 Mbps |
1200 Mbps |
300 Mbps |
Antennas |
3 internal dual-band antennas, 8 dBi |
2 Omni dual-band antennas, 3 dBi, 4 dBi |
Built-in 9dBi 2×2 dual-polarized directional antenna |
Power consumption |
9W |
10.5W |
10.5W |
Mounting |
Wall/pole with pole kit included |
Pole/wall with kit included |
Pole |
Ethernet ports |
2 |
1 |
1 |
Availability |
Final verdict. Should you get the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-M-US?
Yes, you should because it has powerful hardware that features the wifi 802.11ac with the plug and play technology, an intuitive Unifi controller software to configure and manage your APs, and it has expandable unlimited scalability to help you build the wireless network you want.
FAQ
Is an access point better than a repeater?
Access points are mostly always better than repeaters since you get better speeds and the frequencies can work full time to serve clients.
How long do wireless access points last?
Generally, access points can last 3-5 years, but a business may outgrow the technology because it might need more bandwidth, better coverage, or have more clients accessing wifi and the current APs may not handle.
