Ubiquiti UniFi nanoHD (UAP-NanoHD) [WLAN AC, 4x4 MU-MIMO, 1733 Mbit/s + 300 Mbit/s]

Product Information

The UniFi nanoHD AP features the latest in Wi-Fi 802.11ac Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology. Intuitive UniFi Controller Software For now, UniFi is still a good way to create a high performance network. More Wi-Fi 6 models are coming. I have not heard any rumors or seen anything confirming Wi-Fi 6E capable APs are coming soon, but I will update my current UniFi access point guide when that happens.

To specify which AP and which band was being used, I used the settings offered in the UniFi network controller or Instant On portal, and swapped them in and out as needed. I then stepped through the different channel widths and bands, letting the connection stabilize before beginning my tests.To open the case, you need to use a prying tool and carefully go around the middle until the top part will pop off (there are no hidden screws as on other devices) – be careful though, since this will most likely void the warranty. The first thing that you’re going to notice is the antenna pattern on the PCB, as well as some other components: there’s a M-Tek G24101SCGX 1941H 100/1000 Base-T transformer module, a MT3058 939J1 step-down converter and a Mouser C1585-AL CoilCraft signal transformer. Ubiquiti has made mounting their access points very simple despite seemingly having complicated accessories, so that’s a plus (for both APs). It was interesting to see that the Ubiquiti nanoHD is not advertised as suitable for outdoor conditions, but the U6-LR is IP54-rated, so you can technically mount it outside. Just keep it away from direct sun and rain because I do not trust that these devices can actually withstand harsh outdoor conditions for prolonged periods of time. nanoHD – Temperature measured by AGM Glory Pro. I’m quite sure that most of you will use whichever WiFi adapter is in your laptop, so I decided to change to client and use one equipped with an Intel 2×2 8265 WiFi card. This way, while the client device was connected to the 5GHz network (80MHz, since this is the limit for this card), from the client to the server, I measured an average of 565Mbps (-48dB) 512Mbps at 5 feet and an average of 263Mbps 228Mbps at 30 feet. At 70 feet, the average throughput was 5.5Mbps. Ubiquiti nanoHD – Signal Strength – 5GHz – WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 client devices – Downstream

AC-LR: LR stands for long range. Features a better antenna that can reach further distances than the AC-Lite. It’s a good option if you are trying to cover the far corners of a house. The LR is only a small step up in price from the lite, and is another good default option. Another popular Ubiquiti access point, the UAP-AC-Pro had some issues with the heat management, but the nanoHD was far better in this regard. Sure, the Ubiquiti U6-LR performs a little bit better, but considering the size of the nanoHD, I would say that the access point has a good heat management. Both of them do, actually, so don’t worry about having very hot access points on your ceiling. The UniFi nanoHD AP is capable of complex operations (guest control, filtering, and other resource-intensive tasks) that may slow down a lesser-equipped AP. AC-Lite: The do-everything workhorse. Unless you are trying to push gigabit speeds or have some really heavy wireless needs in mind, this is a good default option. This way, from the client to the server, at 5 feet, I measured an average of 629Mbps (-41dB) 665Mbps and, at 30 feet, I saw an average of 439Mbps 242Mbps. At 70 feet, the attenuation was -87dB which would defeat most APs, but the Ubiquiti nanoHD still managed to offer an average of 31.4Mbps. Downstream, I measured an average throughput of 346Mbps at 5 feet 310Mbps and, at 30 feet, the speed went down to an average of 224Mbps 226Mbps. At 70 feet, I saw an average of 13.7Mbps. Afterwards, I switched the channel bandwidth to 80MHz and ran the same test again.The UniFi nanoHD Access Point features a low-profile form factor. The optional ceiling mount or custom skins allow the AP to blend even more discreetly into its setting. We'll start by looking at all of the current options for UniFi gateways, including some older ones that Ubiquiti no longer lists on their official store. Current Gateways The Ubiquiti UAP-nanoHD features a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 300 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 1,733 Mbps on the 5GHz band (this makes it an AC2000-class device).

And, while you’d be justified to believe that the U6-LR should have at least a 2.5GbE port, well, that’s not the case at all. No, Ubiquiti ignored its competitors ( ECW230S and the WAX650S) and used Gigabit ports on the U6-LR, the same as on the nanoHD. Internal Hardware (Ubiquiti U6-LR vs nanoHD Teardown) Since the beginning, Ubiquiti has been very serious about differentiating its access points from the rest of its competitors, so it designed the UAP series in a minimalist manner and no, the look of these devices hasn’t changed much over the years but that’s not really a bad thing since the saucer-shaped plastic case with the circular LED still looks brilliant on the ceiling. And indeed, the design of the UAP-AC-PRO is very much relevant even today, featuring a thin circular case covered by a white matte finish (the entire device measures 7.74 x 7.74 x 1.38 inches) which makes it more compact than the likes of Linksys LAPAC1750c or Zyxel NWA1123AC-HD. The Ubiquiti NanoHD looks the same as the UAP-AC-PRO, but the case is far smaller, measuring 6.30 x 6.30 x 1.29 inches and yes, both access points have the LED ring on the top (the UAP-nanoHD has it smaller, but seems a bit brighter due to the deeper canal). Furthermore, while the Ubiquiti UAP-AC-PRO is fully made of plastic, the NanoHD does have a plastic top (which feels softer to the touch), but the bottom part is made out of zinc alloy. Next, I switched over to my MacBook Pro and it’s 3 spatial stream Wi-Fi 5 radio. This is an interesting test because it shows the impact of an additional spatial stream, and removes the highest-end modulation (1024-QAM) and longer symbol duration of Wi-Fi 6. This is a more even playing field, and a chance for the 3x3 and 4x4 APs to show their strength. You may choose to restrict the collection or use of your personal information in the following ways:

System Requirements

Verdict: I really like that the UAP-nanoHD is very compact and the fact that it comes with a PoE adapter, it’s a big bonus, but there are some elements that are missing from its predecessor, such as the additional Ethernet port and the water-protection. That being said, if you’re going to put the access point indoors and don’t have any wired client nearby, the NanoHD wins hands down, but, if you need an access point that can survive some mild outdoor conditions and do need to connect a wired client, then the UAP-AC-PRO is the better device which means that this round is a tie. Internal Hardware The Ubiquiti nano-HD uses 2.8dBi single-polarity antennas for the 2.4GHz radio and 3dBi dual-polarity antennas for the 5GHz radio. The U6-LR is far better equipped, sporting 4dBi antennas for the 2.4GHz band and 5.5dBi antennas for 5GHz. And it makes sense considering the Long Range written in the name of the AP. Would these translate to a better coverage than on the nanoHD? Most likely, yes. Wireless Test (5GHz) Upstream, I saw an average of 14Mbps and downstream, it was 1.4Mbps. Switching over to the 80MHz channel bandwidth, we do see a slight decline in performance, mostly near the AP, which makes sense if you understand the advantage that the 160MHz channel bandwidth can bring to the table. Ubiquiti U6-LR vs nanoHD – Signal Strength – 5GHz – 80MHz & 160MHz – WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 client devices – Upstream I have tested the Ubiquiti nanoHD more than two years ago and, considering that I have changed the testing procedure a bit since then, I simply retested the device to create a better comparison between it and the U6-LR. This involved connecting the access point to a PoE switch which was, in turn, connected to the router via cable. And then I connected the wireless client devices to the 5GHz network (160MHz channel bandwidth) of the Ubiquiti nanoHD and the first one that I used was the laptop equipped with an Intel AX200 adapter (WiFi 6). Ubiquiti U6-LR vs nanoHD – Long-term speed test – 80MHz & 160MHz – Upstream – 5 feet. The range difference between the U6-Lite/U6-Pro and the U6-LR is large enough that it could be the difference between needing one or two APs to cover an area. In some situations one U6-LR is better, in others two lower-power APs may be better. It is hard to make general conclusions.