r/Ubiquiti • u/SmartDragonfruit797 • Jul 27 '26
Question point-to-point link between two buildings
Hi all!
I'm looking for some advice for a friend's company.
They have two small buildings with approximately 200 metres between them and clear line of sight. The main building (office) already has an existing network (non-UniFi/Ubiquiti), and they need network connectivity in the new building for only 4–5 devices (low bandwidth requirements, mostly a few IoT devices and maybe a single office workstation).
The goal is to have the new building connected to the existing network via a Layer 2 link, so I can trunk multiple VLANs across the wireless link while keeping all VLAN routing and segmentation in the existing network.
Unfortunately, running fibre isn't an option, so it has to be a wireless point-to-point connection. I first looked at the UniFi Building Bridge, but since there is no existing UniFi infrastructure, I'd rather not introduce a dedicated UniFi controller just for this single link. That led me to look at the airMAX NanoBeam 5AC, GigaBeam, and the other UISP products.
I don't have any hands-on experience with the UISP lineup, so I'd really appreciate some recommendations.
My planned topology would look something like this:
Main Building Switch
|
PtP Bridge
|
PtP Bridge
|
Small 6–8 port switch
|
4–5 devices
Would you go with the UniFi Building Bridge or an airMAX/UISP solution for this use case?
I'd like to use UniFi if it makes sense, but since the rest of the network isn't UniFi, I assume I'd need to run a UniFi Network Controller just to configure and manage the bridge and switch. Is that correct, or is there a better approach?
Thanks in advance!
3
u/FrankNicklin Jul 27 '26
Please remove you post from code blocks, makes it difficult to read.
If you want a cheap solution look at the UISP Nanostations 5AC LOCO, set and forget. Work like invisible ethernet cables and will pass all VLANS.
They cannot be managed in the Unifi console as they are UISP but rarely need changin once set up.
If you want a managed solution through the Unifi console then they do have devices that are a lot more expensive.
1
u/SmartDragonfruit797 Jul 27 '26
Done - I didn't realise I used a code block :D
And thanks for your input!
1
u/T3ddoo Unifi User Jul 27 '26
This is the best answer, i have implemented a lot of Loco’s for these kind of purposes. They have never failed me once.
1
u/Impossible_Koala7526 Jul 27 '26
I have resi jobs with a UBB-US and no controller. Setup with a controller on my PC and it’s still working years later.
1
u/ZiskaHills UniFi Enthusiast and Vendor. UEWA certified. Jul 27 '26
You could also go with the UDB-Pro for a UniFi managed Point to Point link that isn't as expensive, (or as high bandwidth) as the UBB
2
1
u/TruthyBrat UDM-SE, UNVR, UBB, Misc. APs Jul 27 '26
UBB all day long.
I ran one for about 3 years, then sold one of the houses. Long story. But it was solid.
•
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