- Description
- Specifications
Carrier-Class 5 GHz Point-to-Point Radio with LTU Custom Silicon, Full-Band DFS Certification, and GPS Synchronization
The Ubiquiti airFiber 5XHD (AF-5XHD) is a 5 GHz point-to-point backhaul radio built for wireless ISPs and carrier networks that need reliable long-range links in congested RF environments. Powered by Ubiquiti's LTU custom silicon rather than off-the-shelf 802.11 chipsets, the 5XHD delivers over 1 Gbps of real-world aggregate throughput across distances exceeding 100 km while operating across the full 5 GHz band including DFS channels.
The 5XHD is the high-capacity backbone radio in Ubiquiti's airFiber lineup, designed to replace fiber runs between towers, buildings, and distribution points where trenching is impractical or too expensive. Full-band 5 GHz certification including DFS gives operators access to cleaner spectrum that consumer devices avoid, and GPS synchronization enables coordinated frequency reuse across multi-sector deployments without self-interference.
Where the airFiber 5XHD Fits
- WISP backbone and tower-to-tower links where operators need gigabit-class backhaul over distances that fiber cannot economically reach, with full DFS access for cleaner spectrum in crowded areas
- Enterprise campus and building-to-building connections replacing leased lines or fiber builds with a single radio pair that delivers 1+ Gbps aggregate throughput at a fraction of the recurring cost
- Carrier and ISP distribution networks where GPS synchronization allows multiple co-located sector radios to reuse frequencies without interference, scaling capacity as subscriber counts grow
What the airFiber 5XHD Delivers
- 1+ Gbps real throughput with LTU silicon: Custom-designed ASIC built specifically for WISP backhaul. Outperforms 802.11-based radios in spectral efficiency and interference resilience across the full 5 GHz band.
- 100+ km range: High-power radio architecture supports links well beyond 100 km when paired with appropriate antennas. Designed for the long distances between towers and distribution points in rural and suburban networks.
- Full-band DFS certification: Access every 5 GHz channel including DFS frequencies that most consumer and enterprise devices cannot use. More available spectrum means less congestion on your backhaul links.
- GPS synchronization: Built-in GPS enables coordinated frequency reuse across multi-sector tower deployments. Co-located radios transmit and receive in sync, eliminating self-interference without guard bands.
- Compact, antenna-independent design: Separate radio unit (8.8 x 3.2 x 1.9 in) mounts behind any compatible 5 GHz antenna. Choose the gain pattern that matches your link distance and coverage requirements.
How Fast Is the airFiber 5XHD?
The airFiber 5XHD delivers over 1 Gbps of aggregate throughput (combined TX + RX) using Ubiquiti's LTU protocol on wide channels. Real-world single-direction throughput typically reaches 500+ Mbps depending on channel width, modulation, and link distance. On an 8.8 km link, operators have reported total capacity around 850 Mbps in production conditions. The LTU silicon maintains higher throughput under interference than 802.11ac-based alternatives, which matters in dense tower environments where spectrum is shared.
