Ubiquiti has two very similar options for short range PtP (Point-to-Point) on the 60GHz spectrum, with the airMAX GigaBeam and the UniFi Building Bridge (UBB). Both are basically identical in performance, but they are aimed at different audiences and devices run on 60GHz, with a 5GHz backup which can failover in case of bad weather or temporary obstructions. Both devices are rated for 500 metres of range with up to 1Gbps+ of total capacity.

The difference is what audiences they are targeted towards, the GigaBeam is powered by only 24v passive and it has its own user interface for administration and monitoring, as it is an airMAX device. The UBB is powered by 802.3af or 48v passive and being a UniFi device, it is managed by the UniFi Controller, with no separate user interface for management. This can be useful for monitoring a deployment remotely with all devices in one screen and being UniFi it is powered by 802.3af which makes sense too as enterprise environments have active PoE in use, either from a UniFi switch or standard switch.

Where the GigaBeam differs is it is aimed as the WISP and MSP environment, where it is a one off 60GHz PtP device. The whole airMAX family only uses 24v, which can be useful to have for something like a solar deployment. There also some price and usability differences too, the UniFi Building Bridge can only be purchased in a pre configured pair, meaning if one unit goes bad both have to be replaced. Whereas with the GigaBeam, each one unit is standalone and if one does happen to go bad, one can be purchased and replaced. The UBB is also advertised on the product box and the data sheet to have GPS, but this is yet to be surfaced in the UniFi Controller or yet to be attributed to be for any particular use case.

One GigaBeam is $129 in the US and in the EU €119.79, UK at £103.62. When buying two for a PtP solution, that works out at $258 in the US and in the EU €239.58, UK at £207.24. Compare that to a set of two of the UniFi Building Bridge units and that comes in at $499 in the US and in the EU €502.80, UK at £438.57.

GigaBeam

UniFi Building Bridge

Frequencies supported

60GHz, 5GHz for backup and 2.4GHz for management

60GHz, 5GHz for backup and 2.4GHz for management

Channelwidth options

2160MHz on 60GHz
20/40/80 MHz on 5GHz

1080MHz or 2160MHz on 60GHz
20/40/80 MHz on 5GHz

Power Type

24v passive PoE

802.3af or 48v passive PoE

Network interfaces

1x 10/100/1000 Ethernet

1x 10/100/1000 Ethernet

Max range

500m

500m

Special features

N/A

GPS (Yet to be exposed)
RGB light ring

Gain

17.2 dBi on 60GHz
10 dBi on 5GHz

17.2 dBi on 60GHz
10 dBi on 5GHz

Operating Temperature

-40 to 60° C (-40 to 140° F)

-40 to 70° C (-40 to 158° F)

Mounting options

Ball mount for attaching to wall or pole

Ball mount for attaching to wall or pole

Price

$129 US / £103.62 UK / €119.79 EU (One unit)

$499 US / £438.57 UK / €502.80 EU (Box of two)

Recommendation

For value, the price of the GigaBeam cannot be ignored. If your installation has a strict budget and not having your 60GHz PtP sitting within UniFi is ok, then we would recommend the GigaBeam. It is certainly more flexible, for example if one unit happens to go bad. However if your entire install is UniFi, it is nice from experience to have everything sitting in the UniFi controller, rather than spinning up a separate UISP controller to manage the GigaBeam.

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