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AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 12:44 pm
by sbyrd
Not sure the rules on linking back to other forums so delete if necessary. Here is a link to a quick comparison I did between my new AF-5X and a Rocket AC PtP w/Airprism.

http://community.ubnt.com/t5/airMAX-Sto ... -p/1227405

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:09 pm
by sirhc
LOL - There are no rules against talking about UBNT Products here, and you can link to their forum or any forum.

Now with that being said there is no surprise for me that an AF5-X would perform MUCH better than an airMAX link, Chicago team does really good work.

I am not against AF5X the same as I am against AF5 primarily because it supports UNI-I which is meant for PTP links. Yes it also support UNI-III and that could hurt WISPs but people doing PTP links hopefully will use UNI-I.

I was against AF5 for the sole purpose that is was in 5GHz which is my bread and butter spectrum, not that it was not a superbly designed radio, just because it was in 5GHz and the community of WISPs were asking for 11/18/23.

The real reason that AF5 has not been the problem that I predicted is that sales for AF5 have been far below what I and probably most Distributors expected as well as possibly UBNT's expectations.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:12 pm
by lligetfa
sirhc wrote:LOL - There are no rules against talking about UBNT Products here, and you can link to their forum...
We should make a rule that for every link to the UBNT forum that they need to post two links to this forum over on UBNT. Pirate4

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 2:24 pm
by wayneorack
lligetfa wrote:
sirhc wrote:LOL - There are no rules against talking about UBNT Products here, and you can link to their forum...
We should make a rule that for every link to the UBNT forum that they need to post two links to this forum over on UBNT. Pirate4


I am doing my part! Just don't want to get "black listed" like you two!

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 3:56 pm
by sbyrd
Also forgot to mention I am currently powering it with a TS-5 on a 45m cable.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:28 pm
by sirhc
sbyrd wrote:Also forgot to mention I am currently powering it with a TS-5 on a 45m cable.


A TS-5 is right on the edge as the "older" ToughSwitches had a .5A Poly Fuse which is 12 Watts so it is right on the edge.
See this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=545&p=3817&hilit=AF5X#p3740

Poly Fuses work/trip on heat so as long as the box is not too hot it probably will be fine.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 4:46 pm
by sbyrd
The switch is in a closet at the base of a Watertower with Air conditioning. I did purchase a WS-8-AC for testing and might replace the TS-5 as I replace the other 3 PtP links on this tower with AF-5Xs.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 5:00 pm
by rebelwireless
I'm replacing a 12 mile RocketM(RD30) link @ 5160 with an AF5X this Saturday. Due to interference, this -60 link has AMQ of ~80% and AMC of ~50% and can pull about 40Mbps right now. I'll report back with a before/after.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Wed May 20, 2015 3:38 pm
by rebelwireless
forgot to come back to this.

So, AF5X on 5180@50Mhz -61 signal. RX=101Mbps, TX=165Mbps on a 50/50 duty cycle. This is the head end of the link so that 165Mbps over the 40Mbps from the RocketM5@40Mhz is a huge improvement. I haven't yet put the slant converters on (I have them) and I think my alignment is a bit off.

Re: AF-5X vs AC comparisson.

Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 12:31 pm
by sbyrd
rebelwireless wrote:forgot to come back to this.

So, AF5X on 5180@50Mhz -61 signal. RX=101Mbps, TX=165Mbps on a 50/50 duty cycle. This is the head end of the link so that 165Mbps over the 40Mbps from the RocketM5@40Mhz is a huge improvement. I haven't yet put the slant converters on (I have them) and I think my alignment is a bit off.


Awesome improvement. I just put up my second AF5X link colocated with my first one. They are separated by about 12ft horizontally and both are running on 5240@20mhz 75% duty cycle and at 8X link rate giving me 138/35Mbps. Nice to have working GPS sync for colocated backhauls. I plan on replacing 2 other Rocket Backhaul links on this tower this year with AF5X and because they all point different directions I should be able to run them all on one 20mhz channel!