How to setup a basic Point to Point link using Ubiquiti airMAX devices

Dirk MareSystems Engineer (Acting IT Manager)
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I have 12+ years of experience in diagnosing and resolving technical/customer inquiries.
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This article is a step by step guide on how to create a basic PTP link using Ubiquiti airOS devices. This guide can be used on the following Ubiquiti AirMAX devices. Nanostation, Bullets, AirBridge, Nanobeam, NanoBridge to name a few. Please review all the AirMAX device here.. I will be focusing on the selected part of the diagram below for this guide using two Ubiquiti Nanostation M2's. You can use this setup to create a link between office buildings up to 50miles (depending on the device) 

 
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The factory default IP address for the device is 192.168.1.20 and the subnet mask is 255.255.255.0 (/24) open internet explorer and connect to 192.168.1.20 if you are using one of the latest firmware versions you will be redirected to https and you will see privacy error page
Note: You either need to be in the same IP address range or you would need to change your IP configuration on your PC to static Please follow the quickstart guide from ubiquiti to get the device connected to your PC..

Lets get started.
  • Click on Advanced and then on Proceed to..

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Next you will need to enter in the default Username and Password “ubnt” for both.. In this guide I will be using Complaince Test for Country please select your appropaite region..

 
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The next screen that appears is the Main Screen. On this screen you will see all your active connections to your device, firmware version, MAC address, physical connection state, bandwidth usage, connection quality and connection speed.

 
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  • Click on the “Network” tab…
  • Add the following, and click on “Change” bottom right



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  • Next click on the “Wireless” tab…
  • Under Wireless Mode select “Access Point”
  • Enable WDS
  • Enter a SSID for the Wireless, for PtP I normally hide the network.
  • Under Security select “none” and Enable “MAC ACL”
  • Change Policy to “Allow” and Click “ACL”
  • Add in your WLAN0 MAC address of the other device click “Save”
Note: You can find the MAC address under the Main Page of the other airMAX device.
  • Click on “Change” bottom right side

 
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  • Click on Apply these changes.

 
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The unit will restart and all the changes made will be active.
Note: You will no longer be able to access the device (incorrect IP subnet) before you change it lets configure the other side of the link.
Again open Internet Explorer and go to 192.168.1.20 enter in “ubnt” for username and password select your Country accept the Terms and Conditions and click on “Login”
 
 
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  • Click on “Network”
  • Add the following IP information 

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  • Click on “Change” bottom right
 

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  • Next click on the “Wireless” tab…
  • Under Wireless Mode select “Station”
  • Enable WDS
  • Enter the SSID for the Access Point example test
  • Enter in the WLAN MAC of the Access Point device.
Note: You can find the MAC address under the Main Page of the other airMAX device.
  • Click on “Change” bottom right side

 
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  • Click on Apply these changes.
 
 
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Change your IP address on your PC to the same IP and subnet range as above.
To confirm your link is working. Open Internet Explorer and go to 172.16.0.3 and 172.16.0.4 your screen should look similar to below..

 
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That’s it! You now have a working PtP wireless link to connect different offices to each other or just to expand your current network into a building next door.

Thank you for reading my article, please leave valuable feedback. If you liked this article and would like to see more, please click the Yes button near the: Was this article helpful? at the bottom of this article just below and to the right of this information. 

I look forward to hearing from you.

DirkMare
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Dirk MareSystems Engineer (Acting IT Manager)
CERTIFIED EXPERT
Bio
I have 12+ years of experience in diagnosing and resolving technical/customer inquiries.

Comments (6)

Dirk MareSystems Engineer (Acting IT Manager)
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Commented:
In Access Point WDS and Station WDS;

The original mac of the packet is preserved, and no lookups are performed the traffic is simply passed. Its like running an Ethernet cable... All traffic is passed without being modified in any way (as long as both endpoints are in bridge mode)

Normal AP and Station;

The AP changes the mac address of the originating packet and forwards the packet on.

DirkMare
Olaf BerliOwner

Commented:
OK.  Thanks.
Never checked out if an AP in bridge mode changes the mac address while in wds it doesn't.

-Olaf-
TemodyPickalbatros, IT Manager

Commented:
Very Useful article
Dirk MareSystems Engineer (Acting IT Manager)
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Commented:
Thank You
TemodyPickalbatros, IT Manager

Commented:
you are welcome
I am interesting in Ubiquiti and mikrotik Devices do you ?

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