If we are talking about a classic router, then this is such a thing that can be found in any home where they use mobile gadgets or a computer. At home, you always have a stable Internet, fast and reliable enough. But what if we are talking about a village or a holiday village, where there are always problems with the network? Here we need either a satellite or a gadget to transmit a network signal over long distances, such as the NanoStation M2. With it, you can output the signal of your home Wi-Fi network over great distances, thereby creating a single network both at home and in the country. The device’s capabilities do not end there, because it will be incredibly useful in the business and security sectors, but more about this in more detail below. So, in this article we will consider the NanoStation M2. You’ll probably be interested in setting up, description of functions and user reviews.
Equipment
There are no frills here. Everything is ascetic and simple as possible. In addition to the router itself, you can find a cable for connecting to the mains and power here. Power supply for the same purpose. Two short patch cords for connecting to a computer and a pair of pull-wires for fixing the device anywhere. That's all, no documentation, no additional software in the box.
Design and construction
Visually, the NanoStation M2 is very different from what is offered on the market. This is a small white box with an elongated shape, designed specifically for installation on the street, next to cameras and on all kinds of poles. This is facilitated by fasteners mounted in the body, similar to clips. They are quite tight and strong. The main material of the case is white matte plastic, resistant to damage and various weather conditions. The gadget looks quite interesting and fits perfectly in any room and on the street. A router installed next to the cameras is barely noticeable. Most people will not even notice the device.
In the lower part of the case there is a cover under which two ports are hidden for connecting cables of the RJ-45 format (classic network cables). There is also a small hole for resetting the NanoStation M2 (as well as on other routers). To fix the gadget on the masts of large diameter, it is necessary to use the tightening wires that come with the kit. On the front panel you can find a set of indicators that inform users about the availability of power, connectivity to LAN1, connectivity to LAN2, plus four more signal indicators that show the connection status (signal strength).
Specifications
- Chip: Atheros MIPS, clock speed: 400 MHz.
- RAM: 32 megabytes.
- Network interface: 2x10 / 100 BASE-TX and standard Ethernet interface.
- Channel width: up to 40 MHz.
- Connection working range: 802.11 b / n / g frequencies are supported.
- Transmitter Power in dBm: 26 ± 2.
- Bandwidth: up to 150 megabits per second.
- It works at temperatures from -30 to +80 degrees Celsius.
- Dimensions and weight: 294 x 80 x 30 millimeters, 400 grams.
Key Features of NanoStation M2
The NanoStation M2 is a compact yet very powerful mobile transmitter with a 600 milliwatt MIMO antenna. The gadget is ideal for connecting to IP cameras and receiving information from them. One of the main advantages of the gadget is its support for Airmax technology, which prevents unnecessary changes when transmitting data over long distances. The NanoStation M2 has an intelligent prioritization system for transmitting data from cameras or audio.
You can configure the NanoStation M2 access point to organize a large-scale Wi-Fi network (for example, in a small city), to which any clients can connect. The same access points are used to establish a connection between several branches of the same company.
Due to the ability to endure harsh climatic conditions, NanoStation M2 has established itself as an ideal tool for organizing a reliable and uninterrupted network.
The same device can be used as a bridge that will transmit a signal at a remote distance (up to 7 kilometers). This will be effective for individuals who want to establish a single network between two apartments in the same city or a summer house and apartment. Also, in this way, NanoStation M2 is used by communication providers who can install a single workstation in the house and already lead wires from it to each individual apartment. The main signal, respectively, is transmitted using another mini-station NanoStation M2.
An important advantage of gadgets from Ubiquiti is the Air OS operating system, which helps to effectively manage multiple points of NanoStation. You can also adjust the frequency shift there so that owners of smartphones and computers with Wi-Fi support cannot catch the signal transmitted by your NanoStation bridge.
Ubiquiti NanoStation M2 Loco setup
If you want to use NanoStation as an add-on for your router, which will distribute the Internet to a large space according to the same rules and with the same security settings as your static router (or modem with a router function), then you need to configure NanoStation M2 ( router) in access point mode:
- Before you start, you need to connect your main router to the computer using a cable (no Wi-Fi).
- Then open the "Control Panel".
- Go to the "Network Management Center" submenu.
- Select the item “Change adapter settings”.
- Open the properties of the network connection and change the IPv4 settings.
- Enter 192.168.1.21 as the IP address, and 255.255.255.0 as the subnet mask.
Once you have finished configuring the connection, you need to configure the station itself:
- To do this, open any browser and go to the address 192.168.1.20 (if you can’t log in, then someone has changed the address of the connection to the station).
- You will see a dialog box where you need to enter your username and password (by default, this is ubnt).
- Open the Wireless tab in the AirOS interface.
- Change the Wireless Mode parameter to Access Point.
- In the Country Code parameter, enter any country (the United States will allow you to overclock the connection speed).
- In the SSID field, enter a name for the network (any).
- We specify WPA2-AES as the type of protection and enter an eight-digit password.
- To save the entered parameters, click on the Change button and reboot the access point along with the router.
Configuring the bridge in the NanoStation M2
Now let's talk about how to configure the NanoStation M2 in the mode of the subscriber point (bridge):
- First, open a browser and go to the AirOS interface at 192.168.1.20.
- Go to the Wireless submenu.
- In the Wireless Mode item, in the drop-down menu, select the Station operating mode.
- Then you need to look at the list of basic Wi-Fi stations and select the one to which you plan to connect your NanoStation (put a tick in front of the desired one and click Lock to AP).
- Save the settings by clicking on the Change button.
- This completes the basic setup process, and your bridge is ready to go.
Reviews
The proof that the gadget developed in Ubiquiti is really a smart option for networking is user reviews. If you look at the ratings on Yandex.Market, you can see that 90% of those who responded rated “5”, and the remaining 10% rated “4”. No other router has ever received such flattering reviews.
The first thing that NanoStation owners pay attention to is the long distance of the network. The speed is kept at 100 megabits at a distance of up to 300 meters. Some users managed to set up a data connection over a distance of more than 20 kilometers. The connection speed is not affected by weather, pressure changes and natural disasters (even severe frosts do not disable the system). The antenna has very high power and a wide range of supported frequencies, which makes this gadget the most reliable in the class. Praise the device’s unique capabilities, such as frequency shift. What is important, many users have been working with the NanoStation transmitter for many years, which indicates its durability.
Of course, there were users who encountered problems with the network. For example, insufficient power and signal loss at a distance of more than a kilometer. First of all, this may be due to the fact that when setting up the access point, a country was selected in which restrictions on the use of certain frequencies apply. Therefore, to achieve maximum efficiency, the United States must be indicated as a country. Also, the NanoStation Loco M2’s complicated access point was written down as flaws. It's hard to argue, most buyers will have to re-read a lot of documentation in order to finally set everything up and bring it to working condition.
Price
Despite all its efficiency, high power and convenient settings, engineers from Ubiquiti were able to achieve the perfect balance between price and quality. By prioritizing quality, developers have not forgotten about accessibility. To date, the gadget is available at a price of 5900 rubles, which corresponds to the price of any other medium-quality router.
Instead of a conclusion
So, the bottom line is a great and reliable device for organizing massive Internet networks. There are not many similar devices on the market today, so the competition is fierce. Ubiquiti was able to prove in practice what the devices are worthy of your attention.
After reading this brief overview, you can fully understand the positioning of the device and the functions of the NanoStation M2. Setting up the gadget, of course, requires some skill, but even this you have to deal with. You just have to make a choice and decide whether you are ready to spend a decent amount for organizing one network between the apartment and the country house.
Owners and employees of large companies now know the most reliable way to provide the entire office with Internet, and the security departments have found the ideal transmitter for the video stream from IP cameras without additional wires.