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There are no more items in your cartGo the distance with Ubiquiti airFiber 60LR: High-Speed Wireless Backhaul without the Fibre bill
- Johan Koekemoer
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What Is the Ubiquiti AF60-LR?
The Ubiquiti airFiber 60 LR (AF60-LR) is a long-range, point-to-point wireless bridge designed to deliver gigabit-class speeds over distances of up to 12 kilometres using the 60 GHz band. It’s powered by Ubiquiti’s Wave technology, which enables true duplex performance and low latency across urban, suburban, and even rural deployments.
In short: it’s a serious alternative to trenching fibre, faster to deploy, more cost-effective, and highly reliable under the right conditions.
Key Specs at a Glance:
Throughput: Up to 1.8 Gbps
Frequency: 60 GHz (low-interference, licence-free spectrum)
Range: Up to 12 km
Antenna Gain: 43 dBi integrated dish
Power: 48V Passive PoE
Management: UISP integration, GPS, and Bluetooth setup
Weight: 2.7 kg with precision alignment mount
Where Does the AF60-LR Shine?
The AF60-LR is built for any scenario where high-throughput connectivity is needed, but fibre isn’t feasible due to cost, logistics, or time constraints. It’s especially valuable in:
Wireless Backhaul - Perfect for connecting buildings, towers, or remote network nodes, the AF60-LR makes fibre-like performance available without trenching or downtime.
Campus Networking - Link offices or warehouses across a business park, providing high-speed data and VoIP traffic between facilities.
Rural and Remote Sites - Ideal for last-mile broadband delivery in areas where traditional infrastructure doesn’t reach.
Urban Line-of-Sight Deployments - Whether bridging rooftops in a city or serving high-density residential zones, the 60 GHz band offers high speed with minimal interference.
WISP Infrastructure - Use it for tower-to-tower links, uplinks for access points, or high-speed connections to business customers.
Why 60 GHz? The Advantages of the AF60-LR
Ubiquiti’s AF60-LR makes smart use of the largely uncongested 60 GHz frequency band. It offers several advantages over traditional 5 GHz or licensed microwave links:
Gigabit Throughput - The AF60-LR can deliver 1.8 Gbps real-world throughput, rivaling some fibre links.
Low Interference - At 60 GHz, signals are highly directional and quickly absorbed by obstacles or moisture, reducing interference with other wireless systems.
Cost-Effective Deployment - With no trenching, no licensing, and no expensive microwave equipment, total deployment costs are significantly lower than fibre or licensed links.
Rapid Rollout - Installation is quick thanks to Bluetooth setup, UISP app support, and a precision alignment mount.
Reliable Performance - Installers report rock-solid links up to 4 km even in rain, with full-duplex speeds over 600 Mbps seen at distances over 12 km under optimal conditions.
What to watch out for with the AF60-LR
Like any powerful tool, the AF60-LR has its limitations, most of which are manageable with the right planning.
Line-of-Sight Required - The 60 GHz signal doesn’t tolerate obstructions. Clear line-of-sight is essential, so elevation and positioning are key.
Weather Sensitivity - Heavy rain or snow can temporarily degrade performance, especially on longer links (over 4 km). For mission-critical use, it’s worth considering a secondary failover option.
No 5 GHz Backup - Unlike Ubiquiti’s GBE-LR, the AF60-LR doesn’t include a 5 GHz failover radio, so network redundancy must be planned externally.
Mounting and Cabling - Use shielded outdoor-grade Cat6 or better, and ensure solid, vibration-free mounting for optimal alignment and uptime.
AF60-LR vs Other Ubiquiti Links
| Product | Frequency / Backup | Max Throughput | Max Range | Key Difference |
| AF60-LR | 60 GHz only | 1.8 Gbps | 12 km | longest range, best value |
| GBE-LR | 60 + 5 GHz | ~1 Gbps | 2 km | Integrated backup radio |
| airFiber 5XHD | 5 GHz (licensed) | 1+ Gbps | 100+ km | Licensed, long haul |
AF60-XR/HD | 60 GHz + SFP+ | 5–6 Gbps | 2–15 km | Higher cost, higher capacity. |
The AF60-LR strikes an ideal balance between range, performance, and price, making it the go-to solution for high-capacity links where line-of-sight is available.
Is the AF60-LR Right for You?
If your business or ISP needs fast, reliable, and affordable wireless backhaul, the Ubiquiti AF60-LR is well worth considering. It delivers impressive speeds over long distances, integrates seamlessly with UISP, and costs significantly less than most fibre or microwave alternatives.
At MiRO, we supply and support the full Ubiquiti range, including the AF60-LR, and we are here to help you design, deploy, and scale your wireless infrastructure with confidence. Get in touch with us on sales@miro.co.za or 012 657 0960 for further assistance.
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