Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 sold as a matched pair costs KSh 8,800 at Mascom International, Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Each LBE-M5-23 unit carries a 23 dBi directional antenna, a 5 GHz airMAX radio covering 5150 to 5875 MHz, an Atheros MIPS 74Kc processor clocked at 533 MHz, 64 MB of memory, and one 10/100 Ethernet port. Together the two radios form a complete point-to-point bridge moving up to 100 Mbps of real outdoor throughput across distances beyond 30 km. Both Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 units are brand new and sealed, with pole mounting kits and PoE adapters included.
Kenya's internet service providers, school ICT administrators, farm managers, construction site supervisors, and estate caretakers use the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 to carry a working connection from one building to another without trenching fibre. A Safaricom Home Fibre or Zuku line sitting in the main house cannot reach a workshop 800 metres away, and burying cable across a compound often costs more than the radios themselves. The Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 pair settles that in an afternoon. Mount one unit at each end, aim them at each other, and the connection crosses the gap over 5 GHz.
Unlike other electronics retailers in Kenya who sell single units and leave buyers hunting for a second radio elsewhere, Mascom International stocks the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 as a ready pair with both PoE adapters and mounting hardware. Installers around Nairobi, Nakuru, and Kisumu report link speeds holding between 80 and 95 Mbps on clean 4 to 10 km paths with clear line of sight. At Mascom International, we're witnessing steady demand from small WISPs building coverage where fibre has not arrived. Visit our Kimathi Street store to inspect both units, or order for countrywide pay-on-arrival delivery.
Common Questions About the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5
What does a Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 pair actually do?
It carries an internet connection through the air between two points that cable cannot easily reach. One LiteBeam M5 unit sits at the building with the existing line and broadcasts a narrow 5 GHz beam. The second unit, mounted at the far building, catches that beam and feeds it into a router or switch. The result is a wireless bridge moving up to 100 Mbps across distances beyond 30 km with clear line of sight.
How far apart can the two LiteBeam M5 units be?
Ubiquiti rates the LiteBeam M5 for links beyond 30 km, though that figure assumes an unobstructed path and careful aiming. Real Kenyan deployments usually run 2 to 15 km, which is where the 23 dBi antenna holds up most reliably. What matters more than distance is line of sight. Trees, buildings, and hills between the two units cut throughput badly or break the link entirely. Height on both masts solves most obstruction problems.
What internet speed does a LiteBeam M5 link carry?
Up to 100 Mbps of real outdoor throughput, limited by the single 10/100 Ethernet port on each unit. On short, clean links of 2 to 5 km, installers commonly measure 80 to 95 Mbps. Longer paths and interference from neighbouring 5 GHz networks pull that number down. If your source line already exceeds 100 Mbps, the LiteBeam M5 becomes the bottleneck, and the gigabit LiteBeam 5AC Gen2 suits you better.
Can the LiteBeam M5 extend my Safaricom Home Fibre or Zuku line to another building?
Yes, and this is the most common reason Kenyan customers buy the pair. Plug one LiteBeam M5 into a LAN port on your existing router, mount it facing the second building, and place the other unit there feeding a local router or access point. Your fibre line then serves both properties from one subscription. Check your provider's terms first, since some residential packages restrict sharing beyond a single premises.
How do I set up and align the LiteBeam M5?
Assemble each unit by snapping the reflector panels onto the feed, then clamp it to a pole using the metal strap and a 7 mm wrench. Connect your computer, set a static IP on the 192.168.1.x range, and open 192.168.1.20 in a browser to reach airOS. Configure one unit as access point and the other as station, then aim each dish using the live signal reading and the bubble level.
Does the LiteBeam M5 survive Kenya's rain, dust, and heat?
It is built for permanent outdoor mounting, rated from -40 to 70 degrees Celsius and 5 to 95 percent noncondensing humidity. That covers Turkana heat, Mombasa salt air, and Limuru damp without difficulty. ESD and EMP protection of 24 kV helps during the long rains when lightning strikes near masts. Use shielded outdoor Ethernet cable with proper earth grounding, since Ubiquiti treats that as a warranty condition rather than a suggestion.
What else do I need to buy besides the LiteBeam M5 pair?
Outdoor shielded Cat5e or Cat6 cable for both runs, since Ubiquiti does not include Ethernet cable. You also need two mounting poles or brackets, earthing wire and rods for lightning protection, and a 7 mm socket wrench. Wall mounting calls for the separate NBE-WMK kit. Everything else arrives in the boxes: reflector panels, ball joint mounts, pole straps, PoE adapters, and power cords for both units.
How does the LiteBeam M5 compare with the LiteBeam 5AC Gen2?
The LiteBeam M5 runs 1x1 SISO on 802.11n airMAX with a 10/100 port, capping throughput near 100 Mbps. The 5AC Gen2 adds 2x2 MIMO, airMAX ac, and a gigabit port, reaching several hundred Mbps on the same 23 dBi dish. If your link only needs to carry a 30 to 100 Mbps line, the M5 costs considerably less and does the same job.
Who should buy the LiteBeam M5 pair in Kenya?
Small internet service providers extending coverage where fibre has not reached, schools linking a computer lab to an administration block, farm managers connecting a distant greenhouse or store, construction firms wiring a site office, and homeowners sharing one fibre line across a compound. Security installers also use the pair to carry IP camera footage from an outlying gate back to a recorder indoors.
Technical Specifications
Radio Hardware and Wireless Throughput
- Operates across the 5150 to 5875 MHz worldwide band, avoiding the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum common in Kenyan towns.
- Produces up to 100 Mbps of real outdoor throughput, enough for 15 to 20 simultaneous household connections.
- Peak transmit output reaches 25 dBm, pushing a usable signal across valleys and open farmland between mast sites.
- Uses 1x1 SISO vertical polarisation on 802.11n airMAX, trading MIMO speed for a much lower cost per link.
- airMAX TDMA gives each client a timed slot, removing the hidden-node collisions that slow ordinary Wi-Fi bridges.
- Receive sensitivity reaches -97 dBm at MCS0, letting weak long-distance links stay connected instead of dropping out.
Antenna Design and Signal Coverage
- The 23 dBi directional antenna concentrates output into a narrow beam aimed at one distant partner unit.
- InnerFeed technology places the radio inside the antenna feed, so no coaxial cable wastes signal strength.
- Snap-together reflector panels form the dish, providing the gain needed for links stretching beyond 30 km.
- A VSWR ceiling of 1.5:1 keeps reflected power low, protecting the radio and holding transmit efficiency steady.
- Narrow beamwidth rejects interference from neighbouring networks, useful in dense Nairobi estates crowded with competing 5 GHz signals.
- Removing the reflector leaves a 3 dBi feed for short outdoor-to-indoor coverage instead of long-distance bridging.
Processing Hardware and airOS Management
- Atheros MIPS 74Kc processor running at 533 MHz handles routing, bridging, and traffic shaping without extra hardware.
- 64 MB of onboard memory stores the airOS firmware, saved configuration, and live link statistics.
- The airOS web interface opens at 192.168.1.20 from any browser on the same network segment.
- A built-in alignment tool displays live signal strength in dBm while you adjust the mounting angle.
- QoS traffic prioritisation pushes voice and video ahead of downloads, keeping calls clear on busy links.
- The UISP mobile application monitors link status, throughput, and signal from an Android or iPhone handset.
Power Delivery and Installation Requirements
- Ships with a 24V 0.2A passive PoE adapter, so no mains socket is needed at the mast.
- Draws no more than 4W, low enough for small solar and battery setups in off-grid locations.
- Supported input range spans 22 to 27V DC, tolerating voltage drop across long outdoor Ethernet cable runs.
- Passive PoE uses pairs 4 and 5 positive with 7 and 8 returning, matching standard Ubiquiti wiring.
- The ball joint mount adjusts along three axes, and a built-in bubble level confirms level alignment.
- Assembly needs no tools, and only a 7 mm socket wrench tightens the metal pole strap.
Build Quality and Weather Resistance
- Rated for ambient temperatures from -40 to 70 degrees Celsius, well beyond anything Kenyan weather produces.
- Handles 5 to 95 percent noncondensing humidity, suiting coastal Mombasa and lakeside Kisumu installations alike.
- ESD and EMP protection reaches 24 kV contact and air, reducing lightning-season failures on exposed masts.
- Each unit weighs only 750 g, so light poles and roof brackets carry the load safely.
- Measures 362 x 267 x 184 mm once assembled, compact enough to mount on a slim mast.
- Certified to ETSI300-019-1.4 for shock and vibration, alongside FCC, IC, CE, and RoHS compliance.
Network Interfaces and Deployment Modes
- One 10/100 Ethernet RJ45 port connects the radio to your router, switch, or PoE adapter.
- Configure one unit as access point and the other as station to form a point-to-point bridge.
- Works as customer premises equipment against a LiteAP or Rocket sector in point-to-multipoint networks.
- Up to 100 airMAX stations connect to one sector, letting small WISPs grow subscriber numbers gradually.
- Shielded Cat5e or better cabling with earth grounding is required outdoors and forms a warranty condition.
- Reset buttons on the unit and the PoE adapter restore factory defaults when a configuration goes wrong.
Package Contents
Each of the two Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5units arrives sealed with its own antenna feed, centre reflector panel, two side reflector panels, feed receiver, ball joint mount, and metal pole strap. A 24V 0.2A passive PoE adapter, mains power cord, and quick start guide are included per unit. Ubiquiti does not supply Ethernet cable, so plan for outdoor shielded Cat5e or Cat6 runs at both ends of the link.
Warranty
Mascom International backs both Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 units with a 12-month warranty covering manufacturing defects and hardware functionality under normal use. Coverage requires shielded outdoor cabling and proper earth grounding, matching Ubiquiti's stated installation conditions. Lightning damage on ungrounded masts falls outside the cover. Our Nairobi CBD service desk handles every claim directly.
Buying the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 from Mascom International
Mascom International stocks the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 pair at Old Mutual Building, First Floor Room 4, Kimathi Street, Nairobi CBD. Walk in Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM to handle both units, check the reflector assembly, and talk through your link distance with our team before committing.
Three ways to order:
- Call/WhatsApp +254 708 852 521
- Email info@mascomintl.com
- Order through www.mascomintl.com
Pay-on-arrival delivery reaches every Kenyan county. Nairobi and its environs receive the Ubiquiti LiteBeam M5 pair the same day. Mombasa, Kisumu, Nakuru, Eldoret, and all other major towns receive it within 1 business day. Mandera, Wajir, Marsabit, Lamu, Tana River, and Turkana receive delivery within 2-3 business days. You inspect both boxes and pay by cash or M-Pesa only when they arrive.
Both radios come with the 12-month warranty detailed above.
Mascom International has built its reputation on accurate product specifications, current Kenyan market pricing, and direct after-sales support from our Nairobi CBD store. Buyers across Kenya rely on us for networking hardware that arrives complete and works on the first alignment.
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