Ubiquiti Rocket airMAX BaseStation

Ubiquiti Rocket airMAX BaseStation

Scalable, High-Performance Wireless Backhaul for PtP & PtMP Links

Long-distance wireless connectivity across New Zealand terrain starts with the right radio. The Ubiquiti Rocket airMAX BaseStation is a modular outdoor radio built for point-to-point (PtP) and point-to-multipoint (PtMP) deployments the proven workhorse behind rural WISP networks, farm CCTV backhauls, and inter-building links nationwide. Running Ubiquiti’s airMAX TDMA protocol, it delivers 150+ Mbps of real TCP/IP throughput with the freedom to pair whichever airMAX antenna your site actually needs.

Whether you’re building out a wireless ISP, pushing camera feeds back from a far paddock, or bridging two buildings without trenching fibre, the Rocket gives you full control over frequency, antenna, and coverage and keeps working through NZ weather.

Modular Design: One Radio, Any Coverage Pattern

Unlike fixed all-in-one outdoor APs, the Rocket separates the radio from the antenna. Pair it with an airMAX sector antenna for wide PtMP coverage, or a dish for a focused long-haul PtP shot. That mix-and-match flexibility lets installers tune each link to the site urban rooftop, coastal ridge, or wide rural valley — instead of forcing one fixed beam pattern onto every job.

Key Technical Specifications

Built for Long-Distance Links

With its dual-chain 2×2 MIMO design and high output power, the Rocket handles serious distance. Paired with the right dish antenna and clear line of sight, PtP links of 50 km and beyond are achievable — strong, stable connections across farmland, hill country, or between buildings on opposite sides of town.

airMAX TDMA: Intelligent Airtime Scheduling

Standard Wi-Fi collapses under multiple outdoor clients because devices talk over each other. Ubiquiti’s Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) protocol assigns each connected station scheduled airtime instead, which means:

• Low latency for voice, video, and surveillance traffic
• Real scalability for multi-client PtMP networks — no hidden-node collisions
• Better spectrum reuse in congested RF environments

The result is smooth, interference-resistant performance that a consumer outdoor AP simply can’t match at range.

Rugged Outdoor Build

The IP54-rated enclosure shrugs off dust, rain, and salt-laden coastal air, and the −30 to 75°C operating range covers everything from Central Otago frosts to a tin shed in February. Compact, pole-mountable, and powered over a single Ethernet run via passive PoE no mains power needed at the mast.

Where It Fits in New Zealand

• WISP backbone — cost-effective long-range access and backhaul links without trenching fibre
• Surveillance & CCTV — wireless backhaul for cameras across large rural or industrial properties
• Industrial sites — extend connectivity to factories, sheds, yards, and construction zones
• Rural homesteads & farms — link remote outbuildings across paddocks and valleys
• Enterprise bridging — connect warehouses or branch offices without recurring leased-line costs

What’s in the Box

• 1 × Rocket airMAX radio (model-specific frequency)
• Mounting bracket and strap
• PoE injector (kit-dependent)
• Quick start guide

Antennas are sold separately, so you can match the radio to the exact coverage pattern your deployment needs.

Why the Rocket Over a Typical Outdoor AP?

Who Should Buy This?

WISPs delivering rural broadband, CCTV integrators needing dependable backhaul, farm operations connecting distant buildings, enterprises bridging sites, and installers who want one modular radio platform instead of a shelf of fixed-antenna units.

FAQs

What antennas work with the Rocket BaseStation?

All airMAX antennas — sector, omni, and dish. Choose based on the coverage pattern and distance your link requires.

What’s the maximum distance it can cover?

With a suitable dish antenna and clear line of sight, PtP links of 50+ km are achievable.

Is it suitable for wireless ISP deployment in rural NZ?

Yes. The Rocket platform is a long-established choice among New Zealand WISPs for both backhaul and client access links.

Does it support PoE?

Yes — 12–24V passive PoE, compatible with standard Ubiquiti PoE injectors, so a single Ethernet cable carries both power and data to the mast.

What operating modes does it support?

Access Point (AP), Station (CPE), and WDS bridge, giving you full flexibility across PtP and PtMP topologies.

How weatherproof is it?

IP54-rated against dust and water spray, with a −30 to 75°C operating range — suited to exposed outdoor mounting across NZ conditions.