Ubiquiti M5/M2 Initial Setup

M5/M2 Loco

1. Powering the Device:

   • Use the included PoE injector.

   • Connect the PoE port on the injector to the LAN port on the Ubiquiti device.

   • Connect the LAN port on the injector to your network or directly to your computer for setup.

2. Accessing the Device:

   • The default IP for M5/M2 Loco is 192.168.1.20.

3. Login:

   • Open https://192.168.1.20 in a web browser.

   • The default username and password are both: ubnt

   • You will be prompted to change these credentials after logging in.

   • Select country Ireland

   • Agree to the terms and conditions

   • Press Login in the bottom right corner. 

4. Troubleshooting Access:

   • If you can’t access the setup page, make sure your computer is on the same IP range as the device.

   • If you're unsure how to do this, refer to our guide on changing your IP on Windows.

Setup Guide for Nano Devices – Access Point (AP) Mode

1. Log In and Access Wireless Settings

• Log in to the Nano device interface.

• Go to the Wireless tab.

2. Switch to Access Point Mode

• Change Wireless Mode from Station to Access Point.

• Turn Access Point mode ON.

3. Enable WDS (Transparent Bridge Mode)

4. Set the SSID

• Change the SSID to something easy to recognise, like: ubntAP.

• This helps Stations easily find and connect.

5. Channel Width

• Leave Channel Width at 40 MHz — works well for most locations.

6. Control Frequency (Optional)

• If the site requires a specific frequency range:

  • Enable Control Frequency.

  • Set the range. The Nano will search within this range to find its pair.

7. Set the Wireless Password

• Under Wireless Security, set the password used to connect.

• Recommended default password: Admin1234 (can be changed later).

8. Save and Apply

• Click Change in the bottom right corner.

9. First-Time Password Change (second image below)

• Since this is the first time changing settings, a window will pop up asking to update the device password.

• Enter the default current password: ubnt.

• Then enter a new password for the unit.

• Recommended new password: Admin1234.

10. Confirm and Apply Settings (third image below)

• Click Change in the bottom right corner of the password window.

• Then click Apply in the top right corner of the interface to finalise and apply all settings.

• The process might take a few minutes and the page should refresh once ready to continue with the set-up.

Setup Guide for Nano Devices – Station Mode

1. Log In and Access Wireless Settings

• Log in to the Nano device interface.

• Go to the Wireless tab.

2. Switch to Station Mode

• Ensure Wireless Mode is set to Station.

3. Enable WDS (Transparent Bridge Mode)

4. Select the SSID (Second photo)

• Click on Select and choose the SSID of the Access Point you want to connect to (e.g., ubntAP).

5. Channel Width

• Leave Channel Width at 40 MHz — works well for most environments.

6. Control Frequency (Optional)

• If the AP is set to a specific frequency range:

  • Enable Control Frequency.

  • Set the same frequency range as the AP to ensure connection.

7. Set the Wireless Password

• Under Wireless Security, enter the password used by the AP.

• The default recommended password: Admin1234 (or as set on the AP).

8. Confirm and Apply Settings

• Click Change in the bottom right corner of the password window.

• Then click Apply in the top right corner of the interface to finalise and apply all settings.
  
  

IP Address Setup Options

There are two ways to set the IP address on Ubiquiti devices:

1. DHCP (Dynamic IP)

   • The device gets its IP automatically from the network.

   • You can also set a Fallback IP — if it can’t get an IP from the network, it will default to this address (e.g. 192.168.1.20).
     
     

2. Static IP

   • You manually assign a fixed IP address.

   • The device will always try to use this IP and will be reachable at that address.

   • Make sure the IP and Gateway are in the correct range for your network.

Tips

• When you change the device’s IP address, it will restart and come back online in a few minutes.

• If you change the IP range, make sure your computer’s IP is set to the same range to stay connected. If you're unsure how to do this, refer to our guide on changing your IP on Windows.

• When pairing two Nano devices, give the second one an IP address that is one number higher than the first to avoid IP conflicts.
  Example: If the Master (AP) is 192.168.1.30, set the Station (Client) to 192.168.1.31.

Final Check: Signal Strength (for M5 Devices)

After completing the setup on both AP and Station units:

• Open the Main tab in the device interface.

• Look at the Signal Strength bar on the right side of the screen.

Key metrics to review:

• Signal Strength: Aim for around –45 dBm to –60 dBm for a stable connection.

• Noise Floor: Should be below –85 dBm (the lower, the better).

• Transmit CCQ: Should be 95% or higher — this reflects signal quality.

• airMAX Quality & Capacity: Both should be as close to 100% as possible for optimal performance.

? Example from screenshot:

• Signal Strength: –44 dBm 

• Noise Floor: –87 dBm 

• CCQ: 99.7% 

• airMAX Quality: 99% 

• airMAX Capacity: 98% 

If values are poor:

• Check antenna alignment.

• Improve the line of sight.

• Reposition devices to reduce interference.
  
  
  

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Keep Some Distance
   When pairing, leave 1–2 meters between the devices.
   If they’re too close, they might not connect properly.
   
   

2. Try Rebooting
   If something isn’t working, a simple reboot of both devices often fixes the issue.