Ubiquiti NanoBeam M5: OpenWrt Compatibility Report
The Ubiquiti NanoBeam M5 runs OpenWrt 25.12.0 on the ath79/generic target, and has been supported since 15.05. Its WiFi 4 (N) wireless on the ath9k driver rates excellent for open-source driver support (0.85/1.0), installation is rated moderate, and it is still sold new.
Hardware data and retail listings last checked .
Where to buy
- Buy $69
- Ubiquiti Store official US store, NBE-M5-16, Add to Cart live 2026-08-09 $72
- Connection NBE-M5-16(US), In Stock, Add To Cart live 2026-08-09 $73
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Specifications
| SoC | Atheros AR9342 |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1 core @ 535 MHz |
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| Ethernet ports | 1 |
| WiFi generation | WiFi 4 (N) |
| Radios | 5GHz: a/n |
| WLAN hardware | Atheros AR9342 |
| WLAN driver | ath9k |
| OpenWrt target | ath79 / generic |
| Package architecture | mips_24kc |
| Current release | 25.12.0 |
| Supported since | 15.05 |
| Install method | U-Boot TFTP recovery, see devicepage |
| Install difficulty | moderate |
| Power supply | 24 VDC, 0.5A (PoE) |
| Device type | Home router |
| Estimated throughput | 66 Mbps |
| Availability | available |
Installing OpenWrt on the NanoBeam M5
Installation on this device is rated moderate. Expect to use a recovery mode, TFTP or a vendor tool rather than a plain web upload. Documented methods: U-Boot TFTP recovery, see devicepage.
Official OpenWrt device page for the NanoBeam M5
Flashing third-party firmware can brick a router and usually voids the warranty. Always check that the firmware image matches your exact hardware version.
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