Ubiquiti PowerBeam 5AC 500 ISO: OpenWrt Compatibility Report
The Ubiquiti PowerBeam 5AC 500 ISO runs OpenWrt 25.12.0 on the ath79/generic target, and has been supported since 21.02.0. Its WiFi 5 (AC) wireless on the ath9k driver rates excellent for open-source driver support (0.85/1.0), installation is rated unknown, and it is still sold new.
Hardware data and retail listings last checked .
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Specifications
| SoC | Qualcomm Atheros QCA9558 |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1 core @ 720 MHz |
| RAM | 128 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| Ethernet ports | 1 |
| WiFi generation | WiFi 5 (AC) |
| Radios | 5GHz: a/n/ac |
| WLAN hardware | Qualcomm Atheros QCA988x |
| WLAN driver | ath9k |
| OpenWrt target | ath79 / generic |
| Package architecture | mips_24kc |
| Current release | 25.12.0 |
| Supported since | 21.02.0 |
| Install difficulty | unknown |
| Power supply | PoE 24 VDC, 0.5A |
| Device type | Access point |
| Estimated throughput | 90 Mbps |
| Availability | available |
Installing OpenWrt on the PowerBeam 5AC 500 ISO
Installation on this device is rated unknown. Expect serial console access, soldering or another advanced recovery path. Read the device page carefully before you start.
See XC-type board under the "Common Procedures for Ubiquiti Products" wiki page
Official OpenWrt device page for the PowerBeam 5AC 500 ISO
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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