Ubiquiti PowerBeam 5AC Gen2: OpenWrt Compatibility Report
The Ubiquiti PowerBeam 5AC Gen2 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 moderate, and it is still sold new.
Hardware data and retail listings last checked .
Where to buy
- Buy $84
- Ubiquiti Store manufacturer store; Single Unit PBE-5AC-Gen2 $48.00, sold out, no restock date; 5-Pack PBE-5AC-Gen2-5 $372 in stock Currently out of stock $48
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Specifications
| SoC | Atheros AR9342 rev 2 |
|---|---|
| CPU | 1 core @ 535 MHz |
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| Ethernet ports | 1 |
| WiFi generation | WiFi 5 (AC) |
| Radios | 2.4GHz: b/g/n · 5GHz: a/n/ac |
| WLAN hardware | Atheros AR9342, Qualcomm Atheros QCA988x |
| WLAN driver | ath9k, ath10k-ct |
| OpenWrt target | ath79 / generic |
| Package architecture | mips_24kc |
| Current release | 25.12.0 |
| Supported since | 21.02.0 |
| Install method | see devicepage |
| Install difficulty | moderate |
| Power supply | 24 VDC, 0.5 A, Passive PoE |
| Device type | Home router |
| Estimated throughput | 66 Mbps |
| Availability | available |
Installing OpenWrt on the PowerBeam 5AC Gen2
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: see devicepage.
See WA-type board under the "Common Procedures for Ubiquiti Products" wiki page
Official OpenWrt device page for the PowerBeam 5AC Gen2
Flashing third-party firmware can brick a router and usually voids the warranty. Always check that the firmware image matches your exact hardware version.
Other routers to consider
Ruckus R500
MikroTik RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT (hAP ac)
Ubiquiti UniFi UK-Ultra
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