Operation: LAN Before Time

Objective: Provide internet connection to a detached casita, for long-term use for a household with limited income.
Requirements: No monthly subscription, continuous uptime, no cabling, weatherproof, short range, no maintenance, withstand power cycling during storms, minimal cabling within both dwellings.
Equipment: 2× Ubiquiti NanoStation M2 (airMAX), 1× secondary router (AP mode or routed)
Topology: Access Point → WDS Bridge → Station → Local router/AP for casita devices

The casita and main house are both brick construction, which ruled out a standard wireless extender — the signal loss through masonry walls was too severe. Running 200 feet of Ethernet cable between buildings wasn't practical either, so the solution needed to be wireless and outdoor-capable. The two rooftops had clear line of sight, which made a point-to-point bridge the right approach.

After researching available products, the Ubiquiti NanoStation M2 stood out. Competing brands offered short-range models at roughly the same price point as Ubiquiti's long-range option — so for the same cost, the NanoStation provided significantly more range and flexibility for potential future use. Ubiquiti also had a strong reputation for reliability and long-term support, which mattered for an install that needed to run unattended for years. Their extensive library of setup guides and walkthrough videos was a deciding factor as well, since this was my first point-to-point deployment.

The bridge was installed in summer 2017 and has been running continuously since. It survives Tucson monsoon seasons, power outages, and routine power cycling without requiring reconfiguration or maintenance — which was the whole point. The casita has had reliable internet access for nearly a decade with zero recurring cost.