The Ubiquiti AF-5XHD sets a new standard in wireless technology with its custom LTU silicon and radio architecture, introducing breakthrough performance. Its core communications processing engine transcends the limitations of generic Wi-Fi chips, delivering low latency, extended range capability, DFS flexibility, higher constellations, increased power output, and heightened receive sensitivity. Noteworthy features include an impressive 21.2 bps/Hz spectral efficiency, line-rate data packet processing for up to 1.34 Gb/s of real data throughput, and the incorporation of innovative Xtreme Range Technology (XRT).

This cutting-edge device is not only a performance powerhouse but also exhibits compatibility with a range of existing Ubiquiti antennas in the 5 GHz band. This includes air Fiber X antennas and specific Rocket Dish antennas. For a comprehensive 5 GHz Point-to-Point solution, users can seamlessly pair the AF-5XHD with a compatible Ubiquiti antenna, further solidifying its position as a leader in the evolution of wireless communication technology.

Its custom LTU silicon and radio architecture provide a breakthrough performance and its core communications processing engine surpasses the limitations inherent to generic Wi-Fi chips to provide low latency, long‑range capability, DFS flexibility, higher constellations, and better power output, along with improved receive sensitivity. The AF-5XHD features 21.2 bps/Hz spectral efficiency, line‑rate data packet processing for up to 1.34 Gb/s of real data throughput, and innovative Xtreme Range Technology (XRT).

The AF-5XHD is also compatible with a number of existing Ubiquiti antennas from the 5 GHz band, including air Fiber X antennas and certain Rocket Dish antennas. Pair the AF-5XHD with a compatible Ubiquiti antenna for a complete 5 GHz Point-to-Point solution.

Ubiquiti Networks LTU airFiber 5XHD Key Features

• Frequency Range: 4.8 GHz – 6.2 GHz (Worldwide)
• Max. Conducted TX Power: 29 dBm (Dependent on Regulatory Region)
• Frequency Accuracy: < 2 ppm
• Channel Bandwidth:
  – 10/20/30/40/50/60/80/100 MHz Selectable
  – Programmable Uplink and Downlink Duty Cycles
• Split TX and RX Frequency
• Split TX and RX Channel Bandwidth
• Local Security Management for SMBs
• Dual Redundant Gigabit Ethernet Ports with PoE
• OFDM and OFDMA Support
• Programmable Transmit Power
• Programmable Duty Cycle (GPS synchronized frames)
• Configurable GPS Synchronisation
• Bluetooth Wireless Configuration
• AlignLock™ Antenna Aiming Guard
• User-Configurable Interference Mitigation
• Redundant Images for Fail-Safe Configuration
• Persistent Spectrum Analysis with Dedicated RX
• Wide Voltage Range, Enhanced Surge Protection

The airFiber AF-5XHD also includes a special IP67 upgrade kit for enhanced protection from dust and water.

Established in 1991 under the leadership of Senior Pastor Wilfred Lai, Jesus Celebration Centre (JCC) stands as an International Pentecostal Ministry with a global presence, including centers in Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. Notably, its main headquarters in Bamburi-Mombasa boasts one of East Africa’s largest glass-built sanctuaries, capable of hosting up to ten thousand people. JCC has rapidly become the fastest-growing worship center, dedicated to spreading the gospel to a global audience.

In a strategic move to enhance its technological infrastructure, JCC enlisted the expertise of Jamiro Broadcast to upgrade its entire Master Control Room (MCR). This comprehensive upgrade involved seamlessly connecting the production studio, news studio, newsroom, and facilitating signal contribution to SIGNET (DVB-T Head-End). The project prioritized a transition to an all-IP infrastructure, ensuring future-ready capabilities.

CINEGY played a pivotal role in realizing this vision by providing their cutting-edge “Air Pro Ver. 21.9,” encompassing software modules for playout, graphics, and encoding. To achieve seamless integration, all software modules from CINEGY were meticulously implemented on Jamiro Broadcast’s highly customized, assembled hardware server. This powerful server not only ensures a smooth transition to an all-IP infrastructure but also possesses the capability to convert SD or HD SDI streams into broadcast-quality, SMPTE-compliant RTP/UDP streams, and vice versa. The collaboration between JCC, Jamiro Broadcast, and CINEGY represents a significant technological leap, equipping JCC with state-of-the-art broadcasting capabilities and ensuring an unparalleled worship experience for its global audience

Picture courtesy Cinegy

The main deliverable included:

• 24 TB Integrated Storage configured in RAID-5 for Asset sharing across the Network
• Full HD Video Encoding using Quadro P2000 GPU for SRT Streams creation and Contribution to Head-end
• Base-Band SD/HD-SDI Output for local monitoring and distribution with the older system
• Cinegy Air Pro front-end, with unparalleled flexibility by playing mixed format and mixed resolution content, as well as UN-rendered edit sequences straight to air.
• Cinegy Titler Character Generation with an addition of multiple layers of automation-controlled, template-based titles, logos, and animated graphics.
• Cinegy Encodefor production content from the studios on multicast IP which allowed broadcast-quality real-time feedback streams for instantaneous review of what is being received.
• JB VID-DEC01: An SDI HD decoder, which supports H.265/H.264 audio and video decode, its IP input supports IP( RTMP/RTMPS/ RTSP/ RTP/ HTTP/ HLS/ UDP/SRT), MPEG2, MPEG4) and has an SDI, a USB, and RS485 output.

SRT Stream, created from CINEGY Playout was used for Program feed contribution to SIGNET DTT Platform in Nairobi using the Public Internet. Originally developed and pioneered by Haivision, SRT stands for Secure Reliable Transport. An open-source video transport protocol and technology stack that optimizes video streaming performance across unpredictable networks. The upgrade was delivered in 10 days including user training and commissioning the installation.
In addition to playout and automation requirements, Jamiro Broadcast offers an MCRPack; An integrated, Innovative solution for Playout, Encoding, Graphics, Transcoding, LIVE Multiviewer, and Live Video production.

Our MCRPack is capable of Capturing two hundred or more streams, managed and routed simultaneously. Individual streams can be accessed from any point in the network, without generation loss. By Virtualization, we substantially reduce the individual hardware components in the MCR by running multiple instances of your broadcasting tools inside virtual machines, eliminating the worry (and expense) of redundant systems once and for all.

“MCRPack is the first all-IP Virtualized MCR solution innovated by Jamiro Broadcast, and as such it represents the successful realization of an ambitious vision encompassing SDI-IP migration,” says Benson Nyaga, Technical Director- Jamiro Broadcast Ltd.