Ubiquiti Loco M5 Issue

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
Had a set of these radios new in the box, needed to set up a client with Internet access for her summer RV about 300' from the house, On the bench I set it up in AP mode, logged on ..no issue.
Tried to do a bit of fine tuning so I moved it up to the garage switch and was checking distances from a window in the garage when I had a connection but no IP address according to my phone.
It was HOT..wtf and the lan led was not on. long story short, tried a reset on the Unit and the power supply, when I plugged it back into the garage switch, the switch was drawn down, nearest I can figure a backfeed through the loco, the switch would not even power up with it connected to it. The loco PS is good, I ran the other radio with it no issues, cables good, It does power up but no lan connection, anybody ever have 1 apart? Not sure but Ubiquiti's warrenty is only good if you purchased it from a authorized UBIQUITI distributor so basically I'm Fuuked with a warrenty.
 

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
Had a set of these radios new in the box, needed to set up a client with Internet access for her summer RV about 300' from the house, On the bench I set it up in AP mode, logged on ..no issue.
Tried to do a bit of fine tuning so I moved it up to the garage switch and was checking distances from a window in the garage when I had a connection but no IP address according to my phone.
It was HOT..wtf and the lan led was not on. long story short, tried a reset on the Unit and the power supply, when I plugged it back into the garage switch, the switch was drawn down, nearest I can figure a backfeed through the loco, the switch would not even power up with it connected to it. The loco PS is good, I ran the other radio with it no issues, cables good, It does power up but no lan connection, anybody ever have 1 apart? Not sure but Ubiquiti's warrenty is only good if you purchased it from a authorized UBIQUITI distributor so basically I'm Fuuked with a warrenty.
UPDATE: Pulled it apart..yup got hot alright..Toast R.I.P little nano
20200903_005752.jpg
 
Last edited:

TonyR

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
16,436
Reaction score
38,154
Location
Alabama
Not sure but Ubiquiti's warrenty is only good if you purchased it from a authorized UBIQUITI distributor
FWIW, I never have heard that (not sayin' it ain't so, though) but have returned 2 over the last 8 years (only 2 failed out of 40 and that's likely due to lightning here in NW AL) and UBNT repaired/replaced and returned IN warranty. They were less than a year old and "....shielded UBNT ToughCable Pro CAT-5e was used and grounded properly" when asked.
 

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
FWIW, I never have heard that (not sayin' it ain't so, though) but have returned 2 over the last 8 years (only 2 failed out of 40 and that's likely due to lightning here in NW AL) and UBNT repaired/replaced and returned IN warranty. They were less than a year old and "....shielded UBNT ToughCable Pro CAT-5e was used and grounded properly" when asked.
Thanks Tony
Reason I say that is I pulled this from their website. They claim they updated this policy in 2018, So Just about anything you buy on Amazon or Ebay or even B&H Photo is not covered by them according to what I read, anyway, you know what make sense, I might just have fried that radio loading 48v into it when I plugged it into my Poe switch, I did not think about that til now, It did power up and I did have a signal ...ha ha, I did not think so but its possible. I just might have had those cables backwards. As I get Older I believe I'm Prone to Mr. Magoo Syndrome.

Products Covered by This Warranty

Ubiquiti Inc. (“UBIQUITI”) policy is to offer product warranties to end users of our products (the “customer” or “you”) only on products purchased from an authorized UBIQUITI distributor or reseller and only accompanied by a Return Materials Authorization (“RMA”) as further described below. Unfortunately, there are some websites and dealers who claim to be authorized UBIQUITI resellers but are not. Products sold on these websites or from these dealers do not carry a warranty from UBIQUITI. When you purchase products from an unauthorized website or dealer, you are taking a risk because these products may be counterfeit, used, defective, or may not be designed for use in your country. Please protect yourself and your UBIQUITI product by ensuring that you only purchase UBIQUITI products from an authorized reseller. If you have any questions about authorized distributors or resellers, please visit our website at Ubiquiti - Simplifying IT.
Limited Product Warranty
UBIQUITI warrants that the product(s) covered hereunder (the "Product(s)") shall be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of one (1) year from the date of shipment by UBIQUITI under normal use and operation.
 
Last edited:

TonyR

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
16,436
Reaction score
38,154
Location
Alabama
Thanks for the update. I must admit, have not had a warranty issue since the 2018 policy update you provided.
Also, I looked at the authorized dealers/resellers in your link and each of the places I bought from is on that list, so all's well that ends well.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
1,090
Reaction score
852
Location
Colorado
Probably missed something but first glance of that photo I'm not seeing what burnt. Did it SMELL burnt, from lots of experience that's never good.
 

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
Look at the sheet metal rectangle bottom right. You will see discoloration due to heat. It was extremely heated when I picked it up. Most likely coming from that heat sink under it.
 

bp2008

Staff member
Joined
Mar 10, 2014
Messages
12,666
Reaction score
14,005
Location
USA
You didn't plug it in to the wrong kind of power supply did you? Loco M5 can only take 24v. Actually most older UBNT products can take 12-24 volts, including that one. But 48v from standard PoE would not be good if the PoE switch for some reason thought it was okay to send power.
 

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
You didn't plug it in to the wrong kind of power supply did you? Loco M5 can only take 24v (or actually down to around 10 volts so you CAN power one straight off a 12v battery system).
I almost I think now I might have had the wires crossed and pumped 48v into it from my poe switch to the lan poe side. hard to say now, I do know it was drawing down my poe switch.
 
Joined
Apr 26, 2016
Messages
1,090
Reaction score
852
Location
Colorado
Look at the sheet metal rectangle bottom right. You will see discoloration due to heat.
Ahh, so possibly under that shield is some real damage then. I would think if it was a 48V supply the damage would have been in the power circuit, and usually the cans cover more the RF circuits. However, maybe the hi-power RF module has more or less a direct power feed.

If you can't get it covered by Ubiquity warranty, maybe see if this solves your problem, although the "fried chip" (possibly a zener or something) he was talking about is in-between the ethernet ports, and wouldn't explain the shield discoloration:
 

c hris527

Known around here
Joined
Oct 12, 2015
Messages
1,782
Reaction score
2,066
Location
NY
Ahh, so possibly under that shield is some real damage then. I would think if it was a 48V supply the damage would have been in the power circuit, and usually the cans cover more the RF circuits. However, maybe the hi-power RF module has more or less a direct power feed.

If you can't get it covered by Ubiquity warranty, maybe see if this solves your problem, although the "fried chip" (possibly a zener or something) he was talking about is in-between the ethernet ports, and wouldn't explain the shield discoloration:
Not Much under that shield, I believe the heat was produced from the heat sink below it. It definitely got really warm.
 

observant1

Pulling my weight
Joined
Dec 2, 2018
Messages
205
Reaction score
134
Location
alabama
I'm about to help put a camera at a location that will only give me 12 battery from solar. I'm gona use an Ubiquiti M5 Loco (the little 50.00 one) as another station in a point to multi point setup at a racetrack. I really like the ubiquiti WISP radios. They aren't very difficult to set up and seem to be quite robust when properly installed. This will be my 1st using only 13.5v on pairs 4/5, 7/8. Gonna play with it @ home before customer install. I requested 15 watts @ 12 VDC for radio plus camera.

Thanks for the video
crw030
(if i remember my basic electronics correctly)Zener's usually die trying to limit too much current, spikes are OK on occasion but too much or too long and the magic smoke escapes.
 

TonyR

IPCT Contributor
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
16,436
Reaction score
38,154
Location
Alabama
I'm about to help put a camera at a location that will only give me 12 battery from solar. I'm gona use an Ubiquiti M5 Loco (the little 50.00 one) as another station in a point to multi point setup at a racetrack. I really like the ubiquiti WISP radios. They aren't very difficult to set up and seem to be quite robust when properly installed. This will be my 1st using only 13.5v on pairs 4/5, 7/8. Gonna play with it @ home before customer install. I requested 15 watts @ 12 VDC for radio plus camera.

Thanks for the video
crw030
(if i remember my basic electronics correctly)Zener's usually die trying to limit too much current, spikes are OK on occasion but too much or too long and the magic smoke escapes.
Never tried it personally but a few results from Google claim these smaller, passively powered 24VDC radios like the Nanostations and NS Locos can run OK on 12VDC (as you likely already know).

Should you run into issues, like the 12 dropping to 11, consider these; they claim they can provide 24 VDC out @ 19W with as low as 9VDC in ==>> Tycon Power Systems TP-DCDC-1224 9-36VDC IN 24VDC OUT 19W DC to DC Converter
 
Top