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MikroTik SXTsq 5 ac – 16dBi, 5GHz Integrated CPE/Backbone – RBSXTSQG-5acD
Key Features
Brand: MikroTik
Product Code: RBSXTsqG-5acD
Architecture: ARM 32bit
Operating System: RouterOS (License: 3)
Dimensions: 129 x 129 x 34 mm
Weight: Lightweight and portable for easy installation
1 Year Warranty
MikroTik SXTsq 5 ac 16dBi 5GHz Integrated CPE/Backbone Review
The MikroTik SXTsq 5 ac 16dBi 5GHz Integrated CPE/Backbone (RBSXTsqG-5acD) is a highly compact, weather-resistant outdoor wireless device engineered for long-range Point-to-Point (PtP) bridges, wireless backbone distribution links, and last-mile Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) deployments. While it retains the robust 16dBi internal directional antenna profile of legacy SXT models, its physical architecture has been dramatically streamlined. It is twice as thin as its predecessors, significantly reducing wind loading and allowing for a highly discreet outdoor profile.
Operating on the clear 5GHz spectrum and powered by the robust RouterOS environment, the SXTsq 5 ac allows Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISPs) and network engineers to establish stable, low-latency outdoor wireless backhauls across several kilometers without massive infrastructure overhead.
Quad-Core Architecture & High-Speed Wi-Fi 5 Wireless
At the absolute center of the MikroTik SXTsq 5 ac is a multi-threaded IPQ-4018 quad-core ARM processor ticking at 716 MHz. Backed by 256 MB of RAM and hardware-assisted cryptographic offloading, this wireless link maintains consistent data packet streams even when navigating dense local interference or executing complex firewall policies.
The physical engineering and radio configuration includes:
- Dual-Chain 5GHz Radio: Leverages 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standards to deliver stable wireless physical data rates of up to 867 Mbps.
- Integrated 16dBi Antenna: A highly directional internal antenna element designed to focus transmission beams cleanly over long outdoor physical paths.
- 1x Gigabit Ethernet Port: Features a single 10/100/1000 Mbps RJ45 interface, ensuring that physical wired port constraints will not bottle your real-world over-the-air 802.11ac transmission speeds.
- IP55 Weatherproof Enclosure: Built from durable, UV-stabilized plastic rated to withstand extreme temperatures from -40°C up to 70°C.
Technical Specifications Checklist
For accurate line-of-sight path calculations, link budget modeling, and solar/PoE battery distribution layouts, reliable engineering specs are key. Below is the technical configuration matrix for the RBSXTsqG-5acD:
| Feature | Specification Details |
|---|---|
| Product Code | RBSXTsqG-5acD |
| CPU Architecture | ARM 32-bit (Quad-Core 716 MHz IPQ-4018) |
| Memory & Storage | 256 MB RAM / 16 MB Flash |
| Ethernet Interface | 1x 10/100/1000 Mbps Gigabit Port |
| Wireless Properties | 5 GHz Dual-Chain (802.11a/n/ac) |
| Maximum Data Rate | 867 Mbit/s |
| Antenna Gain | 16 dBi Directional |
| Operating System | RouterOS (Level 3 License) |
| Power Input | Passive PoE Only (10V – 30V) |
| Max Power Consumption | Highly efficient 7W maximum draw |
| Physical Dimensions | Ultra-thin profile: 129 mm x 129 mm x 34 mm |
Specialized Long-Range Links & RouterOS Configuration
Running on a Level 3 RouterOS license, the SXTsq 5 ac is fine-tuned to function flawlessly as either a remote wireless receiver client or as one half of a dedicated Point-to-Point backbone bridge.
High-Performance Point-to-Point Bridges
By pairing two SXTsq 5 ac units together facing one another in a master/slave layout, you can cleanly extend your local corporate internet feed or security camera VLAN network across kilometers to remote warehouses, detached properties, or guard shacks without trenching physical fiber optics.
WISP Client Deployment (CPE)
The unit works perfectly as standard subscriber customer premises equipment. WISP operators can point the directional 16dBi antenna back toward a central distribution sector tower, managing subscriber link speed tiers directly via integrated RouterOS queuing parameters.
Key Limitations to Consider Before Buying
While the SXTsq 5 ac delivers unmatched long-range field utility for its budget class, keep these architectural parameters in mind during link design:
- No 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Output: This is a dedicated 5GHz directional radio. It does not transmit a standard local 2.4GHz Wi-Fi signal for smartphones or tablets; it is strictly intended to talk to other matching 5GHz wireless outdoor nodes.
- RouterOS Level 3 Constraints: The Level 3 software license means it cannot act as a multi-client Point-to-Multipoint (PtMP) Access Point sector head. For the master broadcasting side of a multi-client network, you will need a Level 4 license model like the SXTsq 5 High Power or MantBox series.
- Strict Line-of-Sight Demands: Because 5GHz wireless wavelengths are highly sensitive to physical obstacles, any thick tree canopies, buildings, or geographical barriers directly blocking the wireless path will cause signal degradation.
