The TP-Link company launches the Omada Flex Bridge 5 solution, a 5GHz wireless bridge designed to facilitate connectivity between buildings and remote locations, avoiding the need to carry out infrastructure works. With it, companies and organizations will be able to solve scenarios in which cable laying is complex, expensive or unfeasible to offer a solution based on wireless connectivity.
Connect buildings separated by a street or expand coverage
Integrated into the Omada by TP-Link ecosystem, the new equipment responds to an increasingly common need in business, industrial, tourist or agricultural environments: bringing connectivity where cable laying is no longer a viable option. Connecting two buildings separated by a street, expanding coverage to an industrial warehouse, bringing connectivity to a parking lot or deploying video surveillance systems in remote locations are some of the scenarios in which the installation of fiber or cabling may be conditioned by construction costs, administrative permits or the terrain itself. In these cases, long-range wireless solutions are consolidated as an alternative capable of accelerating deployments and significantly reducing the complexity of projects.
Omada Flex Bridge 5 has been developed to respond to these types of needs, combining long-range connectivity, ease of installation and an architecture prepared to grow at the pace of each project.
Thanks to its wireless technology in the 5GHz band, integrated 17dBi directional antennas and double polarization, the equipment allows links of up to 5 kilometers to be established, reaching speeds of up to 867Mbps. The equipment operates under the IEEE 802.11a/n/ac standards with 2×2 MIMO and channel widths of 20, 40 and 80MHz. This capacity facilitates the connection between different locations without the need to dig trenches or deploy new physical infrastructure, reducing both execution times and the impact of the installation.
Progressive expansion of the network on demand
In addition to offering point-to-point connectivity, Omada Flex Bridge 5 allows you to create point-multipoint deployments, facilitating the progressive expansion of the network. The Flex Bridge 5 themselves offer their best performance by connecting up to eight nodes per link and, when the project requires greater capacity for growth, they can be integrated with Sector Bridge 5 as a central point to serve up to 32 Flex Bridge devices from a single location. This scalability allows infrastructures to be designed ready to evolve without the need to rethink the initial architecture.
To simplify installation processes, the system incorporates a role selector and pairing DIP switches that allow you to quickly configure each bridge as a Main AP or Client AP and set the pairing code without accessing complex configuration interfaces. In just a few minutes, devices can be linked, while the Omada application provides real-time information on signal strength to facilitate antenna alignment and optimize link performance. Mounting supports wall or pole, with included kits and an optional ball joint to adjust the angle without disassembling the stand.
The equipment operates under the IEEE 802.11a/n/ac standards with 2×2 MIMO and channel widths of 20, 40 and 80MHz
Omada Flex Bridge 5 also incorporates three Gigabit ports: a PoE In port to power the bridge itself and two PoE Out outputs that deliver up to 10W on a single port or 5W per port when both are used, enough to directly power IP cameras installed at the remote end of the link. PoE passthrough is guaranteed when the equipment is powered via 802.3at or 54V passive PoE.
In this way, the equipment not only carries connectivity, but also supplies power to connected equipment, reducing the need to install additional power supplies and simplifying deployment in locations where there is no nearby electrical service. This functionality is especially useful in perimeter surveillance projects, access control, business parks, tourist complexes or industrial facilities, where connectivity and power usually concentrate a good part of the technical complexity. Integrated with VIGI by TP-Link cameras and recorders, Flex Bridge 5 allows you to deploy video surveillance infrastructures managed from a unified platform.
Various operating possibilities
The equipment supports power via PoE 802.3at/af, passive PoE – with 54V adapter included – and 12V DC input. This last option allows the bridge to be powered from solar energy systems, a common scenario in rural, agricultural or locations far from the electrical grid.
IP66 certification, along with lightning protection up to ±6 kV on the Ethernet ports and an operating range of -40°C to 70°C, make the Omada Flex Bridge 5 a solution ready for demanding environments and harsh weather conditions.
“At TP-Link we work to develop solutions that not only provide performance, but also simplify the daily work of integrators, installers and infrastructure managers,” says Carlos Gascón, B2B Product Manager at TP-Link Spain. “Omada Flex Bridge 5 responds precisely to that philosophy: facilitating faster deployments, reducing the complexity of projects and offering a platform prepared to accompany the growth of business networks in all types of environments.”
