MikroTik NetMetal 5 – Outdoor 5 GHz Wireless Access Point for SMB and Enterprise Networks

The MikroTik NetMetal 5 is an outdoor 802.11ac dual-chain wireless device with an integrated miniPCI-e slot, built for AP, backbone, and CPE deployments on the 5 GHz band where high-power AC connectivity, hardware expandability, and mechanical durability are simultaneous requirements. The miniPCI-e slot combined with the Mini SIM slot supports adding a 3G/4G modem for LTE backup connectivity or an additional wireless card for multi-radio configurations — without replacing the primary platform.

The 2x2 802.11ac transmitter on the QCA9882 chipset delivers data rates up to 867 Mbps with backwards compatibility for 802.11a/n equipment in mixed deployments. Dual RP-SMA Female connectors allow free external antenna selection — directional, sectoral, or omnidirectional — adapting the device to any network topology. The SFP port with DDMI adds fiber optic uplink with real-time optical parameter monitoring from RouterOS, providing redundancy or optical infrastructure integration alongside the Gigabit Ethernet port.

The solid aluminum enclosure with IP54 protection acts as a passive heat sink for the high-power transmitter and opens with one hand for rapid field servicing without additional tools. The tested operating range of -40°C to +70°C confirms continuous operation in extreme climatic conditions. The USB type A port with power reset adds a third connectivity option for a modem or external storage managed directly through RouterOS Level 4.

It is the right fit for outdoor installations where dual-chain AC and the miniPCI-e slot enable building an expandable platform from a single unit, for ISP 5 GHz backbone and CPE where dual Gigabit plus SFP uplink covers integration requirements, for scenarios where LTE backup through the SIM slot eliminates a separate device, and for operators seeking the expandable NetMetal platform at the most accessible entry point in the family.