ᐅ Unifi NanoHD on a Concrete Ceiling – What Type of Junction Box Should Be Used?

Hello everyone,

I’m wondering what type of mounting box would be best to install in a precast concrete ceiling to easily mount a Wi-Fi access point (the plan is to use a Unifi NanoHD, or possibly the already available Access Point AC Pro for now) without a suspended ceiling.

The architect suggests a HaloX 180, but that seems a bit excessive to me. Especially if, at least in the longer term, the NanoHD is going to be mounted on the ceiling. It only has a diameter of 16cm (6.3 inches) and therefore might not fully cover the HaloX or its mineral fiber panel.

Is it possible to install a standard flush-mounted box in such a precast concrete ceiling (apparently from Dennert, if that’s relevant)? I imagine it could be used to house the CAT cable, keystone jack, and a short patch cable, with the access point then installed on top. Would there be enough space for that?

Are there any better solutions?

Thanks in advance!

We used the 180mm (7 inch) junction box. Depending on whether you have other flush-mounted boxes aligned, I would recommend choosing a larger size rather than a smaller one to allow some room for adjustment. Our boxes weren’t installed that precisely, so I was glad to have some extra space. Using a standard flush-mounted box won’t necessarily be much cheaper. If desired, you can recess the Nano up to halfway inside a larger box.

Does it have to be mounted on the ceiling? We install our APs on the wall just below the ceiling. Maybe that’s easier or better?

Pinky0301 schrieb:

We install our APs on the wall just below the ceiling.

We do the same, using a sufficiently large junction box at the top of the wall. Conveniently, the screw hole spacing of the junction box matched the nanoHD perfectly, so I didn’t even need to drill for the installation. I just had to notch a small corner in the plastic mounting bracket for the cable.

The antennas of the nanoHD are optimized for ceiling installation. For wall installation, I would opt for the In-Wall model.

hanse987 schrieb:

The antennas of the nanoHD are optimized for ceiling installation. For wall mounting, I would go for the In-Wall version.

That’s exactly why (antenna orientation) I also want to mount it on the ceiling!

AMNE3IA schrieb:

If you want, you can recess the Nano up to halfway in a larger electrical box.

Wouldn’t that affect the antenna radiation pattern if half of the access point is inside the ceiling?