What UniFi equipment do we recommend?
Cloud Gateways
The Dream Router 5G Max combines a gateway, WiFi 7 and a built-in 5G/4G LTE modem with dual SIM or SIM plus eSIM, so a trailer is online before a wired circuit exists.
Building Bridges
Building Bridges and Device Bridges carry the network to camera poles, gates and other trailers without trenching, then come down with the trailer.
Protect Cameras
Protect cameras such as the G6 Bullet (4K, 30 m IR, IP66) record locally with no per-camera license or cloud subscription.
WiFi Access Points
A U7 Outdoor (IPX6) covers the laydown yard and a ceiling or wall access point covers the trailer for plan review and field apps.
Site Manager
Site Manager shows every active jobsite in one console, so a kit can be checked and updated remotely without a truck roll.
What does a construction jobsite network need to do?
It has to deliver internet before utilities are final, cover a trailer and yard, carry camera video from the perimeter, and survive being unplugged and moved. For most North Carolina projects that means cellular internet, a small WiFi footprint and wireless links instead of trenched cable.
North Carolina had about 297,300 construction jobs in August 2026 (preliminary, seasonally adjusted), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Crews now depend on field apps, digital plan sets and video calls with owners and architects, which means a trailer without reliable internet costs time every day.
- Day-one internet with no wait for a wired circuit.
- WiFi for the trailer, conference table and plan-review screens.
- Links to camera poles, gates and secondary trailers.
- Cameras for the laydown yard and material storage.
- A kit that can be torn down, reused and redeployed.
How do you get fast internet at a jobsite with no wired service?
Use 5G as the primary connection. Ubiquiti states that the UniFi 5G Max delivers "up to 2 Gbps downlink" and "works as primary, load-balanced, or failover WAN," and the 5G Max Outdoor adds IP67 weather resistance for pole or trailer-roof mounting.
| Product | Role | Verified detail |
|---|---|---|
| Dream Router 5G Max | All-in-one trailer gateway | Built-in 5G NR Sub-6 / 4G LTE, dual SIM or SIM+eSIM; WiFi 7 tri-band |
| 5G Max | Cellular WAN for any UniFi gateway | Up to 2 Gbps downlink; PoE powered; primary, load-balanced or failover WAN |
| 5G Max Outdoor | Cellular WAN mounted outside | IP67 weather resistant construction |
The details come from Ubiquiti's UniFi 5G announcement. The 5G Max plugs into a PoE port and appears as a WAN interface, and it supports a physical SIM plus eSIM. For the smallest trailers, the Dream Router 5G Max puts the 5G NR Sub-6 / 4G LTE modem, gateway and WiFi 7 into one device with dual SIM or SIM plus eSIM.
Actual speed depends on carrier coverage at the site, which we check before choosing a carrier and antenna placement. When a wired circuit arrives later, the 5G connection becomes the failover link instead of being thrown away.
How do you connect camera poles and extra trailers without running cable?
Point-to-point wireless bridges do it. The UniFi Building Bridge links two points up to 500 m (1,640 ft) apart at up to 1.7 Gbps over 60 GHz with a 5 GHz backup, and the Device Bridge Pro reaches about 5 km (3.1 mi) at up to 867 Mbps.
Specs are from Ubiquiti's Building Bridge and Device Bridge Pro pages. The 60 GHz link needs clear line of sight, so we plan bridge positions around cranes, stockpiles and the building as it rises.
Can a jobsite have security cameras without a monthly subscription?
Yes. UniFi Protect records to a local NVR or UniFi console, and Ubiquiti states that camera licensing stays at $0 whether a site runs 4 cameras or 4,000. A G6 Bullet records 8MP (4K) video with 30 m (98 ft) of infrared night vision and an IP66 rating.
Sources: Ubiquiti physical security and the G6 Bullet spec page. Cellular data still costs money, so we design the system to record on site and let approved staff view clips remotely rather than streaming everything over 5G.
PDC administers the camera system: setup, firmware updates, user access and retention settings. PDC does not watch the video or dispatch anyone. If the project needs live monitoring or alarm response, that is a separate monitoring company.
Key takeaway: Record on site, view remotely on demand. It keeps cellular data costs down and leaves no per-camera subscription running after the job closes.
How does PDC deploy and tear down a jobsite network?
PDC prestages the gear at our High Point office, so installing on site is mostly mounting and powering it. When the job closes, the kit comes back, gets reset and updated, and goes to the next project, with every active site visible in one Site Manager console.
- Pre-job: coverage check for the chosen carrier, bridge line-of-sight plan and camera positions.
- Prestage: gateway, 5G, switch, access points and cameras adopted and configured before they reach the site.
- Install: trailer, pole and bridge mounting within our on-site radius of 200 miles of High Point.
- Support: remote monitoring and updates through managed IT; camera administration only, no live video monitoring.
- Teardown: remove, factory reset, update and redeploy.
What drives the cost of a jobsite network?
The biggest variables are how many trailers and camera positions the site needs, how far apart they are, and cellular data use. Because UniFi hardware carries no per-device license, the same kit can be reused across projects instead of bought again for each job.
The UniFi installation cost guide explains how survey, install and support add up. Call (336) 886-3282 to plan a kit for your next project.
- Number of trailers and camera poles, and the distance between them.
- Cellular plan and data use (billed by the carrier, not Ubiquiti).
- Mounting: poles, masts and weatherproof enclosures.
- Power at camera positions (PoE from a bridge, or a separate power source).
- Project length and how many times the kit is moved.
- Warranty: one year on hardware bought through distribution, two years direct from Ubiquiti's store (Ubiquiti warranty).
Frequently asked questions
How fast is 5G internet at a jobsite?
Ubiquiti rates the UniFi 5G Max at up to 2 Gbps downlink, but real speed depends on the carrier and signal at your site. We check coverage before choosing a carrier and where to mount the modem.
Can the same network gear move from job to job?
Yes. UniFi hardware has no per-device license tied to a location, so a kit can be reset, updated and redeployed. Site Manager shows each active jobsite in one console.
Do jobsite cameras need a cloud subscription?
Not with UniFi Protect. Video records to a local NVR or console, and Ubiquiti states that camera licensing is $0. Remote viewing uses cellular data, which the carrier bills.
Will PDC watch our jobsite cameras overnight?
No. PDC administers the camera system (setup, updates, user access and retention settings) but does not provide live video monitoring or alarm response. Use a dedicated monitoring company if you need that.
How far can a wireless bridge reach on a jobsite?
The UniFi Building Bridge is rated up to 500 m (1,640 ft) over 60 GHz with a 5 GHz backup, and the Device Bridge Pro about 5 km (3.1 mi). Both need clear line of sight, which changes as the building goes up.
What if cellular coverage is poor at the site?
Options include a different carrier SIM, an outdoor-mounted 5G Max Outdoor for a better signal, or a bridge to a nearby location with wired service. We confirm the approach during the pre-job check.