Ubiquiti has recently expanded its UniFi Protect ecosystem by introducing a new class of smart sensors that are powered by its long-range SuperLink wireless protocol. For this review, Ubiquiti sent us the UP-SuperLink gateway and the new USL-Environmental Sensor. The gateway is priced at $129, and the sensors are $49 each (affiliate) at the Ubiquiti store.
While the Environmental Sensor focuses on water leaks, temperature, humidity, and ambient light, it is only one piece of the broader SuperLink sensor family.
SuperLink is explicitly designed for low-latency, long-distance communication with UniFi Protect devices. Ubiquiti positions it as a dedicated, highly reliable alternative to Wi-Fi or Bluetooth for homes and businesses that need sensors placed in basements, attics, garages, detached buildings, or anywhere traditional wireless signals may struggle.
The expanding lineup of sensors offers options for motion and glass-break detection, entry and environmental monitoring, and even a SuperLink siren, providing users with a broad range of protection and automation choices within the Protect ecosystem. Featuring battery power and long-range wireless capabilities, these sensors are designed for easy, cable-free installation and enhanced device responsiveness.
SuperLink & Environmental Sensor Specifications
| Specification | SuperLink Gateway | Environmental Sensor |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Dimensions | With antenna: 159.3 x 81.9 x 26 mm DIN rail: 159.3 x 81.9 x 38.5 mm Wall mount: 159.3 x 81.9 x 30.5 mm |
Device: 53 x 49 x 23.5 mm Mount: 41.3 x 36.6 x 3.1 mm |
| Weight | 179 g (6.3 oz) | Device: 47.8 g (1.7 oz) With mount: 70 g (2.5 oz) |
| Enclosure Material | Polycarbonate, aluminum alloy | Polycarbonate |
| Mounting | Wall, DIN rail | Adhesive, magnet, screw mount |
| Weatherproofing | Not rated | IPX5 |
| Connectivity | ||
| Network Interface | (1) 10/100 MbE RJ45 | SuperLink wireless |
| Operating Frequency | N/A | US: 915.6–927.6 MHz EU: 865.1–869.5 MHz |
| Antenna Gain | Bluetooth: 3 dBi SuperLink: 1 dBi |
0 dBi |
| Max TX Power | Bluetooth: 10 dBm SuperLink: 27 dBm |
14 dBm |
| Max Range | Dependent on sensor linkage | 2 km (1.2 miles) |
| Hardware | ||
| Power Method | PoE or USB Type C (5V, 1A) | CR123A lithium battery |
| Max Power Consumption | 3.4 W | 34.9 mW |
| Battery Life | N/A | Up to 6 years |
| Management | Bluetooth 5.2 | UniFi Protect |
| Sensor Features (Environmental Sensor) | ||
| Temperature | N/A | Yes |
| Humidity | N/A | Yes |
| Ambient Light | N/A | Yes |
| Water Leak Detection | N/A | Yes, with an optional probe |
| Environmental | ||
| Operating Temperature | 0 to 40° C | -20 to 40° C |
| Operating Humidity | 10 to 90% noncondensing | 10 to 90% noncondensing |
SuperLink & Environmental Sensor Build & Design
Superlink
The SuperLink unit features a clean, compact, and installation-friendly design, built around a polycarbonate-aluminum alloy enclosure. Even with its mounting hardware, the overall footprint remains slim, making it easy to mount on a wall, in a cabinet, or on a DIN rail in structured wiring environments. At just 179 grams, it’s lightweight yet feels solid in the hand.
The front face is simple, featuring a single blue/white status LED for quick visibility without adding clutter. All I/O is along the bottom edge, where you’ll find the 10/100 Mbps PoE Ethernet port, the optional USB-C power input, and a recessed factory reset button. This bottom-loaded port layout keeps cabling tucked out of sight and helps maintain a clean downward cable path when mounted.
At the top of the device is the removable antenna, which threads on and off easily. This design gives installers flexibility in positioning: use the attached antenna for standard mounting, or remove it if the device is placed inside an enclosure where a compact profile is preferred.
Around the back, the SuperLink includes mounting points for wall mounting and DIN rail installations, with secure snap-on brackets. These options make it suitable for both residential and light industrial spaces.
Environmental Sensor
The Environmental Sensor features a compact, durable polycarbonate enclosure that fits easily into tight spaces without drawing attention. Measuring only 53 x 49 x 23.5 mm, it is small enough for desks, shelves, server rooms, or equipment closets. It comes with a CR123A lithium-ion battery installed, ready to use out of the box.
The front of the sensor includes two buttons and two LEDs to simplify installation and monitoring. The main status LED uses red, blue, and white illumination to communicate device activity, while the signal LED uses blue and red to show SuperLink connectivity strength. The front function button allows interaction during setup, and a small recessed reset button is available for quick recovery if needed.
Around the edges of the sensor are multiple built-in water-detection points that enable leak detection when the sensor is placed directly on a surface. For extended coverage, a 3.5 mm AUX jack supports an external water leak probe. Within the enclosure, temperature, humidity, and ambient light sensors are strategically placed to monitor environmental conditions continuously while remaining protected from dust and accidental contact.
The mounting system adds flexibility to fit different locations. The galvanized steel mount allows for adhesive, magnetic, or screw installation, providing options for walls, metal surfaces, or equipment racks. Even with the mount attached, the device remains lightweight at just 70 grams.
UniFi Protect Overview
The SuperLink gateway can be connected to any PoE-capable UniFi switch port, where it will automatically receive power and appear in the UniFi topology. Once plugged in, it is seamlessly integrated with any UniFi gateway running UniFi Protect, allowing it to function in the environment like any other UniFi device. In the following example, the SuperLink is visible in the UniFi Network topology view, confirming proper connectivity and system detection.
When viewing the SuperLink in the UniFi Protect devices list, you can see its current status, link quality, and any connected sensors. To adopt the sensor, pull the battery tab on the back of the unit and wait a few seconds. The sensor immediately appeared in the Protect interface as an adoptable device. After selecting it, the adoption process completed automatically, and the sensor began reporting data without requiring any additional configuration.
Once adopted, the sensor appears as its own device within UniFi Protect. On the device panel, the wireless signal strength, firmware version, and overall battery health are displayed instantly. Protect also displays live readings from each onboard sensor, including water detection, ambient light levels, humidity percentage, and temperature. This provides a quick at-a-glance status overview and confirms that the sensor is actively communicating through the SuperLink Gateway.
For manageability, the sensor includes a straightforward configuration panel within UniFi Protect. From here, you can optionally pair the sensor with a nearby camera to record contextual events, create organizational tags, and toggle the onboard status light. The sensor also lets you choose which metrics to monitor, such as temperature, humidity, light, and leak detection, for the built-in sensor and an external probe. You can configure Safe Zones for each metric to trigger alerts when readings move outside your defined thresholds. The update interval can be adjusted to balance responsiveness with battery life as needed.
In the Sensor Manager view, Protect provides a clear visual timeline of the sensor readings. Temperature, humidity, and light levels can be graphed individually, and the time range can be adjusted to show the past day, week, or month. This makes it easy to track environmental changes over time and quickly identify trends or anomalies in the monitored area.
Conclusion
At $129 for the SuperLink Gateway and $49 for the Environmental Sensor, Ubiquiti is delivering a capable, affordable sensor platform for UniFi Protect users. Installation is straightforward, since any PoE switch port can power the gateway, and it powers on automatically. The sensor begins reporting temperature, humidity, light, and leak data within minutes, and its CR123A battery enables long-term operation with minimal maintenance.
SuperLink adds value by offering a long-range wireless connection that continues to work in areas where Wi-Fi or Bluetooth can struggle. This makes it useful for basements, garages, detached buildings, equipment closets, or any location where consistent sensor communication is essential. Protect presents the data through a simple interface that supports camera pairing and adjustable update intervals.
Overall, the SuperLink Gateway and Environmental Sensor provide a reliable, user-friendly way to expand environmental monitoring in home and light-commercial environments. For users already invested in UniFi Protect, this combination delivers a cost-effective and well-integrated solution that adds meaningful ecological awareness and protection.
Product Page SuperLink (affiliate)
Product Page Environmental (affiliate)
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