Install OpenWrt on Ubiquiti NanoBridge M5

Installing and Using OpenWrt
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Hello to the wonderful OpenWrt community,

I'm writing to you today seeking assistance after spending weeks trying to find a way to bring an old Ubiquiti NanoBridge M5 (XM version) device I own back to life by installing OpenWrt on it. I've even enlisted the help of AI in this search, and despite some leads, I still feel I haven't found a definitively "dedicated" firmware for my specific device, which is causing some confusion.

Device Version Confirmation:
I have confirmed that my device is the XM version.

Leads I've Gathered So Far:

  1. Initial Motivation (General Support Commit): I found this commit, which indicates that support for Ubiquiti AirMAX M devices was added generally, giving me initial hope:
  1. General Table of Hardware (ToH) Page: I reviewed the Ubiquiti AirMAX M page on the OpenWrt ToH:
  1. Specific Hardware Data Table (Ubiquiti): For further verification, I consulted the Ubiquiti hardware data page from this link:

My Confusion and Challenges:

  • Absence of "NanoBridge M5 (XM)" in the Filename: Although the hardware data page points to the ...ubnt-nano-m-squashfs-factory.bin file for the NanoBridge M5 (XM), the filename itself (ubnt-nano-m) doesn't explicitly mention "NanoBridge." This makes me hesitant and wonder if this is indeed the correct and tested firmware for a NanoBridge M5 (XM) specifically, or if it's a more generic file that might or might not work perfectly.

  • ar71xx vs. ath79 Architecture for XM: Is ar71xx still the recommended target for older XM devices like mine, or are there efforts to migrate them to ath79, and if so, where can I reliably find such builds for my device?

My Appeal for Help:
I genuinely want to repurpose this old hardware. Could someone with experience in the community please:

  • Confirm if the openwrt-STABLE_VERSION-ar71xx-generic-ubnt-nano-m-squashfs-factory.bin file (replacing STABLE_VERSION with the current stable release) is indeed the correct, tested, and reliable option for a NanoBridge M5 (XM) device?

  • Are there any recent success stories from community members with this specific device (NanoBridge M5 XM) using this specific file?

  • Are there any special considerations I should keep in mind when attempting to flash OpenWrt onto a NanoBridge M5 (XM)?

Thank you very much in advance for any clarification or assistance you can provide. I've spent weeks on this research and would truly appreciate any guidance!

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There are two significant variations of the XM platform: one ethernet port or two, and 32 MB RAM or 64. The various models vary in antenna type but otherwise the hardware is the similar enough to use the same OpenWrt builds. I think only the Nanostation Loco 2 XM was 32 MB, while the Loco 5 XM had 64. The memory size is not coded into the build, it is detected at bootup. Any modern build is going to crash with 32 MB RAM you must have 64.

Don't use two-port (full sized not loco Nanostation) builds on a one-port model; Ethernet will not work. You could try Rocket M or Powerbridge M. These seem to be the only XM models in ath79.

These are easy to de-brick using TFTP. Also this is before the TFTP recovery required signed firmware, so you can TFTP a factory OpenWrt to install it directly.

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So now what i am going to do