Overview of Cisco's Aironet Family of Wireless APs
Aironet Wi-Fi APs ExpertsCisco's popular Aironet family of wireless access points (APs) has developed in concert with Wi-Fi technology and has continually offered enhancements in performance, capacity, coverage, security, manageability and reliability. Modern Aironet Wave 2 wireless APs can handle as many as 400 clients per device and deliver data rates of more than 5 gigabits/sec. Networks of Aironet APs integrated with Cisco's Prime Infrastructure architecture allow you to build multi-site wireless LANs with 18,000 access points supporting up to 64,000 clients, all under single-point management. Progent's Cisco CCIE-certified Wi-Fi experts can provide online or onsite consulting and debugging support to assist you to design, deploy, upgrade, tune, manage and debug Aironet wireless environments of any scale, inside or outdoors.

Aironet Wireless APs Experts

Cisco Aironet Wireless APs are offered for virtually any WLAN venue

Progent's Cisco CCIE wireless infrastructure consultants can provide online or on-premises integration and troubleshooting services to assist you to plan, implement, upgrade, tune, manage and troubleshoot Aironet wireless access point environments of any scale or topology. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller consultants can also assist you to integrate your wireless ecosystem with your wired network and cloud-based resources to create a seamless enterprise-wide connectivity solution that is simple to administer and expand. Progent also can provide affordable Wi-Fi site surveys to help you to decide the most efficient selection, placement and configuration of Aironet Wi-Fi APs to work with your unique office design, building structure, and expected network traffic.

Cisco Aironet Wave 2 Indoor Wireless Access Points
Cisco's Wave 2 Wi-Fi APs offer significant enhancements over the first generation of 802.11ac products, known as Wave 1. Enhancements include 2.34 gigabits/sec rather than 1.3 Gbps in the 5 GHz band, multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) for transmitting data to multiple devices at the same time, better coverage and expandability, and the ability to utilize 160-MHz-wide channels and/or a fourth spatial stream to enhance performance and support more functionlity. For high-density wireless deployments, almost all Aironet Wave 2 wireless APs work with Cisco Mobility Express, which permits 50 to 100 APs to be deployed quickly without the help of a Cisco Wi-Fi controller. Progent can help you to assess the business advantages of upgrading your Wave 1 or legacy Aironet wireless APs and can also help you to plan, deploy and manage a Wave 2 Aironet Wi-Fi AP network that adds maximum business value.

Cisco Aironet 1810 Wireless Access Point ConsultantsThe Cisco Aironet 1810W Series wireless access points are low-profile Wave 2 wall-plate–mountable APs designed for use in hospitality venues such as hotels and cruise ships. The Cisco Aironet 1810W features Dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios and a Bluetooth radio, incorporates 2x2 MU-MIMO with two spatial streams, and delivers an aggregate data transfer rate of 867-Mbps and a max client count of 400. The Aironet 1810W includes three local GB Ethernet ports including one with Power over Ethernet Out for supporting a device such as an IP handset, printer or surveillance camera. The Cisco Aironet 1818 adds a 10/100/1000BASE-T PoE uplink port and a pass-through RJ-45 connection. The Cisco Aironet 1810 OfficeExtend Series AP is a Wave 2 802.11ac device that includes a mounting cradle and is designed to provide secure wireless connectivity for telecommuters and branch office employees. The Cisco Aironet 1810W Series OfficeExtend AP needs to be connected to a remote wireless network controller, which simplifies unified management of policies and eliminates the need for overseeing home or remote-office firewalls. The Aironet 1810 OfficeExtend Series features the same throughput and I/O ports as the Aironet 1810W Wi-Fi access point.

Aironet 1815 Wi-Fi Access Point ExpertsCisco's Aironet 1815 Series wireless access points are value-priced, compact Wave 2 appliances intended for small and mid-size businesses. The series includes four models made for different applications. The 1815i Wi-Fi access point has flexible alternatives for wall or ceiling mount. The Cisco 1815w Wi-Fi AP is a desktop unit. Cisco's 1815t Wi-Fi access point features three GE ports to support telecommuters or workers in a small branch office; and the 1815m Wi-Fi access point features stronger transmission energy for greater signal coverage. All products in Cisco's 1815 Wireless Access Point family include dual radios (2.4/5 GHz) and 2x2 multi-user MIMO technology with two spatial streams. All but the 1815t Wi-Fi AP can be managed with Cisco Mobility Express. Only the 1815t Wi-Fi AP works with OfficeExtend. Each 1815 Series Wi-Fi AP delivers an aggregate data rate of 1 Gbps and can handle up to 400 clients. All versions except the 1815t include a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio, and only the 1815t includes a USB port and has the option of PoE or AC/DC power.

Cisco's Aironet 1830 Series Wi-Fi access point is intended for small and mid-size wireless networks and includes 2.4/5 GHz radios, features 3x3 MU-MIMO with two spatial streams, includes a 10/100/1000BASE-T RJ-4 Ethernet port with Power over Ethernet (PoE), supports a combined data transfer rate of 867-Mbps on the 5-Ghz radio, and can handle a maximum of 400 clients. The Cisco 1830 Series wireless AP also accepts a Bluetooth Low Energy radio by means of a USB dongle. The BLE radio can be used for applications like navigation, proximity marketing, and inventory.

The Aironet 1850i Wi-Fi AP is intended for small and medium-sized companies and features 4x4 multi-user MIMO with up to four spatial streams (when in single-user MIMO mode, three when in MU-MIMO), incorporates a GigE Power over Ethernet (PoE) port, a GE port for link aggregation, and an RJ-45 management console port. The Aironet 1850i Wi-Fi access point supports a maximum aggregate dual-radio transfer rate of 2 gigabits/sec and a maximum user count of 400. A BLE radio can be added to the 1850i Series wireless access point by means of a USB dongle.

Cisco's Aironet 2800 Series wireless access point is intended for large companies and can optimize performance by dynamically assigning its dual radios as one 2.4 and one 5 GHz radio or as dual 5 GHz radios, delivering combined performance up to 5 Gbps. The Cisco Aironet 2800 Wi-Fi AP features 4x4 MU-MIMO with three spatial streams and can handle up to 400 Wi-Fi clients. An extra antenna connector is included for challenging sites such as high-ceiling halls, libraries and eating areas. The 2800 wireless AP features two GigE ports and an RJ-45 management console interface. A BLE radio can be connected via a USB dongle.

The Cisco Aironet 3800 Wave 2 Wi-Fi access points are intended for high-density environments such as large offices or warehouses. The Aironet 3800 has three antenna options. The 3800i has internal antennas, the 3800e has external ones, and the 3800p has high-power external antennas to support high-density indoor scenarios such as sports arenas and convention areas. All 3800 series wireless access points support 4x4 MU-MIMO with three spatial streams, and their two radios can be run in 2.4-GHz/5-GHz mode or in Dual 5-GHz 802.11ac mode. Aggregate throughput can be as high as 5.2 Gbps in Dual 5-GHz 802.11ac mode. Cisco's Aironet 3800 wireless AP can serve up to 400 Wi-Fi users and has two 100/1000/2500/5000 Ethernet ports, one 100/1000BASE-T RJ-45 auxiliary port, and an RJ-45 management console port.

Cisco Aironet 4800 Access Point ConsultingThe Aironet 4800 Wi-Fi access point, intended for large enterprises requiring high throughput and advanced security, is the top of the line of the Aironet family, incorporating dual 2.4/5 GHz or dual 5 GHz radios and 4x4 MU-MIMO supporting three spatial streams. The 4800 Wi-Fi AP can support as many as 400 Wi-Fi users. The AP includes two Multigigabit Ethernet ports, one RJ-45 management console interface, and a Bluetooth Low Energy radio. By including a fourth radio, The Cisco 4800 wireless access point can distribute key Aironet operations to more radios so they can execute simultaneously. These key functions include built-in Flexible Radio Assignment, Hyperlocation, and BLE. Cisco's 4800 Wi-Fi access point's fourth radio adds enhanced security and in-depth analytics for performance and location. Using four radios also allows the two Wi-Fi radios with Flexible Radio Assignment to operate in 5 GHz client serving mode, supporting 5.2 Gbps wireless data rates and increasing client capacity.

Aironet Wave 1 802.11ac Indoor Wireless APs
Aironet Wi-Fi APs ConsultantsCisco Aironet 2700 Wireless Access Point ExpertsThe 802.11ac specification works exclusively in the 5-GHz band, utilizes 80-MHz channels for higher performance, and enables Wi-Fi radios to utilize spectrum more efficiently, transmit data faster, and surrender spectrum more quickly than earlier standards. This improves speed, mitigation, scalability, and roaming for high-density Wi-Fi networks. Although the 802.11ac specification was accepted in the beginning of 2014, Cisco designed transitional Aironet 802.11ac APs prior to that. These crossover products deliver many of the key benefits of the 802.11ac standard and Cisco refers to them as Wave 1 APs. Cisco's Wave 1 dual-band Aironet access points incorporate 2.4 GHz radios to accommodate legacy Wi-Fi clients.

Cisco's Aironet 1700 Series is an economical Wi-Fi AP that supports 802.11ac Wave 1 technology, features 3x3 multiple input-multiple output equalization with two spatial streams, supports a rate of 867 Mbps, and can serve 200 client devices. The Aironet 2700 Series is a wall-mountable Wi-Fi access point designed for midsize or large organizations and features four internal or external antennas. Cisco's 2700 Series Wi-Fi access point has a 3x4 MIMO radio with three spatial streams, has a maximum connection speed of 1.3 Gbps, and supports up to 200 802.11ac clients and up to 128 802.11n users. Cisco's Aironet 3700 Series wireless APs are wall-mountable units offered with an internal antenna, an external antenna, or in a special Aironet 3700p version with a narrow-beam, high-gain antenna. Cisco's 3700 Series Wi-Fi AP features a 4x4 MIMO design with three spatial streams and delivers a maximum connection speed of 1.3 Gbps. The modular design of the 3700 Series wireless AP supports Cisco's Wireless Security add-on module and Cisco's 3G Small Cells module.

Cisco Aironet 802.11n Indoor Wi-Fi Access Point
The 802.11n standard made it realistic for people to rely on Wi-Fi as their day-to-day network connection, nominally supporting 390 Mbps data rates and single-user MIMO in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Cisco offers a catalog of wireless access points powered by this popular wireless standard. Progent can provide online and onsite consulting and troubleshooting support for Cisco's current 802.11n wireless access points as well as legacy Aironet access points, and Progent can help you to assess the benefit to your company of moving from your vintage AP infrastructure to Cisco's current line of 802.11ac wireless APs.

Cisco's Aironet 700W Series wireless access point is an 802.11n device designed for multi-dwelling environments such as hotels and can be mounted on a wall junction box. The dual-radio Aironet 700W features 2x2 MIMO and two spatial streams, can handle 100 Wi-Fi clients, includes four 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet ports (one with Power over Ethernet), and delivers performance of up to 300 Mbps. Cisco's Aironet 1600 Series is an entry-level Wi-Fi access point designed for small companies and offers 802.11n 3x3 MIMO with two spatial streams, can support 128 Wi-Fi users, and delivers data rates as high as 300 Mbps. Cisco's Aironet 2600 Series Wi-Fi access point is intended for high-density environments and features 802.11n 3x4 MIMO with three spatial streams, serves 200 Wi-Fi users, and can handle data rates up to 450 Mbps.

Aironet Outdoor and Ruggedized Wi-Fi APs
Cisco Aironet Wireless AP ExpertsThe Cisco Aironet family of wireless access points includes Wave 2, Wave 1, and 802.11a/b/g/n devices designed to be deployed in outdoor sites that range municipalities to extreme industrial environments such as rail, mining, or oil and gas. Progent can assist your organization to select, configure and manage Aironet outdoor and industrial wireless access points to meet your functional requirements and IT budget. Progent's security experts can also help your organization to specify and implement policies for your outdoor Wi-Fi infrastructure or test and validate the security of your Aironet Wi-Fi access points.

The Cisco Aironet 1530 Series outdoor 802.11b/g/n wireless access points are Wave 1 dual-radio, carrier-grade devices offered in an IP67-rated body to withstand dust particles, humidity, shock and temperature extremes. The Wi-Fi APs have a GE port and a Gigabit Ethernet uplink interface and support performance of up to 300 Mbps. The Aironet 1530I includes integrated antennas and has 3x3:2 MIMO (multiple input multiple output) technology with three spatial streams on the 2.4 GHz radio and 2x3 MIMO with two spatial streams on the 5GHz radio. The Cisco Aironet 1530E outdoor wireless AP offers 2x2 MIMO and two spatial streams on each radio and includes software-configurable dual- or single-band external antennas.

Aironet 1540 Wireless Access Point ExpertsThe Cisco Aironet 1540 Series outdoor wireless access point is a Wave 2 unit that provides data rates of up to 867-Mbps on the 5 GHz radio. This enables maximum dual-radio data rate of up to 1.1 Gbps. The 1540 Wi-Fi AP includes 2x2 MU-MIMO technology and supports two spatial streams. For networks with up to 50 Wi-Fi APs, you can use Cisco Mobility Express Solution for fast and simple configuration without the need for a Cisco wireless Wi-Fi controller. One of Cisco's most compact outdoor wireless APs with internal antennas, the 1540 is available with either a directional or a semi-omni directional antenna, providing versatility in choosing antenna patterns to match various RF conditions.

Cisco's Aironet 1552S outdoor/industrial wireless AP is intended for hazardous environments like refineries and has a built-in ISA100-standard backbone router to communicate with Wi-Fi sensor networks, offering an complete solution for wireless client support and access to sensors. The Aironet 1552WU comes in a Class 1 hazardous location-compliant enclosure, supports 2:3 MIMO and two spatial streams, delivers data rates as high as 300 Mbps, and provides a Gigabit Ethernet port, a 10/100/1000 BaseT interface, and a fiber Small-Form-Factor Pluggable uplink connection. The Aironet 1552WU Wi-Fi access point is engineered for hazardous environments and includes a built-in WirelessHART gateway for communicating wirelessly with industrial sensor equipment. The Aironet 1552WU Wi-Fi AP is packaged in a hazardous location-certified body, supports 2:3 MIMO and two spatial streams, delivers data rates as high as 300 Mbps, and offers Gigabit Ethernet and 10/100/1000 BaseT uplink options.

Cisco Aironet 1562 Wi-Fi Access Point ConsultantsCisco Aironet 1562 model outdoor Wi-Fi APs are offered with three antenna choices to match various RF scenarios. The high-throughput 1562I wireless AP has integrated omnidirectional antennas for common scenarios like a school campus. The 1562E has powerful external omni antennas for environments such as outdoor warehouses or malls where businesses can configure the needed coverage. The Cisco Aironet 1562D Wi-Fi AP has an internal directional antenna designed for high-density venues or for environments that require wireless bridging such as parks or stadiums. All three 1562 models can handle up to 400 clients, offer 48 VDC and PoE power, and feature fiber Small-Form-Factor Pluggable (SP) optics and cable modem backhaul. The Aironet 1562E and 1562D models incorporate 2x2 MU-MIMO technology with 2 spatial streams and deliver performance as high as 867 Mbps. The 1562I has 3x3 MU-MIMO with 3 spatial streams and supports data rates as high as 1,300 Mbps.

The Cisco Aironet 1570 Series is a carrier-class Wi-Fi access point that was at one time the fastest performing outdoor wireless access point available. The Aironet 1570 includes internal or external antennas, supports 4x4 MIMO technology with three spatial streams, delivers data rates as high as 1.3 Gbps, and has Fiber/SFP, Gigabit Ethernet, and Cable Modem uplink interfaces. Models include the Aironet 1572EAC with an external antenna with AC-power, the Aironet 1572IC with integrated antennas with cable modem, and the Aironet 1572EC which includes an external antenna with cable modem.

Cisco's Aironet Industrial Wireless 3700 (IW3700) Series is the first industrial/outdoor wireless access point to provide 4x4 MIMO technology with three spatial streams plus beamforming. The Aironet Wave 1 IW3700 wireless access point has a rugged IP67-rated housing, includes a dual-band radio compatible with 802.11ac (5 GHz) and 802.11n (2.4 GHz) standards, provides aggregate data rates as high as 1.3 Gbps, and supports a maximum of 200 Wi-Fi clients.

Legacy Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points Supported by Progent
The remarkable improvements in Wi-Fi speed and density driven by 802.11ac technology, coupled with the proliferation of BYOD clients running bandwidth-hungry apps with HD video, has rendered earlier families of Wi-Fi infrastructure products out of date. Even though many companies run wireless workloads that are well served by existing 802.11n environments, the fact that end-of-life wireless infrastructure appliances like access points have reached, or are about to reach, end-of-support status can have serious implications for security and compliance, the continued availability of technical assistance, and the challenge of future expansion.

Progent's Cisco-certified wireless technology consultants can provide advanced consulting support services to help businesses of any size manage and support their legacy Aironet environment, evaluate the potential benefits for moving to the newest generation of Aironet APs, and design an affordable strategy to migrate smoothly to a cohesive wireless solution that delivers the speed. performance, protection, manageability and reliability required of a modern Wi-Fi ecosystem. Examples of legacy Aironet access points for which Progent continues to offer online and onsite support include:

Cisco Aironet 1000/1130AG family wireless access points are designed for conventional workplaces and other locations which have little environmental instability. These products include integrated antennas that offer predictable radio range patterns. The Cisco 1130G family device is designed for restricted domains that do not permit 5GHz operation.

Cisco Aironet 1230AG/1240AG family wireless access points are designed for more challenging RF environments like factories and warehouses or above suspended ceilings which typically require adjustable external antennas and durable cases. The Aironet 1240G family product is designed for controlled locations that do not allow 802.11a/5GHz operation.

Cisco Aironet 1500 Series lightweight outside wireless mesh LAN access points offer a cost-effective, scalable, protected outdoor wireless technology for campus areas and for public venues that require access for mobile devices.

Cisco's Aironet 600 OfficeExtend Series wireless AP is an 802.11n unit designed for home workers. The Cisco Aironet 600 Wi-Fi AP features a dual 2.4/5 GHz radio, uses 2x3 MIMO technology with two spatial streams, supports up to 15 Wi-Fi users, and provides performance as high as 300 Mbps.

How Progent Can Help You with Cisco Aironet Wireless Access Points
Progent offers cost-effective remote or onsite support from a Cisco-certified CCIE network expert to help your organization to design, deploy, manage, optimize, upgrade or troubleshoot a Wi-Fi environment that includes Cisco's Aironet Wi-Fi access points. Progent can help you manage and debug legacy Aironet devices or migrate smoothly to Cisco's latest lineup of Wave 2 wireless APs based on 802.11ac technology. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller consultants can assist you to determine whether your Wi-Fi deployment calls for Cisco Wi-Fi controller hardware or can be configured and maintained with software-based utilities such as Cisco Mobility Express.

Progent's remote and onsite wireless site surveys can help you to determine the most efficient selection and location of Aironet Wi-Fi APs to support your client density, provide the coverage you need, and deal with your most demanding workloads. Progent's cybersecurity consultants can help you to design, implement and validate a security and compliance strategy that covers network policies, remote network and endpoint monitoring, and centralized management. Progent's disaster preparedness experts and business continuity planning experts can help you to build availability and recoverability into your Cisco product implementations to maximize the productivity of your seamless wired/wireless network infrastructure.

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Contact Progent for Consulting Expertise for Aironet Wi-Fi APs
To learn more about Progent's consulting expertise for installing, managing and troubleshooting Aironet wireless access points, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.

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