Overview of Cisco's Catalyst Series 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E APs
The Cisco Catalyst family of 802.11ax (referred to as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E) wireless access points build on previous generation 802.11ac (called Wi-Fi 5) APs by delivering less delay and more consistent performance, supporting higher client user density, providing greater cybersecurity, saving energy for battery-based handheld devices, and offering more configurability for handling different kinds of Internet-of-Things (IoT) endpoints. Cisco's Wi-Fi 6E devices add support for the 6-GHz spectrum, delivering an extra 1200 MHz of bandwidth to provide over double the Wi-Fi bandwidth as the 5-GHz band.

Progent's Cisco CCIE-certified wireless network consultants offer online or on-premises integration and debugging support to help you to design, configure, upgrade, tune, administer and debug Catalyst Wi-Fi access point environments of any size or topology. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller experts can also assist you to combine your wireless environment with your wired network and cloud-hosted resources to create a seamless enterprise-wide connectivity solution that is easy to manage and scale. Progent also offers affordable wireless site surveys to help you to decide the most efficient selection, location and setup of Aironet Wi-Fi access points to work with your unique office layout, building structure, and anticipated network traffic.

Cisco Catalyst Wi-Fi 6 802.11ax Access Points Consultants

Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Line of Wi-Fi 6/6E 802.11ax access points deliver the throughput and capacity of the 802.11ax standard

The Catalyst 9100 line of Wi-Fi 6 access points are designed for deployments ranging from home offices to high-density stadiums. Catalyst 9100 APs are compliant with the 802.11ax specification, known as Wi-Fi 6, which is an evolution of the previous 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) standard. As an improvement to 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is designed to utilize both the 2.4-Ghz and 5-GHz radio bands. Important enhancements supported by Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series access points include OFDMA scheduling for high density deployments, dual NAVs for improved reliability, Target Wake Time for reduced power consumption in battery-dependent endpoints, adaptive power and sensitivity thresholds for better spectrum utilization, and dynamic fragmentation for reduced overhead. All Cisco Catalyst 9100 Series 802.11ax APs support Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC), handle as many as 200 client users per Wi-Fi radio, and are powered by Cisco IOS XE Software.

Cisco Catalyst 9105i Wireless Access Points Planning and Deployment ExpertsCisco's Catalyst 9105AXi Series Wi-Fi AP is a low-profile Wi-Fi 6 access point intended for operation in home offices or in small to midsize enterprises. The Catalyst 9105AXi supports 802.11a/b/g/n/acW2/ax and includes dual 2.4/5 GH radios as well as an Internet-of-Things radio covering (BLE) 5.0 and Zigbee. Cisco's Catalyst 9105AXi device supports 2x2:2 MU/SU-MIMO and delivers an aggregate maximum data rate of 1.2 Gbps. The 9105AXi AP comes with a 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet uplink port with PoE 802.3at, an RJ-45 management console interface, and a pair of internal antennas. Channel width for the 2.4 GHz radio is 20 MHz and 20/40/80 MHz for the 5 GHz radio. With Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) activated, the Catalyst 9105AXi allows you to manage up to 50 access points and 1,000 client users.

Cisco Catalyst 9105AXw Wireless Access Points Planning and Deployment ConsultantsThe Cisco Catalyst 9105AXw Series wireless AP is designed specially as a wall-mount appliance and is targeted at hospitality, dormitories, and other high-occupancy dwellings. The 9105AXw's capability is like Cisco's 9105AXi access point but has special antenna profiles and features a set of interfaces not available on the 9105AXi unit. These include a 100/1000/2500 Base-T (Ethernet) port, three 10/100/1000 Base-T Ethernet downlink ports, a USB 2.0 port, and a passthru interface. A downlink port supports 10.5W PSE Power Budget.

Catalyst 9115 Wireless Access Points Solution Design ExpertsThe Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series Wi-Fi 6-supported LAN AP is intended for small to medium size enterprises. Cisco's 9115AX Series AP supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and includes three Wi-Fi radios plus an Internet-of-Things radio covering Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0. The Cisco 9115AX features 4x4:4 + 4x4:4 spatial streams and supports a combined max data rate of 5 Gbps. The Cisco Catalyst 9115AX Series AP includes one 100/1000/2500 Multigigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) uplink port with PoE 802.3at, an RJ-45 management console interface, a USB 2.0 port, built-in internal antennas, plus extra-cost external antennas. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. With Embedded Wireless Controller activated, Cisco's 9115AX Series AP can manage up to 50 access points and 1,000 client users.

Catalyst 9117AX Wi-Fi 6 Access Points Solution Design ConsultantsThe Cisco Catalyst 9117AX Series wireless access point is designed for small to midsize networks. The Wi-Fi 6 device complies with the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax standards and includes three Wi-Fi radios as well as an Internet-of-Things radio that supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0. The Cisco Catalyst 9117AX features 8x8:8 MIMO for the 5-GHz radio and 4x4 MIMO with four spatial streams for the 2.4-GHz {radio. Max combined data rate is 5 Gbps. The Cisco Catalyst 9117AX comes with one 100/1000/2500/5000 Ethernet (RJ-45) interface with PoE 802.3at, an RJ-45 console port, a USB 2.0 port, and integrated internal antennas. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. With Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) installed, the Catalyst 9117AX can manage as many as 50 APs and 1,000 clients.

Cisco Catalyst 9120 Wireless APs Solution Design ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9120AX Series Wi-Fi 6-certified AP is targeted at for mid-size to large networks. The Cisco Catalyst 9120AX complies with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and incorporates four radios. Flexible Radio Assignment technology permits radios to operate in 2.4-GHz/5-GHz mode or in Dual 5-GHz mode. An Internet-of-Things (IoT) radio supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0. The Cisco 9120AX Series AP features 4x4:4 MU-MIMO spatial streams and supports a combined max data rate of 5.2 Gbps when both Wi-Fi radios operate in 5-GHz client serving mode. Cisco's Catalyst 9120AX Series AP includes 100/1000/2500 Multigigabit Ethernet (RJ-45). The device also works with PoE 802.3at and includes an RJ-45 management port, a USB 2.0 port, and built-in internal antennas. External antennas are optional. System memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash memory. With Embedded Wireless Controller installed, the 9120AX Series AP can manage 100 access points and 2,000 client users.

Cisco Catalyst 9130 Wireless APs Solution Design ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9130AX Series Wi-Fi 6-certified AP is designed for mid-size to large enterprises and dense open environments such as auditoriums and arenas. The Cisco Catalyst 9130AX supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi and features 8x8:8 MU-MIMO. External antennas on the 9130AX access point may be divided into two 4x4 radios. An IoT radio supports (BLE) 5.0. The Catalyst 9130AX features a 100/1000/2500/5000 Multigigabit Ethernet uplink port and delivers an aggregate top data rate of 5.38 Gbps. The device also works with PoE 802.3at and includes an RJ-45 management port, a USB 2.0 interface, and integrated internal antennas. Cisco's 9130AX Series AP includes an intelligent physical antenna connector that gives you the flexibility to configure an external antenna to handle challenging environments. Memory includes 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash memory. With EWC installed, the 9130AX Series AP can manage 100 APs and 2,000 clients.

Cisco Catalyst 9136 Wi-Fi 6E APs Planning and Deployment ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9136 Series represents a breakthrough family of APs intended for enterprises who need the enhanced speed, capacity, and cybersecurity brought about by the 6-GHz spectrum addition introduced with the Wi-Fi 6E specification. By adding 1.2 GHz of contiguous and clean spectrum in the 6 GHz band, the Wi-Fi 6E standard implemented in Catalyst 9136 Series APs more than doubles the spectrum that can be used by earlier model Wi-Fi clients. Catalyst 9136 APs work with legacy 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi devices operating in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands as well as the modern generation of 6 GHz Wi-Fi client devices. MU-MIMO operation support up to 8x8:8 at 5 GHz and 4x4:4 at 2.4/6 GHz. Aggregate max data rate is 10.2 Gbps. Also featured are a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 5.0 radio for IoT plus a scan radio. Built-in omnidirectional antennas allow 2.4 GHz, 5-GHz, and 6 GHz operation. Catalyst 9136 APs come with two integrated 5 Gbps Multigigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) Ethernet interfaces. Channel width is 20 MHz for the 2.4 GHz band and 20/40/80/160 MHz at 5/6 GHz. System memory consists of 2048 MB DRAM and 1024 MB flash. Power options include PoE, PoE+, and UPoE.

Cisco Catalyst 9166 Wi-Fi 6E Access Point ConsultantsCisco's Catalyst 9160 Series Wi-Fi 6E APs are the first Cisco APs that have the versatility to be monitored and managed on-premises via Cisco DNA Center platform or from the cloud using Meraki management utilities. This enables businesses to move to cloud-centric or hybrid deployments on their own timetable. All Catalyst 916x access points meet the a/b/g/n/ac/ax and 6E Wi-Fi standards and support the new 6-GHz band. Each device has 5 radios and supports a maximum of 400 clients per radio. Each AP model also contains a dedicated radio for Cisco CleanAir Pro for reducing wireless interference, has a USB 2.0 port, and supports Bluetooth Low Energy. Cisco's value-priced Catalyst 9162 Series AP is suited for small businesses, has three 2x2 radios, and provides 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support.

Cisco Catalyst APs System Design and TroubleshootingThe Catalyst 9163E Wi-Fi 6E AP is built for harsh outside deployments like campus environments or stadiums. The 9163E includes three client serving 2x2 radios, one IoT radio, and a tri-band scanning radio. Interfaces include 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet (RJ-45), a management console port (RJ-45), 4x N-Type Wi-Fi antenna connectors, and an RP-SMA active GPS/GNSS antenna connector. The AP works with Omnidirectional Dipole Self-Identifying Antennas. The Catalyst 9164 Series AP is suited for small and middle-size enterprises, has one 2x2 radio and two 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G mGig Ethernet support. The Catalyst 9166 Series Wi-Fi access point is suited for large and mid-sized organizations, includes three 4x4 radios, and features 1x 100M/1000M/2.5G/5G mGig Ethernet support. The 9166 also comes with environmental sensors that detect air quality, temperature, and moisture.

Cisco's Embedded Wireless Controller (EWC) on Catalyst 9100 Wireless APs
Cisco's EWC is a software image running on Cisco IOS XE and offered on most Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs. Cisco's EWC includes most functions, but not the scale, of Cisco's Catalyst 9800 Series wireless controller appliances. Access points running EWC can simultaneously service Wi-Fi client users. (Catalyst 9105AXW APs can be members of an EWC network and service client users but cannot run EWC functions.) Cisco's EWC can be managed via Cisco DNA Center (DNAC) for multi-site deployments, or via a browser or mobile app for single-site environments. All Cisco DNAC Automation and Assurance use cases are supported. EWC features include always-on by deploying active and standby controllers, software maintenance updates for hot patching, auto configuration, Application Visibility and Control, and Site Survey.

How Progent Can Assist Your Business with Cisco Catalyst 802.11ax Wireless Access Points
Progent can provide a Cisco-certified consulting professional to assist you to plan, deploy, manage and repair a Wi-Fi solution that incorporates Cisco's Catalyst 9100 Series Wi-Fi 6 APs. Progent can assist you to maintain legacy Wi-Fi APs from Cisco or upgrade seamlessly to current Wi-Fi 6. Progent's Cisco Wi-Fi controller solutions consultants can assist you to assess whether your Wi-Fi environment should include Cisco wireless controller hardware or can be managed using Cisco's software-based management tools such as the EWC.

Progent's CISM, CISSP, and ISSAP security consultants can advise you about how to design security into your WLAN and into your business processes. Progent's disaster recovery planning consultants and business continuity planning consultants can help you to deploy the HA features built into Cisco's wired/wireless technologies so your converged infrastructure provides continuing return on investment.

Progent's Wi-Fi Site Survey assists you to design and deploy a robust WLAN customized for your facilities, offering a Wi-Fi ecosystem that delivers comprehensive coverage, high speed and density, Quality of Service to support IP video, enterprise-class security and compliance, and streamlined management. Progent's Wireless Site Survey can be performed online to cut time and expense, or on premises to deal with more complex situations.

To find out additional details concerning Progent's engineering expertise for Cisco networking products, pick a subject: Contact Progent for Help with Catalyst WiFi 5 and WiFi 6/6E Access Points
To learn more about Progent's support for planning, integrating, maintaining and troubleshooting a Wi-Fi solution incorporating Cisco Catalyst WiFi 5 and WiFi 6/6E APs, call 1-800-993-9400 or visit Contact Progent.