Aruba Instant On AP22 802.11ax 2x2 WiFi Access Point | UK Model | Power Source not Included (R4W02A)

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For the next test, I switched over to my MacBook Pro and it’s 3 spatial stream Wi-Fi 5 radio. This is an interesting test because it shows the impact of an additional spatial stream, and removes the highest-end modulation (1024-QAM) and longer symbol duration of Wi-Fi 6. This is a more even playing field, and a chance for the 3x3 and 4x4 APs to show their strength. First, I tested all of the APs on 2.4 GHz, trying both 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels. I don’t recommend using 40 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band, due to them overlapping with over 80% of the already-crowded spectrum. There’s only one non-overlapping 40 MHz channel in North America, and the rest of the world only has two. Like 160 MHz channels in 5 GHz, there’s just not enough available frequency for them to be reliably used in most situations. UniFi software offers more features and is more flexible, but it is also buggier. Sometimes the bugs are harmless, sometimes they are funny, but they are almost always there. If you can deal with them and don’t mind doing a little research before installing an update, UniFi is a unique and flexible ecosystem. UniFi routers are generally basic and miss some important features, but UniFi switches and APs match up well against Instant On. Instant On doesn’t have anything like UniFi Protect, Access, or Talk. AP Recommendations When it comes to management, there’s no real difference between using the app and the web portal. Both present the same simple dashboard, with four panes showing your available and active networks, the number of connected clients, total data transferred over the past 24 hours and an equipment inventory. UniFi offers more in-depth settings and statistics, but has more software instability and bugs. If you’re not familiar with Ubiquiti’s software standards, lets just say they aren’t enterprise grade. Aruba has an edge when it comes to offering a hassle-free experience, but RF nerds like me always want more knobs to tweak. The Instant On portal and mobile app do an OK job at exposing the basic settings you need, but I would like to see the software mature and expand the number of settings offered. If you want more settings from your Aruba APs, consider one of the enterprise-level Instant APs instead. You’ll also have to consider licenses and possibly an Aruba WLAN controller.

All Aruba Instant On access points have an installed TPM for secure storage of credentials, keys, and boot codes. Basic Service Set Coloring (BSS COLORING) The range difference between the AP22/U6-Lite and the U6-LR is big enough that it could be the difference between needing one or two APs to cover an area. In some situations one U6-LR is better, in others one or two U6-Lite/AP22s may be better. It’s hard to make general conclusions. consumption, extending the battery life of clients. Multiuser, Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) As IDC is forecasting that more than 316 million Wi-Fi 6E devices will enter the market in 2021 1, this latest addition to the Instant On family is certainly a good thing for SMBs. It gives small business owners the ability to not only capitalize on opportunities today, but also prepares them for the future.Next, I ran the same test on the 5 GHz band with 80 MHz channels. Wider channels give you the best speeds, but also require a stronger signal for effective use. At the farthest location, the speed advantage of 5 GHz is mostly eliminated. Those results show how the AP performs when it’s 5 GHz signal is hovering around -80 dBm RSSI and around 10 SNR. From the same location 2.4 GHz connections are stronger and more stable. Of these six access points, the AP22 is the only one that supports Wi-Fi 6 on it’s 2.4 GHz radio. The Wi-Fi 5 standard only applied to the 5 GHz band, and the U6-Lite and U6-LR both stayed with older 2.4 GHz radios that support Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n). The results are as you’d expect, and it’s not a very close competition. Aruba Instant On Mesh Wi-Fi uses multiple access points that communicate with one another to blanket your indoor and outdoor spaces with a strong signal. Want to extend your network coverage or strengthen the signal in an area? Just add another access point.

Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Aruba Instant On has right-sized solutions for a range of small business environments, such as: Hospitality: Whether it’s a small B&B or the hottest boutique hotel in town, fast, secure, and reliable network access is the key to delivering an exceptional experience to guests and employees. The Aruba Instant On AP11D, AP12, AP22 and AP17 are great for spaces that require seamless indoor and outdoor access and coverage that provides a smooth in-room Wi-Fi experience. The first few tests cover an ideal scenario, with a nearby client on a clean channel. In typical use you’ll see less throughput. This is a test of the APs capability in an ideal scenario, and how much data they can deliver to a single client.With every foot of free space and every obstruction, a Wi-Fi signal attenuates and gets weaker. 5 GHz signals attenuate faster, and provide around half the range of 2.4 GHz. When deciding on how many access points you need, a good general rule is don’t expect 5 GHz coverage to extend further than 2 walls or 30 feet away. 2.4 GHz signals extend this circle out a bit, but with a few walls in the way, getting low SNR links and slow performance is likely. If there is clear line of sight AP range can extend much further, but every wall imposes a dBm penalty. Wall material and quantity are usually more important than distance in a home or small business network. Beyond Wi-Fi 6, there’s also the promise of Wi-Fi 6E on the horizon, which is a more meaningful upgrade than the 10-20% speed improvement you can expect from upgrading from a good Wi-Fi 5 AP. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are only relevant when you have clients that support them. Wi-Fi 6E devices are just starting to roll out in 2021, and it will be a while until it’s common for most home users. If you are happy with your Wi-Fi network, it could be a good idea to hold off on upgrading. If you’re looking for an upgrade now, the AP11 and AP22 are great options. The one thing you won’t find is a large range of Wi-Fi configuration options. Aruba handles all of this behind the scenes and the only Wi-Fi 6 setting in the dashboard is a toggle to turn it off if legacy clients are having trouble connecting to the network – which in our experience is a rare issue that you’re unlikely to encounter. You should also be aware that ultrawide 160MHz channels aren’t available, but this isn’t a deal-breaker for SMBs as few clients support it anyway. Since Instant On was introduced in 2019, software updates have come out regularly and usually add a few more things to the cloud interface. For now though, the settings are quite limited, and I don’t think Instant On is ever going to match the full UniFi controller levels of settings. UniFi is the better option for tinkerers, but Instant On is great for delivering the basics without hassle. Every customer has different environment. They might want to authenticate with the ISP’s PPPoE server and provide static IP to the APs. Next-Generation 802.11AX WI-FI Features Overview

To specify which AP and which band was being used, I used the setttings offered in the UniFi network controller or Instant On portal, and swapped them in and out as needed. I then stepped through the different channel widths and bands, letting the connection stabilize before beginning my tests. The AP11D and AP17 are for specialty use cases. If you need an AP outside or in a wall outlet, those are fine APs with decent performance. I don’t have any UniFi In-Wall APs to test, but I’ll be looking into adding some outdoor UniFi models to future tests. UniFi offers a lot more model choices for outdoor APs, and I’m a fan of the older AC-Mesh and AC-Mesh-Pros. AP Comparisons When further away, you can also see the impact of beamforming from the AC-HD and U6-LR. They are able to compensate by directing transmissions towards the distant client, and the U6-LR performed the best at the furthest location. This is where the U6-LR shows it’s biggest advantage over the AP22, and where I thought the AP12 and AP15 would do better than they did. The U6-LR’s high transmit power and beamforming allow it to reach further than any of the other models I tested. A few extra dBm is enough to allow the U6-LR to effectively cover a larger area, or punch through one more wall. The AP12 and AP15 did the 2nd best at range, coming close to the U6-LR’s performance.If you’re considering a new Instant On network, I have no issues recommending the AP22 over the AP11. I didn’t test the higher spatial stream AP12 or AP15, but those will have similar advantages that the AC-HD or U6-LR has. More spatial streams mean better multi-client performance, and usually better beamforming. The AP12 or AP15 should be better than the AP22 for high-density networks and in some scenarios, but I can’t say for sure. When their Wi-Fi 6 replacements arrive I’ll definitely be testing those.

The materials and construction of the AP22U Bosch Wipers are quite outstanding. Bosch wipers are far more durable than their inferior equivalents, giving them an incredible value. Features & Benefits:The most interesting comparison for Instant On APs is the AP22 vs the AP12 and AP15. I was disappointed in the performance of the AP12 and AP15 when using wider channels. The charts above only capture single-client tests, which is not the best way to show the AP12 and AP15’s strengths. Still, they weren’t able to match up against the (much more expensive) AC-HD. I wouldn’t generally recommend the AP12 or AP15 unless you’re deploying them in a dense area with a lot of devices. When further away, you can also see the impact of beamforming from the AC-HD and U6-LR. They are able to compensate by directing transmissions towards the distant client, and the U6-LR performed the best at the furthest location. This is where the U6-LR shows it’s biggest advantage over the AP22. The U6-LR’s high transmit power and beamforming allow it to reach further than the AP22, U6-Lite, or any of the other models I tested. A few extra dBm is enough to allow the U6-LR to effectively cover a larger area, or punch through one more wall. I couldn’t get my MacBook Pro to associate to a 40 MHz channel on any of these APs, so I excluded those results from this test. I believe Apple uses the “ fat channel intolerant” setting on their devices. As always, 5 GHz is the best option for speed, and 40 MHz channels on 2.4 GHz should be avoided in most situations.