Suggestion for a good POE access point?

[jerryk]

Hi,

I want to improve the coverage in my house. I have one POE AP (WAP 321) downstairs under a cabinet and want to add another AP upstairs. The issue is it will be in plain sight and the WAP 321 is kind of ugly. Also, I prefer one that works simultaneously on both 2.4 and 5 GHz, but that is not an absolute requirement since most of my devices support 5 GHz.

Any suggestions? Also, I would love hear about your experience with various POE APs. The WAP 321 has been great for the last year or so.

 

[stevech]

Most affordable APs that send power over the cat5 ethernet cable are fine, but the term "PoE" is dangerous. It is supposed to mean the IEEE standard where some 48V is used, and rather costly devices at each end are required.

Power-inserters for consumer gear need the caveat, else 48V will break it. Some few do have IEEE compliant PoE (there are two major versions of the standard).

So beware.

===

I've used the power-inserter APs from Engenious (good prices on newegg.com). Mostly outdoor packaged for me, but they have indoor products too - e.g., ones that look like smoke detectors.
http://www.engeniustech.com/business

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168059

This one is IEEE compliant for PoE
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168087
But you have to buy http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=33-999-013

You can DIY an inserter/extractor too, and use any WiFi AP. Pay attention to wire length vs. ohm's law and voltage.

 

[Daybreak]

Howdy,

Since you are wanting concurrent dual band connectivity... it's a little pricey, but its slick and works well.

Engenius EAP900H dual band access point.
Trendnet TEW-753DAP dual band access point.

cheaper variations
Trendnet TEW-653AP 2.4Ghz access point

looks and mounts like a smoke detector.

 

[tcviper]

Hi,

I want to improve the coverage in my house. I have one POE AP (WAP 321) downstairs under a cabinet and want to add another AP upstairs. The issue is it will be in plain sight and the WAP 321 is kind of ugly. Also, I prefer one that works simultaneously on both 2.4 and 5 GHz, but that is not an absolute requirement since most of my devices support 5 GHz.

Any suggestions? Also, I would love hear about your experience with various POE APs. The WAP 321 has been great for the last year or so.

The Cisco WAP561? Same as the 321 but with dual radio

 

[fistv]

Cisco air-sap1602E-a-k9, also order the 3 external antennas, air-ant2524DW-R, they are not included. Been using them for a couple of years, no negatives other than it has much more than I will ever use for option/features. It also does not come with a power supply but if you are using a PoE switch you don't need it.
Mine are powered with an 8 port cisco SG100D-08P switch that cisco recommended for what I wanted to do with them, which was to set 3 of them up outside on camera tripods covering about 4 acres.