A steadfast cornerstone of your wireless business network core
Our 10 Best Wireless Access Point (WAP) – now commonly referred to as ‘Access Points'(APs)
Wireless access points and wireless range extenders are often compared as similar, or even – mistakenly – interchangeable devices. However, they are quite different pieces of equipment.
Access points not only extend your existing wireless network further, but also allow your network to be extended via wired functionality via an Ethernet cable plugged into Ethernet ports on both the Access Point and the additional device. Access Points access the network directly via the router with an Ethernet cable, which uses Power over Ethernet (PoE) to power the access point. It then becomes the wireless network access point, broadcasts its own individual signal via its internal radio. Multiple wireless devices then connect to the access point through a wireless standard, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, rather than to the router. These devices are regulated and governed by the access point’s management software. They are usually deployed in areas where the router WiFi struggles to reach. For example, your front desk is struggling to access WiFi but a router is not within range. An access point can be installed near the front desk and an Ethernet cable connects it to the network. The wireless signal strength around the front desk will be much stronger.
Wireless range extenders really just act as much, much simpler access points. They are also often called ‘wireless repeaters’. Like access points, they also provide the boost to an existing wireless signal, but only by amplifying the existing signal from the router to the areas they are placed. They can also extend the network to one or two additional devices via ethernet cables, if the range extender and additional devices both have an ethernet port.
Need an access point for your business?
We have a handy top ten for you
10. Netgear WAC510
802.11ac 1.2Gbps AC WiFi Business Access Point
with NETGEAR Insight app
Business Features for higher speed, higher coverage and higher density WiFi
The NETGEAR® AC WiFi Business Access Point WAC510 delivers high performance with high client density for enterprises requiring ubiquitous and reliable wireless for all business applications. The WAC510 is managed by NETGEAR Insight app, for a more intuitive and innovative support, with no need for extra management hardware. The WAC510 features Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) to achieve aggregate speeds up to 1.2 Gbps, option to configure as Router or Access Point modes, and comes with two Ethernet ports, including a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) 1Gb port. WAC510 comes with lifetime limited warranty, and 24/7 support including lifetime chat.
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Buy NETGEAR WAC510 Access Point
9. Aruba AP22 R4W02A
Instant On 802.11ax, 2X2:2 Access Point
All the features you need plus those you really want
AP22 is a Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6™ (Wi-Fi 6) access point that brings higher capacity, efficiency, and performance to small businesses with dense deployments. With a maximum aggregate data rate of 1.7 Gbps, AP22 access points deliver the speed and reliability small businesses need. Perfect for reimagined offices, schools, retail stores and hospitality. The AP22 is compatible with all your legacy wireless devices – 802.11b/g/n/ac – so you won’t have to replace your smartphones and tablets. 1024-quadrature amplitude modulation (1024-QAM) enables a 25% data increase over 256 QAM, improving throughput to ensure high quality of service (QoS) for higher-density venues. Additionally, it delivers 4x the capacity of 802.11ac access points to connect more devices simultaneously.
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8. D-Link Nuclias CONNECT DAP-X2850
AX3600 Wi-Fi 6 Dual-Band PoE Access Point
Take a Load Off and Let Your AP do the Hard Work
The Wi-Fi 6 ready DAP-X2850 is on hand to provide unbeatable speeds, greatly increased capacity and interference-free coverage throughout businesses, paired with the easy management of Connect.
The DAP-X2810’s Load Balancing feature spreads the work load between two or more Access Points to get optimal resource utilization, throughput and response time, while Airtime Fairness helps distribute equal amounts of air time to each connected client. Band Steering auto-connects devices such as smart phones and tablets to the higher-capacity 5 GHz band while allowing devices 2.4 GHz-ready to remain. The result is a steady, consistent connection for each user – the perfect balancing act.
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Buy D-Link Nuclias CONNECT DAP-X2850 Access Point
7. DrayTek Vigor AP810-K
802.11n Professional Wireless Access Point
with PoE Dual LAN & Printer port
Managed PoE Wireless AP
With a stable and extendable wireless network, both business and home/SOHO users can easily utilise and enjoy high-bandwidth applications, such as ERP/CRM, VoIP, video on demand, e-learning (e.g. iTune U), and so much more. The VigorAP 810 is a wireless Access Point (AP) with MIMO technology and Power over Ethernet (PoE) support. That means you can have most advance wireless network standard for the coverage backward compatible with 802.11b/g standard. Moreover, you would have easy AP installation no matter where the power plug is. At last but not least, VigorAP 810 delivers reliable and secure wireless local area networks (WLANs) through the simplified but robust management and configuration. See below for more feature details.
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Buy DrayTek Vigor AP810-K Access Point
6. DrayTek VigorAP 903
Managed 11ac Wave 2 Business-class Mesh Wireless Access Point
High-performance Mesh Wireless solution
VigorAP 903 is designed to expand the wireless coverage, eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones and significantly reduce the cost of network deployments. It can also be used as a traditional access point either managed or stand alone so has the flexibility to be used how you need it.
The VigorAP 903 is a dual-band 802.11ac Wave 2 Mesh Wireless solution, designed to eliminate wireless drop outs, stuttering videos, slow download speeds, poor signal and Wi-Fi dead zones. One access point acts as the controller (Mesh root) and in total up to 8 access points create an easy to manage wireless mesh. Extend coverage without running expensive cabling.
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Buy DrayTek VigorAP 903 Access Point
5. Meraki Go GR10-HW
Indoor Access Point
Reliable Connectivity
Meraki Go is WiFi built for businesses. The Meraki Go app allows you to easily add multiple WiFi networks so that staff, guests and point-of-sale devices can share a single internet connection. Set up blocked websites to secure your network and easily limit usage of certain applications to protect from bandwidth overuse and prioritise your business-critical applications.
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Buy Meraki Go GR10-HW Access Point
4. TP-Link Omada EAP225
AC1350 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Ceiling Mount Access Point
An Affordable Scalable Business Wi-Fi Solution
The Omada EAP225 by TP-Link provides a business-class wireless network solution that’s flexible, manageable, secure, and easy-to-deploy. Featuring cloud access, Omada Cloud Controller OC200 or Omada Software Controller allow users to centrally manage the entire Omada networks in the remote site. And the intuitive Omada app makes network management incredibly convenient. Omada EAPs also feature captive portal and advanced RF management functions, which make them ideal for demanding, high-traffic environments such as campuses, hotels, shopping centres and offices.
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Buy TP-Link Omada EAP225 Access Point
3. TP-Link EAP660 HD
AX3600 Wireless Dual-Band Multi-Gigabit Ceiling Mount Wi-Fi 6 Access Point
Ultra-High Performing AX3600 Enterprise Wireless for High-Density Environments
The TP-Link EAP660 HD AX3600 Dual Band Multi-Gigabit Ceiling Mount Access Point provides ultra-high performing enterprise wireless for high-density environments. Armed with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet Port, the EAP660 HD delivers exceptional multi-gigabit performance to support the insatiable demand for better and faster Wi-Fi. Compatibility with standard 802.3at PoE+ is ideal for flexible deployment.
The Omada Wi-Fi 6 Access Point also features the latest 802.11ax technologies like 1024 QAM and Long OFDM Symbol, which allows the EAP to boost overall speeds up to 3550 Mbps (2402 Mbps on a 5 GHz band and 1148 Mbps on a 2.4 GHz band)†. With 8 spatial streams, multi-user throughput is incredibly increased to drive more applications.
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Buy TP-Link EAP660 HD Access Point
2. Ubiquiti UniFi UAP AC Long Range
802.11ac 3×3 MIMO 1.3 Gbps Dual Radio Access Point
The UniFi AC LR AP offers simultaneous, dual-band operation with 3×3 MIMO in the 2.4 GHz band and 2×2 MIMO in the 5 GHz band. The innovative antenna design provides a long-range, symmetrical-link coverage area, and the antenna gain of the UniFi AC LR AP performs better than one-way, high transmit power does for connecting distant clients.
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Ideal for long-range deployments
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Buy Ubiquiti UniFi UAP AC LR Access Point
1. Zyxel NWA110AX
802.11ax (WiFi 6) Dual-Radio Outdoor PoE Access Point
WiFi 6, Wait No More
The NWA110AX is truly the next generation of wireless (WiFi 6) AP for businesses looking for a most economical upgrade path to 11ax. Its built-in 2nd Generation WiFi 6 (Qualcomm 802.11ax 2.0) chipset allows the access point to take advantage of the full range of WiFi 6 technologies including uplink OFDMA and MU-MIMO which can’t be found in earlier releases of 802.11ax products.
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Buy Zyxel NWA110AX Access Point
Wireless Access Points available from Comms Express
Cisco Wireless | Cisco Meraki Wireless | Meraki Go | D-Link Access Points | DrayTek Access Points | Grandstream Wireless Access Points | HPE and Aruba Wireless | NETGEAR Wireless Access Points | TP-Link Omada Access Points | TRENDnet Wireless Access Points | Ubiquiti UniFi Wireless Access Points | Zyxel Wireless Access Points
If you require any further information on these or any other products that we stock here at Comms Express, please do not hesitate to contact our team who will be only too happy to help.
Until next time…
