Comparing Cisco AP Coverage Patterns

Different Wi-Fi Access Points (APs) have been designed for various use cases, it’s no surprise they also have different coverage patterns. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the more common Cisco APs and how their coverage varies.

The perfect access point doesn’t exist – the size, shape, mounting options and coverage patterns are all things we consider when we select an AP for a given scenario.

How to Pick the Right AP?

When we produce a Wi-Fi design, we go through a list to determine the best AP variant to use:

• Internal vs External: Will the AP be installed outdoors? If so, it needs to be weatherproof and capable of handling heat, rain, and other environmental conditions.
• Industrial: Some limited installation types require an AP built for hazardous conditions – think of industrial processing plants as a example.
• Internal vs External Antenna: Some installation types – such as warehouse aisles, need a directional antenna with a narrow beam – others require high gain antennas to cover a larger area. The choice of internal vs external antennas may be decided from this point – noting that some newer APs are now directional, with built in antennas
• Throughput: In general terms of delivering raw throughput, more antennas is better. APs are often categorised as entry-level, mid-range, or high-end. Understanding the use case helps us choose the right tier

ASSOCIATED BLOGS:

• Wi-Fi Design and Implementation
• Wi-Fi Concepts
• Wi-Fi Terminology

Cisco APs: 5GHz Coverage Patterns

The image below compares the 5GHz coverage patterns of several APs:

• Top Row: Cisco IW9167i, Cisco 9124AXi, Cisco CW9176i
• Bottom Row: Cisco AIR-ANT-2567 (Omni Antenna rather an AP) and Cisco CW9172i

Note how the APs patterns are different, so in designing your RF layout, this needs to be taken into account.

The CW9176i shows the most symmetric pattern, likely due to the these being in the high-end range of AP models.

ASSOCIATED BLOGS:

• Anatomy of an Access Point
• Cisco 9124 Access Point

Cisco APs: 6GHz Coverage Patterns

The image below now compares the 6GHz coverage of these APs:

• Top Row: IW9167i, 9124AXi, CW9176i
• Bottom Row: AIR-ANT-2567 (Omni Antenna rather an AP) and CW9172i

As you can see in the image, not all APs support 6GHz.

ASSOCIATED BLOGS:

• Wi-Fi 6E and 6GHz Explained
• Wi-Fi 6 vs 5G
• Deploying and Migrating to 6GHz Wi-Fi

Cisco APs: 2.4GHz Coverage Patterns

Finally, here’s how these APs compare with 2.4GHz coverage:

• Top Row: Cisco IW9167i, Cisco 9124AXi, Cisco CW9176i
• Bottom Row: Cisco AIR-ANT-2567 (Omni Antenna rather an AP) and Cisco CW9172i

The 2567 antenna gives the best, most symmetric coverage pattern, with the 9176i coming second.

ASSOCIATED BLOGS:

• Cisco Access Points Power Levels
• Cisco Access Points - Naming Standards

Comparing Cisco AP Coverage Patterns: Summary

The choice of Cisco AP you pick for a particular scenario is based on a range of factors.

In this blog we’ve provided a quick reference to see how the coverage from different APs (and antennas) varies.

The difference in coverage is notable even between different APs in the same family – the 9172i compared to the 9176i for example. The additional antennas in the higher tier AP really does make a difference in providing quality, ubiquitous coverage.

The key takeaway is that coverage patterns vary. So, if you’re swapping APs, it’s not always a 1:1 replacement – you’ll need to design your layout to suit the new model

ASSOCIATED BLOGS:

• Wi-Fi Predictive Designs
• Wi-Fi Assurance Review
• Wi-Fi Surveys: Overview to Wi-Fi Survey types