PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Aruba AP-515
Aruba AP-515
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), dual radio, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, Target Wake Time
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4:4 on 5 GHz; 2x2:2 on 2.4 GHz
  • Aggregate Throughput: 5375 Mbps combined (4800 Mbps on 5 GHz + 575 Mbps on 2.4 GHz); some listings cite 2.69 Gbps PHY
  • Radios (bands): 2.4 GHz (2x2) + 5 GHz (4x4), concurrent dual-band
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x HPE SmartRate E0 RJ-45 (100/1000/2500BASE-T, 2.5 GbE); 1x E1 10/100/1000BASE-T
  • Max Clients: 512 associated clients per radio per the 510 Series spec (one retailer lists 256 per radio)
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3af/802.3at PD on E0 (802.3at recommended; 802.3af requires IPM enabled, draws about 13.5 W); 20.8 W at 802.3at/bt
  • Bluetooth / IoT: Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee (BLE radio)
  • Security: WPA3, TPM

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Wi-Fi 6 with 4x4 5 GHz radio for high per-client rates; 2.5 GbE uplink on the E0 port relieves a 1 GbE bottleneck; Broad 802.3at PoE support with a 1 GbE fallback port; Built-in Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee for IoT use; WPA3 and TPM support for enterprise security; Managed through Aruba Central or Mobility Conductor; Dual-band, concurrent operation with the 2.4 GHz radio for legacy clients
  • ✘ Cons: The 2.4 GHz radio is only 2x2, so it is much slower than the 5 GHz radio; Needs 802.3at PoE for full function; 802.3af with IPM disabled is unsupported; Aggregate throughput and max-client figures vary across listings; Only one multi-gig port, so no second 2.5 GbE uplink; Higher price than many Wi-Fi 6 APs in its class
  • Est. Price: $1,135 - $1,757

Compare Against

Ubiquiti U6 Pro
Ubiquiti U6 Pro
★ 4.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 6 total: 5 GHz 4x4 (DL/UL MU-MIMO); 2.4 GHz 2x2 (UL MU-MIMO)
  • Aggregate Throughput: 5.3 Gbps (combined; 4.8 Gbps 5 GHz BW160 + 573.5 Mbps 2.4 GHz BW40)
  • Radios (bands): Dual-band: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
  • Uplink Port Speed: 1x 1 GbE RJ45
  • Max Clients: 250+ (official Ubiquiti tech specs; some retailers list 300+)
  • PoE Requirement: PoE powered, 44-57V DC input, 13W max consumption; 802.3af/at not specified by Ubiquiti; no PoE injector in the spec listing

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Wi-Fi 6 with 4x4 MU-MIMO on 5 GHz for good multi-client performance; Aggregate throughput up to 5.3 Gbps across both bands; Low 13W power draw compared with higher-end APs; Works with UniFi Network controller for centralized management; Ceiling or wall mounting with included Pro Mount; Compact, low-profile design (about 197 mm diameter, 35 mm height)
  • ✘ Cons: Only a single 1 GbE uplink, which can bottleneck the 5 GHz radio on fast networks; No 2.5 GbE or multi-gig port; PoE standard not clearly specified, so verify your switch or injector supplies enough power; PoE injector is not included with the US model, which adds cost; Client capacity is lower on the official spec (250+) than some retailer marketing claims (300+); Requires a UniFi controller for full feature use
  • Est. Price: $159 - $185

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