Primary Device
Aruba (HPE) Aruba AP-655
★ 3.7 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with 6 GHz support; backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4:4 MU-MIMO with OFDMA per radio (tri-radio)
- Aggregate Throughput: 7.8 Gbps combined (HPE rated across 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz radios)
- Radios (bands): Tri-radio: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and dedicated 6 GHz
- Uplink Port Speed: 2x multigig RJ-45 ports (100M/1G/2.5G/5G); dual 5 GbE with failover or aggregation
- Max Clients: 512 concurrent clients; 16 SSIDs
- PoE Requirement: 802.3bt Type 3 (PoE Class 4) recommended; 802.3at-only power is not supported for full operation; worst-case draw about 40.3 to 46.5 W
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Tri-radio design with a dedicated 6 GHz radio for Wi-Fi 6E capacity and reduced co-channel interference; 4x4:4 MU-MIMO with OFDMA on each radio supports high-density clients; Two multigig uplinks (up to 5 GbE) with failover or link aggregation avoid the 1 GbE backhaul bottleneck; Rated up to 7.8 Gbps aggregate throughput; Managed through Aruba Central with zero-touch provisioning and WPA3 security
- ✘ Cons: Requires 802.3bt (PoE++) switch power for full operation, so older 802.3af/at switches are insufficient; Wi-Fi 6E is one generation behind Wi-Fi 7 gear; Higher price than dual-band Wi-Fi 6 APs, at roughly $1,450 to $2,195; Client limit of 512 can be a constraint in very dense venues; Spec figures vary across resellers and datasheet access was limited, so PoE class and throughput should be confirmed against HPE's official datasheet; Regional SKUs (US, RW, TAA, EG) differ in price and compliance
- Est. Price: $1,450 - $2,195
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