Primary Device
Cisco Catalyst 9178i
★ 3.8 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
- Spatial Streams (MIMO): 4x4:4 MU-MIMO
- Aggregate Throughput: 24 Gbps
- Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) + Scan + IoT
- Uplink Port Speed: 2 x 10 Gbps mGig
- Max Clients: 1,200
- PoE Requirement: 802.3bt (UPOE)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Industry-leading Wi-Fi 7 performance with 24 Gbps throughput; Quad-radio architecture including a dedicated security scan radio; Flexible dual-mode management (Cloud via Meraki or On-prem via Catalyst Center); Integrated UWB and GNSS for precision location services.
- ✘ Cons: Very high hardware and licensing costs; Requires high-power 802.3bt (UPOE) for full feature set and performance; Requires active DNA or Meraki subscriptions for management.
- Est. Price: $1,150 - $1,600
Compare Against
Ubiquiti UniFi U7 Pro Wall
★ 5.0 Value Score
Technical Specifications
- Wi-Fi Standard: Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)
- Spatial Streams (MIMO): 6 total (2x2 MIMO on 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands)
- Aggregate Throughput: 10.7 Gbps
- Radios (bands): Tri-band (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz)
- Uplink Port Speed: 2.5 GbE RJ45
- Max Clients: 300+
- PoE Requirement: PoE+ (802.3at)
Curation Review
- ✔ Pros: Supports the full Wi-Fi 7 standard including the 6 GHz band for low-latency performance; Massive 10.7 Gbps aggregate throughput; 2.5 GbE uplink prevents bottlenecking; Slim, aesthetically pleasing wall-mount design with optional table stand.
- ✘ Cons: Lacks the integrated Ethernet switch/passthrough ports found on previous 'In-Wall' models; Requires PoE+ power due to higher 22W max consumption; Runs noticeably warm during operation.
- Est. Price: $199 - $229