PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Cisco Catalyst CW9179F
Cisco Catalyst CW9179F
★ 3.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Wi-Fi Standard: 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7), backward compatible with 802.11ax/ac/n/a/b/g; Wi-Fi 7 (R1), Wi-Fi 6 (R2), Wi-Fi 6E certified
  • Spatial Streams (MIMO): 2.4 GHz: 4x4 MU-MIMO (4 SS); 5 GHz: 4x4 + 4x4 UL/DL MU-MIMO (4 SS each); 6 GHz: 4x4 MU-MIMO (4 SS)
  • Aggregate Throughput: Up to 24 Gbps PHY (quad-radio mode); up to 18-23 Gbps PHY (tri-radio mode); per-band 802.11be rates not published
  • Radios (bands): Tri-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz; runs in quad or tri radio mode; channel widths 6 GHz 20-320 MHz, 5 GHz 20-160 MHz, 2.4 GHz 20 MHz
  • Uplink Port Speed: 2x RJ-45 multigigabit ports at 100M/1G/2.5G/5G/10G (Cat 6/6A required for 10G; Cat 5e up to 5G); RJ-45 console port at 115200 bps
  • Max Clients: Not published by Cisco
  • PoE Requirement: 802.3bt UPOE Class 6 (47W max, both 10G ports) or 802.3at PoE+ (25.5W max); 802.3af only for staging with radios off; optional CW-INJ-8 power injector
  • Power Draw: Idle 19.6W +/-2W; typical 25.7W +/-4W (UPOE) or 23.6W +/-4W (PoE+)
  • Antennas: 4 external antenna connectors (color-coded); integrated 2.4/5/6 GHz directional, IoT omnidirectional, and GNSS omnidirectional with software-configurable beam patterns
  • Dimensions / Weight: 475 x 330 x 73 mm (18.7 x 13.0 x 2.9 in) without brackets; AP 4.54 kg (10.0 lb); bracket 1.72 kg (3.8 lb)
  • IP Rating: IP65/IP67 only with CW-ACC-9179-B-00 Outdoor Environment Pack installed
  • Operating Temperature: -20C to 60C (excluding solar load); -20C to 50C (including solar load)
  • Security: WPA3-R3, WPA3-Suite B, Enhanced Open, 802.1X, AES-GCMP/CCMP, multiple EAP types
  • Software / Controller: Cisco IOS XE 17.18.1 or later; Catalyst 9800 controllers (physical or virtual) or Catalyst 9000 switches with Embedded Wireless Controller in SDA mode
  • Licensing: Requires Cisco Networking Subscription for wireless (Essentials or Advantage)
  • Warranty: Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty (E-LLW)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) with 4x4 MU-MIMO on 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz and up to 24 Gbps aggregate PHY rate in quad-radio mode; Two 10G-capable multigigabit uplinks for high-density deployments; Outdoor-capable IP65/IP67 when the Outdoor Environment Pack is installed; WPA3 and Enhanced Open security with 802.1X and multiple EAP types; Four external antenna connectors plus software-configurable integrated antenna patterns; Enhanced Limited Lifetime Warranty
  • ✘ Cons: Requires a Cisco Networking Subscription (Essentials or Advantage) on top of hardware cost; Street price around USD 6,300-7,000 with some list prices near USD 9,750, which is high for an AP; Full 10G uplink performance needs 802.3bt UPOE (47W), so PoE+ switches cap it at 2.5G per port; Max associated client count is not published by Cisco; Outdoor IP rating requires an extra accessory pack; Needs IOS XE 17.18.1+ with a Catalyst 9800 controller or Catalyst 9000 switch in SDA mode
  • Est. Price: $6,333 - $7,000

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