Objective

The objective of this article is to get you more familiar with the Cisco Business Wireless (CBW) 150AX access point (AP) and 151AXM Mesh Extender. CBW150AX acts as a Primary AP and CBW151AXM is a mesh extender. If you are unfamiliar with the terms used, check out Cisco Business: Glossary of New Terms.

If you would like to learn the basics of CBW mesh networking, check out:

- Cisco Business: Welcome to Wireless Mesh Networking

Applicable Devices | Software Version

- CBW150AX | 10.2.2.0

- CBW151AXM | 10.2.2.0

Introduction

The CBW150AX AP and CBW 151AXM Mesh extenders are the next generation of the Cisco Business Wireless Product line. The major new feature / improvement is the implementation of 802.11ax / Wi-Fi 6. These new APs provide improved performance by increasing the efficacy of the network and it's ability to manage higher numbers of devices.

A CBW mesh network must include a functioning CBW Primary AP (CBW150AX) and at least one CBW Mesh Extender (CBW151AXM).

CBW 15x series devices are not compatible with CBW 14x/240 series devices and coexistence on the same LAN is not supported.

Technical Specifications

These specifications apply to both CBW150AX AP and CBW 151AXM:

Authentication and Security

- WiFi protected access - WPA2 and WPA3, including WPA2-Enterprise authentication.

- 802.1X, RADIUS Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA).

- Segmentation via VLANs (up to 16).

- 802.11r and 802.11i

- Guest network can also authenticate against a Social Login Account (Google and Facebook.

Maximum number of associated wireless clients

- 200 per Wi-Fi radio, for a total of 400 clients per access point, or 1000 in a system.

Maximum number of access points

- 50

- Recommended up to 25

Maximum number of mesh extenders

- Maximum number of associated Cisco Business mesh extenders: 25 per Access Point, up to 8 hops

Data rates supported

- 802.11a: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps

- 802.11b/g: 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, and 54 Mbps

- 802.11n data rates on 2.4 GHz: 6.5 to 300 Mbps (MCS0-MCS15, HT 20/40)

- 802.11ac data rates on 5 GHz: 6.5 to 867 Mbps (MCS0-MCS9)

- 802.11ax data rates on 2.4 & 5GHz: 6.5 to 1200 Mbps (MCS0-MCS11)

802.11ax

- 2x2 uplink/downlink MU-MIMO with two spatial streams

- Uplink/downlink OFDMA

- Target Wake Time (TWT)

- Basic Service Set (BSS) coloring

- Maximum ratio combining (MRC)

- 802.11ax beamforming

- 20-, 40-, 80- channels

- PHY data rates up to 1.488 Gbps (80 MHz with 5 GHz and 20 MHz with 2.4 GHz)

- Packet aggregation: A-MPDU (transmit and receive), A-MSDU (transmit and receive)

- 802.11 DFS

- CSD support

- WPA3 support

802.11ac

- 2x2 single-user/multi-user MIMO with two spatial streams, up to 867 Mbps in 5GHz

- 20-, 40-, and 80-MHz channels

- Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS)

Additional Technical Specifications for CBW150AX

Ethernet Ports

- Authentication with 802.1X or MAC filtered

- Dynamic VLAN or per port

- Traffic locally switched or tunneled back to Primary AP

System

- 1 GB DRAM, 256 MB flash

- 1GHz quad core processor

Powering options

- Use a PoE injector

- 802.3af/at Ethernet switch; a Cisco Business Switch with PoE is recommended (CBS220/250/350 series)

Power Draw

- 8.3W

Additional Technical Specifications for CBW151AXM

Ethernet ports

- No Ethernet Ports

System

- 1 GB DRAM, 256 MB flash

- 1GHz quad core processor

Powering options

- AC Power Supply with region specific wall plug

About the Hardware

CBW150AX

The CBW150AX is designed as a ceiling mount AP powered by PoE. The kit comes with mounting hardware, an ethernet cable, and a PoE injector.

What’s in the CBW150AX Box

- Cisco Business 150AX Access Point

- Mounting Kit

- Ethernet Cable

- Quick Start Guide

- Technical Support Contact List

- Pointer Card China RoHS

- Compliance Information (for EU SKU only)

- PoE Injector

Product Features

1. Status LED

2. PoE (Power over Ethernet) - In Port (Ethernet Uplink Port)

3. Kensington Lock

4. Serial Connection - Disbled

5. Mode Button

6. Security Screw Hole

7. Mounting Bracket

CBW151AXM

The CBW151AXM is a wall plug model Mesh Extender similar to the CBW142 Mesh extender from the previous generation and extends your wireless network range.

What’s in the CBW151AXM Box

- Cisco Business 151AXM Mesh Extender

- Quick Start Guide

- Technical Support Contact List

- Pointer Card China RoHS

- Compliance Information (for EU SKU only)

Product Features

1. Status LED

2. AC Plug (will vary by country)

3. QR Code

4. Power On/Off Button

5. Mode Button

6. Console Port (For Tech Support Only)

7. Kensington Lock

8. Disabled Port

Conclusion

You now have a better understanding of the specifications for the CBW150AX AP and CBW151AXM Mesh Extender.