About the Access Point

Introduction to Cisco Wireless 9172I Wi-Fi 7 Access Point

The Cisco Wireless 9172I Wi-Fi 7 Access Point is an enterprise-class tri-band (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz) access point. The AP supports full interoperability with leading 802.11be and 802.11ax clients and a hybrid deployment with other APs and controllers.

The AP hardware is supported on the following platforms:

  • Cisco Catalyst Center (formerly known as Cisco DNA Center) on-premises

  • Cisco Catalyst stack

  • Meraki cloud-based stack

A full listing of the AP's features and specifications is provided in the Cisco Wireless 9172I Wi-Fi 7 Access Point Data Sheet, at:

Cisco Wireless 9172 Series Access Points Data Sheet.

Cisco Wireless 9172I Wi-Fi 7 Access Point Features

The CW9172I is an advanced Wi-Fi 7 multi-band enterprise indoor access point equipped with a high-performance eight-radio architecture. It supports three distinct Wi-Fi frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) alongside additional radios for IoT, and UWB functionalities. It is designed for seamless integration with the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller, this AP delivers superior connectivity, expanded coverage, and support for advanced IoT applications. The AP includes the following hardware and supporting features:

  • Radios and Wireless Capabilities

    • Wi-Fi 7 radios supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequencies with integrated omnidirectional antennas.

    • The AP operates in tri-band mode as 2.4 GHz (2x2:2), 5 GHz (2x2:2), 6 GHz (2x2:2), or in dual-band mode as 2.4 GHz (2x2:2), and 5 GHz (4x4:4).

    • Dedicated scanning/AUX radio for real-time network monitoring and optimization.

    • Integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE): Enables IoT applications, such as location tracking and wayfinding.

    • USB port for optional CW-ACC-GPS1= GPS module

    • Multiuser Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output (MU-MIMO) for simultaneous uplink and downlink connections.

    • Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) for efficient traffic scheduling and resource utilization.

    • Spatial Reuse (BSS Coloring), enabling differentiation between multiple basic service sets for increased transmission efficiency.

    • Target Wake Time (TWT): An energy-saving mode that allows battery-powered devices to stay asleep and wake only at predefined intervals for data exchange, optimizing energy efficiency.

    • Multi-Link Operation (MLO): Multi-Link Operation (MLO) allows Multi-Link Devices (MLDs) to maintain associations and simultaneously transmit data across multiple frequency bands, including 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz band.

    • Preamble Puncturing: Preamble puncturing allows Extremely High Throughput (EHT) stations to transmit and receive Physical Layer Protocol Data Units (PPDUs) efficiently by omitting signals in unused 20-MHz subchannels, even with bandwidth interference like rogue APs.

  • Power and Connectivity

    • Ethernet Port: Supports the following speeds: 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 2.5 Gbps.

    • Power over Ethernet (PoE): Fully compliant with 802.3at PoE, enabling all device features. 802.3bt class 5 is required to enable USB.


      Note

      Before deployment, verify that all PoE injectors and switches provide the necessary power budget to enable all access point features.

  • Ethernet Cable Requirements

    • CAT5E or above: Recommended for distances up to 100m or less.

    • Environmental Considerations: Avoid routing cables near high-interference sources such as electrical panels or motors. Ensure cable installations comply with local building and fire safety codes.

  • Intelligent Network Capabilities

    • CleanAir Pro Technology: Provides advanced spectrum intelligence for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands. Supports high-speed spectrum analysis across channel widths from 20 MHz to 320 MHz. The technology identifies and mitigates interference sources, optimizing network performance in real-time.

  • Operating Modes

    • Local Mode: It is the default mode for client servicing, which utilizes CAPWAP tunnels for centralized management. This mode offers central switc hing capabilities, which handles management and data traffic.

    • FlexConnect Mode: FlexConnect mode allows local data AC switching, and enables continued operation during controller disconnection.

    • Monitor Mode: The mode acts as a dedicated sensor for Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS), rogue AP detection, and Location-based services (LBS).

    • Sniffer Mode: Sniffer mode captures and forwards wireless packets for remote analysis using tools like Wireshark or AiroPeek NX. It also includes metadata like timestamps, signal strength, and packet size.


      Note

      Requires the receiving server to be on the same VLAN as the controller management VLAN.

    • Site Survey Mode: This mode enables RF parameter configuration for site survey investigations, and simplifies network planning and installation.

    • SDA/Fabric Mode: The SDA mode supports Software-Defined Access (SD-Access) for advanced segmentation and policy enforcement.

  • External Interfaces

    • USB Port: USB ports supports additional device connectivity for enhanced flexibility.

    • Console Port: The console port on the access point allows you to connect it to a PC or laptop.

  • Software Features

    • Intelligent Capture: It probes the network to provide deep diagnostic insights, enabling troubleshooting latency, interference, and other performance issues.

    • Cisco Catalyst Center Support: The support integrates with CCS Catalyst Center to enable CCS Spaces for location services.

    • Apple FastLane for optimized iOS device performance.

    • Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) for advanced security and network access control.

    • Optimized AP Roaming: It ensures client devices connect to the access point to provide the fastest data rates within their coverage range.

AP model numbers and regulatory domains

AP Type

Product ID

Details

Access Point for indoor environments, with internal antennas

CW9172I

Wi-Fi 7 AP, tri-band, 802.11be with internal antennas

With the new Wi-Fi 7 APs, Cisco now has one AP portfolio that can be used either with the Meraki cloud native network or Catalyst on-premise controller-based deployments. With the introduction of the one AP portfolio, it is essential to have a single product ID (PID) at manufacturing, to simplify logistics or operations. This AP model is designed for global use under a single PID. To verify approval and to identify the regulatory domain that corresponds to a particular country, see https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/assets/prod/wireless/wireless-compliance-tool/index.html. Regulatory approvals are continually updated as they are obtained.

Antennas and radios

The following sections provide detailed information about the AP's antennas and radios.

Internal antennas

The Cisco Wireless 9172I AP (CW9172I) has the following list of internal antennas:

  • Two Wi-Fi serving antennas with a dedicated 2.4-GHz radio, and a 5-GHz radio

  • Two Wi-Fi serving antennas with a dedicated 5-GHz radio, and a 6-GHz radio

  • Two antennas with a dedicated 2.4 GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz scan radio

  • One internal single-band antenna with a dedicated 2.4-GHz IoT radio

Operating frequency and effective isotropic radiated power

Table 1. Cisco CW9172I AP Values for European Union (CE) Region

Radio

Frequency Bands

Maximum Total EIRP Power Level (dBm)

Wi-Fi

2.412–2.472 GHz

20

5.180–5.250 GHz

23

5.250–5.350 GHz

23

5.470–5.725 GHz

30

5.725–5.850 GHz

13.98

5.945–6.425 GHz

23

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

2400–2483.5 MHz

9.92
Table 2. Cisco CW9172I Values for United Kingdom Region

Radio

Frequency Bands

Maximum Total EIRP Power Level (dBm)

Wi-Fi

2.412–2.472 GHz

20

5.180–5.250 GHz

23

5.250–5.350 GHz

23

5.470–5.725 GHz

30

5.725–5.850 GHz

23

5945–6425 GHz

24

Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)

2400–2483.5 MHz

9.92