-
What are the
differences between the AP 2800 and AP 3800?
The AP 3800 has
the following features that are not available on the AP 2800:
-
What are the
benefits of a Flexible Radio Architecture?
Most sites have
plenty of 2.4–GHz coverage, so using FRA means fewer physical APs need to be
deployed as the dual 5–GHz radios can replace installations that previously
required two APs.
-
Flexible Radio
Assignment
-
Allows
for the additional XOR radio (if desired) to function similarly to a WSM module
(off channel scanning) while primary 5–GHz radio services clients
-
Reduces
installation costs as a single AP can now support two 5–GHz radios (fewer APs,
better aesthetics). This can provide flexibility in architectural designs and
can reduce the number of needed Ethernet drops
-
Can
increase accuracy of location based devices, and client can roam from Micro to
Macro cell on same AP
-
Primary
5GHz radio can service clients, while the secondary 5–GHz radio can be used to
enable testing of wider 160 MHz and/or newer channels as they become available
– allowing new features without limited performance
-
Allows
for RF network separation (example: guest access on one radio, corporate access
on the other)
-
Flexible radio, antenna,
and options using integrated antenna “I” series models
-
Flexible
Radio / Antenna Options using external antenna “e” series models
-
Both
radios can be setup in HDX mode for Micro cells with external antenna models
-
Both
radios can be set up in Macro cell mode with external antenna to provide two
wide area cells
-
Different antennas can be used on each 5G radio for different
coverage patterns (Omni and Directional); or one radio can serve one coverage
cell while the other radio is used for a different classroom or outdoor
coverage
-
Permits
greater RF flexibility allowing XOR to combine with dedicated 5–GHz in DRE mode
(default) OR SRE mode for a 5G/5G or separate 2.4/5G or DRE 2.4 & 5G (dual
band mode)
-
What is a
SMART antenna connector?
The Cisco
Aironet AP‐3802E, AP‐3802P, and AP‐2802E contain a SMART antenna connector,
which is connected directly to the flexible radio. Without a Smart antenna, the
flexible radio must stay in 2.4GHz only mode. Once a Smart a ntenna is
connected, the flexible radio can be used in the full flexible radio Assignment
mode, allowing dual 5–GHz, wireless security monitoring, and future modes.
The Smart
antenna connector can be used to connect to AIR‐CAB002‐DART‐R= which allow any
RP‐TNC based Aironet antenna to connect to the Smart Antenna port. In addition,
future Smart Antennas will be released at future times.
-
What is the
Extension module slot used for?
The module slot
on the AP 3802I, AP 3802E, and AP 3802P can be used to insert future modules.
Some of the
proposed modules are:
-
3G and LTE
Small Cell Offload
-
Bluetooth
Beaconing (BLE)
-
Future Wi-Fi
upgrades to meet new IEEE standards
-
Video
Surveillance
-
Custom
Applications using Linux
-
Why is the
Extension module slot on the side?
The sidecar
module architecture allows Network Engineers the ability to add/swap modules
without dismounting the access point from the mounting bracket. Additionally,
it frees the optional module from the constraints of being inside the AP.
-
What kind of
plastic is AP 2800 and AP 3800 made of and is it suitable for use in hospital
cleanroom environments?
The plastic
material used on the AP 2800 and AP 3800 series is Lexan 945. This material was
tested for clean room use with a Steris Chemical (trademark name SPOR-KLENZ )
http://www.sterislifesciences.com/Products/Surface-Disinfectants-Cleaners-and-Alcohols/Sporicides-Sterilant/Spor-Klenz-Ready-To-Use-Cold-Sterilant.aspx
-
Looking at
the specification sheets, I noticed the Cisco AP 1850 supports 4x4:4 and the AP
2800/3800 supports 4x4:3. Why does the AP 1850 support one more spatial stream?
How does this help me?
When designing
the AP 2800 and AP 3800 Cisco wanted to bring the very best technology into the
device. A trade-off was made to support dual 5–GHz 160 MHz rather than the
extra spatial stream, as the additional spatial stream provides little real
benefit.
In order to
maintain a good 4-SS link, one needs n+1 antennas (meaning you cannot beam-form
a 4-ss client when the maximum number of antennas is 4. Additionally, there are
few, if any, 4-SS clients because the battery requirements of such a client are
prohibited or limited to devices such as PCI card or other "plugged in
devices".
So while it may
seem like MU-MIMO 4 spatial streams is an advantage, MU-MIMO 4 Spatial streams
seems like an advantage, MU-MIMO operation is for the most part limited to
three 1-SS users or 1-SS and one 2-SS user. The benefit is only there when you
have a single 4-SS client, which is a very small benefit.
Cisco has for
years developed products using 3-SS as we use our 4th antenna to
beam-form using ClientLink to maintain a robust 3-SS signal over a greater
distance than what could be reasonably maintained without transmit beam-forming
(TxBF).
Cost sensitive
customers who don't require advanced features such as Cisco ClientLink,
CleanAir, 160 MHz operation, FRA, mGig can certainly use the AP 1850 and gain
4-SS, but it will not outperform the AP 2800 and AP 3800.
-
How Does
AUTO-Link Aggregation (LAG) work with the AP 2800 and AP 3800?
Both the 2800
and 3800 support LAG across their primary ethernet interfaces and AUX ports.
This would provide 2Gbps of uplink to the access point. When operating in LAG,
the 3800's multigigabit port will operate as a single GE port.
The following
Cisco switching series support LAG with the APs:
-
Catalyst
3850 / all models (non–Converged Access mode)
-
Catalyst
3650 / all models (non–Converged Access mode)
-
Catalyst
4500/Sup‐8E
-
Catalyst
6500/Sup 720 or newer
-
What is
ClientLink 4.0? How is it different from IEEE 802.11ac Wave-2 beam–forming?
ClientLink 4.0
is a beamforming capability built into Cisco Aironet® wireless LAN access
points. When the access point (AP) concentrates signals toward the receiving
client, that client is better able to "hear" the AP's transmission, so
throughput is greater. ClientLink also enhances performance in the uplink
(client-to-AP) direction, so that the AP can also better hear the client
communications. The result improves performance in both directions.
By comparison,
many competing 802.11ac-capable APs offer uplink-only enhancements, from client
to access point. Many 802.11ac-capable AP suppliers also base their downlink
enhancements on the optional transmit beamforming (TxBF) feature in 802.11ac,
which requires TxCBF support in the client device to operate.
Cisco ClientLink
technology is unique in offering both uplink and downlink performance
improvements, and it does not require any special capabilities in the client
device to work.
ClientLink works
with all client technologies. It makes sure each client type always operates at
the best possible rate, as determined by the 802.11 access technology
supported, network conditions, and the distance of the client from the Wi-Fi
AP. ClientLink helps to maintain maximum client rates.
-
I noticed that we can’t run
3800 with mGig and gigE ports in lag mode (without downgrading mGig).
Correct, if you
have mGig there is no need to use LAG
-
The internal antennas on
the AP 2800i and AP 3800i what is the gain in dBi?
The 5 GHz Macro
cell antenna is 5 dBi, the 2.4 GHz Macro Cell is 4 dBi and the XOR radio (when
in dual 5 GHz mode) uses a 6 dBi integrated antenna.
-
Is PoE only accepted on the
primary port? or can I also power the device using the secondary ethernet
port?
Only the primary
Ethernet port negotiates Power over Ethernet.
-
Can you advise how much
system memory this access point has?
1024 MB DRAM and
256MB flash
-
I would like
to understand more about FRA and how RRM works ?
Please refer the
RRM guide at
http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/wireless/controller/technotes/8-2/b_RRM_White_Paper.html
-
Does this product support
TKIP?
Customers should
be discouraged from running legacy TKIP as that feature has been deprecated by
the Wi-Fi Alliance. Cisco understands there are healthcare customers using
legacy equipment with a need for TKIP support. The 1830, 1850, 2800 and 3800
does not currently support TKIP but there are plans to support it in the 8.3MR1
release.