...but not with this!
Those of you that were able to attend either the inaugural Atmosphere ANZ on the Gold Coast late last year, or the more recent Association of Independent Schools ICT Conference in Canberra, may recall seeing this special "water feature".
Purpose-built to survive in the harshest outdoor environments, 270 series APs withstand exposure to extreme high and low temperatures, persistent moisture and precipitation, and are fully sealed to keep out airborne contaminants. All electrical interfaces include industrial strength surge protection.
The Aruba 277 access point is the star here. From the side you can see that it is completely submerged. As an aside, the first time I put the AP into the tank, I was rather non-plussed to discover that it actually floats...at the AIS conference I had to use a house-brick wrapped in a napkin to keep it down, and even that was barely enough.
Don't forget that the Operating temperature for these outdoor APs is -40°C to +65°C ambient temperature. They will operate outside in the Australian summer without any additional considerations - the actual components used in these devices are rated to well over 100°C. (Maybe one day I can dream up a way to show off the AP in a high-temperature environment; if you have a suitable glass-enclosed pie-warmer - or can think of something else, please let me know!)
Wi-Fi is now expected. People are so used to having access indoors, that they are now also expecting access to Wi-Fi outside. This is especially true in locations where people tend to congregate - COLAs, lunch areas, grandstands and sporting areas, quadrangles, etc. Outdoor APs allow you to provide that Wi-Fi with the minimum of fuss. The IAP 277 shown in these photos was connected directly to the network, and provided the same SSIDs and access during the AIS conference.
Disclaimer
The environmental rating for the 270 series APs is IP67. That means 30min at 1m depth – full submersion for longer than that is out of spec. Running them underwater continuously for 3 or 4 full days is not recommended or suggested - but it does make for a pretty good display!
Additional Info