Wireless Access

HI teams

   We replaced Cisco AP with Aruba AP in a project, and the customer reported that the wireless coverage was reduced. This happened in workplaces in Europe and India. The wireless coverage area was a large open space. Why is this?

Hi Leo,

Coverage depends on many factors. How does your customer define and measure "coverage"? What bands and channels are they looking at? Which AP models are we comparing here, and what Wi-Fi generation and specs apply to both of them? What are the transmit power levels for both APs, and could those still be increased?

HI teams

   We replaced Cisco AP with Aruba AP in a project, and the customer reported that the wireless coverage was reduced. This happened in workplaces in Europe and India. The wireless coverage area was a large open space. Why is this?

Hi onno

   aruba use AP534，AP574 and AP515，I don't know the model of Cisco AP in European and Indian workplaces. Since Aruba AP will be launched in China workplace in October, I want to know whether the power of Cisco AP is really higher than that of Aruba AP. Have you encountered similar scenarios?
We will also conduct actual tests when replacing it in China workplace later.

Hi Leo,

Coverage depends on many factors. How does your customer define and measure "coverage"? What bands and channels are they looking at? Which AP models are we comparing here, and what Wi-Fi generation and specs apply to both of them? What are the transmit power levels for both APs, and could those still be increased?

HI teams

   We replaced Cisco AP with Aruba AP in a project, and the customer reported that the wireless coverage was reduced. This happened in workplaces in Europe and India. The wireless coverage area was a large open space. Why is this?

Adding external antennas to the mix makes this even more complex to compare.

Assuming that "coverage" is measured by looking at received signal strength, the first thing to look at is whether the APs you're comparing are transmitting at the same power levels (both conducted total and EIRP). Antenna patterns are therefore critical as well. Next you may want to see if the APs are transmitting at their maximum transmit power level (if range is critical, and you're not concerned about causing interference). Ultimately all WLAN providers have to comply with the same set of regulatory rules, which will typically be the limiting factor for the EIRP power.

Given that the same rules apply to all products, and most enterprise indoor APs have similar antennas, there are typically no big differences concerning coverage between APs from different vendors. Based on specsheet comparison, as well as real-world comparisons, there's not reason to expect more coverage from a Cisco AP compared to an Aruba one.

Hi onno

   aruba use AP534，AP574 and AP515，I don't know the model of Cisco AP in European and Indian workplaces. Since Aruba AP will be launched in China workplace in October, I want to know whether the power of Cisco AP is really higher than that of Aruba AP. Have you encountered similar scenarios?
We will also conduct actual tests when replacing it in China workplace later.

Hi Leo,

Coverage depends on many factors. How does your customer define and measure "coverage"? What bands and channels are they looking at? Which AP models are we comparing here, and what Wi-Fi generation and specs apply to both of them? What are the transmit power levels for both APs, and could those still be increased?

HI teams

   We replaced Cisco AP with Aruba AP in a project, and the customer reported that the wireless coverage was reduced. This happened in workplaces in Europe and India. The wireless coverage area was a large open space. Why is this?