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Wireless Access Points

A wireless access point adds Wi-Fi to a wired network: it takes an Ethernet cable from a switch, usually with power over the same cable (PoE), and broadcasts the network to phones, laptops and tablets. This range includes Ruijie Reyee ceiling, wall-plate and outdoor access points from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 7, TP-Link Omada and Ubiquiti UniFi models, and long-range 5 GHz base stations and CPE radios from Comelit PAC, LigoWave and Dahua.

Choosing Wireless Access Points

Choose an access point by where it will be mounted, the Wi-Fi generation your devices use, and how it will be powered and cabled back to the network.

Ceiling, wall-plate or outdoor

Ceiling access points spread coverage evenly across a room or corridor: the Ruijie RG-RAP2260 is an AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 ceiling model with a 2.5Gb uplink, and the TP-Link EAP773 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 7 ceiling unit. Wall-plate models fit over a back box in hotel rooms and offices, and several double as a small switch: the RG-RAP1200(P) has four LAN ports including one 802.3af PoE out port, and the RG-AP180P-L fits standard 86 mm back boxes. Outdoors, pick an IP-rated unit such as the IP65 RG-RAP62-OD or the IP68 RG-RAP6262.

Wi-Fi generation and speed

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) copes with busy rooms better than Wi-Fi 5 through OFDMA and MU-MIMO, and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) adds Multi-Link Operation. The AX or BE figure is the combined speed of the radios, not what one device gets: the RG-RAP2260(H) is rated 5.95Gbps and supports over 500 client connections. Wi-Fi 6E, on the RG-AP880-L, adds a 6 GHz band that is subject to regional approval.

Power and uplink

Most access points here take PoE from the switch, so one cable carries data and power. Match the switch to the PoE class: 802.3af for the RG-RAP1201, 802.3at (PoE+) for the RG-RAP6260(G), and 802.3bt (PoE++) for the TP-Link EAP783, which has two 10G ports. On Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 models, a multi-gig uplink keeps the cable from limiting throughput.

TypeExampleWi-FiKey detail
CeilingRuijie RG-RAP2260(E)Wi-Fi 6, AX32004x4 MU-MIMO, 2.5GbE uplink
CeilingTP-Link EAP783Wi-Fi 7, BE19000Two 10G ports, PoE++
Wall-plateRuijie RG-RAP1260Wi-Fi 6, AX30005 Gigabit ports
In-wallUbiquiti UAP-IW-HDWi-Fi 5, 802.11ac Wave 24-port Gigabit switch
OutdoorRuijie RG-AP680P-LWi-Fi 6IP68, 10G SFP+
Long-range CPEComelit PAC CPE-515A802.11a/n/ac7 km, 15 dBi antenna

Brands we stock in Wireless Access Points

Comelit PAC, Comnet, D-Link, Dahua Technology, Dynamic, LigoWave, Ruijie, TP-Link, TRENDnet and Ubiquiti.

Ruijie makes most of the products on this page, across its Reyee and enterprise ranges.

Related categories

Power access points from PoE switches, add a gateway from Wi-Fi routers, link buildings with wireless bridges, and run the cabling with Ethernet cables. See also Network Routers.

Frequently asked questions

What is a wireless access point?

A wireless access point is a device that plugs into a wired network and broadcasts Wi-Fi, so phones, laptops and other devices can join that network. Business access points are often powered over the network cable using PoE and fixed to a ceiling or wall. Several access points can share one network name to cover a larger building.

Can a wireless access point connect to another access point wirelessly?

Yes, many access points can link to one another over Wi-Fi in a mesh or repeater mode, so a second unit extends coverage without a network cable run to it. The wireless link shares airtime with users, so speeds are usually lower than a cabled connection. For links between buildings, a dedicated point-to-point bridge is often the stronger option.

  • Established 1975
  • Birmingham trade counter
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Written by the West Midlands Electrics technical team

Updated

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