Aruba Networks Offers Sub-$700 802.11n Access Point

• By Dian Schaffhauser
• 10/13/09

Aruba Networks has released a compact dual-radio AP-105 802.11n access point (AP) priced at $695, the lowest cost dual-radio 802.11n access point the company sells.

The AP, which is intended for indoor environments and designed for ceiling and wall mounting, delivers data rates up to 300 Mbps per radio. Like other Aruba access points, this model can be configured through the controller to provide wireless LAN access, air monitoring, remote networking, secure enterprise mesh, and wireless intrusion detection and prevention over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz RF spectrum. The AP-105 features a 100/1000Base-T Ethernet interface and operates from either standard 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) sources or a 12VDC power supply.

The company has also reduced the price for its top-of-the-line AP-124 and AP-125 802.11n access points to $995. The AP-124 includes external antenna connectors for use with a wide range of antennas; the AP-125 uses adjustable integrated antennas. The AP-120 family features 3 x 3 Multiple-In Multiple-Out (MIMO) design, dual gigabit Ethernet ports, backward compatibility with 802.11a/b/g, and combined 802.11n wireless data rates of up to 600 Mbps.

"With the recent ratification of the 802.11n standard and growing interest in replacing Ethernet networks with wireless solutions, the time for 802.11n has come at last," said Paul DeBeasi, senior analyst at Burton Group. "Given the mobility and performance benefits to be gained by moving to 802.11n, the last remaining barrier to widespread adoption is price."