Aruba Instant On AP22 802.11ax 2x2 WiFi Access Point | UK Model | Power Source not Included (R4W02A)

Product Information

UniFi software offers more features and is more flexible, but it is also buggier. Sometimes the bugs are harmless, sometimes they are funny, but they are almost always there. If you can deal with them and don’t mind doing a little research before installing an update, UniFi is a unique and flexible ecosystem. UniFi routers are generally basic and miss some important features, but UniFi switches and APs match up well against Instant On. Instant On doesn’t have anything like UniFi Protect, Access, or Talk. AP Recommendations Beyond Wi-Fi 6, there’s also the promise of Wi-Fi 6E on the horizon, which is a more meaningful upgrade than the 10-20% speed improvement you can expect from upgrading from a good Wi-Fi 5 AP. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are only relevant when you have clients that support them. Wi-Fi 6E devices are just starting to roll out in 2021, and it will be a while until it’s common for most home users.

The materials and construction of the AP22U Bosch Wipers are quite outstanding. Bosch wipers are far more durable than their inferior equivalents, giving them an incredible value. Features & Benefits:For more information on the Instant On family of products for small businesses, please visit www.ArubaInstantOn.com. Bosch AP22U Wiper Blade - Single provides a clearer, smoother and quieter wiping performance than conventional wiper blades. Features built in aerodynamic spoiler and new technological tensioned metal strip for precise uniform distribution of pressure along the wiping edge. This helps to keep the blade closer to the windscreen, ensuring clear vision at high speeds and reduced wind noise.

To specify which AP and which band was being used, I used the setttings offered in the UniFi network controller or Instant On portal, and swapped them in and out as needed. I then stepped through the different channel widths and bands, letting the connection stabilize before beginning my tests.The range difference between the AP22 and the U6-LR is big enough that it could be the difference between needing one or two APs to cover an area. In some situations one U6-LR is better, in others one or two AP22s may be better. It’s hard to make general conclusions. If you’re considering a new Instant On network, I have no issues recommending the AP22. The AP12 or AP15 should be better for high-density networks, but I still think the AP22 is the best overall. When the Wi-Fi 6 replacements for the AP12 and AP15 arrive, I’ll be testing those. I’m also excited to test out the UniFi U6-Pro, which is currently in early access. If all you want is the basics, the Aruba Instant On portal and mobile app offer just enough. The software isn’t remarkable, but it’s competent, and a step up from what typical consumer network equipment offers. If you want more look at UniFi, Aruba’s enterprise equipment, or another vendor. Router Mode

Hospitality: Whether it’s a small B&B or the hottest boutique hotel in town, fast, secure, and reliable network access is the key to delivering an exceptional experience to guests and employees. The Aruba Instant On AP11D, AP12, AP22 and AP17 are great for spaces that require seamless indoor and outdoor access and coverage that provides a smooth in-room Wi-Fi experience. Beyond Wi-Fi 6, there’s also the promise of Wi-Fi 6E on the horizon, which is a more meaningful upgrade than the 10-20% speed improvement you can expect from upgrading from a good Wi-Fi 5 AP. Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are only relevant when you have clients that support them. Wi-Fi 6E devices are just starting to roll out in 2021, and it will be a while until it’s common for most home users. If you are happy with your Wi-Fi network, it could be a good idea to hold off on upgrading. If you’re looking for an upgrade now, the AP11 and AP22 are great options. Aruba Instant On Mesh Wi-Fi uses multiple access points that communicate with one another to blanket your indoor and outdoor spaces with a strong signal. Want to extend your network coverage or strengthen the signal in an area? Just add another access point. Small businesses come in all shapes and sizes. Aruba Instant On has right-sized solutions for a range of small business environments, such as:

When further away, you can also see the impact of beamforming from the AC-HD and U6-LR. They are able to compensate by directing transmissions towards the distant client, and the U6-LR performed the best at the furthest location. This is where the U6-LR shows it’s biggest advantage over the AP22. The U6-LR’s high transmit power and beamforming allow it to reach further than the AP22, U6-Lite, or any of the other models I tested. A few extra dBm is enough to allow the U6-LR to effectively cover a larger area, or punch through one more wall. The AP22 clearly offers the best 2.4 GHz performance. 5 GHz performance depends on a lot of factors, but the U6-LR and the AC-HD performed the best overall. The AC-Pro, AP12, and AP15 all struggled with 80 MHz channels to a single client. I don’t have a reliable way to test multi-client performance yet, but they should offer more performance in multi-client tests and realistic use. That said, I don’t think there’s a big rush to upgrade to a Wi-Fi 6 network. For most networks the performance the AP11 offers is enough, and deploying a few of those would cover most typical home or small business network needs. If you want the extra performance, you’ll have to spend almost twice as much to step up to the AP22. If you need or want LAN ports, the AP11D is the only option.

The range difference between the AP22/U6-Lite and the U6-LR is big enough that it could be the difference between needing one or two APs to cover an area. In some situations one U6-LR is better, in others one or two U6-Lite/AP22s may be better. It’s hard to make general conclusions. In all the speed test charts that follow, the numbers I’m showing are throughput in Mbps, averaged over five or more minute-long local iPerf TCP tests. I went over these numbers multiple times, and I tried to make them as accurate as possible. You won’t necessarily see the same results on your network with your devices, but it should give you a general idea of expected performance. Keep in mind that these numbers represent averages rather than exact measurements. I cover my testing setup at the end of the article if you’re interested in more details about how and why I test this way.All Aruba Instant On access points have an installed TPM for secure storage of credentials, keys, and boot codes. Basic Service Set Coloring (BSS COLORING) The AP11D and AP17 are for specialty use cases. If you need an AP outside or in a wall outlet, those are fine APs with decent performance. I don’t have any UniFi In-Wall APs to test, but I’ll be looking into adding some outdoor UniFi models to future tests. UniFi offers a lot more model choices for outdoor APs, and I’m a fan of the older AC-Mesh and AC-Mesh-Pros. AP Comparisons For the next test, I switched over to my MacBook Pro and it’s 3 spatial stream Wi-Fi 5 radio. This is an interesting test because it shows the impact of an additional spatial stream, and removes the highest-end modulation (1024-QAM) and longer symbol duration of Wi-Fi 6. This is a more even playing field, and a chance for the 3x3 and 4x4 APs to show their strength. First, I tested all of the APs on 2.4 GHz, trying both 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels. I don’t recommend using 40 MHz channels in the 2.4 GHz band, due to them overlapping with over 80% of the already-crowded spectrum. There’s only one non-overlapping 40 MHz channel in North America, and the rest of the world only has two. Like 160 MHz channels in 5 GHz, there’s just not enough available frequency for them to be reliably used in most situations. The Instant On cloud portal offers easy setup and remote access, but it is limited in the number of settings it offers. For Wi-Fi radio settings, all you’re able to control is channel width, transmit power range, and channel selection. This is both good and bad. The things you can’t control are handled automatically for you, and Aruba’s engineering and software do a good job of handling things behind the scene.