The MikroTik wAP ax is a weatherproof dual-band WiFi 6 access point designed for outdoor use. It combines cutting-edge WiFi 6 technology with the robust durability required for external environments, making it suitable for diverse applications such as gardens, festivals, car parks, warehouses, and more. This review explores its technical capabilities, strengths, and limitations, while also delving into its practicality for large-scale outdoor deployments, particularly with the MikroTik CAPsMAN management tool.
Key Features
- WiFi 6 (802.11ax):
- Offers faster speeds, improved capacity, and reduced latency compared to previous WiFi standards.
- Supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA for handling multiple simultaneous users efficiently.
- Dual-Band Operation:
- Operates on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, ensuring compatibility with older devices while delivering high-speed performance on newer ones.
- Weatherproof Enclosure:
- IP-rated design protects against harsh weather conditions, making it ideal for outdoor placement.
- Compact and discreet form factor blends seamlessly into different environments.
- PoE-Powered:
- Supports Power over Ethernet (802.3af/at), simplifying installations by requiring only a single cable for power and data.
- Centralized Management with CAPsMAN:
- MikroTik’s CAPsMAN (Controlled Access Point System Manager) enables centralised configuration and monitoring for multiple access points.
Use Cases
1. Gardens and Parks:
The wAP ax provides excellent coverage in open spaces, making it ideal for public gardens or private estates. Its long-range capabilities and robust design withstand outdoor exposure while offering reliable connectivity for visitors or IoT devices like smart irrigation systems.
2. Festivals and Outdoor Events:
In high-density scenarios such as music festivals or outdoor exhibitions, the WiFi 6 technology ensures that many users can connect without congestion. Using CAPsMAN, multiple wAP ax units can be deployed and managed efficiently, creating a seamless network.
3. Car Parks:
With its weatherproof casing, the wAP ax is well-suited for providing connectivity in car parks, supporting systems such as ticketing kiosks, surveillance cameras, or EV charging stations requiring reliable WiFi links.
4. Warehouses and Industrial Areas:
Its dual-band WiFi and high data throughput make it perfect for connecting warehouse management systems, handheld scanners, and industrial IoT devices. CAPsMAN integration allows easy scalability for large spaces.
Advantages for Large-Scale Outdoor WiFi Networks
WiFi 6 Advantages:
- Higher Speed: With up to 1.8 Gbps combined throughput, the wAP ax ensures fast connectivity even in high-demand environments.
- Increased Capacity: OFDMA technology divides the wireless channel into smaller sub-channels, optimizing bandwidth usage and allowing better performance for multiple devices.
- Energy Efficiency: Target Wake Time (TWT) reduces power consumption for connected devices, making it suitable for battery-powered IoT applications.
Ease of Deployment with CAPsMAN:
CAPsMAN enables centralised control of multiple wAP ax units, simplifying large-scale deployments by:
- Allowing a single configuration to be applied across all access points, saving time.
- Providing real-time monitoring and troubleshooting from one interface.
- Enabling seamless handoffs between access points, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for users on the move.
This is particularly beneficial for large outdoor areas where multiple access points are needed, such as festivals, parks, or expansive industrial sites.
Scalability:
- The wAP ax, when combined with CAPsMAN, can grow with your network’s needs.
- Additional access points can be added without requiring a complete overhaul of existing configurations.
Strengths
- Cutting-edge WiFi 6 technology ensures top-notch performance and efficiency.
- Durable weatherproof design for reliable outdoor use.
- Compact and aesthetically pleasing form factor.
- PoE support reduces cabling complexity.
- Excellent compatibility with MikroTik’s CAPsMAN for centralized management.
Limitations
- The wAP ax may lack some advanced enterprise-grade features found in higher-tier access points.
- Limited antenna options might restrict highly specialized deployments requiring extreme coverage customization.
- Like all MikroTik devices, there is a learning curve for users unfamiliar with RouterOS and CAPsMAN.
Conclusion
The MikroTik wAP ax is an excellent choice for deploying high-performance outdoor WiFi networks. Its support for WiFi 6 ensures it can handle high user densities and demanding applications, while its robust design and centralized management capabilities make it versatile and scalable. Despite a few limitations, it offers exceptional value for scenarios like festivals, gardens, warehouses, and beyond, particularly for those familiar with MikroTik’s ecosystem.
