Cisco AP541N Wireless Access Point

Overview:

The success of your business depends on the ability of your employees to stay connected to applications and customers, and to work productively throughout your business location. More and more small companies rely on wireless networks to give their employees greater mobility and flexibility, and to support partners and guests at the business site. But configuring, securing, and managing wireless networks can be daunting, especially for small businesses without an IT department. As your business grows and you need to expand wireless coverage or add new features, these challenges only increase. How can small companies cost-effectively address these demands and realize the full benefits of business-class wireless mobility? Cisco provides the solution with the Cisco^® AP 541N Wireless Access Point.

The Cisco AP 541N is a 802.11n dual-band clustering access point built for small businesses. The clustering capability makes it easy to set up, configure, and manage a growing wireless network. You can deploy multiple access points and push a single configuration to all the devices within the cluster, managing your wireless network as a single system without worrying about interference between access points, and without having to configure each access point as a separate device.

The Cisco AP 541N is a versatile, high-performance wireless solution that supports virtually any wireless application your business requires, including mobile data, voice over wireless LAN, wireless video monitoring, and highly secure guest access. It can be used as a standalone access point in small wireless environments or deployed as part of a larger data and communications network, such as the Cisco Smart Business Communication System (SBCS). Designed to integrate with other solutions in the Cisco Small Business Pro Series, it makes even advanced wireless and communications applications easy to install, configure, and support.

Provide secure data, guest, and multimedia wireless access for your small business with the Cisco AP 541N Wireless Access Point. Installation scenarios include standalone or integrated with Cisco Small Business Pro products and the Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS).

With the Cisco AP 541N Wireless Access Point, you get:

• Advanced clustering intelligence: The Cisco AP 541N small business wireless access point is built with clustering capabilities. Clustering is the ability of a wireless access point to form a dynamic, configuration-aware group, called a cluster. Clusters are formed with other similarly designed access points in the same network and subnet, allowing a single point of management without the need of a controller.
   
• Simple setup and configuration: The Cisco AP 541N is designed to be installed as a standalone device, integrate with other Cisco Small Business Pro solutions and as part of the Cisco Smart Business Communications System (SBCS) allowing you to implement even advanced voice and video applications quickly and easily.
   
• Robust wireless coverage and performance: The Cisco AP 541N is an 802.11n MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) dual-band wireless solution. The 802.11n wireless standard builds on previous-generation (802.11b/g/a) wireless technologies to deliver greater range, reliability, and up to nine times the performance.
   
• An integrated solution: As part of the Cisco Small Business Pro family of solutions, the Cisco AP 541N works together with other Cisco Small Business Pro products to deliver powerful, integrated systems that are competitively priced and easy to deploy and manage.
   
• Services and Support: Cisco Small Business Pro Service provides peace of mind support coverage to help you get the most value from your Cisco Small Business Pro solution. The Cisco AP 541N solution comes with three years device-level service. This includes telephone and online chat support through the Cisco Small Business Support Center, software updates and bug fixes, and access to the Cisco Small Business Support Community. If a wireless access point needs to be replaced, the service also includes Next Business Day advance hardware replacement where available (same day ship in other areas).

Deployment Scenarios:

The following use cases highlight scenarios for which the Cisco AP 541N is well suited.

• Small office data access

In a small business location with a small staff, a single wireless access point can provide all the coverage required. By deploying the Cisco AP 541N, you gain business-class security features and support services that go far beyond what consumer-grade wireless devices can provide, to better protect your employees, your guests, and your business. With dual-band 802.11n wireless connectivity, the solution provides the performance and range to let employees access business applications and transfer large files easily and reliably. The built-in clustering capabilities also mean that you can add more access points easily as your business grows.

• Wireless voice communications

As a Cisco Small Business Pro Series wireless solution, the Cisco AP 541N is designed to fully integrate with other Cisco Small Business Pro Series network and voice over IP solutions, and with the Cisco SBCS IP telephony system. Using the access point's clustering capabilities and integrated roaming features, you can quickly deploy multiple access points and help ensure reliable voice connectivity anywhere in your business, even as employees move from one access point to another. Using the dual-band option, you can also connect all employee laptops and IP phones over the 5-GHz radio band and eliminate interference from other common 2.4-GHz wireless devices.

These use cases are enabled by highly secure, powerful Cisco Small Business Pro Series wireless capabilities. The solution can be set up and configured in minutes.

Features and Benefits:

The Cisco AP 541N provides:

• Robust wireless coverage and performance: The Cisco AP 541N is an 802.11n multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) dual-band wireless solution. The 802.11n wireless standard builds on previous-generation (802.11a/b/g) wireless technologies to deliver greater range and reliability, and up to nine times the performance. Where previous wireless technologies communicate over a single stream and antenna, Wireless-N MIMO solutions transmit and receive over multiple antennas to provide much greater resiliency and data throughput. With the ability to configure the access point for either the 2.4-GHz or 5-GHz frequency, you can realize greater wireless capacity and a cleaner signal, with less interference.
   
• Advanced clustering intelligence: Clustering is the ability of a wireless access point to form a dynamic, configuration-aware group (called a cluster) with other similarly designed access points in the same network and subnet. All access points in the cluster self-organize, cloning configuration settings from one access point to another and balancing wireless channels to minimize radio interference. The cluster also provides a single point of administration, allowing you to configure and manage all access points as a single wireless network, rather than as a collection of individual devices -- without the need for a wireless controller. Types of information shared within the cluster include:
  • Wireless network identifier (SSID)
  • Security features, such as encryption settings, access lists, and MAC address filters
  • User names and passwords
  • Quality of service (QoS) settings
  • Radio settings
  • Wireless interface settings
  • Guest welcome screen
     
• Highly secure guest access: In a world where technology touches virtually every aspect of business operations, vendors and customers often need to access the Internet when visiting your business location. The Cisco AP 541N includes an easy-to-follow graphical user interface (GUI) to guide you through the setup of a guest network. This highly secure guest access solution lets visitors get online without granting them any visibility into your business network and without impeding the performance of your business applications. The solution even lets you provide a welcome screen to greet visitors using your guest network (it could be a welcome screen or company policy).
   
• Simple setup and configuration: The Cisco AP 541N is designed to easily integrate with other Cisco Small Business Pro Series solutions and the Cisco SBCS, allowing you to implement even advanced voice and video applications quickly and easily. The solution includes an intuitive GUI to guide you through each step in an implementation, and lets you configure your entire wired and wireless environment from a single interface, using the Cisco Configuration Assistant.
   
• Strong security: Cisco AP 541N access points include robust security features. Features include advanced Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) encryption, rogue access point detection, access control lists, and MAC address filtering.
   
• Deployment flexibility: The Cisco AP 541N can operate using either standard AC power or Power over Ethernet (PoE) to support virtually any deployment. With PoE, you can connect and power access points with a single Ethernet cable, simplifying installations in locations such as drop ceilings where power outlets may not be accessible.
   
• Scalable design: Designed to operate as either a standalone wireless access point or as part of a larger business network, the Cisco AP 541N can meet virtually any business requirement, from small basic deployments to elaborate wireless voice and video installations. This flexibility, along with the ability to easily add wireless access points, means that the Cisco AP 541N solution will grow with your business as your needs change, while minimizing operational costs.
   
• Peace of mind: As a Cisco Small Business Pro Series product, the Cisco AP 541N is backed by a Cisco standard 1-year hardware warranty, with 3-year Cisco Small Business Pro Service available to protect your investment.
   
• An integrated solution: As part of the Cisco Small Business Pro Series, the Cisco AP 541N works with other Cisco Small Business Pro Series products to deliver powerful, integrated systems that are competitively priced and easy to deploy and manage. Individually, each Cisco Small Business Pro Series product solves a small business need and delivers peace of mind. Together, they form a strong, versatile technology foundation that you can build on as your communications needs change.

Technical Specifications:

Cisco AP541N Wireless Access Point Specifications
Data rates supported	IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n Draft 2.0 compliant and 2.4-GHz/5-GHz transceiver
Network standard	802.11a/b/g: 54, 48, 36, 24, 18, 12, 9, 6, 11, 5.5, 2, and 1 Mbps 802.11n: 20-MHz bandwidth: MCS 0-15 for supported data rates 40-MHz bandwidth: MCS 0-15 for supported data rates
Uplink	IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11b/g, IEEE 802.11a
Frequency band and operating channels	Autosensing 802.3 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet
Nonoverlapping channels	Americas (FCC): 2.412 to 2.462 GHz; 11 channels for 802.11b/g, 802.11n (20 MHz) 7 channels for 802.11n (40 MHz) 5.18 to 5.24 GHz; 5.745 to 5.825 GHz; 9 channels for 802.11a, 802.11n (20 MHz) Europe (ETSI): 2.412 to 2.472 GHz; 13 channels for 802.11b/g, 802.11n (20 MHz) 9 channels for 802.11n (40 MHz) 5 GHz: 5.18 to 5.32 GHz; 5.5 to 5.7 GHz; 17 channels for 802.11a, 802.11n (20 MHz) 7 channels for 802.11n (40 MHz)
Nonoverlapping channels	802.11b/g: 3
Receive sensitivity (typical)	2.4 GHz 802.11b/g 1 Mbps: -91 dBm 11 Mbps: -85 dBm 6 Mbps: -86 dBm 54 Mbps: -69 dBm 802.11n/20 MHz MCS0: -86 dBm MCS7: -70 dBm MCS8: -85 dBm MCS15: -68 dBm 802.11n/40 MHz MCS0: -84 dBm MCS7: -66 dBm MCS8: -83 dBm MCS15: -65 dBm 5 GHz 802.11a 6 Mbps: -82 dBm 54 Mbps: -67 dBm 802.11n/20 MHz MCS0: -83 dBm MCS7: -68 dBm MCS8: -82 dBm MCS15: -66 dBm 802.11n/40 MHz MCS0: -82 dBm MCS7: -64 dBm MCS8: -81 dBm MCS15: -62 dBm
Available transmit power settings (maximum power setting will vary by channel and according to individual country regulations)	2.4 GHz 802.11b: 15 dBm 802.11g: 15 dBm 802.11n/20MHz: 12 dBm 802.11n/40 MHz: 11 dBm 5 GHz 802.11a: 15 dBm 802.11n/20 MHz: 13 dBm (ch 36 to 64) 12 dBm (ch 100 to 165) 802.11n/40 MHz: 13 dBm (ch 36 to 64) 12 dBm (ch 100 to 165)
Range (Outdoor throughput)	2.4 GHz 802.11g: 440m at 1 Mbps 300m at 11 Mbps 325m at 6 Mbps 120m at 54 Mbps 802.11n/20 MHz 310m at MCS0 100m at MCS15 802.11n/40 MHz 240m at MCS0 18m at MCS15 5 GHz 802.11a 250m at 6 Mbps 100m at 54 Mbps 802.11n/20 MHz 255m at MCS0 40m at MCS15 802.11n/40MHz 230m at MCS0 15m at MCS15 Ranges and actual throughput vary based upon numerous environmental factors, so individual performance may differ.
Compliance	Safety: UL 60950-1 CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1 IEC 60950-1 EN 60950-1 Radio approvals: FCC Part 15.247, 15.407 RSS-210 (Canada) EN 300.328, EN 301.893 (Europe) AS/NZS 4268.2003 (Australia and New Zealand) EMI and susceptibility (Class B): FCC Part 15.107 and 15.109 ICES-003 (Canada) EN 301.489-1 and -17 (Europe)
Antennas	2.4 GHz/5 GHz Gain: 2.0 dBi Horizontal beam width: 360°
Status LEDs	External LEDs indicate Power, PoE, Diag, Speed, LAN, and WLAN 2.4G or WLAN 5G
Security	Wireless Security: Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 64-bit/128-bit, WPA-Pre-Shared Key (WPA-PSK), WPA2-PSK, WPA-ENT, WPA2-ENT Access Control: Wireless connection control, MAC-based SSID Broadcast: SSID broadcast enable/disable Client Isolation: Supports wireless client isolation between and within SSIDs 802.1X: Wireless clients can be authenticated through IEEE 802.1X
Dimensions	Metric: 308 x 44 x 180 mm English: 12.13 x 1.73 x 7.09"
Weight	2.9487 lbs."
Environmental	Operating temperature: 32º to 104ºF (0º to 40ºC) Storage temperature: -20º to 70ºC Operating humidity: 10% to 85% noncondensing Storage humidity: 5% to 90% noncondensing
System Memory	64 MB RAM 32 MB flash
Input Power Requirements	100 to 240 VAC; 50 to 60 Hz (power supply) 12VDC, 1.25A
Power Draw	9.9W maximum
HW Warranty	1 year
Wi-Fi Certification
System Requirements:
Browser	Using the Web browser management GUI requires a computer running Internet Explorer 6.0 and later or Firefox 3.0 or later.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)	Power-sourcing equipment (PSE) compliant with IEEE 802.3af, and providing at least 10W at 48 VDC.

Documentation:

Download the Cisco AP541N Wireless Access Point Datasheet (PDF).

Download the Cisco AP541N Wireless Access Point Overview Datasheet (PDF).