WiFi 7 access points

[CarlT]

Hi guys

We were just about to procure some wifi 6e 9164i and 9163e access points, however after speaking with Cisco it appears wifi 7 is now the way forward.

We will need indoor and outdoor models, I see the 9172i might be good and the 9174i is also to be released.

would either of these models be a good fit instead of the 9164 and 9163e?

What do we do for outdoor access points? and ones where external antennas are required, I can only see indoor models in WiFi 7.

cheers

[RWelch]

Cisco Wireless CW9179F Access Point 

[GIdenJoe]

That one is kinda... expensive 😜

[RWelch]

Perhaps so (kinda expensive) but it is an outdoor option.

[alemabrahao]

I'm going to ask you a question. Do you think it's worth paying extra for Wi-Fi 7 when few devices support it? 

Yes, those are good models.

[Mloraditch]

The equivalent models have the exact same MSRPs here in the US and the same discount programs apply so we are getting the exact same prices between 6e and 7. Is that not the same in the EU?

[alemabrahao]

I live in Brazil, and the taxes are different here, so I can't say how it is in other countries.

[Mloraditch]

Sorry for the location mixup, that's fascinating though that the taxes are different between the models. 

[Mloraditch]

For outdoor there is nothing newer than Wifi 6e, 9163s. While it is probably a smart bet that there will eventually be an outdoor 9173 model, I haven't heard anything on timing. 

For Indoor the models are equivalent 9162/9172, 9164/9174 and so forth. They are also equivalent on published pricing which should make your end customer pricing be the same once discounts have been applied by your AM/Partner

If you need indoor with external antennas, 9174 has this option https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/wireless-91...

and 9176 https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/wireless-91... does have a directional antenna option

[GIdenJoe]

In the EU we have the new RED directive which causes long delays on previous WiFi generations so ordering WiFi 7 hardware is faster.
However since outdoor models (with the exception of the stadium model which costs quite a bit more) it might be a possible reason to either delay the outdoor deployment or keep with 6E.

I also take into account lifecycle management and try to buy the newer stuff when possible to have a longer life on the AP's.