Cisco Aironet 2800 Series Datasheet for 802.11ac Wave 2 Access Points

The Cisco Aironet 2800 Series consists of enterprise 802.11ac Wave 2 access points designed for dense indoor wireless deployments, high client counts, flexible radio operation, and controller-based or Mobility Express architectures. The series provides two 4×4 radios, three spatial streams, MU-MIMO, support for channels up to 160 MHz, dual 5 GHz operation, two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces, and Cisco RF optimization technologies.

Product selection and deployment position

The series includes two physical models:

• 2802i: Internal antennas for standard indoor environments.
• 2802e: External antennas for challenging indoor environments and deployments requiring directional, sector, or specialized antenna patterns.

Both models support controller-based operation and Cisco Mobility Express. The 2802e adds external antenna flexibility, a second smart antenna connector, a wider operating temperature range, and support for antenna gains up to 6 dBi on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.

The platform is intended for high-density enterprise environments such as offices, auditoriums, convention centers, libraries, cafeterias, healthcare facilities, education campuses, and large open indoor areas. The 2802e is the preferred hardware when antenna placement, coverage shaping, or environmental temperature range is more important than a concealed integrated antenna installation.

The two-radio architecture supports several operating modes through Flexible Radio Assignment:

• 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz serving mode: One radio serves 2.4 GHz clients and the other serves 5 GHz clients.
• Dual 5 GHz serving mode: Both radios serve 5 GHz clients, increasing 5 GHz client capacity and providing up to 5.2 Gbps of aggregate theoretical over-the-air rate, stated as 2 x 2.6 Gbps.
• Security monitoring and 5 GHz serving mode: One radio serves 5 GHz clients while the other scans for wireless intrusion threats, rogue devices, and interference.

Radio assignment is dependent on the configured operating mode, RF conditions, client population, and security requirements. Dual 5 GHz operation is not a universal replacement for additional access points. It increases radio capacity at a location, but cell size, channel availability, airtime utilization, client transmit power, and wired uplink capacity still determine practical performance.

Wireless capabilities

The 2800 Series supports legacy 802.11a/b/g clients, 802.11n, and 802.11ac Wave 1 and Wave 2. The primary wireless capabilities are:

• 4×4 MIMO with three spatial streams.
• MU-MIMO for distributing spatial streams among client devices.
• Maximal Ratio Combining.
• 802.11a/g/n/ac beamforming.
• 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channel widths.
• Dynamic Frequency Selection.
• Cyclic Shift Diversity.
• A-MPDU and A-MSDU packet aggregation in transmit and receive directions.
• ClientLink 4.0 for downlink performance to one-, two-, and three-spatial-stream clients.
• MIMO equalization to improve uplink reliability and reduce signal-fade impact.
• Optimized access point roaming to encourage association with an access point offering the fastest available data rate.

The maximum stated PHY rates are:

These are PHY or theoretical connection rates, not application throughput. Actual throughput is affected by protocol overhead, client capability, channel width, RF contention, retransmissions, encryption, interference, distance, attenuation, and wired network constraints.

The 2800 Series supports up to 160 MHz channels, but 160 MHz operation should be selected only where the regulatory domain provides sufficient contiguous spectrum and the RF environment can sustain the channel width. The stated maximum number of nonoverlapping 5 GHz channels for 160 MHz is two in FCC conditions and one in EU conditions. This is materially more restrictive than 20 MHz operation, which is listed as up to 25 channels under FCC conditions and 16 under EU conditions. High-density designs commonly require narrower channels to improve channel reuse and reduce co-channel contention.

RF architecture and antenna options

The 2802i uses integrated antennas:

• Flexible radio at 2.4 GHz: 4 dBi gain, internal, omnidirectional in azimuth.
• Flexible radio at 5 GHz: 6 dBi gain, internal, directional in the elevation plane with a 90-degree beamwidth.
• Dedicated 5 GHz radio: 5 dBi gain, internal, omnidirectional in azimuth.

The 2802e uses external antennas sold separately. The model is certified for antenna gains up to 6 dBi at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. This architecture is appropriate where the design requires directional coverage, sector coverage, antenna diversity, or installation in an area with unusual physical obstructions.

The 2802e includes a smart antenna connector. Connecting a second antenna requires the AIR-CAB002-DART-R= 2 ft smart antenna connector to RP-TNC connectors. This connector is required when the flexible radio operates as either a second 5 GHz serving radio or a Wireless Security Monitoring radio.

Presales antenna selection should be completed together with a coverage and capacity survey. An external antenna does not automatically increase total network capacity. It changes the RF pattern and can improve coverage alignment, reduce unintended signal propagation, or support a specialized installation. The antenna gain, cable assembly, mounting position, polarization, and regulatory-domain constraints must be considered together.

High-density features

Cisco High Density Experience functionality combines the 802.11ac Wave 2 radio design with CleanAir, ClientLink 4.0, cross-access-point noise reduction, and roaming optimization.

Key operating considerations include:

• MU-MIMO benefits clients and traffic patterns that can use multiple spatial streams and compatible scheduling behavior. It should not be treated as a guaranteed per-client throughput multiplier.
• ClientLink 4.0 is intended to improve downlink performance for a broad range of mobile devices, including clients with one, two, and three spatial streams.
• CleanAir provides spectrum intelligence across 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz channels to identify interference-related performance problems.
• Flexible Radio Assignment can prioritize client service, dual-band capacity, dual 5 GHz operation, or security monitoring.
• Optimized roaming helps clients associate with an access point that offers an appropriate data rate within the client coverage range.

The datasheet identifies Zero-impact Application Visibility and Control and CleanAir 160 MHz as future-release features. These features should therefore be validated against the selected software release before being included as a mandatory acceptance criterion.

Interfaces, power, and uplink planning

Each 2802I/E access point provides:

• Two 100/1000BASE-T autosensing RJ-45 interfaces.
• One RJ-45 management console port.
• One USB 2.0 port, enabled through future software.
• A status LED indicating boot loader, association, operating, warning, and error states.

The two Gigabit Ethernet interfaces support 802.3ad LACP automatic link aggregation. LAG can increase aggregate wired throughput to the access point and provide a better match for high-capacity wireless operation. The switch infrastructure must support the required LACP configuration and provide appropriate VLAN, PoE, QoS, and controller reachability services.

Power requirements are:

• 802.3at PoE+.
• Cisco Universal PoE.
• AIR-PWRINJ6= 802.3at power injector.

Power consumption is specified as:

For presales sizing, the access switch PoE budget must account for the PSE draw, not only the power delivered at the access point. A design using the USB port must reserve the higher 26.5 W PSE value per access point. The injector or switch port should be checked for 802.3at support and adequate available budget. A 1-Gbps uplink may be sufficient for many deployments, but aggregate wireless demand, dual 5 GHz operation, application mix, and LAG requirements should be evaluated before finalizing the access-layer design.

Controller, software, and deployment models

Supported software includes:

• Cisco Unified Wireless Network Software Release 8.2.111.0 or later.
• Cisco IOS XE Software Release 16.3.

Supported wireless LAN platforms include:

• Cisco 2500 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco 3500 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco Wireless Controller Module for ISR G2.
• Cisco Wireless Services Module 2 for Catalyst 6500 Series Switches.
• Cisco 5500 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco Flex 7500 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco 8500 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco 9800 Series Wireless Controllers.
• Cisco Virtual Wireless Controller.
• Cisco Catalyst 3650 Series Switches.
• Cisco Catalyst 3850 Series Switches.
• Cisco Mobility Express.

Mobility Express is positioned for medium-sized deployments and supports up to 100 access points. It enables deployment without a physical wireless controller. Controller selection should consider the required scale, management model, licensing model, software compatibility, redundancy requirements, and whether the customer is standardizing on Catalyst 9800 infrastructure.

Cisco DNA support provides centralized analytics, automation, telemetry, security integration, and operational visibility. The datasheet identifies capabilities including Flexible Radio Assignment, Cisco Connected Mobile Experiences, Cisco High Density Experience, Fast Lane, and Cisco Identity Services Engine integration.

Licensing considerations

Access points connecting to a Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controller require a Cisco DNA software subscription license. The available subscription tiers are:

• Cisco DNA Essentials.
• Cisco DNA Advantage.

Perpetual Network Essentials and Network Advantage licensing options cover wireless fundamentals such as 802.1X authentication, QoS, Plug and Play, telemetry, visibility, Single Sign-On, and security controls.

Cisco DNA subscriptions are purchased for 3-, 5-, or 7-year terms. If the subscription is not renewed, Cisco DNA features expire, while Network Essentials or Network Advantage features continue to function.

Supported licensing mechanisms include:

• Smart Licensing: Centralized entitlement pooling, registration, deployment visibility, and consumption management.
• Specific License Reservation: Node-based licensing for highly secure networks without communication to Cisco or a satellite.

The Catalyst 9800 licensing levels are Cisco DNA Essentials, Cisco DNA Advantage, Network Essentials, and Network Advantage. Initial controller bootup is at the Cisco DNA Advantage level. Licensing must be included in the bill of materials and operational handover documentation, particularly for environments using Catalyst 9800 controllers.

SKU matrix

The regulatory-domain placeholder x must be replaced with the applicable approved domain. Customers are responsible for verifying country approval and the correct regulatory domain before ordering.

Associated wireless LAN services listed for the platform include AS-WLAN-CNSLT for network planning and design, 802.11n migration, and performance and security assessment services.

Physical and environmental specifications

The 2802e is the appropriate selection where the operating environment may reach below freezing or exceed the 2802i indoor operating range. The stated EN 50155 compliance for the 2802e is associated with the -20 to 50 C operating temperature range. Mounting hardware, enclosure requirements, airflow, and local installation conditions should be assessed separately because the stated dimensions exclude mounting brackets.

Security, standards, and regulatory planning

Security capabilities include:

• WPA3, WPA2, and WPA.
• 802.11i.
• 802.1X.
• AES.
• EAP-TLS.
• EAP-TTLS with MSCHAPv2.
• PEAP with MSCHAPv2.
• EAP-FAST.
• PEAP with EAP-GTC.
• EAP-SIM.
• Wi-Fi Multimedia.

The platform supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g, 802.11n, 802.11h, 802.11d, and 802.11ac. Listed compliance includes UL 60950-1, CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 60950-1, UL 2043, IEC 60950-1, EN 60950-1, EN 50155 for the 2802e, FCC radio requirements, RSS-247, European radio standards, Japanese ARIB standards, Class B EMI and susceptibility, ICES-003, VCCI, EN 301.489-1 and -17, and EN 60601-1-2 medical EMC requirements.

Transmit power settings are selectable from 2 dBm through 23 dBm in eight steps for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Regulatory limits and channel availability vary by domain. The maximum stated nonoverlapping channel counts include three 2.4 GHz 20 MHz channels, up to 25 5 GHz 20 MHz FCC channels, up to 16 EU 5 GHz 20 MHz channels, and lower counts as channel width increases.

Warranty and service

The Aironet 2800 Series includes a limited lifetime hardware warranty for as long as the original end user continues to own or use the product. The warranty provides hardware coverage, includes 10-day advance hardware replacement, and warrants software media against defects for 90 days.

Warranty terms should be recorded in the customer handover package together with the serial-number inventory, controller compatibility, software baseline, license entitlements, PoE requirements, antenna selections, and site-specific configuration. The warranty does not replace the need for appropriate support contracts, software entitlement management, RF monitoring, configuration backup, and lifecycle planning.