Catalyst 9124AX Outdoor AP Datasheet for Wi-Fi 6 and OFDMA

The Cisco Catalyst 9124AX Series is an outdoor Wi-Fi 6 access point family designed for enterprise and service-provider deployments requiring weather resistance, flexible antenna configurations, multigigabit Ethernet, wireless backhaul capability, and centralized or embedded wireless control.

The family supports internal omnidirectional, internal directional, and external antenna configurations. All models provide Wi-Fi 6 operation across the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, integrated Bluetooth Low Energy 5, outdoor environmental protection, and a 100/1000/2500BASE-T Ethernet uplink. Selected power configurations also enable an auxiliary 802.3af Power over Ethernet output for a connected device.

Product selection and ordering matrix

The model suffix x represents the applicable regulatory domain. Regulatory approval must be verified for the intended country before ordering. Not all regulatory domains are available in every market.

Cisco Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers are supported for centrally managed deployments. The embedded wireless controller variants are identified by the -EWC- designation.

Radio architecture and Wi-Fi capabilities

The Catalyst 9124AXI and Catalyst 9124AXD models provide 4×4:4 operation in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with four spatial streams and uplink/downlink MU-MIMO.

The Catalyst 9124AXE provides a different radio arrangement:

• 2.4 GHz: 4×4:4
• 5 GHz: two 2×2:2 radios
• Uplink/downlink MU-MIMO
• External antenna support

The access points support 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax functions, including:

• 20 MHz and 40 MHz channels
• 80 MHz and 80+80 MHz channels where applicable
• 160 MHz operation
• Maximal Ratio Combining
• Beamforming
• Packet aggregation using A-MPDU and A-MSDU for transmit and receive
• Dynamic Frequency Selection
• Cyclic Shift Diversity
• WPA3
• WPA3-Enterprise 192 for 802.11ax operation

The maximum stated PHY data rates are:

PHY rate is not equivalent to application throughput. Actual throughput depends on client capability, channel width, modulation, spatial streams, airtime utilization, protocol overhead, interference, distance, antenna pattern, and regulatory transmit-power limits.

Wi-Fi 6 functions include uplink and downlink OFDMA, uplink and downlink MU-MIMO, BSS coloring, Target Wake Time, and 802.11ax beamforming. OFDMA allocates smaller resource units to individual clients, which is particularly relevant where many clients transmit short or intermittent packets. Target Wake Time is applicable to battery-operated devices that can use scheduled wake intervals.

The integrated Cisco RF ASIC provides software-defined radio functions for spectrum analysis and supports features including Cisco CleanAir, Wireless Intrusion Prevention System, FastLocate, and Dynamic Frequency Selection.

Bluetooth Low Energy 5 is integrated for location-related functions such as asset tracking, wayfinding, and analytics.

Antenna engineering

C9124AXI internal omnidirectional model

The C9124AXI uses internal vertically polarized omnidirectional antennas.

This model is the normal selection where client distribution surrounds the mounting location and the design objective is broad azimuth coverage.

C9124AXD internal directional model

The C9124AXD uses internal dual-polarized directional antennas.

The narrower 5 GHz pattern requires accurate mounting orientation and should be used where coverage is intended to be concentrated rather than distributed equally around the access point.

C9124AXE external-antenna model

The C9124AXE is certified for antennas with gains up to 13 dBi in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. It supports Self-Identifiable Antennas.

External antenna selection must be treated as part of the RF design. Antenna gain, cable loss, polarization, azimuth pattern, elevation pattern, mounting height, downtilt, and regulatory limits affect the resulting effective isotropic radiated power and coverage. The access point supports external antennas, but the datasheet does not provide a universal coverage radius.

Ethernet, SFP, console, and PoE

Each Catalyst 9124AX model includes:

• One 100/1000/2500BASE-T Ethernet uplink
• One Gigabit Ethernet SFP interface
• One 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet downlink with 802.3af PSE capability under specified power conditions
• One RJ-45 management console port
• A status LED showing boot loader, association, operating status, and boot loader warning conditions

The multigigabit uplink supports 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, and 2.5 Gbps. These speeds are supported over Category 5e cabling. The specification also identifies 10GBASE-T IEEE 802.3bz cabling support.

The Ethernet downlink provides PoE output only when the access point is powered by either a Cisco UPOE or IEEE 802.3bt inline source, or by a DC input with an external power supply rated at least 60 W.

Power mode behavior

Power planning must therefore be performed before final switch selection. IEEE 802.3af powers the unit but disables the radios. IEEE 802.3at enables reduced 2×2 radio operation and 1 Gbps uplink behavior. Full radio capability, 2.5 Gbps uplink operation, SFP availability, and PoE output require IEEE 802.3bt, Cisco UPOE, or suitable DC power.

Supported input methods include:

• IEEE 802.3af PoE
• IEEE 802.3at PoE+
• IEEE 802.3bt PoE++
• Cisco UPOE
• Cisco AIR-PWRINJ-60RGD1=
• Cisco AIR-PWRINJ-60RGD2=
• Cisco AIR-PWRINJ6=, which supports IEEE 802.3at
• Auxiliary DC input from 24 V to 56 V

The datasheet does not state a numeric centralized PoE budget for a switch stack or chassis. Presales calculations should use the switch or injector power budget, the selected access point power mode, and any connected downlink load.

Presales sizing rules

1. Do not size from the maximum PHY rate alone. The 5.38 Gbps Wi-Fi 6 figure is a PHY maximum, not a guaranteed client aggregate throughput.
2. Use full-power mode for performance-sensitive deployments. IEEE 802.3bt, Cisco UPOE, or qualifying DC power is required for 4×4 operation, 2.5 Gbps uplink capability, SFP support, and PoE output.
3. Treat IEEE 802.3af as a restricted operating mode. It disables the radios and is not appropriate for a production wireless service.
4. Use IEEE 802.3at only when reduced radio capability is acceptable. This mode supports 2×2 operation and a 1 Gbps uplink.
5. Select the antenna model from the site geometry. Use AXI for broad omnidirectional coverage, AXD for focused internal directional coverage, and AXE where an engineered external antenna is required.
6. Validate the regulatory domain before quoting. The x suffix is not interchangeable between countries.
7. Provide multigigabit switching where aggregate wireless demand justifies it. Category 5e cabling can support the stated 2.5 Gbps operation.
8. Include RF survey work for directional and external antenna designs. Mounting orientation and antenna pattern materially affect usable coverage.
9. Account for solar loading. The maximum operating temperature is lower when solar loading is present.
10. Confirm controller architecture. Use Catalyst 9800 Series Wireless Controllers for centralized control, or select an EWC SKU where embedded controller capability is required.

Software, security, and management

The C9124AXI and C9124AXD support Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.5.1 or 17.3.4 for the B regulatory domain, or later releases as specified. Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.6.2 or later is specified for all regulatory domains.

The C9124AXE requires Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.6.2 or later. C9124AXI and C9124AXD embedded wireless controller variants also require Cisco IOS XE Software Release 17.6.2 or later.

The product supports Cisco DNA Software for Wireless and Cisco SD-Access. Listed associated capabilities include Cisco Spaces, Cisco Identity Services Engine, and Cisco DNA Analytics and Assurance. Licensing information is provided through the Cisco DNA Software for Wireless program.

Security capabilities include Cisco Trust Anchor Technologies:

• Image signing
• Secure Boot
• Cisco Trust Anchor module

Wireless security and authentication capabilities include WPA, WPA2, WPA3, 802.1X, AES, TKIP, and the following EAP methods:

• EAP-TLS
• EAP-TTLS with MSCHAPv2
• PEAP with EAP-MSCHAPv2
• EAP-FAST
• PEAP with EAP-GTC
• EAP-SIM

Physical and environmental specifications

All three hardware variants share the same access point dimensions without mounting brackets:

• Width: 10.2 inches, or 25.9 cm
• Length: 9.2 inches, or 23.3 cm
• Height: 3.2 inches, or 8.1 cm

Weights are:

• C9124AXI: 6.5 lb, or 2.9 kg
• C9124AXD: 6.5 lb, or 2.9 kg
• C9124AXE: 7 lb, or 3.1 kg

Environmental ratings are:

The supplied specification does not state an MTBF value. It also does not provide an acoustic-noise rating or a sound-power level. No fan acoustic specification is identified. These values should not be inserted into a site acceptance requirement unless separately supplied by the manufacturer.

Available transmit power settings are listed from -4 dBm, or 0.4 mW, to 30 dBm, or 1 W, in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. Actual permitted transmit power remains subject to regulatory domain and channel requirements.

Warranty and services

The Catalyst 9124AX Series includes a 1-year limited warranty. Hardware coverage continues for as long as the original end user owns or uses the product, subject to the warranty terms. The warranty provides 10-day advance hardware replacement.

Software media are warranted to be defect-free for 90 days.

Available Cisco Wireless LAN services include:

• AS-WLAN-CNSLT: Wireless LAN Network Planning and Design Service
• AS-WLAN-CNSLT: Wireless LAN 802.11n Migration Service
• AS-WLAN-CNSLT: Wireless LAN Performance and Security Assessment Service

Cisco Services can cover WLAN readiness assessment, implementation, solution support, training, migration, and operational assistance. Smart Account administration through Cisco Smart Software Manager is used for centralized ordering and management of software licenses.

Compliance and deployment controls

The access points list compliance with safety, emissions, immunity, radio, RF safety, IEEE, multimedia, wireless security, and EAP standards. Relevant wireless standards include IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/h/d/u/k/v/r and IEEE 802.15.1/802.15.4. Wired standards include IEEE 802.3 and IEEE 802.3ae.

Before deployment, engineering teams should confirm:

• Correct regulatory-domain SKU
• Approved operating channels and transmit power
• Antenna gain and pattern
• Mounting hardware and structural loading
• Lightning and grounding design where required by the site
• PoE class and switch power availability
• Uplink speed requirements
• Controller or embedded-controller architecture
• Solar loading and ambient temperature
• Outdoor cable, sealing, and connector practices

The Catalyst 9124AX Series is therefore best treated as an engineered outdoor wireless platform rather than a generic indoor access point. Correct model selection depends primarily on antenna pattern, power mode, regulatory domain, uplink requirement, and controller architecture.