There are different types of access points designed to cater to specific needs. If you require one for outdoor use, you’re in the right place. Just like outdoor WiFi extenders, these WAPs are built to survive harsh weather conditions.
And the good thing is that these can transmit signals to places that are hard to reach. But with plenty of choices in the market, there is a chance you might end up getting a sub-standard device.
You are watching: 9 Best Outdoor WiFi Access Points of 2023 [Weatherproof]
I’ve researched and tested 16 popular access points that are suitable for outdoor environments. After using each for five consecutive days in rainy and windy conditions, I have come up with a list of the top 9 options for 2023.
9 Best Outdoor Access Points in 2023 [For Every Budget]
Please note I’ve tried to include options in every price bracket, be it high, mid, or entry-level. Rest assured, they’ve been checked and vetted for great speeds, coverage, stable connectivity, and, importantly, water and dust resistance.
Just sort out your needs and budget and pick a device from the reviews below:
1. Best Overall: Netgear WAX610Y
Netgear makes an entry into the business-class WAPs with WAX610Y. It comes with Wi-Fi 6, mesh support, and fully cloud-based management. Besides, an IP55 rating qualifies it as a top outdoor access point with multi-gig internet support.
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Speeds & Performance
The Netgear WAX610Y with dual-band AX1800 rating claims connection speeds of 1,800 Mbps, distributed over the respective bands as follows:
I got my Nighthawk RAX54S router and established the connection with WAX610Y via the Netgear GS316PP PoE+ switch. And got these installed on the entrance door of my 2-story house.
Please Note that PoE+ switches are a bit on the premium side, so there’s an option to use a regular PoE, but then the WiFi speed is almost reduced by 40%. Even so, the performance would be more than decent.
Nevertheless, the 50 feet away detached garage registered respective download and upload speeds of 412 Mbps and 35 Mbps with the Xfinity 800 Mbps plan.
Moving further away to 90 feet, the speeds were registered at 279 Mbps and 22 Mbps, almost a 32% speed drop. And at 200 feet, i.e., on the third floor, the devices could manage 112 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively.
The numbers are much better than most wireless access points I’ve used so far. Besides being IP55-rated, it’s readily installable outside.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
The WAX610Y comes at a stipulated range of around 700 feet, which approximately equates to the height of the Golden Gate Bridge.
In my test, I went as far as 560 feet from the access point, and still, my test device had two bar signals. I could even stay active with basic tasks like web surfing, streaming online music, etc.
Furthermore, it’s built with mesh tech, which means the signal flow is constant everywhere. And with its smart roaming tech, you won’t disconnect moving from one AP zone to another.
Coming on to its connections capacity, technologies like beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA help. At a stretch, I could connect over 121 devices which include smart lights, door openers, security cameras, etc.
Conclusion
The features and performance of WAX610Y make it the top wireless access point for outdoor usage. Its longer range, mesh support, and other powerful networking tech lets you devour maximum data at a fast pace. But I feel IP55 is a slightly lower rating.
2. Best Runner-Up: Cisco Meraki Go GR62-HW
Cisco has been in the market for a long time and has established itself as one of the top networking switch manufacturers. Their Meraki Go Outdoor AP managed to take the second spot on my list.
All thanks to Wi-Fi 6, improved water resistance from my previous pick, a long wireless range, decent device handling ability, and speeds.
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Speeds & Performance
Cisco hasn’t disclosed anything about its speed capacity, but with its dual-band Wi-Fi 6, better things are expected of it.
To test its wireless capabilities, I chose the TL-SG3452P switch with a PoE LAN port and my usual TP-Link Archer AX73 paired with AT&T Fiber 600 Mbps plan. And the overall performance at various distances was great.
The first series of tests were carried out with my Dell laptop kept at 50 feet. This way, I could measure an average of 381 Mbps download and 30 Mbps upload speed.
Moving a bit farther from the access point (90 feet), the respective speeds dropped by 35%, valued at 255 Mbps and 21 Mbps. But signals across 150 feet were frail as download and upload speeds only registered at 61 Mbps and 9 Mbps, respectively.
The numbers aren’t very far from my top option, except for the distance, but still, the available speeds up to 100 feet are good enough for casual gaming, HD streaming, video conferencing, and other tasks.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
Cisco Meraki Go claims a maximum range of 500 feet for a single access point and is installable outdoors, so you shouldn’t run out of signals anywhere.
In my test, with the device mounted on a garden pole, the signals managed to cover up to 435 feet, which is excellent. And it entails mesh support that lets you roam anywhere without dropping much speed.
Moving on, the device handling ability stands at 100, which is backed by MU-MIMO and OFDMA tech. Around 68 devices could connect to the bandwidth. The numbers, however, alter depending on the tasks you’re putting them through.
Conclusion
Overall, Cisco Meraki Go Outdoor, with the right set of features, performance, and reliability, turns out to be a game changer. The speed and coverage are good enough to soldier through most of your tasks across a large area. But the lack of a multi-gig port and higher price has put it in the second spot.
3. Best Speeds: Ubiquiti UniFi U6-LR
Moving swiftly through the list, let me present you with one of the best-rated access points from Ubiquiti. According to the brand, the UniFi U6-LR is a suitable AP for outdoor use, but only if it is installed in a protected area.
This is due to the fact that it has an IP54 certification, which means it is resistant to dust and water splashes but not fully waterproof like some other options on the list. But what sets it apart from others is its higher speed & device handling capacity.
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Speeds & Performance
The Ubiquiti U6-LR runs on the Wi-Fi 6 standard and comes at a speed rating of AX3000 (3000 Mbps). Its individual band speeds are as follows:
The U6-LR could achieve excellent speeds. When I tested it with TL-SG2210P (a PoE switch) and Ubiquiti UDR router with Xfinity Gigabit plan, I got a speed of 936 Mbps and 42 Mbps for downloads and uploads at 35 feet.
At 70 feet, I measured an average of 705 Mbps and 31 Mbps. To sum up, the overall performance was excellent. The device could manage any streaming or video conferencing alongside basic tasks like sending emails, surfing the web, and more.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
U6-LR’s range is also decent, as in ideal conditions, the access point can transmit signals over 2,000 Sq Ft area. Even with obstacles like thick walls and electronics, the range should be satisfied. With it installed outside my garage, I got signals everywhere.
The device handling capacity of this WAP stands at 350 per unit. And that’s a fair claim considering the technologies it entails, MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA. In my tests, I could connect 202 devices at once, and all of them ran seamlessly.
Conclusion
While UniFi U6-LR comes with a lower IP rating, it delivers solid wireless performance courtesy of the 3 Gbps throughput. You can consider mounting it at the doors. Its range, signal quality, device handling ability, and network stability are top-notch.
4. Best Value for Money: TP-Link EAP610-Outdoor
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EAP610 from TP-Link is one of my favorite outdoor wireless access points due to its excellent balance of features, performance, and cost. Its notable features include dual-band Wi-Fi 6, IP67 rating, and Omada mesh which make it ahead of other options.
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Speeds & Performance
With Wi-Fi 6, the TP-Link EAP610-outdoor is AX1800 speed rated, where respective distribution on each band is as follows:
I started things by connecting the access point to TL-SG2210P (a PoE switch), which was further connected to my TP-Link Archer AX73.
Next, I added my iPhone 13 as a testing device and measured speeds with the Xfinity 800 Mbps plan across various locations of my four-story establishment.
At 50 feet, the throughput registered on the client device was around 241 Mbps and 20 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads.
Besides, the 90 feet test registered respective speeds of up to 145 Mbps and 14 Mbps, and moving farther (200 feet), it was around 52 Mbps and 6 Mbps.
The massive speed reduction from my top recommendation owes to the PoE connection. But the mesh tech helps to maintain speeds across a large area, so you won’t experience any jitters or inconsistencies anytime.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
Despite lower speeds than Netgear outdoor access point, it stays neck and neck in terms of coverage. Theoretically, it’s capable of transmitting signals to up to 600 feet, equalling the size of a large college campus.
I had it installed in a similar setup and had an internet connection of over 580 feet, which is huge. Courtesy of advanced technologies like Omada mesh, seamless roaming, airtime fairness, load balance, and others, signals were stable throughout.
Further, the MU-MIMO and OFDMA keep connections on up to 78 devices stable.
Conclusion
With the device capable of covering more than 500 feet in each direction, it does great for beach resorts or any outdoor area where people need WiFi signals they’re lacking.
Its IP67-rated build lets it survive harsh weather conditions, and the advanced technologies make way for faster and more stable connections. But my only complaint is its PoE support, which potentially drops the speed coming from the router.
5. Best with Multiple Modes: EnGenius ENH1350EXT
Next on my list, I present to you a powerful yet versatile EnGenius ENH1350EXT. With a small footprint and IP67 dust and water resistance, it’s installable anywhere, and courtesy of OFDMA-laid antennas, stable signals cover your entire property.
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Speeds & Performance
EnGenius ENH1350EXT, with its Wi-Fi 5 setup, comes at a maximum speed of 1300 Mbps, and respective values on each band are as follows:
Before I reveal the throughput test results, it’s worth mentioning that for a 2×2 Wi-Fi 5 WAP, the performance of ENH1350EXT was excellent, especially if you compare models with similar hardware.
Now, my test setup was the same as with my previous recommendation. And with my laptop kept 50 feet away, the download and upload speeds averaged 170 Mbps and 19 Mbps with the Xfinity 600 Mbps plan.
Meanwhile, at 65 feet, the speeds dropped to 64 Mbps and 10 Mbps, respectively. While you can’t expect high-speed downloads at long distances, I can surely promise zero speed drops.
So there won’t be any jitters or speed drops while you’re sending & receiving emails, active on any project management software, and others. But the best part about it is the integration of QoS tech.
With that, gaming seems like a viable option, even with audio streaming in the background. At around 40 feet, I played Overwatch lag-free for hours with ping and fps values maxing out at 26ms and 62.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
Regardless of being an outdoor extender, the range of ENH1350EXT maxes out at 3,000 Sq Ft (as the spec sheet says), much lower than most recommendations.
But it’s indeed IP67 certified, so you can place it anywhere across the property and pair another unit to create a mesh system throughout. In reality, the signals could cover a maximum of 2,800 Sq Ft.
The access point, however, entails advanced networking technologies like MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA, which establish stable connections across multiple devices. At a stretch, I could connect up to 72 devices to the bandwidth.
Conclusion
EnGenius ENH1350EXT might not be a long-range outdoor access point, but the area it covers never runs out of signals. The speed output is excellent, and the available technologies ensure most devices in your office setup are up and running.
6. Best for Durability: Aruba Networks IAP-275-US
If you’ve been looking for the most durable access point to install outside your house or workplace, Aruba Networks IAP-275-US comes with solid build quality.
There’s a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 setup that bestows a decent speed cap and antennas much more powerful than my previous pick. With these combined, you can expect an above-average performance, much better than its predecessor.
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Speeds & Performance
The throughput capacity of AP-275-US maximizes at 1300 Mbps, in which the share of each band is as follows:
As with most extenders on this list, I installed an Aruba access point outdoors on the garden pole, where it had equal access to most of my property. My used PoE switch was the available TL-SG3452P switch with the TP-Link AC1200.
With my staple Xfinity 600 Mbps plan, my iPhone 13 kept at 50 feet managed a respective download and upload speed of 204 Mbps and 17 Mbps.
Meanwhile, moving farther to 90 feet resulted in respective speeds of 103 Mbps and 10 Mbps, and the signals became inaccessible after 130 feet.
Although the average speed over distances supersedes my previous recommendation, but it lacks QoS, so you can’t play games or stream HD videos.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
In terms of coverage, AP-275-US takes the lead over EnGenius ENH1350EXT by boasting a maximum value of 150 feet. With three beamforming antennas, the signals were transmitted to around 130 feet.
The signal strength, however, was more or less similar across the covered area. However, the access point needs to catch up to ENH1350EXT in terms of device handling ability.
Despite instilling similar technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA, I could connect up to 51 devices at once. It includes laptops, smartphones, smart lights, and other smart devices.
Conclusion
Aruba AP-275-US isn’t the fastest access point to use outdoors, but the speeds over a distance were nice, and it can soldier through any basic network-based tasks.
Its MU-MIMO and OFDMA tech maintains stable connections over multiple devices and comes in handy, especially for a home office setup.
7. Best with Two Ethernet Ports: WAVLINK WN572HG3
Wavlink WN572HG3 is an IP65-rated extender cum access point, made to handle outdoor environments and lets you access the internet in large areas. What sets it apart from others is the availability of two ethernet ports and multi-operational modes.
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Speeds & Performance
Despite its old Wi-Fi 5 standard, it comes with a decent speed capacity of 1200 Mbps. But its two Ethernet ports over one in most outdoor-friendly WAPs make way for added faster-wired connections. The individual band speeds are as follows:
Using the TL-SG2210P PoE switch with my TP-Link Archer AC1350, my iPhone 13 recorded 231 Mbps of throughput for download at 50 feet. And it managed to clock an upload speed of up to 14 Mbps. Here, the taken internet plan was Xfinity 600 Mbps.
With 100 feet separating the test device and the access point, the network yielded respective throughput of 131 Mbps and 9 Mbps for downloads and uploads. Meanwhile, at 200 feet, the respective throughput fell to 44 Mbps and 6 Mbps.
Wavlink AC1200 seems like the slowest performer up till now, but even the distance speed managed a fluent conversation with my manager over social media.
The access point, however, comes with limited mesh compatibility, so although it manages to cover an area of two regular APs, the stability of signals throughout the area isn’t guaranteed.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
Staying true to its tag of an “outdoor AP”, the Wavlink AC1200 claims a maximum range of 500 feet. In my test, its four-antenna setup managed to transmit signals to around 450-470 feet distance in all directions.
So any 4-5 story office, large college, school, beach resort, or establishment with open space is easier to feast upon with this access point.
Other than that, technologies like MU-MIMO and beamforming help you connect around 55 smart devices at once. The numbers might increase if the ongoing tasks aren’t hogging the bandwidth much.
Conclusion
If you want to save a few dollars and compromise a tad on features like speed, device-handling ability, and others, Wavlink AC1200 is the way to go.
Being an outdoor WAP with IP67 certification, it’s a versatile device with multiple operational modes and gets you decent speeds for your basic tasks. But its middling device handling ability has pushed it down to third position.
8. Best Budget AP: TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor
The next on my list is a budget-friendly offering from TP-Link. Staying true to its name, it has an extensive range, IP65 weatherproofing, decent speed, and other technologies like beamforming, load balance, and airtime fairness.
Compared to its predecessor, TP-Link CPE510, it brings massive upgrades with respect to range, speed, and device handling ability.
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Speeds & Performance
Despite a dual-band Wi-Fi 5 support, the aggregated speed of EAP-Outdoor maxes out at 1200 Mbps, and respective band-wise speeds are as follows:
With the TP-Link Archer C1200 and Xfinity 600 Mbps plan in place, the access point cooked in my performance tests. The switch used was TL-SG2210P (with PoE).
In my line-of-sight test at 70 feet, the test system experienced 178 Mbps and 12 Mbps, respectively, for downloads and uploads.
Outside the line-of-sight, on the other side of the building (120 feet), I still managed download and upload speeds of 103 Mbps and 7 Mbps, around a 40% drop in speeds.
Getting a bit too far at 200 feet, the test system had two bar signals and respective speeds clocked at 29 Mbps and 2 Mbps.
The speeds are average and can handle most of your office-based tasks. But issues might arise when you are constantly moving from one part to another. With an absence of mesh tech, speeds aren’t consistent over the space.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
As per the manufacturer, the signals from the TP-Link EAP-Outdoor can travel up to a 600 feet distance, keeping it a bit superior to my previous recommendation.
The number is a bit over the top, but its two external antennas can cover a 520-540 feet distance with signals in all directions. But a lack of Omada mesh tech hampers its consistency. The antennas are further laid with MU-MIMO, beamforming, and OFDMA tech that lets me connect up to 52 devices at once.
Numbers are a bit low compared to my top recommendations, but you can activate the load-balancing feature and cap the maximum number of users per channel to maintain performance levels.
Conclusion
For a modest asking price of $70, TP-Link EAP225 comes as an easy recommendation for budget seekers. It’s easy to set up, manage, and configure, whereas not many business networking products are this straightforward.
Its range is excellent, and features like load balancing comes in handy to manage performance. But the lack of mesh tech has ranked it in the penultimate position.
9. Cheapest Option: Tenda O1 Outdoor
In most cases, users don’t need a feature-laid device from nominal applications, which is why I have s cheaper option, Tenda O1 Outdoor. Coming at just around $30, this WAP operates on a single 2.4 GHz band with a decent bandwidth on offer.
Irrespective of the price, the device is extremely durable with IP65 coverage.
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Speeds & Performance
Operating on a single 2.4GHz band, the aggregated speed of Tenda O1 comes at 300 Mbps. To test it out, I got the Tenda F9 router and a PoE switch to connect with the wireless access point. And my subscribed plan was AT&T Fiber Internet 300.
At a 50 feet distance, the access point yielded download speeds of 125 Mbps and upload speeds of 15 Mbps. Meanwhile, moving the testing device to 100 feet, respective speeds were recorded at 67 Mbps and 9 Mbps, an almost 48% speed drop.
Separating the devices further by 200 feet resulted in 29 Mbps and 5 Mbps download and upload speeds. The best part of the extender is that even at 350 feet, two-bar signals were available, with speeds maximizing at 8 Mbps and 2 Mbps, respectively.
But you might notice some inconsistencies when connected at such a distance.
Coverage & Devices Capacity
In this aspect, Tenda O1 Outdoor supersedes most access points in this list with a claimed range of 500 meters or 1600 feet.
The numbers, however, are very extravagant as I could access more or less stable signals at 600 feet, post which most areas were dead zones. Nevertheless, it is still on par and even better than most access points out there.
Moving on, the manufacturer claims a maximum capacity of 100 devices, which in reality fared at around 40. The numbers might alter depending on the type of device connected and the tasks performed on them.
Conclusion
Tenda O1 is a decent outdoors-friendly WAP that comes at a pocket-friendly price. It covers decent areas courtesy of its 8dBi antennas. It’s not the fastest access point out there, but the speeds I got in far distances could manage most basic tasks like sending emails and messages and surfing the web.
Frequently Asked Questions
Verdict
Outdoor-rated access points come in as a savior in businesses, schools, or colleges with large areas. It basically does the task of two traditional extenders in terms of coverage.
If you still couldn’t make the choice from the provided options, here are my final suggestions:
- For the best all-around option in terms of speed, range, and device handling ability, Netgear WAX610Y is a perfect choice.
- If you don’t want to spend much but need a powerful mid-range AP, get TP-Link EAP610-Outdoor without a second thought.
- And if you need a cheaper option for connection across your large space, go for Tenda O1.
With that, I’d like to wrap up this article. If you have any queries or suggestions, do write in the comment box below. See you in the next one!
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor