topic Re: WiFi 7 access points in Wireless

WiFi 7 access points

carl_townshend — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:19:14 GMT

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

Re: WiFi 7 access points

RWelch-USA — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:32:26 GMT

Cisco Wireless CW9179F Access Point

Re: WiFi 7 access points

aleabrahao — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:33:02 GMT

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.

Re: WiFi 7 access points

mloraditch — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:35:55 GMT

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-9174-series-access-points-ds.html

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

Re: WiFi 7 access points

mloraditch — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:37:28 GMT

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?

Re: WiFi 7 access points

aleabrahao — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:49:55 GMT

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

Re: WiFi 7 access points

mloraditch — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 19:53:16 GMT

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

Re: WiFi 7 access points

joey.debra — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:39:14 GMT

That one is kinda... expensive 😜

Re: WiFi 7 access points

joey.debra — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:41:43 GMT

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.

Re: WiFi 7 access points

RWelch-USA — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:41:56 GMT

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