Outdoor Wireless Access Points
As networking capabilities begin to sprawl out further into hostile environments, networking equipment must be designed to withstand any type of atmospheric condition they may encounter while deployed outdoors. In recent years, outdoor wireless access points have advanced to provide reliable connectivity while being stationed in unforgiving, rugged environments.
Here at Westward Sales, we are proud to offer some of the very best wireless access points on the market, perfect for deployment in brutal outdoor or industrial locations. We carry products from the best, most highly regarded names in the connectivity industry. If you’re unsure which wireless access point is right for your needs, do not hesitate to give us a call. Our goal is to understand your needs to help pinpoint the exact equipment you need to improve your wireless networks.
Outdoor vs Indoor Access Points
What makes an outdoor access point different from a standard access point? While there are no true operational differences between the two devices, in practice they are not necessarily interchangeable. An indoor access point is most often used to ensure a strong WiFi connection inside a bustling office building, crowded with devices looking to connect to a network. An access point can be extremely helpful in these instances to prevent overloading the routers and modems, ultimately keeping the network operating efficiently without any lags. In large office buildings with a substantial number of computers, mobile phones, and tablets connected to the same server, it is sometimes necessary for IT technicians to include access points in their network designs to keep things running smoothly.
On the other hand, outdoor wireless access points serve a slightly different purpose. Of course, there is the obvious difference in exterior appearance. These access points are designed to function with a bit more versatility than their indoor counterparts. Some outdoor wireless access points have the capacity to play a variety of different roles in your wireless networking system including: access point, client, bridge, and repeater all within a singular device. Plus, they can operate at 2.4 and 5 GHz. This can be extremely helpful for more remote networks where equipment needs to do more with less.
Rugged Wireless Access Points
When deploying equipment in rugged conditions, there are a plethora of factors IT engineers must consider. When it comes to outdoor technology, the biggest concern is always the possibility of your equipment being struck by lightning. This extreme electrical event could potentially compromise your entire network in a single instant. To keep your networks safe from oversurges, your access points should all be surge protected. Many of our access points are designed with this protective measure in place by utilizing special protective casings.
Outside of the occasional lighting strike, an outdoor access point also must be ruggedized to be waterproof and have the ability to operate even during extreme temperatures, whether that be the cold or heat. Many outdoor wireless access points are rated to withstand temperatures ranging between -40° to 70°C. Even in the most harsh, unfriendly places, the right access point will have no trouble keeping your network running efficiently and smoothly.
Wireless Network Capabilities
All the ruggedizing in the world is useless if the device itself can’t perform as intended. Westward Sales offers some of the best outdoor wireless access points on the market. These access points have dual-polarization MIMO antennas that can enable fast data management and long-distance deployments. Not only that, they can also accept standard Power over Ethernet (PoE). With PoE, access points can be installed far away from AC power sources. Each one of our access points include standard WEP/WPA/WPA2 security encryption, making them universally compatible. Overall, these easy to use and install devices can extensively increase your current WiFi network’s range and reliability. Equipment like wireless outdoor access points make large-scale outdoor networking possible, opening up the door to a closer, more connected world.
Comprehensive Solutions for Outdoor Networks
If you are an IT technician responsible for managing large networks, you understand how complicated overseeing outdoor networks can be. We do, too. Here at Westward Sales, we are experienced networking professionals with decades of experience in the industry. We are here to help you find the very best way to manage your networks, big or small. Whether you want to improve remote monitoring, ramp up big data utility, or keep a close eye on valuable assets, we are happy to offer our networking expertise. We want to equip you with the right tools and equipment to solve any technical problem and are here to offer insight into network design. Give us a call today for advice or for more information on our product offerings.
