Description

This article introduces how to choose the right TP-Link EAP product for various usage scenarios. The TP-Link EAP series includes models like Ceiling Mount, Wall Plate, and Outdoor APs to suit high-density, indoor, and outdoor environments. It provides recommendations on coverage area, client capacity, and channel distribution, helping you set up a high-performance Wi-Fi network tailored to your needs.

What is the usage scenario of EAP products

TP-Link EAP series solutions contain four types of access points to realize totally Wi-Fi coverage indoor and outdoor:

• High-Density Scenarios: Designed for environments with a high number of concurrent users, such as conference halls, large classrooms, airports, and shopping malls.
• Ceiling Mount AP: Suitable for larger indoor public places such as offices, stadiums, and lobbies.
• Wall Plate AP: Ideal for small, room-intensive indoor scenarios like hotels and dormitories, providing coverage in individual rooms.
• Outdoor AP: Perfect for outdoor public areas such as swimming pools, gardens, and courtyards, offering robust Wi-Fi coverage in open spaces.

What is the recommended Wi-Fi coverage area of each EAP?

Ceiling Mount EAP (e.g. EAP225, EAP245, EAP653, EAP673, EAP683)

Celling Mount EAP equips with the Omni directional antenna. The recommended signal coverage direction is shown in the image.

The coverage radius (r) differs when the mounting height changes. In practice, the mounting height should be no more than 8 m.

Wall Plate EAP (e.g. EAP615-Wall, EAP655-Wall)

Wall Plate EAP equips with the Omni directional antenna. The recommended signal coverage direction is shown below (like Ceiling EAP).

Recommended coverage(circle) of Wall Plate EAP- Side View

We can estimate the r=d*tan(74°) ≈ 3.48d(similar to Ceiling EAP). Since wall plate EAP is mainly used in small rooms,it is sufficient for wall EAP to cover it.

Outdoor EAP (e.g. EAP225-Outdoor, EAP650-Outdoor)

The outdoor EAP is equipped with a 360° omni directional antenna. The recommended coverage radius for an outdoor EAP (e.g. EAP225-Outdoor, EAP650-Outdoor) is 200 meters at 2.4 GHz and 300 meters at 5 GHz. The strongest signal is on the horizontal plane of the antenna, so avoid installing the outdoor EAP too high, as lower areas may experience weaker signal strength. If the installation height exceeds 5 meters, positioning the antennas at 45-degree angles is recommended for optimal Wi-Fi performance.

Note: Obstacles loss and Free Space Path Loss (FSPL) must be considered in practice.

• Obstacles Loss:

Different obstacles can cause varying levels of attenuation. When selecting the AP's mounting location, it is generally recommended to ensure that the total attenuation of obstacles between the AP and the target coverage area does not exceed 20 dB.

• Free Space Path Loss (FSPL):

As the transmission distance increases, the area covered by the signal also increases. At the same time, the energy contained in each unit area decreases.

What is the recommended client’s number of each EAP?

The recommended client limit for each dual-band EAP (e.g., EAP245) is 70. If the number of clients connected to a single AP exceeds 100, we suggest using High-Density APs, such as the EAP660 HD, which can support over 300 concurrent Wi-Fi clients. Please note that optimal client density may vary based on environmental conditions.

What is the recommended Channel Distribution for 2.4GHz channels and 5GHz channels?

Channel plan can help to reduce the RF interference and improve the network performance greatly, especially in some high congested wireless environment.

For 2.4G channels, to reduce the RF interference, we can reuse the non-overlapping channel 1, 6, 11 on the adjacent APs. And sometimes, we need to adjust the Tx power to avoid the co-channel interference across the areas.

For 5GHz channels, because there is no overlap among 5GHz channels, we just need to make sure adjacent APs work on different 5GHz channels.

Wi-Fi Heat Map Simulation

Use the Omada WiFi Design Center to simulate actual WiFi coverage, helping you select the appropriate model and number of access points.

WiFi Design Center Link: https://static-code.tp-link.com/omada-controller-heatmap/index.html

Tutorial Link: https://www.tp-link.com/ca/support/faq/3687/

TP-LINK EAPS

Wi-Fi 7 EAPs

Wi Fi 6 Ceiling Mount EAPs

Wi Fi 6 Outdoor and Wall Plate EAPs

Wi-Fi 5 EAPs