Cisco AIR-AP3802E-B-K9
802.11ac W2 AP w/CA; 4x4:3; Mod; Ext Ant; mGig B Domain
Product Highlights
What's Included
*Antennas & Power Adapter not included
Enterprise wireless networks face relentless pressure from growing device density, bandwidth-intensive applications, and the need for always-on connectivity. The Cisco AIR-AP3802E-B-K9 is an 802.11ac Wave 2 access point from the Aironet 3800 Series, purpose-built to meet these demands in high-density indoor environments.
Part of the Cisco Aironet 3800 family, this access point features 4x4 MU-MIMO technology with three spatial streams, delivering a theoretical connection rate of up to 5.2 Gbps. The external antenna design (3802E model) gives network architects the flexibility to select antennas optimized for their specific coverage requirements — ideal for challenging RF environments such as warehouses, atriums, and open-plan offices. Multigigabit Ethernet (mGig) uplink support provides 2.5 Gbps and 5 Gbps speeds over existing Category 5e cabling, eliminating the need for costly cable plant upgrades.
Cisco Flexible Radio Assignment allows the AP to intelligently self-optimize its dual radios — operating in standard 2.4 GHz/5 GHz mode, dual 5 GHz mode for maximum Wave 2 throughput, or Wireless Security Monitoring mode for threat detection. Combined with CleanAir 160 MHz spectrum intelligence, ClientLink 4.0 beamforming, and cross-AP noise reduction, the AIR-AP3802E-B-K9 delivers a robust, enterprise-grade wireless experience. This is a B regulatory domain unit. Antennas and power adapter are sold separately.
Features & Benefits
802.11ac Wave 2 with MU-MIMO
The Aironet 3802E supports 802.11ac Wave 2 with 4x4 MU-MIMO and three spatial streams, enabling the AP to serve multiple clients simultaneously rather than sequentially. This translates to higher aggregate throughput and a better experience in crowded environments where dozens or hundreds of devices compete for airtime.
External Antenna Flexibility
Unlike internal-antenna models, the 3802E accepts up to four external dual-band dipole antennas via RP-TNC connectors, plus a Smart Antenna connector for the flexible radio. This modular approach lets you tailor antenna gain and radiation patterns to your specific deployment — whether you need omnidirectional coverage in an open floor plan or directional coverage in a long corridor.
Multigigabit Ethernet (mGig) Uplink
Cisco mGig technology delivers uplink speeds of 100 Mbps, 1 Gbps, 2.5 Gbps, and 5 Gbps — all supported over existing Category 5e cabling. This removes the wired-side bottleneck that limits Wave 2 performance without requiring a full cable plant replacement, protecting your infrastructure investment.
Flexible Radio Assignment (FRA)
The 3800 Series contains a dedicated 5 GHz radio and a flexible radio that can be configured as a 2.4 GHz radio or as an additional 5 GHz radio. FRA allows the AP to intelligently determine the optimal operating role based on the RF environment — including dual 5 GHz mode for maximum capacity or Wireless Security Monitoring mode for threat detection and CleanAir scanning.
Cisco CleanAir 160 MHz
CleanAir technology, enhanced with 160 MHz channel support, provides proactive spectrum intelligence across 20-, 40-, 80-, and 160-MHz-wide channels. It identifies and mitigates sources of RF interference in real time, ensuring consistent wireless performance even in environments with heavy spectrum congestion.
ClientLink 4.0 Beamforming
Cisco ClientLink 4.0 improves both downlink and uplink performance for all client devices — including legacy one-, two-, and three-spatial-stream 802.11a/b/g/n/ac devices. By concentrating signals toward the receiving client, throughput increases and battery life on mobile devices is improved.
Deployment Scenarios
High-Density Enterprise Campus
Deploy the AIR-AP3802E-B-K9 in open-plan offices, conference centers, or campus buildings where large numbers of devices connect simultaneously. MU-MIMO and Flexible Radio Assignment ensure optimal capacity, while mGig uplinks prevent wired-side bottlenecks.
Challenging Indoor RF Environments
Warehouses, atriums, manufacturing floors, and other spaces with complex RF characteristics benefit from the external antenna design. Select directional or high-gain antennas to shape coverage precisely where it's needed, reducing dead zones and co-channel interference.
Healthcare and Education Facilities
Hospitals and university campuses demand reliable, secure wireless for clinical devices, student laptops, and IoT sensors. CleanAir spectrum intelligence and Wireless Security Monitoring mode help maintain performance and detect rogue access points in these sensitive environments.
Retail and Hospitality Venues
Customer-facing Wi-Fi in retail stores, hotels, and event spaces requires consistent performance under variable load. The 3802E's automatic radio optimization and beamforming ensure a quality guest experience without constant manual tuning.
General
Wireless
Networking
Physical
Environmental
Compliance & Security
Compatibility Notes
Antennas (sold separately): The 3802E model requires external antennas. Compatible Cisco antennas include models such as AIR-ANT2524DB-R, AIR-ANT2524DG-R=, AIR-ANT2524DW-R=, AIR-ANT2566P4W-R=, AIR-ANT2524V4C-R=, and AIR-ANT2544V4M-R=. Antenna gains up to 6 dBi are supported on the 3802E.
Smart Antenna Connector: To enable dual 5 GHz or Wireless Security Monitoring via the flexible radio, the optional AIR-CAB002-DART-R= DART cable is required to connect an external antenna to the Smart Antenna connector.
Power: Requires 802.3at (PoE+) or better for full functionality. 802.3af provides limited operation. Cisco UPoE is recommended for advanced features. Power adapter is not included.
Wireless LAN Controllers: Supported on Cisco WLC platforms including the 2500, 5500, 8500 Series Controllers, Flex 7500, Virtual Wireless Controller, and Cisco Catalyst 3850/3650 switches (with IOS XE). Requires AireOS 8.2.MR1 or later, or IOS XE 16.3 or later.
Regulatory Domain: This unit is B regulatory domain. Verify country approval at cisco.com/go/aironet/compliance before deployment.
Downloads & Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
| Part Number | Product | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| AIR-AP3802I-B-K9 | Aironet 3802I (Internal Antenna, B Domain) | Same platform with internal antennas — simpler installation but less antenna flexibility than the 3802E external model. |
| AIR-AP3802P-B-K9 | Aironet 3802P (External Antenna, Professional Install, B Domain) | External antenna model supporting higher antenna gains up to 13 dBi for professional-install deployments requiring extended range. |
| AIR-AP3802E-E-K9 | Aironet 3802E (External Antenna, E Domain) | Identical hardware and capabilities but configured for the E regulatory domain instead of B domain. |
| AIR-AP2802E-B-K9 | Aironet 2802E (External Antenna, B Domain) | Lower-tier 2800 Series — lacks mGig uplink and some advanced features like CleanAir 160 MHz; cost-effective alternative. |