Extending reliable Wi-Fi outdoors often introduces challenges that indoor deployments never face. Power availability, distance limitations, and environmental exposure all play a role in how and where access points can be installed.
These realities are driving the need for more adaptable wireless solutions. Grandstream’s newest outdoor wireless access point, the GWN7605CLR, adds flexible power options and weatherproof design to the already versatile GWN7605 family.
In this article, we’ll explore this new access point, revisit the strengths of the entire GWN7605 series, and look at the types of deployments where these devices excel.
The Grandstream GWN7605CLR: built for flexible outdoor deployments
The GWN7605CLR is an outdoor wireless access point (WAP) that offers many of the same benefits as the rest of the WAPs in this innovative series, but with some exceptional advantages specifically designed for particular outdoor use cases.
It delivers an aggregate wireless bandwidth of 1.27 Gbps with its dual-band 2x2:2 MU-MIMO radio design featuring beamforming technology. It supports up to 100 concurrent wireless clients with a coverage range of up to 150 meters. With two internal antennas, a compact form factor, and an IP66 weatherproofing rating, it is one of the simplest and most flexible outdoor APs to deploy.
Arguably, the feature that sets it apart from the others in the series is its power options. It supports input power using PoE+ (IEEE 802.3af/at) but also sports a Phoenix Connector, an industry-standard DC power connector for easy installation and power provisioning.
Expand power options with the Phoenix Connector
A Phoenix Connector, formally known as a Euroblock, which is short for “European-style terminal block,” is a pluggable connector that can be used to deliver low-voltage direct current (DC) power to an electronic device. Phoenix connectors use screw terminals to clamp connecting wires rather than using solder. Once the wires are clamped, the entire assembly can be plugged into a matching socket in the powered device. The following image shows the green Phoenix Connector socket on the GWN7605CLR.
This allows the GWN7605CLR to be powered directly from a 12–24 V DC power source, such as an industrial power supply or low-voltage distribution system. Phoenix connectors are useful because they can be quickly connected and disconnected from the device they power, and they can easily be installed on power cables that are brought to the location of the device itself.
This method of delivering power is especially convenient in scenarios where PoE is unavailable or where cable run distances exceed 100 meters, making the use of PoE impossible. This is often the case in outdoor installations and industrial scenarios.
GWN7605CLR internal antennas
Another distinctive characteristic of the GWN7605CLR is its internal antennas. Unlike the GWN7605LR outdoor model, this newer model contains the antennas within the enclosure, giving it a more compact form factor and making installations cleaner. Placing the antennas internally also protects them from harm due to shocks from unintentional bumps or strikes.
Other devices in the GWN7605 series
The GWN7605CLR joins two other devices of the series, the GWN7605LR and the GWN7605, each with its own specialized use case scenarios.
- The GWN7605 is the indoor member of the series, with a circular form factor suitable for wall or ceiling installations.
- The GWN7605LR is another outdoor model that sports two external detachable antennas for a wider range of deployment scenarios.
Key features of the GWN7605 wireless access points
The key features that are shared across all three devices in the series are listed below:
- Wi-Fi 5 support (IEEE 802.11ac Wave-2)
- Dual band support (2.4 and 5GHz)
- 2×2:2 MU-MIMO radio design with beamforming
- 1.27 Gbps maximum wireless aggregate throughput
- 100+ concurrent connected wireless clients
- 2×10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports, one of which supports PoE+
- An embedded controller that manages up to 50 WAPs
- Device management support via GWN.Cloud or GWN Manager
- Mesh networking is supported
Comparison table
The following table illustrates the differences between the various models of the series, highlighting the particular usage scenario that each model is designed for.
Wi-Fi 5 still makes sense
It may seem counterintuitive to introduce a wireless AP using Wi-Fi 5 technology. Many new WAPs are appearing on the market with Wi-Fi 7, so why is Grandstream sticking with Wi-Fi 5 here?
Well, there are several good reasons for this. First of all, Wi-Fi 5 is still very relevant and can easily deliver the performance and security required by many of today’s demanding network applications. Secondly, it is a tried and tested technology that has fully matured and is stable and reliable.
Wi-Fi 6 and 7 offer improvements that are very specialized, including extreme client densities, along with exceptional quality of service characteristics. Wi-Fi 5 is more than enough for a reliable infrastructure that provides excellent web browsing, video on demand, and voice and video collaboration in most low-to-medium-user-density environments. Using a Wi-Fi 5 access point also keeps costs down, a very important part of providing high-end wireless communication services to SMBs.
Conclusion
With the addition of the GWN7605CLR, Grandstream expands the versatility of the GWN7605 family by introducing a model designed specifically for flexible outdoor and industrial deployments. While it maintains the reliable Wi-Fi 5 performance of the series, its Phoenix Connector power option and compact weatherproof design make it particularly well suited for installations where traditional PoE deployments may be difficult. Together, all three models of the series provide a well-balanced set of access points that can address a wide range of indoor, outdoor, and long-range wireless networking needs.
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