Grandstream continues to prove it is a leading provider of award-winning UC and networking solutions with the release of its first tri-band Wi-Fi 7-certified access point. The GWN7672 is a powerful enterprise-grade access point that aids organizations in future-proofing their wireless networks for years to come.
Continually improving network capabilities is an important consideration for every business. In this article, we review Grandstream’s new cutting-edge device and explain why we believe it should be an essential part of your networking device arsenal.
GWN7672 WAP overview
The GWN7672 access point is currently Grandstream’s most advanced wireless device. It provides certified Wi-Fi 7 service to up to 384 concurrently connected wireless clients and is ideal for moderate to high user density environments where speed and reliability are mission-critical.
Based on the IEEE 802.11be standard, it supports a theoretical maximum aggregate wireless throughput of 11 Gbps. With wired uplink speeds of up to 5 Gbps, this device is more than sufficient for serving virtually all wireless service scenarios.
The tri-band feature means that the access point can connect clients across three frequency bands: 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and the newer 6 GHz band introduced with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7. The less congested 6 GHz can be leveraged in environments with heavy wireless traffic for client devices that also support this frequency.
Key features
Here are some of the key features that make this WAP a game-changer for Grandstream’s lineup.
Multi-user multiple in multiple out (MU-MIMO)
This feature was introduced with Wi-Fi 5, enhanced in Wi-Fi 6, and further improved in Wi-Fi 7. It enables simultaneous connections to wireless clients, further enhancing user density.
Cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 technologies
The GWN7672 has a multitude of the latest performance-enhancing technical features:
- Multi-link operation (MLO) allows Wi-Fi 7 clients to dynamically use multiple bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) simultaneously, improving speed, latency, and resilience.
- 4096 quadrature amplitude modulation (4KQAM), a feature introduced with Wi-Fi 7, is a denser modulation scheme packing in 12 bits per symbol or signal (compared with Wi-Fi 6’s 10 bits in 1024-QAM). This advance alone enables up to 20% higher data rates.
- Multi-resource unit (MRU) capability is a way to assign multiple resource units (RUs) to a single device under orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). In Wi-Fi 6, a device typically uses only one RU, while in Wi-Fi 7, MRU allows a device to use multiple non-contiguous RUs, improving flexibility, spectrum utilization, and throughput.
- Preamble puncturing is a method used to skip over interfered subchannels within a wide Wi-Fi channel. In Wi-Fi 6, if any part of a wide channel contained interference, the whole channel would be avoided. With Wi-Fi 7, such channels can be “punctured,” which means that any parts that contain interference can be ignored while still using the rest of the channel width.
Advanced QoS features
The GWN7672 includes the IEEE 802.11e Wi-Fi multimedia (WMM) feature, which defines a set of QoS parameters for voice, video, best effort, and other traffic. It also uses VLAN tag QoS markings and ToS QoS markings, which are found at OSI Layer 2 and Layer 3 respectively. This makes it ideal for use with UC applications and Wi-Fi enabled VoIP devices of all types.
Industry-standard security
The device’s security features include anti-hacking, secure boot, and critical data/control lockdown via digital signatures. WPA3 is fully supported, and it is backward compatible with previous WPA versions as well.
Power over Ethernet and Bluetooth support
The GWN7672 includes support for the IEEE 802.3at PoE standard, with a maximum power consumption of 25W.
It also supports Bluetooth, which is typically used for quick setups by installers via Grandstream’s mobile app as well as for innovative location-based services.
Typical use cases
The GWN7672 is perfect for large indoor deployment scenarios where high user densities are expected and low latency and high throughput are required. Typical situations include those for offices, enterprise facilities, hotels, education campuses, and conferencing venues.
This device is perfect for offering fast, reliable Wi-Fi across large spaces with high device density while simplifying deployment and management through centralized or cloud control.
The GWN7672 provides an ideal way to future-proof your wireless network. Its cutting-edge features and capabilities mean you can install it and enjoy its performance for many years.
Specifications
This advanced AP provides the following features:
- Wi-Fi 7 certification
- IEEE 802.11be wireless standard support
- 11 Gbps aggregate wireless throughput
- 5 Gbps aggregate wired throughput
- Wireless features, including:
- 2x2x2:2 MU-MIMO
- Tri-band (support for 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz bands)
- WPA3
- MLO
- 4KQAM
- MRU
- Preamble puncturing technology
- Support for as many as 384 concurrent users at a distance of up to 575 feet (175 m)
- Support for IEEE 802.3at PoE with a maximum power consumption of 25 W
- QoS mechanisms, including 802.11e/WMM, 802.1Q VLAN tags, and ToS
- IPv4 and IPv6 support
- An embedded controller that manages up to 50 local GWN APs
- Support for GDMS networking, managing an unlimited number of APs
- On-prem GWN Manager support
- Two 5 Gbps Ethernet LAN/WAN ports
- Bluetooth Low Energy 5.3 for provisioning and location-based services
- Indoor wall and ceiling mount capability with included kits
Conclusion
The GWN7276 is Grandstream’s most advanced wireless access point, combining cutting-edge Wi-Fi 7 performance with simple provisioning and streamlined management. Designed for long-term reliability and minimal maintenance, deploying this WAP allows you to “install and forget," since the device confidently delivers fast, stable, and future-proof connectivity for years to come.
You may also like:
Slow Wi-Fi at remote branches? Grandstream GWN7062 routers fix that
Step into Wi-Fi 7 with Grandstream's GWN7670 WAP
Comments