Grandstream GWN7673: Wi-Fi 7 performance without the 6 GHz band

Grandstream GWN7673 Wi-Fi 7 wireless access point mounted on an office wall, supporting a busy workplace with multiple connected devices -- distributed by TeleDynamics

Not every business needs a tri-band access point to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7. For organizations looking to improve wireless capacity and performance without investing in 6 GHz infrastructure, Grandstream's GWN7673 offers a compelling alternative. This enterprise-grade, dual-band access point delivers many of Wi-Fi 7's benefits while focusing on the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands that most businesses already rely on.

In this article, we examine the GWN7673's most noteworthy features, how it fits into Grandstream's expanding Wi-Fi 7 portfolio, and the deployment scenarios for which it is best suited.

Getting to Wi-Fi 7 and beyond

On our Think Tank, we've explored the evolution of Wi-Fi technology from Wi-Fi 5 through Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and Wi-Fi 7, and even looked ahead to what Wi-Fi 8 and beyond may bring.

We have found that the latest Wi-Fi technologies no longer focus solely on faster speeds and higher capacities. As Wi-Fi 7 matures, manufacturers are selectively leveraging its capabilities to create wireless infrastructure options for a broader range of deployment requirements and budgets, rather than designing a single premium configuration for all scenarios. And that’s where Grandstream’s GWN7673 fits in: an enterprise-grade, dual-band BE5000 access point designed for small businesses and medium-scale, high-density environments.

Although it is Wi-Fi 7-certified, it does not support every capability the standard enables. Instead, it combines a specific set of Wi-Fi 7 features tailored to its intended use case. This allows the GWN7673 to occupy a well-defined position within Grandstream’s extensive range of wireless access points.

The business case for dual-band Wi-Fi 7

Why choose a dual-band model when other Wi-Fi 7 access points offer tri-band capabilities? As we'll demonstrate, there are compelling reasons to prioritize performance and capacity over access to the 6 GHz band.

Although the device does not support 6 GHz operation or 320 MHz channels, it incorporates several defining Wi-Fi 7 technologies, such as multi-link operation (MLO), 4K QAM, multiple resource units (MRU), preamble puncturing, and enhanced MU-MIMO and OFDMA, all of which are described in detail in a previous article.

Together, these technologies improve not only raw data rates but also spectrum efficiency, capacity, latency, and reliability. These somewhat less obvious improvements can be just as important as maximum speed, particularly in environments with large numbers of concurrently connected devices and in networks where real-time applications are used extensively.

Rather than implementing the full feature set available with Wi-Fi 7, the GWN7673 focuses on delivering greater capacity and performance across the frequency bands most organizations already use. This makes sense in environments where only a few wireless clients capable of 6 GHz operation are in use. And, it's a practical upgrade for small- to medium-sized businesses that want the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 without requiring a more costly tri-band solution.

Where the GWN7673 fits within the Grandstream GWN7670 family

The GWN7673 is positioned in between the GWN7670E, which we reviewed earlier this year, and the tri-band GWN7672 model. The following table illustrates how the GWN7673 fits in between the two.

Specifications	GWN7670E	GWN7673	GWN7672
Wi-Fi classification	BE3600	BE5000	BE11000
Frequency bands	2.4 and 5 GHz	2.4 and 5 GHz	2.4, 5, and 6 GHz
2.4 GHz radio	2×2:2	2×2:2	2×2:2
2.4 GHz maximum rate	688 Mbps	688 Mbps	688 Mbps
5 GHz radio	3×3:2	3×3:3	2×2:2
5 GHz maximum rate	2,882 Mbps	4,323 Mbps	4,320 Mbps
6 GHz radio	—	—	2×2:2
6 GHz maximum rate	—	—	5,765 Mbps
Aggregate wireless rate	3.6 Gbps	5 Gbps	11 Gbps
Wired interfaces	1 × 2.5GbE	1 × 2.5GbE	2 × 5GbE
Aggregate wired capacity	2.5 Gbps	2.5 Gbps	10 Gbps
Concurrent clients	512	512	384
Advertised coverage	Up to 575 ft (175 m)	Up to 575 ft (175 m)	Up to 575 ft (175 m)
SSIDs	32 total	32 total	48 total
Antennas	5	5	7
Maximum power consumption	17 W	16 W	25 W
Power	802.3at PoE+	802.3af/at PoE/PoE+	802.3at PoE+
Dimensions	Ø220 × 48.5 mm	Ø220 × 48.5 mm	220 × 220 × 54 mm

The table above highlights the most important differences among the three models. Compared with the GWN7670E, the GWN7673 increases aggregate wireless capacity from 3.6 to 5 Gbps while remaining a dual-band access point. The GWN7672 moves into the higher-tier tri-band category, adding 6 GHz connectivity and substantially greater wired capacity, but at a greater cost.

Where the additional performance comes from

The GWN7673's performance advantage over the GWN7670E comes primarily from its 5 GHz radio. Both models deliver the same maximum throughput of 688 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. However, the GWN7673 uses additional spatial streams to boost throughput on the 5 GHz band to 4.3 Gbps. This increased capacity is what puts the GWN7673 in the BE5000 class, compared with the GWN7670E's BE3600 classification.

Keep in mind that the GWN7673's 5 Gbps aggregate throughput represents the combined theoretical data rates of both radios, not the speed available to an individual client. Actual throughput is also constrained by the 2.5 GbE uplink, which limits the wired backhaul to 2.5 Gbps. These specifications are important when planning network capacity and determining how many access points are needed.

For deployments requiring additional capacity, multiple access points can be installed, provided that AP placement, channel planning, PoE availability, and wired backhaul capacity are properly considered.

A practical Wi-Fi 7 solution for demanding use cases

The GWN7673 is designed for environments with large numbers of connected devices and for organizations that use real-time applications over their wireless networks. The device supports up to 512 concurrent clients, while advanced QoS mechanisms help maintain performance for latency-sensitive traffic such as voice and video.

Its business-grade security capabilities include WPA3, up to 1,000 private pre-shared key (PPSK) accounts, customizable captive portals, secure boot, unique device certificates, and randomly generated default passwords.

Installation and deployment are made easy with a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port through which both high-speed network connectivity and PoE+ power are provided over a single cable. The device can be managed locally through its embedded controller from the cloud using GDMS Networking, or directly on premises using GWN Manager. Its physical installation is equally flexible, with support for ceiling, wall, T-bar, and junction-box mounting.

These features make the GWN7673 particularly suitable for medium and large offices, schools, retail stores, and other medium-to-high-density environments that require increased 5 GHz capacity but do not necessarily need the 6 GHz capabilities of a premium tri-band access point.

Conclusion

Upgrading to Wi-Fi 7 doesn't necessarily mean investing in a tri-band access point. The Grandstream GWN7673 delivers increased capacity, efficiency, and performance over the familiar 2.4 and 5 GHz bands, without the added cost of 6 GHz connectivity. Combined with business-grade security and flexible management options, it offers a practical, cost-effective upgrade for SMBs and medium-to-high-density environments that need greater wireless capacity without the capabilities of a higher-tier model.