Cisco Aironet 3802i vs Catalyst 9130AX
The Catalyst 9130AX is the Wi-Fi 6 replacement for the flagship 802.11ac Wave 2 Aironet 3802i, stepping up to an 8x8 5 GHz radio, a 5G multigigabit uplink, OFDMA, and WPA3 under Catalyst Center. For the densest enterprise environments, the 9130AX is the current top-of-line successor.
Cisco Aironet 3802i
Flagship 802.11ac Wave 2 access point with 4x4 MU-MIMO and Flexible Radio Assignment.
- 802.11ac Wave 2, 4x4:4 MIMO with MU-MIMO
- Up to 5.2 Gbps aggregate data rate
- Flexible Radio Assignment (dual 5 GHz capable)
- mGig (Smart Rate) uplink, 802.3at PoE
Cisco Catalyst 9130AX
Flagship Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point with 8x8 5 GHz radio and 5G multigigabit uplink.
- Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), 8x8:8 on 5 GHz and 4x4:4 on 2.4 GHz
- Up to 5.38 Gbps aggregate with OFDMA
- 5 Gbps multigigabit uplink
- Dedicated IoT radio, WPA3, Catalyst Center / DNA Center management
Cisco Aironet 3802i vs Cisco Catalyst 9130AX: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Aironet 3802i | Cisco Catalyst 9130AX |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11ac Wave 2 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
| 5 GHz MIMO / streams | 4x4:4 (4 SS) | 8x8:8 (8 SS) or dual 4x4 |
| 2.4 GHz MIMO / streams | 4x4:4 (4 SS) | 4x4:4 (4 SS) |
| Max 5 GHz data rate | Up to 2.6 Gbps (FRA) | Up to 4.8 Gbps |
| Aggregate data rate | Up to 5.2 Gbps | Up to 5.38 Gbps |
| MU-MIMO | Downlink only | Uplink and downlink |
| OFDMA | No | Yes |
| Uplink | mGig (up to 2.5 Gbps) | 5 Gbps mGig (Multigigabit) |
| Dedicated IoT radio | No (BLE only) | Yes (IoT radio + BLE) |
| Security | WPA2 | WPA3 / Enhanced Open |
| Management | AireOS / Mobility Express | IOS XE, Catalyst Center / DNA Center |
Choose Cisco Aironet 3802i if
Keep the 3802i where it is already deployed and supported and the site does not yet need an 8x8 radio, 5G uplink, or Wi-Fi 6 clients.
Choose Cisco Catalyst 9130AX if
Choose the 9130AX for the densest, highest-throughput refreshes: an 8x8 5 GHz radio, 5G mGig uplink, OFDMA, dedicated IoT radio, and WPA3 under Catalyst Center.
Verdict
Upgrade from the 3802i to the Catalyst 9130AX. The 9130AX is the flagship Wi-Fi 6 successor, adding an 8x8 5 GHz radio, a 5G multigigabit uplink, OFDMA, a dedicated IoT radio, and WPA3. It is the supported, TAA-compliant, GPC-payable choice for the most demanding federal and enterprise wireless cells.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Catalyst 9130AX a replacement for the Aironet 3802i?
Yes. The 9130AX is Cisco's flagship Wi-Fi 6 access point and the successor to the flagship Wave 2 3802i, targeting the same high-density, high-throughput deployments.
What is the biggest upgrade from the 3802i to the 9130AX?
The 9130AX adds an 8x8 5 GHz radio, a 5G multigigabit uplink, Wi-Fi 6 OFDMA, a dedicated IoT radio, and WPA3, well beyond the 3802i's 4x4 Wave 2 design.
Why does the 9130AX use a 5G uplink?
Its 8x8 Wi-Fi 6 radio can push more than 2.5 Gbps in dense cells, so the 9130AX uses a 5 Gbps mGig uplink to keep the wired side from limiting wireless throughput.
Is the 3802i still worth keeping?
Only short-term where it is already deployed and supported. For refreshes, the 9130AX delivers Wi-Fi 6, an 8x8 radio, a 5G uplink, and a longer support runway.
More Aironet comparisons
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