Cisco Aironet 2702i vs 2802i
The 2802i is the 802.11ac Wave 2 successor to the Wave 1 2702i, adding 4x4 MU-MIMO, Flexible Radio Assignment, and a much higher aggregate data rate while staying in the same 2800-class footprint. If your 2702i units are end of life, the 2802i is the direct, higher-capacity replacement.
Cisco Aironet 2702i
Mid-range 802.11ac Wave 1 access point for enterprise WLANs.
- 802.11ac Wave 1, 3x3:3 MIMO with three spatial streams
- Up to 1.3 Gbps on 5 GHz
- Single GbE uplink, 802.3at PoE
- End of life; no new software or hardware support
Cisco Aironet 2802i
802.11ac Wave 2 access point with 4x4 MU-MIMO and Flexible Radio Assignment.
- 802.11ac Wave 2, 4x4:3 MIMO with MU-MIMO
- Up to 5.2 Gbps aggregate data rate
- Flexible Radio Assignment (dual 5 GHz capable)
- Dual GbE uplinks, 802.3at PoE, Mobility Express option
Cisco Aironet 2702i vs Cisco Aironet 2802i: spec comparison
| Spec | Cisco Aironet 2702i | Cisco Aironet 2802i |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | 802.11ac Wave 1 | 802.11ac Wave 2 |
| MIMO / spatial streams | 3x3:3 (3 SS) | 4x4:3 (3 SS) |
| MU-MIMO | No (SU-MIMO only) | Yes (downlink MU-MIMO) |
| Max 5 GHz data rate | 1.3 Gbps | Up to 2.6 Gbps (FRA dual 5 GHz) |
| Aggregate data rate | Up to ~1.6 Gbps | Up to 5.2 Gbps |
| Flexible Radio Assignment | No | Yes |
| Channel width (5 GHz) | 20/40/80 MHz | 20/40/80/160 MHz |
| Uplink | 1 x GbE | 2 x GbE (link aggregation) |
| PoE | 802.3at | 802.3at (full features) |
| Mobility Express controller | No | Yes (optional) |
| Lifecycle status | End of life | End of sale, supported longer |
Choose Cisco Aironet 2702i if
Keep the 2702i only as a short-term hold where units are still running and a refresh budget is not yet available; it gets no further Cisco support.
Choose Cisco Aironet 2802i if
Choose the 2802i for a Wave 2 capacity upgrade with 4x4 MU-MIMO and Flexible Radio Assignment, useful in dense areas where a second 5 GHz radio adds usable capacity.
Verdict
Migrate from the 2702i to the 2802i. The 2702i is end of life, while the 2802i delivers Wave 2 MU-MIMO, Flexible Radio Assignment, and a much higher aggregate rate in the same class. It is a clean, TAA-compliant, GPC-payable refresh that restores supportability and adds capacity.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Cisco Aironet 2702i end of life?
Yes. The 2702i has reached end of life, so it no longer receives Cisco software updates, security patches, or hardware replacement under a support contract.
Is the 2802i a direct upgrade from the 2702i?
Yes. The 2802i is the 2800-series Wave 2 successor to the 2702i, adding 4x4 MU-MIMO, Flexible Radio Assignment, dual GbE uplinks, and a much higher aggregate data rate.
What is Flexible Radio Assignment on the 2802i?
Flexible Radio Assignment lets the 2802i switch a radio between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, or run dual 5 GHz, automatically adding capacity in high-density areas, a feature the 2702i does not have.
How much faster is the 2802i than the 2702i?
The 2702i tops out at 1.3 Gbps on 5 GHz, while the 2802i reaches up to 5.2 Gbps aggregate thanks to Wave 2, wider channels, and a second 5 GHz radio.
More Aironet comparisons
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