- Cisco Network Router User's Manual

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CiscoAironetAccessPointDeploymentGuide 

CiscoSystems

Page9of52

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Note:Beamformingtoa3SSclientrequiresn+1radiofrequency(RF)design.Toaccomplishthis,

theAP3600hasanadditionalradio perband,whichimprovesclientperformancebyusingCisco

ClientLink2.0.

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The AP 3500e has separate antennas for each band, 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, and does

not support 3SS

technology, since it has only two transceivers (transmitter/receiver) and one extra receiver per band

enablingoperationuptotwospatialstreams.

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Unlike the AP 3500, the newer AP 3600 design supports an optional, add‐on feature module. The

bottomoftheAP3600hasopeningstosupport

thefeaturemodule,asshowninFigure8.Theopenings,

while fully sealed, permit the module to have access to the top of the AP, which allows the module

antennas (if present) to fully function. The unit includes a positive snap “spring loaded BB” so the

installercanfeelapositive

lockwhentheAPisfullyengagedin thebracket.

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Figure8:BottomViewoftheAP3600withSupportforaFeatureModule

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Comparisonofthe3600and2600Series

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The AP 3600 has a modular design that offers future protection with optional .11ac and security

modules. The AP 2600 does not support optional modules. However,theAP 2600 does havea slightly

higherantennagaininthe2.4GHzband.

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TheAP3600andtheAP2600arethesamesize,

butitiseasytoidentifyeachonebynotingwhetherthe

Ciscologohasanembossedframe(AP3600)ornot(AP2600).(SeeFigure9.)

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