DrayTek Vigor AP903 Wireless 802.11ac Range Extender, Access Point, Mesh With Upto 7 x AP903, 5 x Gigabit LAN Ports Built In, Powered By POE/AC Adaptor Included

Product Information

The VigorAP 1000C has an in-depth web interface, which allows management of its very large number of features. (Image credit: Future) Setup and web interface

Underneath, the 1000C has dual Gigabit LAN ports – one of which supports Power Over Ethernet (PoE). This is an installation time- and money-saving feature, because it means the access point can be linked into the network and given power with the one cable. Alternatively, the 1000C also comes with a DC 12v 2A power supply. The access point comes with a mounting clip that can be attached to a wall or ceiling (screws/bolts and washers are included) and then the 1000C just clips into place.

Setting a fixed IP address on the Access Point

We tested two VigorAP 1000C APs together, as well as a VigorAP 903 access point, and a Vigor2862 router. We tested with the Android mobile app (Draytek Wireless) on a Pixel 3XL, the VigorConnect software on a Windows 10 laptop, and directly via the 1000C web interface. We used LAN Speed Test v4.4 for speed testing, as well as the inbuilt VigorAP 1000C utility.

Allows VigorAP access points on the network to improve how clients handle moving between VigorAPs. It intelligently allows VigorAPs to disassociate clients from a VigorAP, when the client could get a better connection with a nearer VigorAP access point.The VigorAP's MU-MIMO technology, when used with MU-MIMO capable wireless clients, allows each of the antennas (or Spatial Streams) to send data to separate wireless clients, which can potentially double the data transmission rate to clients. This is because instead of spending each transmission slot transmitting to a single client regardless of whether that client can support one or both of the VigorAP's streams, the VigorAP can spend that time slot sending data out to two clients, that each use a single spatial stream. It may not be the fastest Wave 2 AP but Draytek’s VigorAP 903 certainly makes light work of creating mesh wireless networks. It’s a cinch to deploy, offers seamless self-healing and beats the competition hands down for value.

The VigorAP 903 can operate in standalone autonomous mode, but can also form part of a centrally managed wireless installation by adding a compatible DrayTek wireless controller such as the Vigor 2862 router (sold separately). This enables you to centrally control, manage and administer multiple AP devices installed around your building/campus. Management also enables efficient usage of your wireless access point through load-balancing, whereby wireless clients are distributed across several access points to reduce congestion. The DrayTek router operating as the wireless controller can provision DrayTek VigorAP access points using the Central AP Management profiles configured on the router, with an option to Auto Provision - auto configuring newly installed VigorAP access points with the Auto Provisioning profile, upon initial connection to the DrayTek Vigor router's network. Five (5) Gigabit Ethernet Ports The mesh nodes status and other information can be viewed via the DrayTek Wireless App or the Mesh Roots Web Interface. The VigorAP's MU-MIMO technology when used with MU-MIMO capable wireless clients, allows each of the antennas (or Spatial Streams) to send data to separate wireless clients, which can potentially double the data transmission rate to clients. This is because instead of spending each transmission slot transmitting to a single client regardless of whether that client can support one or both of the VigorAP's streams, the VigorAP can spend that time slot sending data out to two clients, that each use a single spatial stream.The VigorAP 903 features a new web interface designed for use with tablets, phones and PCs, adapting to suit any device. PoE is ideal for situations where you do not have mains power available in the exact location where you want to install the VigorAP 903 or just for general aesthetic neatness, perhaps where the AP is installed somewhere prominent. Mesh nodes are automatically configured in a VigorMesh network once they've been adopted by a mesh root. Simply take the VigorAP 903 out of the box, connect up the power and it will decide automatically whether to be a mesh node or access point. If it doesn't detect a wired uplink, the VigorAP 903 will start up as a mesh node and wait to be added to a VigorMesh network. A Mesh node which is connected to Ethernet and allows Wireless Clients or Other Mesh nodes to connect to it. The Mesh Root VigorAP is configured through the Web interface, or with the DrayTek Wireless app to operate as a Mesh Root, which can then add in any Mesh Nodes.