HPE Aruba 500 Series Indoor Wireless Access Points Model Overview
Designed for cost-sensitive deployments that demand enterprise-class features, this campus AP supports dual 2×2:2 radios on 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands to deliver up to 1.77 Gbps total throughput. Its small form factor and versatile ceiling or wall-mount options fit classrooms, branch offices and retail stores. Built-in OFDMA and MU-MIMO reduce airtime contention for dozens of connected devices, while automated RF tools—ClientMatch and AirMatch—optimize performance and roaming without manual tuning. The two Smart Rate 1 GbE ports provide PoE in or out for network or downstream devices, and the USB 2.0 host port supports local edge services. Security is enforced with WPA3, Enhanced Open and MACsec.
Key Features
802.11ax dual-radio with 2×2:2 MIMO
Up to 1.77 Gbps aggregate throughput
2×1 GbE Smart Rate (PoE-PD/PSE) ports
USB 2.0 host for on-premise analytics or security
OFDMA for optimized spectrum use
MU-MIMO for simultaneous multi-client support
WPA3, Enhanced Open and MACsec security
Specifications
5 GHz: HE80 SU-MIMO up to 1.2 Gbps; HE40 MU-MIMO 2×2 up to 574 Mbps
These affordable Wi-Fi 6 access points provide high-performance connectivity for any organization experiencing growing numbers of mobile, IoT and mobility requirements. With a maximum real-world aggregate data rate of 1.49 Gbps (HE80/HE20), they deliver the speed and reliability needed for venues and workplaces such as schools, midsize offices and retailers.
INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY
The 500 Series APs are also designed to optimize user experience by maximizing Wi-Fi efficiency and dramatically reducing airtime contention between clients.
Features include Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), bi-directional multi-user MIMO and cellular optimization. With up to 2 spatial streams (2SS) and 80MHz channel bandwidth (HE80), the 500 Series provides groundbreaking wireless capabilities for budget-conscious deployments.
Read the Multi-User 802.11ax white paper for further information
Advantages of OFDMA
This capability allows Aruba's APs to handle multiple Wi-Fi 6 capable clients on each channel simultaneously, regardless of device or traffic type. Channel utilization is optimized by handling each transaction via smaller sub-carriers or resource units (RUs), which means that clients are sharing a channel and not competing for airtime and bandwidth.
Aruba Air Slice™ for Extended Application Assurance
Initially, APs in controller-less mode (Instant) can provide SLA-grade performance by allocating radio resources, such as time, frequency, and spatial streams, to specific traffic types. By combining Aruba's Policy Enforcement Firewall (PEF) and Layer 7 deep packet inspection (DPI) to identify user roles and applications, the APs will dynamically allocate the bandwidth needed. Non-Wi-Fi 6 clients can also benefit.
Air Slice™ for APs uses Aruba Central for management. Controller-based APs will be supported in a future software release.
Multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO)
The 500 Series AP supports downlink MU-MIMO just like WiFi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) APs. The added benefit is the ability to multiply the number of clients that can now send traffic, thus optimizing client-to-AP spatial stream diversity.
Wi-Fi 6 and MU-MIMO aware client optimization
Aruba's patented AI-powered ClientMatch technology eliminates sticky client issues by placing Wi-Fi 6 capable devices on the best available AP. Session metrics are used to steer mobile devices to the best AP based on available bandwidth, types of applications being used and traffic type - even as users roam.
Aruba Advanced Cellular Coexistence (ACC)
This feature uses built-in filtering to automatically minimize the impact of interference from cellular networks, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and commercial small cell or femtocell equipment.
Intelligent Power Monitoring (IPM)
Aruba APs continuously monitor and report hardware energy consumption. They can also be configured to enable or disable capabilities based on available PoE power - ideal when wired switches have exhausted their power budget.
Green AP energy efficiency
Aruba Wi-Fi 6 APs utilize analytics from NetInsight to automatically transition in and out of a sleep mode based on client density. Learn more in the Green AP At-A-Glance.
What wireless standards and throughput does the HPE Aruba R2H27A support?
The HPE Aruba R2H27A is an 802.11ax dual-radio access point with 2×2:2 MIMO that delivers up to 1.77 Gbps aggregate throughput. On the 5 GHz band, it achieves up to 1.2 Gbps with HE80 SU-MIMO or 574 Mbps with HE40 MU-MIMO, while the 2.4 GHz band supports HE40 SU-MIMO at up to 574 Mbps. This makes it ideal for cost-sensitive enterprise deployments that require solid performance across classrooms, branch offices, and retail environments.
How many devices can connect to the HPE Aruba R2H27A simultaneously?
The R2H27A supports up to 256 client devices per radio with 16 BSSIDs each, allowing you to handle dozens of connected devices without performance degradation. Built-in OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies reduce airtime contention and enable simultaneous multi-client support, ensuring stable connectivity even in high-density deployments. We offer this model for environments where scalable client capacity is essential.
What power options and PoE capabilities does this access point have?
The HPE Aruba R2H27A features two Smart Rate 1 GbE ports that support both PoE Power Delivery (PoE-PD) and Power Sourcing Equipment (PSE) functionality, allowing flexible power in or out configurations. It operates on standard 802.3af/at PoE or 12 V DC input, with maximum power consumption of 12 W DC or 15.4 W PoE, making it efficient for extended deployments. Contact us today to discuss power infrastructure requirements for your installation.
What security features are included in the R2H27A?
The R2H27A enforces enterprise-grade security with WPA3, Enhanced Open, and MACsec protocols to protect wireless communications and prevent unauthorized access. These advanced security standards ensure compliance with modern enterprise security policies and protect sensitive data in transit across your wireless network. Visit barcodesinc.com to learn more about our secure networking solutions.
What are the physical dimensions and environmental operating conditions?
The HPE Aruba R2H27A has a compact form factor measuring 160 × 161 × 37 mm and weighing just 500 grams, making it ideal for ceiling or wall-mount installations in space-constrained environments. It operates reliably in temperatures from 0 °C to 50 °C with 5–93% relative humidity (non-condensing), ensuring performance in diverse indoor settings from air-conditioned offices to unheated storage areas. We offer this model for deployments requiring flexible installation options.
Does the R2H27A support edge services and local analytics?
Yes, the HPE Aruba R2H27A includes a USB 2.0 host port that enables on-premise analytics, security applications, and local edge services without requiring cloud connectivity. This allows you to deploy custom applications directly on the access point for real-time threat detection, device profiling, or network optimization. Contact us today to discuss edge computing capabilities for your wireless infrastructure.
Full specifications (PDF)
