HPE Aruba 518 Series Wireless Access Points Model Overview
The HPE Aruba Networking 518 Series Ruggedized Access Point offers advanced Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) performance specifically designed for harsh environments such as industrial freezers and warehouses. With superior 4x4:4 MU-MIMO capability and integrated Bluetooth for location services, this access point ensures fast, reliable connectivity with maximum aggregate data rates of up to 3 Gbps. Built to withstand extreme temperatures and moisture, alongside featuring dynamic OFDMA and ClientMatch technologies, the 518 Series delivers an optimized user experience for a diverse range of applications and client devices.
Key features:
High Performance Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) with up to 3 Gbps throughput.
Durable Design for extreme conditions, including temperature and moisture protection.
Advanced Technology with integrated Bluetooth for IoT applications.
ClientMatch technology ensures optimal connectivity for all clients.
Intelligent Power Monitoring for efficient energy consumption management.
Data Rate: Up to 4.8 Gbps on 5 GHz and 575 Mbps on 2.4 GHz
Operating Temperature: -40°C to +55°C
Moisture Protection: IP55 rated
Client Capacity: Supports up to 512 clients per radio
Power Consumption: Max 32.0W (dual ports)
Mounting: Compatible with various mounting kits
Bluetooth Support: Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee for IoT deployments
HPE Aruba R4H00A Wireless Access Points Overview
High performance Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) for harsh weather-protected and indoor environments
The hardened, Aruba 518 Series access point delivers high Wi-Fi 6 performance in harsh, weather-protected environments such as warehouses, industrial freezers or enclosures in extreme environments such as stadiums. It delivers 4x4:4SS MU-MIMO capability, Aruba's advanced ClientMatch and integrated Bluetooth to enable Aruba location services.
Purpose-built to survive in the harshest outdoor environments, 518 Series APs withstand exposure to extreme high and low temperatures, persistent (non-precipitant) moisture, and are sealed to keep out airborne contaminants. All electrical interfaces include industrial strength surge protection.
Aruba Wi-Fi 6 access points provide high-performance connectivity in dense mobile and IoT environments. With maximum aggregate on air data rate of 3 Gbps (HE80/HE40), the 518 Series APs deliver the speed and reliability needed for demanding environments.
INCREDIBLE EFFICIENCY
The 518 Series APs are designed to optimize user experience by maximizing Wi-Fi efficiency and dramatically reducing airtime contention between clients.
Features include Uplink and Downlink Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Downlink Multi-User MIMO (MU MIMO) and cellular co-location. With up to 4 spatial stream and 160 MHz channel capability, the 518 provides groundbreaking wireless capabilities for any application.
Advantages of OFDMA
This capability allows Aruba Wi-Fi 6 APs to handle multiple Wi-Fi 6 enabled clients simultaneously on a single radio. Channel utilization is optimized per transaction by matching allocated bandwidth in a channel to the offered user load. These sub divisions of the channel are referred to as Resource Units (RU).
Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO)
The 518 Series APs support downlink MU-MIMO similar to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac Wave 2) APs. With the introduction OFDMA in Wi-Fi 6, the overhead for this capability is reduced and MU-MIMO effectiveness is substantially improved for large client counts.
Wi-Fi 6 and MU-MIMO aware client optimization
Aruba's patented AI powered ClientMatch technology ensures that all clients are attached to their best serving Access Point. Session metrics, network metrics, applications and client type are used to identify and maintain the best connection.
Advanced Cellular Coexistence (ACC)
The ACC feature uses built in filtering to automatically minimize the impact of interference of high power cellular base stations, in building distributed antenna systems as well as small cell and femtocell equipment.
Wireless Access Points, HPE Aruba 518 Series, AP-270-MNT-ADP AP-228 to AP-270-MNT-XX Outdoor Mount Adapter (required for AP-270-MNT-X and AP-OUT-MNT-X)
Item on backorder — chat for lead time
$43.72
Top Wireless Antennas Purchased With HPE Aruba R4H00A
What Wi-Fi 6 performance can I expect from the HPE Aruba AP-518?
The AP-518 delivers up to 4.8 Gbps aggregate wireless data rate on 5 GHz with its 4×4:4 MIMO configuration and up to 575 Mbps on 2.4 GHz with its 2×2:2 MIMO, supporting HE160 channel widths for maximum throughput. With OFDMA and MU-MIMO technology, it can serve hundreds of simultaneous clients efficiently. We offer this enterprise-grade access point for deployments requiring high-capacity, low-latency wireless connectivity.
Is the HPE Aruba AP-518 suitable for outdoor or harsh environments?
Yes, the AP-518 is engineered for harsh conditions with an IP55-rated, dust- and water-resistant sealed chassis and built-in surge arrestors on all ports. It operates reliably across temperatures from –20 °C to +55 °C and humidity levels of 5–95% RH, making it ideal for outdoor, industrial, and mission-critical deployments. Contact us today to discuss your environmental requirements.
What IoT and indoor location services does the AP-518 support?
The AP-518 includes onboard Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee radios that create a turnkey IoT and indoor-location platform, enabling real-time asset tracking and sensor integration without additional hardware. These radios work seamlessly with Aruba's management ecosystem to deliver comprehensive wireless and IoT services from a single access point. Visit barcodesinc.com to explore our complete AP-518 offerings.
How many external antennas can I connect to the AP-518, and why does that matter?
The AP-518 features six RP-SMA connectors—four for 5 GHz and two for 2.4 GHz—allowing you to attach high-gain directional or sector antennas for optimized coverage patterns and interference mitigation. This flexibility is critical in environments with complex RF landscapes, allowing you to customize antenna placement for warehouses, manufacturing floors, or outdoor perimeters. We offer the AP-518 with antenna guidance from our team to maximize your deployment.
What management and roaming features does the AP-518 include?
The AP-518 integrates Aruba's ClientMatch technology for seamless roaming across your wireless network and Adaptive Cellular Coexistence (ACC) to dynamically optimize RF performance and minimize interference from cellular and other wireless systems. Additionally, Target Wake Time support extends battery life for connected IoT sensors and mobile devices. These features ensure consistent, high-quality connectivity across your entire facility.
What are the power and connectivity requirements for deploying the AP-518?
The AP-518 requires Power over Ethernet (PoE) using 802.3af/at standard or 12 V DC power, with typical power draw of only 18 W, making it efficient for large-scale deployments. It includes two 1 GbE PoE ports, one additional 1 GbE port, and a USB-C port for out-of-band management, providing flexible network integration options. Contact us today for guidance on powering and integrating the AP-518 into your infrastructure.
Full specifications (PDF)
