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 R4H07A Wireless Access Points Overview
Purpose-built to survive in the harshest indoor 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.
Read the Multi-User 802.11ax white paper for further information.
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.
Intelligent Power Monitoring (IPM)
Aruba APs continuously monitor and report hardware energy consumption. APs can be configured to enable or disable capabilities based on the available PoE power - ideal when wired switches have exhausted their power budget.
IOT PLATFORM CAPABILITIES
Aruba Wi-Fi 6 APs include an integrated Bluetooth 5 and 802.15.4 radio (for Zigbee support) to simplify deploying and managing IoT-based location services, asset tracking services, security solutions and IoT sensors. This allow organizations to leverage the 518 as an IoT platform, which eliminates the need for an overlay infrastructure and additional IT resources.
Target Wake Time (TWT)
Ideal for IoT solutions that communicate infrequently, this Wi-Fi 6 capability allows IoT devices to use 802.11ax protocol. TWT coordinates with client devices to allow them to sleep for extended periods and use shorter wake times to communicate before returning to sleep. This substantially extends the useful operating life of Wi-Fi 6 based battery powered sensors.
ARUBA SECURE INFRASTRUCTURE
The 518 Series is an integral part of Aruba's zero trust security approach to help protect user authentication and wireless traffic. Select capabilities include:
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 R4H07A
What wireless standards and performance does the HPE Aruba AP-518 support?
The AP-518 delivers enterprise-grade Wi-Fi 6 performance with a 4×4:4 MIMO configuration on 5 GHz and 2×2:2 on 2.4 GHz, supporting HE160 channels for up to 3 Gbps aggregate capacity. It leverages OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies to serve hundreds of simultaneous clients, making it ideal for high-density deployments in warehouses and logistics facilities. We offer this model as part of our comprehensive wireless networking lineup.
Is the HPE Aruba AP-518 suitable for harsh or outdoor environments?
Yes, the AP-518 is engineered for reliability in demanding conditions with an IP55-rated, dust- and water-resistant sealed chassis that operates across –20 °C to +55 °C and 5–95% relative humidity. Built-in surge arrestors on all ports protect against electrical stress, and six RP-SMA external antenna connectors allow deployment of high-gain directional or sector antennas for extended coverage. Contact us today to discuss deployment options for your facility.
What IoT and location services does the AP-518 provide?
The AP-518 integrates onboard Bluetooth 5 and Zigbee radios to create a turnkey IoT and indoor-location platform without requiring separate hardware. These radios support Target Wake Time to extend battery life of connected sensors and devices, enabling efficient monitoring across warehouse and logistics operations. We can help you design an integrated IoT strategy using this platform.
What power options and typical power consumption does the AP-518 require?
The AP-518 supports both PoE (802.3af/at) and 12 V DC power input, with typical power draw of just 18 W, making it efficient for always-on deployments. It features a SmartRate port (E0) supporting up to 2.5 Gbps with 802.3at/bt PoE-PD (Class 4 or higher), plus a secondary Gigabit Ethernet port (E1) for redundancy and link aggregation. Visit barcodesinc.com to review power supply options compatible with your network infrastructure.
How does the AP-518 optimize performance in environments with RF interference?
The AP-518 includes Aruba's ClientMatch technology for seamless roaming and Adaptive Cellular Coexistence (ACC) features that dynamically optimize RF performance and minimize interference from neighboring networks and cellular systems. These capabilities are particularly valuable in logistics hubs and warehouse environments where multiple wireless systems operate simultaneously. Our team can assist with site surveys and optimization recommendations.
What network connectivity and management options are available on the AP-518?
The AP-518 provides two 1 GbE Ethernet ports with PoE support, a third 1 GbE port, and a USB-C console interface for out-of-band management, plus support for LACP link aggregation between network ports for redundancy. The multi-color LED indicator provides visual system and radio status feedback, and a factory reset button is accessible during power-up for device recovery. Contact us today for integration support with your existing network management systems.
Full specifications (PDF)
