Are you tired of weak WiFi signals in certain areas of your home or office? Thankfully, you’re not completely out of luck. By installing an access point, your WiFi coverage will be effectively improved, and there’ll be less network congestion and more devices connected. The access point simply works by connecting to a router, switch, or hub via an Ethernet cable and projecting the WiFi signal to a designated area. With multiple access points in place, you can cover a significantly larger area and provide network access to more devices. This is especially important for large buildings or outdoor areas where a single access point may not provide enough coverage.
Extend Your WiFi Coverage with TP-Link EAP225
TP-Link EAP225 could be a lifesaver if your home or company has WiFi dead spots or interference issues, ensuring that you have a strong WiFi connection no matter where you are. And one of the most impressive features of EAP225 is that it can be managed through centralized cloud management and the Omada app, making it easy for administrators to manage multiple devices from a single dashboard. Besides, it uses the MU-MIMO technology to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, ensuring everyone on the network gets the bandwidth they need to browse the web, stream videos, etc.
However, if improperly installed or configured, EAP225 may not be able to deliver its optimal performance and could even fail due to compatibility issues, resulting in intermittent network connections and complete device failure.
Why Your TP-Link EAP225 Fails?
One is that TP-Link EAP225 has very limited deployment options since it can only accept standard PoE, PoE+, or 24V passive PoE (injector included). Although most PoE standards are backward compatible with legacy PoE, this device could not accept power from a higher category, namely the latest PoE standard IEEE802.3bt. Its reliance on specific PoE standards also means that some deployment scenarios may be impractical or impossible. For example, it may not be possible to deploy the device in environments with limited access to power sources or where specific power standards are not supported. We’ve run several tests to prove that TP-Link EAP225 cannot be powered up using a PoE++ injector or switch because the device accepts standard PoE and passive PoE at the same time. Its limited compatibility can limit your options for power sources and may require extra adapters to function properly.
PoE power pins assignment Mode A & B?
Standard PoE relays power using 3 different modes known as Mode A, Mode B, and 4-pair PoE. In Mode A, power is transmitted simultaneously with data over pins 1, 2, 3, and 6, using only half of the 4 twisted pairs. In Mode B, power is transmitted over the spare pairs (pins 4, 5, 7, and 8). However, 4-pair PoE (UPoE/PoE++) utilizes both spare pairs and data pairs, Mode A and Mode B, to supply power. PDs are compatible with both modes and will normally adjust themselves according to the mode used by the PSE. Passive PoE, on the other hand, typically supplies power over the same unused pairs as Mode B does. Since EAP225 accepts both standard and passive PoE, when we tried to power it with a 60W PoE injector, the power can only go through half the twisted pairs in an Ethernet cable, thus cutting off the power supply to the AP.
EAP225 fails when it’s over 100 meters…
Moreover, whether be it standard PoE or passive PoE, they’re all limited to a transmission distance of 100 meters/328ft, and beyond that, their signal integrity will severely deteriorate. Simply put, when EAP225 is located over 328ft away from the injector, it’ll stop working. Its inability to establish a stable connection to the network, eventually causes it to fail. And you cannot use add a random PoE extender to this system because the included PoE injector is 24V, while standard PoE operates on either 802.3af or 802.3at standards with a voltage range of 37-57 volts, typically 48V. If you try to use a 24V passive PoE to power an 802.3af/at PoE extender, it may not provide enough power to the extender, thus causing it to malfunction or not work at all. It may also damage the extender or other connected devices. Therefore, it is always advisable to use the correct PoE equipment according to the specification mentioned by the manufacturer.
How to Solve the Power Issues in TP-Link EAP225?
To solve the power issues in TP-Link EAP225 and achieve consistent WiFi coverage, you’ll need a 2-Port 802.3bt outdoor PoE extender. As previously said, this device is not compliant with the IEEE802.3bt standard, while this PoE extender can surprisingly work since it relays power in Mode A.
The 2-port PoE extender allows for greater flexibility in the placement of access points as it can double the transmission distance of up to 650ft, making it easier to install access points in locations that are otherwise difficult to reach. Compliant with IEEE802.3af/at/bt standards, this outdoor PoE extender can support a maximum power supply of 30W per port (PoE input: Mode A, Mode B, and 4-pair PoE; PoE output: Mode A). Moreover, businesses can reduce the number of cables required as this PoE extender can connect 2x EAP225 access points via a single Cat5e/Cat6 cable simultaneously. Although you can set up the second AP using the mesh technology, its network speed is only half of the first one and its signal strength will severely deteriorate if there is any obstacle between the first AP and the second AP. On the other end, the 2-port 802.3bt outdoor PoE extender can deliver dedicated Gigabit connections to both EAP225 access points. This not only makes the network neater but also reduces the chances of interference and signal degradation.
This outdoor PoE extender is designed to withstand harsh environments and has a long lifespan with MTBF rates approaching 7 years. It comes with a rugged IP67 metal enclosure, making it easy to install access points in locations where there is exposure to elements like rain, wind, and dust. It supports a wide operating temperature range from -20°C to 60°C and features carrier-grade 6kV surge protection. Furthermore, this 2-port 802.3bt PoE extender ensures reliable power transmission to EAP225 access points. It not only eliminates the need for power outlets, which can be unreliable in certain areas but also ensures that there is no downtime due to power outages, ideal for businesses that require stable network connectivity.
Installation:
To install 2x EAP225 access points at a time (one at 328ft; another at 650ft), you’ll need: a 2-port outdoor PoE extender, an 802.3bt PoE injector, and some Ethernet cables.
a. Power the 802.3bt PoE injector and connect it to a router;
b. Plug one end of the 328ft Ethernet cable into the PoE output on the PoE injector, and plug the adjacent side to the 2-port 802.3bt outdoor PoE extender;
c. Take a short patch cord, connect one end to one PoE port on the PoE extender, and connect the other end of the cable to the first EAP225 access point;
d. Take a longer Ethernet cable (328ft), connect one end to the other PoE port on the PoE extender, and connect the other end to the second EAP225 access point.
How to install multiple APs beyond 100 meters?
If you need to install multiple EAP225 APs at a time, you can also consider using an outdoor PoE passthrough switch. It can double the distance between PSE and PD from 100m to 200m and help extend your Gigabit network to remote areas where a power source is not available. And you can install up to 7x EAP225 APs via a single Ethernet cable. For more information, please continue to watch the video below:
