Zyxel WAC6103D-I
Ultra-fast, Ultra-slim 802.11ac Wi-Fi Access Point

Overview:

To Wi-Fi users, it is not uncommon to have bad experience on Wi-Fi performance, and antenna design plays an important role while evaluating wireless performance. Today, most access points on the market are designed with single static radiation pattern, typically for ceiling-mount. When an AP with ceiling-mount pattern is installed in wall-mount scenario, its signal coverage does not fit for wall-mount deployment. Adapting an AP with external antenna may be the alternative option, however, external antenna installation requires know-how for antenna selection, and would look awkward for interior decoration. A flexibly installed Wi-Fi AP with optimal performance and stylish outlook is a prerequisite today, but a satisfactory solution has been missing for a long time.

Zyxel’s WAC6103D-I is a high performance 3-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi AP featuring ultra-fast speeds of up to 1.75 Gbps with ground-breaking “dualoptimized” antenna design. Via the innovative adjustable antenna setting, the WAC6103D-I provides the best signal coverage fitting for either ceiling-mount or wall-mount deployments. Even better, the stylish, ultra-slim industrial design perfectly blends into modern decorations. Choose WAC6103D-I for constant, no-compromise Wi-Fi performance.

• Enterprise class 3x3 802.11ac AP supports combined data rates of up to 1.75 Gbps
• “Dual-optimized antenna” allows pattern optimization adapting to wall- or ceilingmount installations
• Dynamic Channel Selection, Load Balancing and Smart Client Steering ensure optimal wireless experience
• Stylish, ultra-slim ID design as the 32 mm height blends perfectly into modern interior decorations
• APFlex and Zyxel One Network utilities make deployment simple and fast

Feature Highlights

	Dual-optimized antenna Zyxel’s innovative “Dual-optimized” antenna design is a ground-breaking technology for both wall- and ceilingmount installations. Instant antenna adjustment either by a hardware switch or software configuration, the signal pattern adjustment is completed in seconds without skillful experience for antenna accessory selection and installation. The WAC6103D-I embedded with a “Dualoptimized” antenna is able to deliver truly optimal Wi-Fi performance in a range of installation scenarios.		Zyxel APFlex Zyxel APFlex includes Zero-touch AP mode changing and Automatic IP configuration functions. The Zero-touch AP mode setting detects if there is an existing Zyxel controller and to choose stand-alone or managed mode accordingly. The Automatic IP configuration removes manual configuration and allows the AP to set itself to fixed or dynamic IP address automatically. With these two intelligent features, IT administrators can skip the two critical settings that had to be handled manually on legacy products and focus to more critical configuration tasks instead.
	Zyxel Wireless Optimizer Zyxel Wireless Optimizer (ZWO) provides a powerful tool for centralized management covering initial planning, adjustment during deployment and after-sale maintenance of an AP network. Architects can simulate AP deployment on a map displaying the number of APs needed. During deployment, ZWO will also map actual signal coverage for architects to adjust their AP locations or configurations. After-sale, network administrators can access key performance details from ZWO, including channel in use, transmit retry rate and frame error rate, as well as the devices on the environment map. ZWO’s user-friendly presentation saves time and facilitates quick response to the network problems.		WPA2 Enterprise Certified Zyxel WAC6103D-I has been certified with industrial strength WPA2 enterprise protection and supports a wide range of Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types. It can be seamlessly integrated with deployed corporate RADIUS servers.
	Wireless Layer-2 Isolation The Layer-2 isolation protects private networks among client users, allowing users to access their shared devices without entering the rest of a private network for enhanced security. In addition, the intraBSS blocking prevents different WiFi clients associated with the same AP from seeing each other and each other’s data.		Zyxel One Network Utility To streamline the management process, the WAC6103D-I comes with the Zyxel One Network (ZON) utility, allowing administrators to assign IP addresses to multiple APs through just one platform. Administrators can avoid the hassle logging into each AP to change the default IP addresses before physical installation.
	ZyMesh Wireless Mesh is an array of access points automatically forming dynamic wireless links. Built on this foundation of mesh networking, ZyMesh is Zyxel’s proprietary protocol for creating wireless mesh links for easy configuration, optimized management and enhanced reliability.		Zyxel AP Configurator While deploying a number of APs, repetitive configuration of each unit takes time and effort. Zyxel AP Configurator (ZAC) builds templates that allow users to copy one profile to several APs, allowing batch firmware upgrades and profile backups in three easy steps to significantly reduce configuration time and effort.

Benefits:

Superior Gigabit Wi-Fi performance with innovative “Dualoptimized” antenna

Ceiling-mount installation is the most common type of wireless deployments, and it is not surprising that most APs on the market are designed with single static radiation pattern for ceiling-mount installations. In wall-mount scenarios, the ceiling-mount radiation pattern would create interference with devices on upper and lower floors, meanwhile it delivers short-range signal for wireless clients at the AP front. Choosing an AP with external antenna may be the alternative option for wall-mount installation. However, the installation usually requires professional knowledge for antenna accessory selection and signal coverage fine-tune.

Designed with the innovative “Dual-optimized” antenna, the WAC6103D-I adapts to both wall- and ceiling-mount installations. To boost Wi-Fi speed of your network, WAC6103D-I is definitely an excellent choice.

Ultra-slim, stylish outlook aesthetics blends into environments

The WAC6103D-I inherits the stylish honeycomb product design of Zyxel WAC6500 Series; its low-profile white blends perfectly into all kinds of decorations in many buildings with extraordinary modern tastes. The compact and elegant aesthetics makes WAC6103D-I flexible for different decors – no matter to be outstanding or just invisible.

Streamlined deployment tools save valuable time

WAC6103D-I features APFlex to simplify managed/standalone AP mode configuration and to be integrated into the network environment automatically, which eliminates the need for pre-install preparation. Also, the ZWO (Zyxel Wireless Optimizer) Utility allows IT managers to perform AP planning, coverage detection and wireless health management centrally. ZWO’s user-friendly presentation saves time and facilitates quick response to the network problems.

Zyxel One Network experience

Aiming for relieving our customers from repetitive operations of deploying and managing a network, Zyxel One Network is designed to simplify the configuration, management, and troubleshooting, allowing our customers to focus on the business priorities. Zyxel One Network presents an easy-to-use tool, Zyxel One Network Utility (ZON Utility), to realize speed network setup. Zyxel Smart Connect allows Zyxel networking equipment to be aware and recognize each other and further facilitating the network maintenance via one-click remote functions such as factory reset or power cycling. Zyxel One Network redefines the network integration across multiple networking products from switch to Wi-Fi AP and to Gateway.

Optimized wireless experience with advanced feature settings

WAC6103D-I ensures to deliver optimized wireless experience for users with a range of wireless features such as Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS), Load Balancing, and Smart Client Steering etc. Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS) avoids the interference of co-channel and overlapping channel at initialization. Load Balancing enables administrators to set limits on the number of clients associated with each AP. Furthermore, Smart Client steering features with Band Select, Signal Threshold and Band Balancing for stable and reliable wireless connection. Band Select and Signal Threshold monitor the capabilities of each wireless client and steer them to the less congested band and better signal AP. Band Balancing detects dual-radio clients and distributes clients across 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands on AP. With these technologies, the WAC6103D-I delivers smooth, consistent and uninterrupted wireless access experience.

Application Diagram:

Specifications:

Model	WAC6103D-I
Product Name	802.11ac Dual Radio Dual-optimized Antenna 3x3 Access Point
Main Design
Wireless frequency	2.4 and 5 GHz
Radio	2
RF Specifications
Frequency band	2.4 GHz (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n) USA (FCC): 2.412 to 2.462 GHz Europe (ETSI): 2.412 to 2.472 GHz Taiwan (TW): 2.412 to 2.462 GHz 5 GHz (IEEE 802.11 a/n/ac) USA (FCC): 5.15 to 5.35 GHz; 5.725 to 5.850 GHz European (ETSI): 5.15 to 5.35 GHz; 5.470 to 5.725 GHz Taiwan (TW): 5.25 to 5.35 GHz; 5.725 to 5.850 GHz
802.11n/ac premium features	3x3 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) with three spatial streams Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC) 20-, 40- and 80-MHz channels Packet aggregation: A-MPDU (Tx/Rx), A-MSDU (Tx/Rx) Cyclic Delay diversity (CSD) support Maximum Likelihood Demodulation (MLD) support Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) support
Antenna system	Dual-optimized internal antenna
Antenna gain	Ceiling: 2.4 GHz 3 dBi; 5 GHz 4 dBi Wall: 2.4 GHz 4 dBi; 5 GHz 5 dBi
Support data rate	802.11a/g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48 and 54 Mbps 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5 and 11 Mbps 802.11n: up to 450 Mbps in MCS23 (40 MHz) 802.11ac: up to 1300 Mbps in MCS9 (80 MHz)
Receive sensitivity	Min. Rx sensitivity up to -102 dBm
Typical Transmit Output Power (Conducted)
FCC 11b/g	27
FCC 11g/n	26
FCC 11a	27
FCC 11n/a (ac)	27
EU 11b/g	18
EU 11g/n	18
EU 11a	22
EU 11n/a (ac)	24
Interfaces
Number of 10/100/1000M LAN	2 x switch ports
Console port	4-Pin serial
PoE	Yes
PoE power draw	12.48 W (802.3at PoE)*
WLAN Features
WLAN maximum throughput	Up to 900 Mbps
Mesh AP (By license)	Yes
Mesh AP for multiple SSID with VLAN (through tunnel mode)	Yes
Wireless Security
WEP	Yes
WPA/WPA2-PSK	Yes
WPA/WPA2-Enterprise	Yes
WMM	Yes
WLAN access control list	Yes
EAP types	EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, EAP-PEAP, EAP-FAST, EAP-AKA and EAP-SIM
IEEE 802.1X	Yes
Number of SSID	16
Web authentication*	Yes
MAC filtering	Yes
Layer-2 isolation	Yes
RADIUS authentication	Yes
Microsoft AD authentication*	Yes
LDAP authentication*	Yes
MAC authentication*	Yes
Rogue AP detection	Yes
Rogue AP containment	Yes
Network
IPv6 host	Yes
VLANs	Yes
DHCP client	Yes
QoS (PG)
WMM	Yes
WMM power save	Yes
DiffServ marking	Yes
Management
ZON utility	Discovery of Zyxel switches, APs and gateways Centralized and batch configurations IP configuration IP renew Device factory reset Device reboot Device locating Web GUI access Firmware upgrade Password configuration One-click quick association with Zyxel AP Configurator (ZAC)
Smart connect	Discover neighboring devices One-click remote management access to the neighboring Zyxel devices
Zyxel AP configurator	Batch AP configuration Batch AP firmware upgrade Batch AP profile backup
Zyxel wireless optimizer	Wi-Fi AP Planning Wi-Fi coverage detection Wireless health management
Standalone AP mode	Yes
Managed AP mode	Yes
CLI	Yes
Web UI	Yes
SNMP	v2c/v3
Others
Plenum rating	Yes
Input power	802.3at PoE only (No DC jack)
MTBF (hr)	1,005,235
Standard Compliance
Ethernet	IEEE 802.3 IEEE 802.3u IEEE 802.11ab IEEE 802.3au IEEE 802.3az IEEE 802.3at
PoE	IEEE 802.3at
WLAN	802.11b: DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK 802.11g: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM 802.11a: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM 802.11n: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM 802.11ac: BPSK, QPSK, 64-QAM, 256-QAM
Certifications
Radio	FCC Part 15C, FCC Part 15E, ETSI EN 300 328, EN 301 893, LP0002
EMC	FCC Part 15B, EN 301 489-1, EN 301 489-17, EN55022, EN55024, EN61000-3-2/-3, EN60601-1-2, BSMI CNS13438
Safety	EN 60950-1, IEC 60950-1, BSMI CNS14336-1
Physical Specifications
Item Dimensions (WxDxH)(mm/in.)	203.9 x 191.7 x 34.7/8.03 x 7.55 x 1.37
Item Weight (g/lb.)	445/0.98
Packing Dimensions (WxDxH)(mm/in.)	235 x 246 x 60/9.25 x 9.69 x 2.36
Packing Weight (g/lb.)	938/2.07
Included accessories	Wall/ceiling mount plate
Environmental Specifications
Operating temperature	0°C to 50°C/32°F to 122°F
Operating humidity	10% to 90% (non-condensing)
Storage temperature	-40°C to 70°C/-40°F to 158°F
Storage humidity	10% to 90% (non-condensing)

*Max. power draw is 12.48 W. In extreme cases, the inrush current is greater than 802.3af limit, thus 802.3at PoE is required.

Hardware & Smart Antenna:

Tradiational APs typically are with single static ceiling-mount radiation pattern, while the APs deploy in wall-mount scenario, the radiation pattern would create interfloor interference and deliver short-range signal for wireless clients at the AP front.

Different from those traditional access points, Zyxel's innovative "Dual-optimized" antenna design is a ground-breaking technology, offering adjustable antenna patterns fitting for ceiling-mount or wall-mont scenario without compromising performance.

Robust Hardware

Documentation:

Download the Zyxel WAC6103D-I Datasheet (PDF).