aruba 303 series console

The compact Aruba 303 Series AP delivers a maximum
concurrent data rate of 867 Mbps in the 5GHz band and
300 Mbps in the 2.4GHz band (for an aggregate peak
data rate of 1.2Gbps). Featuring 2×2:2SS, the Aruba 303 is
designed for medium device density environments, such as
schools, retail branches, warehouses, hotels and enterprise
offices, where the environment is cost sensitive.

IOT PLATFORM CAPABILITIES

The 303 Series includes an integrated Bluetooth 5 and
802.15.4 radio (for Zigbee support) to simplify deploying and
managing Meridian and IoT-based location services, asset
tracking services, security solutions and IoT sensors. This
allows organizations to leverage the AP as an IoT platform,
which eliminates the need for an overlay infrastructure and
additional IT resources.

UNIQUE BENEFITS

• Unified AP – deploy with or without controller
– The 303 Series access points can be deployed in
either controller-based (ArubaOS) or controller-less
(InstantOS) deployment mode
• Dual Radio 2×2 802.11ac access point with Multi-User
MIMO (wave 2)
– Supports up to 867Mbps in the 5GHz band (with 2SS/
VHT80 client devices) and up to 300Mbps in the 2.4GHz
band (with 2SS/HT40 clients)

• Built-in Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) radio
– Enables location based services with BLE-enabled mobile
devices receiving signals from multiple Aruba Beacons at
the same time
– Enables asset tracking when used with Aruba Asset Tags
• Advanced Cellular Coexistence (ACC)
– Minimizes interference from 3G/4G cellular networks,
distributed antenna systems and commercial small cell/
femtocell equipment
• Quality of service for unified communications applications
– Supports priority handling and policy enforcement for
unified communication apps, including Skype for Business
with encrypted videoconferencing, voice, chat and
desktop sharing

• Aruba AppRF technology leverages deep packet inspection
to classify and block, prioritize or limit bandwidth for over
2,500 enterprise apps or groups of apps
• RF Management
– Adaptive Radio Management (ARM) technology with
AirMatch automatically assigns channel, width and power
settings based on environment and client density. It also
provides airtime fairness and ensures that APs stay clear
of all sources of RF interference to deliver reliable, highperformance WLANs
– The Aruba 303 Series Access Points can be configured
to provide part-time or dedicated air monitoring for
spectrum analysis and wireless intrusion protection,
VPN tunnels to extend remote locations to corporate
resources, and wireless mesh connections where
Ethernet drops are not available
• Spectrum analysis
– Capable of part-time or dedicated air monitoring, the
spectrum analyzer remotely scans the 2.4GHz and 5GHz
radio bands to identify sources of RF interference from
HT20 through VHT80 operation
• Aruba Secure Core
– Device assurance: Use of Trusted Platform Module (TPM)
for secure storage of credentials and keys as well as
secure boot
– Integrated wireless intrusion protection offers threat
protection and mitigation, and eliminates the need for
separate RF sensors and security appliances
– IP reputation and security services identify, classify,
and block malicious les, URLs and IPs, providing
comprehensive protection against advanced
online threats
Daisy-chain your wired network to connect and power any
network device (IP camera, IOT gateway, or even a second Access
Point) to the E1 Ethernet port of the AP-303P. Simplify and costreduce the installation of multiple devices by sharing switch
ports and cabling.

CHOOSE YOUR OPERATING MODE

The Aruba 303 Series Access Points offer a choice of deployment
and operating modes to meet your unique management and
deployment requirements:
• The 303 Series AP is a unified AP that supports both
controller-based and controller-less deployment modes,
providing maximum flexibility.
• Controller-based mode – When deployed in conjunction
with an Aruba Mobility Controller, Aruba 303 Series

Access Points offer centralized configuration, data
encryption, policy enforcement and network services, as
well as distributed and centralized traffic forwarding.
• Controller-less (Instant) mode – The controller function
is virtualized in a cluster of APs in Instant mode. As the
network grows and/or requirements change, Instant
deployments can easily migrate to controller-based mode.
• Remote AP (RAP) mode for branch deployments
• Air monitor (AM) for wireless IDS, rogue detection
and containment
• Spectrum analyzer (SA), dedicated or hybrid, for
identifying sources of RF interference
• Secure enterprise mesh portal or point
For large installations across multiple sites, the Aruba Activate
service significantly reduces deployment time by automating
device provisioning, firmware upgrades, and inventory
management. With Aruba Activate, the APs can be factory – shipped to any site and configure themselves when powered up.

SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware Variants
• AP-303 models: single Ethernet
• AP-303P models: second Ethernet with PoE out
Wi-Fi Radio Specifications
• AP type: Indoor, dual radio, 5GHz 802.11ac 2×2 MIMO and
2.4GHz 802.11n 2×2 MIMO
• 5GHz (radio 0):
– Two spatial stream Single User (SU) MIMO for up to
867 Mbps wireless data rate to individual 2SS VHT80
client devices
– Two spatial stream Multi User (MU) MIMO for up to
867 Mbps wireless data rate to two 1SS MU-MIMO
capable client devices simultaneously
• 2.4GHz (radio 1):
– Two spatial stream Single User (SU) MIMO for up to
300 Mbps wireless data rate to individual 2SS HT40
client devices
• Support for up to 256 associated client devices per radio,
and up to 16 BSSIDs per radio
• Supported frequency bands (country-specific restrictions
apply):
– 2.400 to 2.4835GHz
– 5.150 to 5.250GHz
– 5.250 to 5.350GHz
– 5.470 to 5.725GHz
– 5.725 to 5.850GHz

• Available channels: Dependent on configured
regulatory domain
• Dynamic frequency selection (DFS) optimizes the use of
available RF spectrum
• Supported radio technologies:
– 802.11b: Direct-sequence spread-spectrum (DSSS)
– 802.11a/g/n/ac: Orthogonal frequency-division
multiplexing (OFDM)
• Supported modulation types:
– 802.11b: BPSK, QPSK, CCK
– 802.11a/g/n/ac: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM,
256-QAM
• Transmit power: Configurable in increments of 0.5dBm
• Maximum (aggregate, conducted total) transmit power
(limited by local regulatory requirements):
– 2.4GHz band: +21dBm (18dBm per chain)
– 5GHz band: +21dBm (18dBm per chain)
– Note: conducted transmit power levels exclude antenna
gain. For total (EIRP) transmit power, add antenna gain
• Advanced Cellular Coexistence (ACC) minimizes the impact
of interference from cellular networks
• Maximum ratio combining (MRC) for improved
receiver performance
• Cyclic delay/shift diversity (CDD/CSD) for improved
downlink RF performance
• Short guard interval for 20MHz, 40MHz and
80MHz channels
• Space-time block coding (STBC) for increased range and
improved reception
• Low-density parity check (LDPC) for high-efficiency error
correction and increased throughput
• Transmit beam-forming (TxBF) for increased signal
reliability and range
• Supported data rates (Mbps):
– 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11
– 802.11a/g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54
– 802.11n: 6.5 to 300 (MCS0 to MCS15)
– 802.11ac: 6.5 to 867 (MCS0 to MCS9, NSS = 1 to 2)
– 802.11n high-throughput (HT) support: HT20/40
– 802.11ac very high throughput (VHT) support:
VHT20/40/80
– 802.11n/ac packet aggregation: A-MPDU, A-MSDU

Wi-Fi Antennas
• Two vertically polarized dual-band downtilt omnidirectional antennas for 2×2 MIMO with peak antenna
gain of:
– 3.3dBi in 2.4GHz and 5.8dBi in 5GHz for AP-303
– 3.4dBi in 2.4GHz and 7.8dBi in 5GHz for AP-303P
• The antennas are optimized for horizontal ceiling mounted
orientation of the AP. The downtilt angle for maximum gain
is roughly 30 degrees.
• Combining the patterns of both antennas per radio, the
peak gain of the average (effective) pattern is:
– 2.1dBi in 2.4GHz and 5.7dBi in 5GHz for AP-303
– 2.1dBi in 2.4GHz and 5.9dBi in 5GHz for AP-303P
Other Interfaces
• E0: One 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet network
interface (RJ-45)
– Auto-sensing link speed and MDI/MDX
– 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
– PoE-PD: 48Vdc (nominal) 802.3af/at/bt PoE
• DC power interface
• E1 (AP-303P models only): One 10/100/1000BASE-T
Ethernet network interface (RJ-45)
– Auto-sensing link speed and MDI/MDX
– 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
– PoE-PSE (output): 48Vdc (nominal) 802.3af/at PoE
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio
• Zigbee 802.15.4 radio (AP-303P models only)
• Visual indicators (tri-color LEDs): for System and
Radio status
• Reset button: factory reset (during device power-up), LED
mode control (normal/off)
• Serial console interface (proprietary, µUSB physical jack)
• Kensington security slot
Power Sources and Consumption
• The AP supports direct DC power and Power over
Ethernet (PoE)
• When both power sources are available, DC power takes
priority over PoE
• Power sources are sold separately

AP-303 models:
• Direct DC source: 12Vdc nominal, +/- 5%
• DC power interface accepts 2.1/5.5-mm center-positive
circular plug with 9.5-mm length
• Power over Ethernet (PoE): 48Vdc (nominal) 802.3af
compliant source
• Maximum (worst-case) power consumption: 10.1W (PoE)
or 8.8W (DC)
• Maximum (worst-case) power consumption in idle mode:
4.2W (PoE) or 4.0W (DC)
AP-303P models:
• Direct DC source: 48Vdc nominal, +/- 5%
• DC power interface accepts 1.35/3.5-mm center-positive
circular plug with 9.5-mm length
• Power over Ethernet (PoE-PD) on E0: 48Vdc (nominal)
802.3af/at/bt compliant source
• PoE-PSE function on E1 disabled when powered by
802.3af PoE, limited to class 3 when powered by 802.3at
PoE, unrestricted when powered by 802.3bt PoE or DC
• Maximum (worst-case) power consumption: 11.3 (PoE) or
11.5 (DC)
• Maximum (worst-case) power consumption in idle mode:
6.8 (PoE) or 7.0 (DC)
• Power consumption numbers exclude power to support
PoE-PSE function on E1
Mounting
• The AP ships with a (black) mount clips to attach to a 9/16-
inch or 15/16-inch flat T-bar drop-tile ceiling
• Several optional mount kits are available to attach the
AP to a variety of surfaces; see the Ordering Information
section below for details
Mechanical
• Dimensions and weight (unit, excluding mount accessories):
– 150mm (W) x 150mm (D) x 35mm (H) or
5.9” (W) x 5.9” (D) x 1.4” (H)
– AP-303 models: 260g or 9.2oz
– AP-303P models: 280g or 9.9oz
• Dimensions and weight (shipping):
– 190mm (W) x 180mm (D) x 60mm (H) or
7.4” (W) x 7.0” (D) x 2.4” (H)
– AP-303 models: 410g or 14.5oz
– AP-303P models: 430g or 15.2oz

Environmental
• Operating:
– Temperature: 0° C to +40° C (+32° F to +104° F)
– Humidity: 5% to 93% non-condensing
• Storage and transportation:
– Temperature: -40° C to +70° C (-40° F to +158° F)
Reliability (at +25C operating temperature)
• AP-303 models MTBF: 795khrs (91yrs)
• AP-303P models MTBF: 518khrs (59yrs)
Regulatory
• FCC/ISED
• CE Marked
• RED Directive 2014/53/EU
• EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
• Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
• UL/IEC/EN 60950
• EN 60601-1-1 and EN 60601-1-2
• EN 50155 (AP-303)
For more country-specific regulatory information and
approvals, please see your Aruba representative.
Regulatory Model Numbers
• AP-303: APIN0303
• AP-303P: APINP303
Certifications
• CB Scheme Safety, cTUVus
• UL2043 plenum rating
• Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) certified 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
• WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 – Enterprise with CNSA option,
Personal (SAE), Enhanced Open (OWE)
• Wi-Fi Alliance certified (WFA) 802.11ac with
Wave 2 features
• Passpoint® (Release 2) with ArubaOS and Instant 8.3+

WARRANTY

• Aruba limited lifetime warranty

MINIMUM SOFTWARE VERSIONS

• AP-303 models: ArubaOS & Aruba InstantOS 8.3.0.0
• AP-303P models: ArubaOS & Aruba InstantOS 8.4.0.0

Note: Table shows the maximum hardware capability of the AP (excluding antenna and MIMO/MRC gain). Actual maximum transmit power may be limited below these
numbers to ensure compliance with local regulatory requirements.