Cisco Wireless CW9171 Access Point
Wi-Fi 7 for lower density environments in compact form factor
Cisco 9171 Series
The Cisco® Wireless 9171 Series Wi-Fi 7 access points provide a seamless entry into next-generation wireless networking, delivering reliable, high-performance connectivity for environments like boutique hotels, student housing, retail stores, healthcare clinics, remote work hubs, and distributed business locations such as satellite offices, regional branches, and logistics hubs. With a compact, energy-efficient design and flexible management options, the CW9171 helps ensure strong, future-ready connectivity without compromising affordability.
Product overview
The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Wi-Fi 7 access points are high-performance wireless solutions designed for environments like healthcare clinics, student housing, and distributed business locations. With dual-radio functionality across the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz or 6-GHz bands, the CW9171 provides reliable, high-speed connectivity (frame rate up to 6120 Mbps) for spaces with low to moderate device density. Flexible deployment options—cloud, on-premises, or hybrid—allow seamless integration into existing networks.
These access points are designed to enhance wireless performance and enable smarter spaces. For customers, the CW9171 Series delivers reliable Wi-Fi 7 performance, enabling advanced applications like IoT integration, telehealth, and seamless customer experiences. The primary business benefits are future-ready connectivity with energy efficiency, reducing power consumption while supporting evolving network demands. This makes CW9171 a cornerstone for modernizing and optimizing network infrastructure.
Prominent feature
The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Wi-Fi 7 Access Points are a cutting-edge, compact, and versatile wireless solution designed to bring the full power of the Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) standard to your organization. Building on proven reliability and discreet design, this next-generation access point delivers unparalleled performance in a small footprint.
These access points are ideal for small to medium-sized businesses, remote and branch offices, home offices, hospitality, education, and any low to moderate-density enterprise environment requiring robust, high-performance Wi-Fi 7 connectivity without compromising aesthetics or space.
Deliver the groundbreaking capabilities of Wi-Fi 7, including multigigabit speeds, ultra-low latency, and superior capacity, in a discreet, flexible, and easy-to-deploy form factor, seamlessly integrating with your existing Cisco wireless infrastructure, whether managed on premises or within the cloud.
Features and benefits:
| Features | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Dual-radio tri-band Wi-Fi 7 (2.4 and 5/6 GHz) | Delivers reliable, high-speed connectivity for modern devices. |
| Aggregate data rate of 6120 Mbps | Supports bandwidth-intensive applications like streaming and IoT. |
| Cloud, on-premises, or hybrid management | Enables flexible, scalable deployment across diverse environments with your choice of network management and monitoring. |
| IoT radios (BLE, 802.15.4) | The integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and IoT radios power smart spaces with asset tracking and automation. |
| Compact design with mount compatibility | Simplifies installation and reduces deployment time. |
| Power efficiency | The CW9171 has a 30W power draw, which reduces operational costs and supports sustainability goals. |
| Moderate-density radio configurations | Optimizes performance for specific use cases like retail or healthcare. |
| Dual power options (PoE/DC) | Offers deployment flexibility in older or temporary spaces. |
| Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | The IEEE 802.11be standard, also known as Extremely High Throughput (EHT) or Wi-Fi 7, is the latest in Wi-Fi with enhancements such as 4K-QAM, Multilink Operation (MLO), enhanced Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), and preamble puncturing support for a 320-MHz channel width built to increase data transfer rates and connection performance, especially for applications requiring low latency like AR and VR apps. |
| Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | The IEEE 802.11ax standard, also known as High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) or Wi-Fi 6, builds on 802.11ac. It delivers better experience in typical environments with more predictable performance for advanced applications such as 4K or 8K video; high-density, high-definition collaboration apps; all-wireless offices; and IoT. Wi-Fi 6E is Wi-Fi 6 "extended" into the 6-GHz frequency band. |
| Band steering | Band steering is a feature that enables your dual-band devices to detect higher radio frequency of 5 GHz or the 6 GHz band and allows the device to automatically transmit on that band. This feature allows your dual-band access point to steer and direct devices to a more optimal radio frequency, improving network performance. |
| 2.5-Gbps Multigigabit Ethernet | Multigigabit Ethernet provides speeds up to 2.5 Gbps. Note: Cat5e, Cat6, or Cat6A cabling is required for 2.5-Gbps port speeds. |
| AP power optimizations (AP Power Save Mode) | AP power optimizations (AP Power Save mode) allow the access point to reduce its power consumption by, for example, shutting off radios during off-hours and weekends – while still being smart enough to reengage all features should they be needed. This both saves power and reduces the carbon footprint of running a wireless network. |
| Intelligent Capture | Intelligent Capture probes the network and provides Cisco Catalyst™ Center with deep analysis. The software can track more than 240 anomalies and instantaneously review all packets on demand, emulating the onsite network administrator. Intelligent Capture allows for more informed decisions on your wireless networks. |
| Bluetooth/BLE | The integrated BLE 5.3 radio enables location-based use cases such as asset tracking, wayfinding, and analytics. Upgradable to BLE 6 with a future software update. |
| Application hosting | Application hosting helps simplify IoT deployments and ready them for the future by eliminating the need to install and manage overlay networks. Using the USB interface, containerized applications and hardware modules can be deployed to reduce cost and complexity. Adding Cisco Catalyst Center provides workflows and deployment-wide application lifecycle management. |
| Container support for applications | Container support enables edge computing capabilities for IoT applications on the host access point. |
Models and specifications
The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Access Points are Wi-Fi 7 access points designed for low to moderate-density indoor deployments. The CW9171I model features integrated omnidirectional antennas with dual-radio functionality across the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz or 6-GHz bands, providing reliable, high-speed connectivity in a compact form factor.
Table 2. Product specifications
| Item | Specification | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part numbers |
Cisco Wireless 9171 Access Points: Internal antennas
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| Software | Cisco Wireless 9171I model: Cisco IOS® XE Software Release 17.18.2 or later | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Supported wireless LAN controllers |
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| 802.11be |
CW9171I model:
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| 802.11ax |
CW9171I model:
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| 802.11ac |
CW9171I model:
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| 802.11n version 2.0 (and related capabilities) |
CW9171I model:
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| Integrated antenna |
CW9171I model:
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| Interfaces |
CW9171I model:
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| Incorporated radios |
CW9171I model:
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| Indicators | Status LED indicates boot loader status, association status, operating status, boot loader warnings, and boot loader errors | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dimensions (W x L x H) |
CW9171I model (without mounting brackets):
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| Weight |
CW9171I model:
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| Mounting brackets |
CW9171I model:
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| Input power requirements |
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| Power consumption |
Note: Actual power consumption may vary depending on access point usage. Typical power consumption assumes the access point is passing traffic during typical business hours and is idle during off-business hours. Business hours are assumed to be 11 hours a day, 6 days a week. Test Conditions: |
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| Environmental |
CW9171I model:
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| System memory |
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| Available transmit power settings |
2.4 GHz:
5 GHz:
6 GHz:
Note: In countries where use of the 6-GHz band is not allowed or there is no current software support, the 6-GHz radio will be disabled. The radio may be enabled with future software, once the product is certified to operate in 6 GHz for that country. |
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| Certifications |
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| Compliance standards |
Safety:
Emissions:
Immunity:
Radio:
RF safety:
Emissions and immunity:
IEEE standards:
Security:
Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) types:
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Introducing global use access points and Cisco Networking Subscription
Global use access points
Expanding our comprehensive 6-GHz wireless portfolio, the 9171 Series global use access points offer a resilient, scalable solution for your modern wireless network. These access points seamlessly operate in a cloud, on-premises, or in hybrid deployment mode, giving you the flexibility and investment protection you need for the future.
With the Cisco Wireless Wi-Fi 7 access points, you get an intelligent process for management mode discovery that's seamless, scalable, and straightforward. The global use access points' onboarding process eliminates the need for stack-specific and regulatory domain-specific products, saving you time and effort during installation.
Cisco's Wi-Fi 7 global use access points further unify our wireless product portfolio. Whether you choose on-premises or cloud-managed networking, the 9171 Series access points help you build future-ready networks with ease.
Cisco Networking Subscription
The Cisco Networking Subscription streamlines management of Cisco software, hardware, services, and platforms. This licensing model supports your network investment today and protects it for the future. You have the flexibility to manage your network how you want—whether on-premises or in the cloud—with the same unified licenses, hardware, and embedded product support.
You can purchase Wireless unified licenses (Cisco Wireless Essentials or Advantage) in a Cisco Networking Subscription. The licenses include product support for both your hardware and your software. With an active Cisco Networking Subscription, you have the flexibility to:
- Aggregate and align renewal dates to your cost-center needs
- Add licenses to an existing subscription and keep a consistent renewal date
- Upgrade entitlements mid-term and at end-of-term (renewal)
- Include different license tiers (Essentials or Advantage) in the same subscription
Secure infrastructure
Systems built with Cisco trustworthy solutions provide a highly secure foundation for Cisco products. Cisco wireless access points help ensure hardware and software authenticity for supply chain trust and strong defense against man-in-the-middle attacks that compromise software and firmware. Trustworthy capabilities include:
- Image signing
- Secure Boot
- Cisco Trust Anchor module
Seamless integration with existing network infrastructures
As businesses adapt to hybrid workplaces and distributed locations, flexible deployment is essential. The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Access Points offer cloud, on-premises, or hybrid management, helping ensure seamless integration into existing infrastructures. Auto-configurable setup simplifies installation across locations, reducing complexity for IT teams.
Designed for environments like satellite offices, student housing, and regional branches, these access points are compact and compatible with existing mounts, enabling rapid deployment with minimal disruption.
Key capabilities include:
- Auto-configuration: Simplifies setup across diverse environments.
- Scalable management: Adapts to dynamic business needs.
- Mount compatibility: Reduces installation effort and time.
Energy-efficient design for sustainability
Energy efficiency is a priority for businesses looking to reduce operational costs and align with sustainability goals. The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series operates at just 30W for full functionality. This design minimizes power consumption without compromising performance.
Key capabilities include:
- Reduced energy costs: Lowers operational expenses while maintaining performance.
- Support for sustainability goals: Aligns with corporate environmental initiatives.
- Dual power options: Flexibility for diverse deployment environments.
The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series delivers unmatched value, combining advanced Wi-Fi 7 performance with integration, efficiency, and scalability to meet the needs of today’s connected organizations.
Licensing
Cisco Wi-Fi 7 access points, including the 9171 Series, require a Cisco Networking Subscription, either Cisco Wireless Essentials or Cisco Wireless Advantage licenses.
Warranty information
The Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Access Points come with a limited lifetime warranty that provides full warranty coverage of the hardware for as long as the original end user continues to own or use the product. The warranty includes 5-day advance hardware replacement and helps ensure that software media are defect-free for 90 days.
Documentation:
Download the Cisco Wireless 9171 Series Access Points Data Sheet (PDF).
Pricing Notes:
- Pricing and product availability subject to change without notice.