DATA SHEET
ARUBA 303 SERIES
CAMPUS ACCESS POINTS
Low-cost 802.11ac Wave 2 enterprise AP
The aordable mid-range Aruba 303 Series
campus access point delivers high performance
802.11ac with MU-MIMO (Wave 2) for medium
density enterprise environments. With the
integrated BLE and supporting 802.3af power,
the Aruba 303 Series AP enables enterprises to
improve their work eciency and productivity with
the lowest TCO.
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 2x2:2SS, the Aruba 303 is
designed for medium device density environments, such as
schools, retail branches, warehouses, hotels and enterprise
oces, where the environment is cost sensitive.
The 303 Series AP has an integrated Bluetooth Low-Energy
(BLE) radio, which can be used as an Aruba beacon for
advanced locationing, indoor waynding, asset tracking,
and to enable proximity-based push notication services.
The integrated beacon radio also enables the remote
management of battery-powered and other standalone
beacons in a large-scale network of Aruba beacons. It
enables businesses to leverage mobility context to
develop applications that will deliver an enhanced user
experience and increase the value of the wireless network
for organizations.
UNIQUE BENEFITS
• Unied 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 2x2 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 unied communications applications
- Supports priority handling and policy enforcement for
unied 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, high-
performance WLANs
- The Aruba 303 Series Access Points can be congured
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
DATA SHEET
ARUBA 303 SERIES CAMPUS ACCESS POINTS
• 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 oers 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
CHOOSE YOUR OPERATING MODE
The Aruba 303 Series Access Points oer a choice of deployment
and operating modes to meet your unique management and
deployment requirements:
• The 303 Series AP is a unied AP that supports both
controller-based and controller-less deployment modes,
providing maximum exibility.
• Controller-based mode – When deployed in conjunction
with an Aruba Mobility Controller, Aruba 303 Series
Access Points oer centralized conguration, data
encryption, policy enforcement and network services, as
well as distributed and centralized trac 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 signicantly reduces deployment time by automating
device provisioning, rmware upgrades, and inventory
management. With Aruba Activate, the APs can be factory-
shipped to any site and congure themselves when powered up.
SPECIFICATIONS
Hardware Variants
• AP-303: Internal antenna models.
Wi-Fi Radio Specications
• AP type: Indoor, dual radio, 5GHz 802.11ac 2x2 MIMO and
2.4GHz 802.11n 2x2 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-specic
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 congured
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: Congurable 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
DATA SHEET
ARUBA 303 SERIES CAMPUS ACCESS POINTS
• 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-eciency 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
• AP-303: Internal antenna models.
- Two vertically polarized dual-band downtilt omni-
directional antennas for 2x2 MIMO with peak antenna
gain of 3.5dBi (2.4GHz) and 6.9dBi (5GHz) per antenna.
- 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 (eective) pattern is 2.1dBi in
2.4GHz and 5.7dBi in 5GHz.
Other Interfaces
• E0: One 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet network
interface (RJ-45)
- Auto-sensing link speed and MDI/MDX
- PoE-PD: 48Vdc (nominal) 802.3af PoE
• DC power interface, accepts 2.1/5.5-mm center-positive
circular plug with 9.5-mm length
• Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio
- Up to 3dBm transmit power (class 2) and -93dBm
receive sensitivity
- Integrated vertically polarized omnidirectional antenna
with roughly 30 degrees downtilt and peak gain of 4.5dBi
• Visual indicators (tri-color LEDs): for System and
Radio status
• Reset button: factory reset (during device power-up), LED
mode control (normal/o)
• 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
• Direct DC source: 12Vdc nominal, +/- 5%
• 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)
Mounting
• The AP ships with a (black) mount clips to attach to a 9/16-
inch or 15/16-inch at 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)
- 260g or 9.2oz
• Dimensions and weight (shipping):
- 190mm (W) x 180mm (D) x 60mm (H) or
7.4” (W) x 7.0” (D) x 2.4” (H)
- 410g or 14.5oz
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
• MTBF: 795khrs (91yrs) at +25C operating temperature