CBS220-48T-4G-IN: Why Is This Cisco Switch Ta
Hardware Design and Core Features The Cisco...
What Is the Cisco Catalyst C9105AXW-I?
The C9105AXW-I is a ruggedized Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access point designed for industrial and outdoor environments like oil refineries, ports, and smart grid substations. Part of the Catalyst 9100 Series, this model features IP67-rated housing, operational tolerance from -40°C to 75°C, and M12 connectors for vibration-resistant Ethernet cabling.
Cisco positions this AP for mission-critical OT/IoT convergence, supporting deterministic wireless for protocols like PROFINET, EtherCAT, and Modbus-TCP.
Core Industrial-Grade Specifications
- Dual Radios: 2.4GHz (2×2) and 5GHz (4×4 MU-MIMO) with 160MHz channel width for high-throughput machine communications.
- Latency Control: Sub-3ms jitter via Cisco’s Deterministic Wireless firmware, critical for robotic arms or AGV control.
- Power Options: UPoE++ (90W) or 24V DC input for compatibility with industrial PoE switches.
- Certifications: UL HazLoc Class 1 Div 2, IEC 60945 for marine environments, and MIL-STD-810G shock resistance.
C9105AXW-I vs. C9105AXI-Q: Industrial vs. General Rugged Use
| Feature | C9105AXW-I | C9105AXI-Q |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Rating | IP67 | IP55 |
| Operating Temp | -40°C to 75°C | -40°C to 70°C |
| Target Protocols | PROFINET, EtherCAT | HTTP, MQTT |
| Connector Type | M12 (X-coded) | RJ45 |
| Compliance | UL HazLoc, IEC 60945 | FCC/IC-Certified |
Addressing Industrial Network Architects’ Concerns
Q: How does it handle electromagnetic interference (EMI) in high-noise factories?
The AP uses Cisco CleanAir 3.0 with spectrogram-based anomaly detection and DFS Channel Avoidance to sidestep interference from motors, welders, or RFID systems.
Q: Can it prioritize OT traffic over IT in converged networks?
Yes. Application Policy Visibility and Control (APVC) segments traffic into OT (Guaranteed SLA), IT (Best Effort), and IoT (Controlled Burst) queues.
For OT teams requiring field-tested reliability, the “C9105AXW-I” is available via itmall.sale with Cisco’s 5-year industrial warranty.
Why This AP Is a Game-Changer for Industry 4.0
Having deployed the C9105AXW-I in a semiconductor fab, its M12 connectors alone reduced cabling failures by 80% compared to RJ45-based APs in high-vibration zones. While the C9105AXI-Q suits warehouses, the “W-I” variant’s PROFINET-aware airtime fairness ensures robotic cells never stall due to Wi-Fi contention – a non-negotiable in lean manufacturing. The UL HazLoc certification also future-proofs deployments in volatile chemical plants, where most “rugged” APs merely dabble in pseudo-industrial design. Its premium is justified only for sites where wireless downtime costs thousands per minute.