If you’re looking to extend your Wi-Fi network outdoors and want to enjoy the 6GHz band, TP-Link has some good news.
Today, the networking vendor announced the availability of the EAP772-Outdoor. This is its latest in a relatively extensive portfolio of business-oriented Omada Wi-Fi 7 access points, but the first to feature AFC.
Let’s find out more about this new Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster!
TP-Link EAP772-Outdoor: Rugged, tri-band, and AFC-enabled
For the most part, the EAP772-Outdoor is not exactly new. It’s the outdoor version of the EAP772. While the naming convention can be confusing, the EAP772 is practically the same as the EAP773 except with a 2.5Gbps PoE+ uplink port instead of a 10Gbps one.
Consequently, in terms of Wi-Fi hardware, the EAP772-Outdoor is the same as the EAP773, a dual-band tri-band broadcaster, but it also has a 2.5Gbps uplink port.
However, there are a couple of things that make the EAP772-Outdoor stand out.
The first, quite obvious, is the fact that it is an access point designed for the outdoors. On this front, it has a rugged IP68-rated chassis to handle the elements. Per TP-Link, it can work even when submerged in water.
The second and most significant feature is the AFC support, which enables its 6GHz band to deliver at least the same range as that of the 5GHz band. Thanks to the AFC, its MLO feature will likely work much better with it, too. So, the EAP772-Outdoor potentially has a significant improvement in terms of Wi-Fi coverage.
So far, in the US, the only other official AFC-enabled broadcasters you can find today are these few from Ubiquiti, represented by the recently reviewed E7.
So, for fans of this feature, the EAP772-Outdoor is welcome news.
The table below shows the hardware specs of the EAP772-Outdoor against its older, similarly specced cousin, the EAP773.
Hardware specifications: TP-Link Omada EAP772-Outdoor vs. EAP773
 |
 |
|
|---|---|---|
| Name | TP-Link Omada EAP772-Outdoor BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Access Point | TP-Link Omada EAP773 BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Access Point |
| Model | EAP772-Outdoor | EAP773 |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE11000 | |
| 6 GHz Speeds (channel width) |
2×2 BE: Up to 5760 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
|
| 5 GHz Speeds (channel width) |
2×2 BE: Up to 4320 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) |
|
| 2.4 GH Speeds (channel with) |
2×2 AX: Up to 574 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
|
| Max Broadcasting Power (US) |
<25 dBm (2.4 GHz) <25 dBm (5 GHz) <25 dBm (6 GHz) |
< 25 dBm (2.4 GHz) < 25 dBm (5 GHz) < 23 dBm (6 GHz) |
| Number of SSIDs | 8 (single or multiple bands) |
|
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) |
Yes | No |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) |
Yes | |
| Roaming Standard | 802.11r/k/v | |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11/axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b | |
| Power over Ethernet (PoE) |
802.11at (PoE+) | |
| Injector Included | No | |
| DC input | None | DC 12 V |
| Adapter Included | N/A | No |
| Max Power Consumption (US) |
US: 23W (PoE) | 25.44 W (PoE) 22.57 W (DC) |
| Multi-Gig port | 1 x 2.5GBASE-T PoE+ | 1 x 10GBASE-T PoE+ |
| Gigabit Port | none | |
| Wireless Security Methods | WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3 | |
| Authentication | IEEE 802.1X/RADIUS | |
| Access Management | L2-isolation/MAC filtering/Rogue AP detection | |
| Management Options | Local Web UI, Omada Cloud-Based Controller, Omada Local Hardware Controller (OC300 or OC200), Omada Local Software Controller |
|
| Mobile App | TP-Link Omada | |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) |
9.1× 8.2 × 2.8 in (230 × 207.5 × 69.7 mm) |
8.7 × 8.7 × 1.3 in (220 × 220 × 32.5 mm) |
| Weight | TBD | 2.92 lbs (1.32 kg) |
| Operating Environment | Operating Temperature: -30–70 ℃ (-22–158 ℉) Operating Humidity: 10–90% RH non-condensing |
Operating Temperature: 0 °C–40 °C (32 °F–104 °F) Operating Humidity: 10%–90% (non-condensing) |
| Ruggedness | IP68-rated | N/A |
| Accessories | Wall- and pole-mounting | Ceiling- and wall-mounting |
| Release Date | May 14, 2025 | February 6, 2024 |
| Warranty | 5-year | |
| US Launch Price | $249.99 | 189.99 |
A typical Omada access point at heart
The AP comes with a single PoE+ port as its sole power intake. However, there’s no injector included, which is relatively standard for business access points. To use it, you need to have a PoE+ (or higher) switch or an injector.
TP-Link claims that the AP can deliver 3,200ft2 (300m2) omnidirectional coverage, which seems plausible enough. The difference is that you can expect that even from the 6GHz band, thanks to the AFC support—this band is notoriously short in range without AFC.
Other than that, you can expect the EAP772-Outdoor to be similar, if not the same as, the rest of the Omada family in terms of features and settings.
Among other things, you can use a single unit as a standard Wi-Fi broadcaster wth any existing network via its built-in web user interface. Alternatively, you can get a few units or couple the EAP772-Outdoor with other Omada APs, including the EAP773 mentioned here, to form a mesh Wi-Fi system via a controller, including the Omada Essential Cloud-Based Controller.
Using a few Omada APs together has been one of the best ways to build a robust DIY mesh Wi-Fi system, among those shown below.
Pricing and availability
TP-Link says the new Omada EAP772-Outdoor Wi-Fi 7 access point is available now at a retail price of $249.99, which is comparatively reasonable enough.
Apart from it, the company also unveiled the entry-level EAP723, which costs merely $89.99. The two complete the Omda Wi-Fi 7 access point lineup that also includes the EAP772, EAP773, and the top-tier EAP783. All of them are available to purchase today!
