Help us make the Firewalla AP
Pinned Featured
- Building a Zero Trust Network with Firewalla
- Firewalla Tutorial: Segmentation and Microsegmentation with AP7
- Early Access hardware is the FINAL production unit
- AP software in BETA.
-
Compatibility Requirements:
- Gold, Gold Pro, Gold Plus, Gold SE: Must run Beta software.
- Purple, Purple SE: Must run Early Access software.
- Firewalla must operate in Router mode.
- Firewalla App must run Beta software.
- Availability: USA customers only.
- Shipping: 7–37 days post-order, in waves (FIFO).
- Order Limit: Soft limit of 3 units per order; exceeding this may delay shipment
- Early access signup ends 12/30/2024 at 11:59PM PST.
- A coupon (small discount) will be sent to early access sign-ups before 1/2/2025.
- You do NOT need to sign up to order.
- We started an AP7 Community Page, please post your questions here
- Full Integration with the Firewalla Security Stack
- Zero Trust Network Architecture
- VLAN Segmentation and Microsegmentation Support
- Easy to install, managed anywhere
- Wi-Fi 7, faster and more reliable
- Wi-Fi Mesh with Ethernet or Wi-Fi backhaul
- Firewalla running in router mode is required
- 8 Spatial Streams, tri-band, low-power indoor unit
- 10Gbit + 2.5Gbit Ethernet Interface
- Early access and beta are available only in the USA. (EU and other countries TBD)
- Price for beta units with discount: $299 to $349
- Final price after 1/20/2025: We don't know; it depends on the tariff
- Tentatively, early access/beta sale starts in early January 2025
Key Principles of Zero Trust
- Segmentation and Microsegmentation: Divide your network into smaller segments to limit the lateral movement of threats.
- Least Privilege Access: Grant users and devices only the minimum access necessary to perform their functions on the network.
- Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor and verify the security posture of all users and devices.
We usually run a pre-sale cycle, but due to the political changes (new President), it is not possible for us to pre-sale and build units without knowing possible tariff impacts. Instead, we’ve used the sale proceeds from BFCM to pre-purchase a batch of units.
The AP7 units should be built soon and be available for ordering. We plan to split the orders into groups: (This plan is still tentative, we may also merge beta+early access together)
- Early Access (for our earliest supporters at the lowest price, available mid- to late-December 2024. Must be running Firewalla Gold (v1 & v2), Gold SE, Gold Plus or Gold Pro in router mode)
- Beta Access (about 1 month later, available mid-January 2025. Must be running Firewalla Purple or Gold series units in router mode)
- Production (to be decided after 1/20/2025)
- For details please refer the the status update section below
All units will have the final production hardware, software will be in early access/beta.
- Limited number of units available
- Limited to 3 units per customer
- Early access unit will be using early access software
- Beta access will be using beta software
The Firewalla AP7 Ceiling Mount will come a couple of months after 1/20/2025. It will seamlessly integrate with the FWAP7 Desktop units.
Spec
- Triband 2.4Ghz 2x2, 5Ghz 2x2, 6Ghz 4x4
- 8 Spatial Streams, 320Mhz channel support 6Ghz
- Network Interfaces: 10Gbit RJ45 + 2.5Gbit RJ45
- VLAN
- PPSK+WPA2 Support (Personal Key)
- Mesh with Ethernet or Wi-Fi backhaul
- Dimensions: 5.43 x 3.15 x 7.48 inch
- Item Weight: 1.4 lb
- Power: 30W
- Compatible with and Required: Firewalla Gold / Firewalla Purple in router mode
Status Update: 12/10/2024
- The initial batch of APs is nearly complete.
- We plan to ship some units by air right around or after Christmas to reduce shipping costs.
- Shipping optimization is under consideration to keep the beta/early access pricing closer to $299.
- Apps version 1.64 and 1.980 are targeted for "early access" release during the week of 12/16. These updates will include exciting new features and code support for the Firewalla AP.
- Sales are expected to begin in early January, with units shipping within seven days of order placement. (The exact date will be confirmed next week.)
Status Update: 12/17/2024
- The Firewalla AP7 is coming very soon!
- We are aiming for 1/7/2025 9 AM PST as the Early Access purchase date, but we'll let you know if anything changes! (if the shipment is late, then this date might be pushed back to 1/14/2025)
-
Really happy with the price firewalla has come up with for these units; feels like theyre looking out for people like me (I honestly dont know or understand who the Ruckus customer is, I dont see myself there ever). I moved my Eeros to bridge mode when I got my Gold Pro and will be dumping Eero completely when AP7 is available. I am super happy with their mesh quality while moving around the house; I hope firewalla is at least similar while opening up (way) more tinkering capability.
-
Firewalla
A ceiling-mounted 444 is going to be pretty expensive, big, and very hot ...
I think Unifi has just shown that even with a large fanbase who spends way too much, demand is much lower for $500 APs even if they contain 4x4x4 and 10gbe. This is one of their only items that didnt immediately sell out in the first day, it took almost a week to sell out. So maybe if your only options right now is an expensive, hot, large, power hungry 4x4x4 or a lower spec 2x2x2 the lower spec one may sell a lot better.
Or just wait on releasing a ceiling AP until more manufacturing options become available to choose from.
-
Just completed running a full review of my home wifi network and am beginning to lean towards agreeing with @M; that I'd rather have less expensive 2x2x2 APs as opposed to more expensive 4x4x4; though I'd want ceiling mount.
I currently have 5 APs: 3 are wifi 7 to cover our 4000sqft two-story home; 3 inside the home, 1 in a garage, and 1 outside. The APs support 47/2.4GHz devices (includes 4 security cameras), 13/5GHz devices, and 7/6GHz devices. The 47/2.4GHz are evenly spread across 4 of the APs.
I'm sort of done chasing the speed test candy and moving to wanting security, stability, and "enough" bandwidth per device to support its needs...sure, it's fun seeing a speed test on my phone showing 2.5Gbps up/down, but in my real daily use, I don't need / won't actually use anywhere near that kind of throughput, so I'd be good with stepping it down if it meant lower cost per AP and integration of APs with Firewalla.
Cheaper APs will also mean being able to get Firewalla switches if/when those come out.
-
Status Update: 12/10/2024
- The initial batch of APs is nearly complete.
- We plan to ship some units by air right around or after Christmas to reduce shipping costs.
- Shipping optimization is under consideration to keep the beta/early access pricing closer to $299.
- Apps version 1.64 and 1.980 are targeted for "early access" release during the week of 12/16. These updates will include exciting new features and code support for the Firewalla AP.
- Sales are expected to begin in early January, with units shipping within seven days of order placement. (The exact date will be confirmed next week.)
-
@firewalla
yea, i have gone through the thread and read the general spec you provide. I am actually interested in following format:
total Wi-Fi Bandwidth?
1st band, 2.4GHz, (2x2, 4x4?) (up to what speed), (channel width, 20/40MHz? )
2st band, 5Ghz, (2x2, 4x4?) (up to what speed), (channel width, 20/40/80/160/240MHz?)
3st band, 6Ghz, (2x2, 4x4?) (up to what speed), (channel width, 20/40/80/160/320MHz?)
Multi-Link Operation (MLO)?
Automatated Frequency Coordination (AFC)?
-
1. The unit is 224, 2.4: 2x2:2, 5:2x2:2, 6:4x4:4
2. I think we support all the channel width. The oneplus we have can get to 3gigabit on 6ghz with 320Mhz band, and iPhone 16 is half of that at 160Mhz Band
3. MLO is there ... (tunning ... testing is not done, can't find any reasonable clients ... except firewalla to firewalla) edit: This may be off until we do more testing
4. NO AFC, this is a low power indoor unit
-
Key Principles of Zero Trust
- Segmentation and Microsegmentation: Divide your network into smaller segments to limit the lateral movement of threats.
- Least Privilege Access: Grant users and devices only the minimum access necessary to perform their functions on the network.
- Continuous Monitoring: Continuously monitor and verify the security posture of all users and devices.
-
@DanM, best wait a bit on our documentation on zero trust. We will publish it next or the week after.
In general, AP7 enables your firewalla to microsegment/segment + L3 rules, making the end to end (wifi to internet) much more controllable. We have some examples and writeups, they should explain in detail.
-
I'm excited about the upcoming AP7 launch.
What is the expected range/distance for WiFi?
If the unit is placed on the main level of a home about 3,500 sq ft (1,200 sq ft per level), do you expect one AP7 desktop to provide whole house coverage?
Do multiple units form a mesh network via the wireless backhaul? Thank you!
-
Wireless coverage is extremely tricky, and the range can depend on things like the material of your house, how many floors, and, lastly, your expectations of coverage speed. For example, if you want the edge of your house to get a gigabit, which is much different than 20mbit ...
I want everywhere to be close to 200mbit, so I use more units than my neighbor, who is that not picky
-
Thanks @Firewalla. Will AP7 units mesh? I am used to an ASUS mesh system that I have now, so I was wondering if the AP7 desktop units will create a WiFi mesh network when used in wireless backhaul?
If I were to put one AP7 in the basement, would there be speed loss due to it connecting via wireless backhaul as opposed to ethernet which I do not have running to the basement.
Still trying to decide if one AP7 unit on the main floor will provide coverage to all three floors (one floor above it and basement below). -
@J, AP7 will mesh with ethernet backhaul and WiFi backhaul. AP7 will only mesh with AP7 units (Desktop or ceiling unit)
AP7 mesh using 6ghz, it can easily achieve > gigabit wireless backhaul. (test in California, we have wood houses here)
As for performance, it really depends on your expectations. And your house material. (this is the reason, we are unlikely to quote things like, it covers 1500sqft per unit ...)
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
648 comments