Airtight C75 review

1)Intro

2)Features

3)Setup

4)Wireless configuration

5)Throughput tests (Wireless/Wired)

6)Closing Notes

Intro: The Airtight C75 is a enterprise level wireless access point that is  somewhat affordable for small to medium businesses, has lots of features and can tolerate a lot of heavy usage that enterprises require.

Features: The Airtight C75 features the following:

1) Dual band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz operation with 3 x 3 MIMO connectivity at up to 1200Mbps

2) 2 wired Gigabit LAN ports

3) 4 3x3 mimo  x 5dBi  dual band internal antennas with 30dBm output power for great wireless coverage

4) SSIDs with configurable VLANs for each one providing more security then standard guest networks

5) Full VLAN configuration

6) Full and extremely detailed traffic shaping (QoS) and firewall controls

7) Full client connectivity details and monitoring.

8) Fixed and DHCP client address assignments

9) Fully customizable user/group policies

10) Full Intrusion Protection Services

11) And lots more

Setup:

1) Power brick was  like your usual one. It did, however come with plugs for other countries
2) All done over the cloud with no local config.

Let's take a look at the really helpful status page that tells us all our status.

Wireless Configuration:

Here’s the WLAN config screens:

Radio Settings:

AP Main Settings:

The Airtight C75 supports WPA/WPA2 and supports PSK and Enterprise authentication types that can be different for each SSID. Selecting “Enterprise” allows you to use Airtight Authentication, which allows you to define a username and password rather then a static key, allowing for more fine control over your wireless network. User based controls allow you to define limits PER USER so that if let’s say, they get fired, you just delete thier user account and not have to change the ENTIRE NETWORK’S encryption key.

Traffic Shaping:

You can do traffic shaping to make sure each client has equal bandwidth and also to make sure certain clients that are more important have more bandwidth then other clients like important servers, mission critical workstations, etc. Very useful.

Throughput Tests: (Wireless)

I will be using LAN Speed test for the throughput tests and PRTG to generate the graphs. It also is a comprehensive enterprise level network monitoring software and it can record uptime, transfer rates, errors, etc.

Test environment: (Set 1)

Specs of Building: This is going through about 32 ft through 2 walls, a solid all-wood dresser, and a chimney. The room has plaster walls in some places.

Specs of server :(my machine in the same room as theAirtight C75): Intel i5 3570K/16GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 RAM/Nvidia Geforce 650Ti/Samsung 840 120GB SSD/Windows Server 2012 Standard/Realtek GBE NIC

Specs of client: (remote machine in other room): AGNXAndrakon/AMD Phenom 9650/4GB Corsair XMS2 DDR2 RAM/Nvidia Geforce 650Ti/Samsung 840 120GB SSD/Windows Server 2012 Standard/Amped Wireless ACA1 USB WLAN connection:USB3 via a PCI-Express addon card.

5Ghz 802.11ac mode: Channel 48 -60dBm

LAN speed test: 25 stream 6GB file: 25Mbytes/sec or 200Mbits/sec

2.4 GHz 802.11n mode: Channel 6 -55dBm

LAN speed test: 25 stream 6GB file: 5Mbytes/sec or 40Mbits/sec

The ACA1 would not stay connected very long at 2.4Ghz. It completely lost connectivity after a very short period of time and wouldn’t reconnect on its own.

Test environment: (Set 2)

Specs of Building Test Run 1: 16Ft away thru a wood door hallway right outside the office where the Airtight C75 is located.

Specs of server (my machine in the same room as theAirtight C75): Intel i5 3570K/16GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 RAM/Nvidia Geforce 650Ti/Samsung 840 120GB SSD/Windows Server 2012 Standard/Realtek GBE NIC

Specs of client: HP2000-412NR/AMD E300/8GB DDR3 RAM/500GB SSHD /AMD RADEON 6310/Windows 7 x64 Home Premium/RalinkRT5390 WLAN

2.4 GHz 802.11n mode: Channel 11 -58dBm

LAN speed test: 25 stream 6GB file: 5Mbytes/sec or 40Mbits/sec

Same system New WLAN USB (Edimax AC600)

5.0Ghz 802.11ac mode channel 48 -62dBm

LAN speed test: 25 stream 6GB file: 11Mbytes/sec or 88Mbits/sec

Test environment: (Set 3)

Specs of server :(my machine in the same room as theAirtight C75): Intel i5 3570K/16GB Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1600 RAM/Nvidia Geforce 650Ti/Samsung 840 120GB SSD/Windows Server 2012 Standard/Realtek GBE NIC

Specs of client (Downstairs 35ft thru 3 walls and a staircase): HP /Core 2 Duo/2GB DDR2 RAM/20GB HD/Intel GMA/Windows 7 x64 Home Premium/NETGEAR A6200 WiFi USB3.0 Adapter

NOTE: I was unable to test due to adapter difficulties. It will not stay connected to the C75. It connects to any other AP fine,however. Airtight networks will be contacted.

5Ghz 802.11ac mode: Channel 48 -42dBm

UNABLE TO TEST DUE TO ADAPTER DIFFICULTIES

2.4 GHz 802.11n mode: Channel 11 -64dBm

UNABLE TO TEST DUE TO ADAPTER DIFFICULTIES

Conclusion:

The Airtight C75 Wireless Access Point is a decent cloud managed wireless access point. It has good 5Ghz connectivity, lots of features, and a nice cloud managed UI.

Pros:

Ø Excellent management software with lots of options

Ø Very robust security controls and options

Ø 3G/4G failover via USB dongle

Cons:

Ø Pricey

Ø Bad 2.4 Ghz connectivity. Very slow speeds on 2.4Ghz.

Rating:  6/10

Recommended: Yes