Sophos AP 55C 802.11ac Dual Band Wireless Access Point | Wty

Certified Refurbished Sophos AP 55C Enterprise Wireless Access Point

The Sophos AP 55C is a professionally restored enterprise-grade ceiling-mount wireless access point featuring 802.11ac Wave 1 technology with dual-band operation delivering 867 Mbps on 5GHz and 300 Mbps on 2.4GHz across two radios with 2x2 MIMO capabilities. Released in 2015, this access point provides reliable connectivity for small to medium-sized business environments—ideal when you need professional wireless infrastructure without enterprise pricing, because its dual-radio design handles up to 8 SSIDs per radio (16 total), which means you can segment your network for staff, guests, and IoT devices on a single access point. The ceiling-mount design includes four internal antennas with antenna gains of 4.36/5.77 dBi at 2.4GHz and 6.13/6.27 dBi at 5GHz, providing effective coverage across typical office spaces.

Ideal For

This access point suits specific business scenarios:

• Small office environments (10-30 users) - Running email, web browsing, cloud applications, and VoIP calls simultaneously within a 15-20 metre radius from the ceiling-mounted unit
• Retail locations with guest Wi-Fi - Separate SSIDs for point-of-sale systems, staff devices, and customer internet access, keeping networks isolated for security compliance
• Educational spaces and training rooms - Classrooms or conference rooms with 20-40 concurrent wireless devices including laptops, tablets, and smartphones for presentations and collaborative work
• Existing Sophos UTM deployments - Organisations already managing Sophos UTM firewalls who want centralised wireless management without separate controller hardware

Key Features & Benefits

• 802.11ac Wave 1 with 1.167 Gbps combined throughput: Real-world speeds typically reach 150-250 Mbps under normal office workloads—sufficient for video conferencing, cloud file transfers, and multiple simultaneous users without the premium pricing of newer Wi-Fi 6 hardware
• Dual-band, dual-radio operation: Operates 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands simultaneously with separate radios rather than switching between them, therefore legacy devices on 2.4GHz don't slow down your modern 5GHz clients
• PoE+ powered (IEEE 802.3at): Draws just 13W maximum through a single Gigabit Ethernet cable, eliminating the need for nearby power outlets in ceiling installations—particularly useful when mounting in hallways or open areas
• 16 total SSIDs supported: Eight SSIDs per radio allow extensive network segmentation for different departments, security zones, or guest access without additional hardware
• Professional ceiling-mount design: 200mm diameter white enclosure with plenum rating (UL2043 compliant) and included T-rail mounting hardware for drop-ceiling or solid-ceiling installation
• Centrally managed via Sophos UTM: Automatic firmware updates and configuration push from your existing Sophos UTM firewall (version 9.308 or later required)—no separate controller appliance or cloud subscription needed
• DFS and TPC support: Dynamic Frequency Selection and Transmit Power Control automatically adjust to avoid radar interference and comply with regulatory requirements across ETSI and FCC regions

Common Questions

Can the AP 55C handle a busy office with 25-30 users?

Yes, though performance depends on usage patterns. In our testing with similar Wave 1 access points, typical office workloads (email, web browsing, document editing, occasional video calls) work smoothly with 20-30 users per access point. However, if multiple users stream 4K video or perform large file transfers simultaneously, you may experience congestion—in high-bandwidth environments, consider multiple APs or spacing users across 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.

How does Wave 1 compare to newer Wi-Fi standards?

The 802.11ac Wave 1 standard (2013-2015 era) reaches theoretical speeds of 1.3 Gbps versus Wave 2's 2.34 Gbps or Wi-Fi 6's higher capacities. In practice, this 2015-era access point delivers 150-250 Mbps under real-world conditions—sufficient for standard business applications but not ideal for environments requiring simultaneous 4K streaming or heavy file server access across dozens of users. The advantage is significantly lower cost compared to current-generation hardware.

Do I need a Sophos firewall to use this access point?

Yes, the AP 55C requires a Sophos UTM firewall running version 9.308 or later for configuration and management. The access point cannot operate standalone—it must be connected to and controlled by a Sophos UTM wireless controller. This centralized management approach simplifies deployment but means you need compatible Sophos infrastructure in place.

Technical Specifications

At a Glance

• Type: Enterprise dual-band ceiling-mount wireless access point
• Performance: 802.11ac Wave 1 with 867 Mbps (5GHz) + 300 Mbps (2.4GHz), 2x2 MIMO across two radios
• Wireless Standards: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac with backwards compatibility
• Network Interface: 1 x Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000 Base-TX) with PoE+ for combined data and power
• SSIDs: 16 total (8 per radio) for network segmentation
• Frequency Bands: 2.412-2.472 GHz (channels 1-13, ETSI) and 5.180-5.700 GHz (channels 36-140) with DFS/TPC support
• Security: WPA/WPA2, WEP, 802.1X RADIUS authentication
• Power: 13W maximum via IEEE 802.3at PoE+ (12 VDC / 1.5A)
• Dimensions: 200mm diameter × 37mm height, weighing 630g
• Management: Centrally managed by Sophos UTM version 9.308 or later (required)
• Best use: Small-to-medium business offices, retail locations, classrooms, or conference rooms with 15-30 concurrent wireless devices requiring professional-grade connectivity
• Not recommended for: Environments requiring Wi-Fi 6, high-density deployments exceeding 40 simultaneous users per AP, or organisations without existing Sophos UTM infrastructure

Performance & Real-World Use

Our technicians have deployed hundreds of enterprise access points across various business environments. The AP 55C's Wave 1 technology, whilst not the latest standard, provides adequate performance for typical office productivity applications—Microsoft 365, web applications, VoIP telephony, and standard-definition video conferencing work reliably within the 15-20 metre coverage radius from ceiling mounting height. The dual-radio design is advantageous because it prevents legacy 2.4GHz devices from throttling your entire network, which happens with single-radio access points that time-share between bands.

The 13W power consumption is notably efficient compared to higher-performance models drawing 20-30W, therefore reducing ongoing electricity costs and heat generation—particularly relevant when deploying multiple units. The included PoE+ support simplifies installation because you eliminate separate power adapters and electrical work, though you'll need a PoE+ capable switch or injector. After testing similar chipsets (QCA9558 and QCA9880), we've observed that real-world throughput typically reaches 150-250 Mbps depending on environmental interference, client capabilities, and concurrent user count—far below the theoretical 1.167 Gbps combined maximum but consistent with Wave 1 performance characteristics.

The centralized Sophos UTM management is both an advantage and limitation: configuration updates and monitoring happen automatically through your firewall, which streamlines administration, however this creates a hard dependency on Sophos infrastructure. The MTBF rating of 26,280 hours (approximately three years of continuous operation) reflects typical enterprise access point reliability.

Verified Reboot Refurb Quality Assurance

Every unit is verified refurbished by Reboot IT through our comprehensive testing process. We tested all features including wireless radio performance across both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Gigabit Ethernet connectivity, PoE+ power delivery, LED status indicators, and console port functionality to ensure this device meets our high standards. As an expert in the industry since 2001, Reboot IT uses cutting-edge testing software to guarantee quality and reliability across our enterprise networking equipment.

Warranty & Support

This certified refurbished product is sold by Reboot IT and includes a 1-year warranty for your complete peace of mind. This configuration suits organisations with existing Sophos UTM infrastructure who need reliable ceiling-mount wireless connectivity for small-to-medium deployment scenarios, backed by Reboot IT's 20+ years refurbishment expertise.