Optimized User Experience

The HPE Aruba Networking 503 Series Campus Access Points are designed to optimize user experience by maximizing Wi-Fi efficiency and dramatically reducing airtime contention between clients.

Features include orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) and cellular optimization. With up to 2 spatial streams (2SS) and 80MHz channel bandwidth (HE80), the 503 series provides the next generation of wireless capabilities for cost-conscious deployments.

Advantages of OFDMA

This capability allows HPE Aruba Networking’s access points to handle multiple Wi-Fi 6 capable clients on each channel simultaneously, regardless of device or traffic type. Channel utilization is optimized by handling each transaction via smaller sub-carriers or resource units (RUs), which means that multiple clients are sharing a channel and not competing for airtime and bandwidth.

Client optimization

HPE Aruba Networking’s patented AI-powered ClientMatch technology eliminates sticky client issues by placing Wi-Fi 6 capable devices on the best available access point. Session metrics are used to steer mobile devices to the best access point based on available bandwidth, types of applications being used, and traffic type — even as users roam.

Resource management

To better support growth in client device density and in data volumes, HPE Aruba Networking AirMatch uses machine learning techniques that provide automated radio frequency optimization.

By analyzing the entire wireless network, AirMatch determines the optimum radio configuration and enables the network to automatically adapt in real time to changing RF conditions such as high noise and radar. It also adjusts for higher density, co-channel interference, and coverage gaps.

Reduced Interference

Unique to HPE Aruba Networking, Advanced Cellular Coexistence (ACC) uses built-in filtering, HPE Aruba Networking Advanced Cellular Coexistence automatically minimizes the impact of interference from cellular networks, distributed antenna systems (DAS), and commercial small cell or femtocell equipment.

IOT Platform Capabilities

Using an optional IoT expansion radio, 503 series can use the Bluetooth 5 and 802.15.4/Zigbee radio to simplify deploying and managing IoT-based location services, asset tracking services, security solutions, and IoT sensors.

This allows organizations to leverage the 503 series as an IoT platform, which eliminates the need for an overlay infrastructure and additional IT resources.

Target Wake Time (TWT)

Ideal for IoT devices that communicate infrequently, TWT establishes a schedule for when clients need to communicate with an AP. This helps improve client power savings and reduces airtime contention with other clients.

HPE Aruba Networking Secure Infrastructure

The 503 series supports a Zero Trust/Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) architecture to better protect user authentication and wireless traffic. Select capabilities include:

WPA3 and Enhanced Open

Support for stronger encryption and authentication is provided via the latest version of WPA for enterprise networks. Enhanced Open offers seamless new protection for users connecting to open networks where each session is automatically encrypted to protect user passwords and data on guest networks.

WPA2-MPSK

MPSK enables simpler passkey management for WPA2 devices – should the Wi-Fi password on one device or device type change, no additional changes are needed for other devices. This capability requires HPE Aruba Networking ClearPass Policy Manager.

Simple and Secure Access

To improve security and ease of management, IT can centrally configure and automatically enforce rolebased policies that define proper access privileges for employees, guests, contractors, and other user groups – no matter where users connect on wired and WLANs. Dynamic Segmentation eliminates the time consuming and error-prone task of managing complex and static VLANs, ACLs, and subnets by dynamically assigning policies and keeping traffic secure and separated.

Seamless Handoffs to Cellular

Built on the technical foundations of Passpoint® and Wi-Fi Calling, Air Pass creates a roaming network across the HPE Aruba Networking enterprise customer footprint, extending cellular coverage and enhancing the visitor and subscriber experience to deliver a great experience for your guests while reducing costs and management overhead for DAS.

Flexible Operation and Management

Our unified access points can operate as standalone access points or with a gateway for greater scalability, security, and manageability. Access points can be deployed using zero touch provisioning – without on-site technical expertise – for ease of implementation in branch offices and for remote work.

HPE Aruba Networking access pointscan be managed using cloud-based or on-premises solutions for any campus, branch, or remote work environment. As the management and orchestration console for HPE Aruba Networking ESP (Edge Services Platform), HPE Aruba Networking Central provides a single pane of glass for overseeing every aspect of wired and wireless LANs, WANs, and VPNs. AI-powered analytics, end-to-end orchestration and automation, and advanced security features are built natively into the solution. The 503 series can also be deployed using HPE Greenlake for HPE Aruba Networkingfor flexible consumption and financing options.

Wi-Fi Antennas

AP-503: Integrated downtilt omni-directional antennas for 2x2 MIMO with peak antenna gain of 1.7dBi in 2.4GHz and 4.8dBi in 5GHz. Built-in antennas are optimized for horizontal ceiling mounted orientation of the access point. The downtilt angle for maximum gain is roughly 30 degrees.

• – Combining the patterns of each of the antennas of the MIMO radios, the peak gain of the combined, average pattern is 1.5dBi in 2.4GHz and 3.9dBi in 5GHz.

Other Interfaces and Features

• – E0: Ethernet wired network port (RJ-45)

  • Auto-sensing link speed (10/100/1000BASE-T) and MDI/MDIX
  • POE-PD: 48Vdc (nominal) 802.3af POE (class 3 or higher)
  • 802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)
• – USB 2.0 host interface (Type A connector)

  • Capable of sourcing up to 100mA / 500mW to an attached device
• – Built-in Trusted Platform Module (TPM) for enhanced security and anti-counterfeiting
• – Visual indicators (two multi-color LEDs): for System and Radio status
• – Reset button: factory reset, LED mode control (normal/off)
• – Serial console interface (proprietary, micro-B USB physical jack)
• – Automatic thermal shutdown and recovery function

Power Sources and Power Consumption

• – The access point supports Power over Ethernet (POE) on port E0
• – Power sources are sold separately; see the HPE Aruba Networking 503 Series Campus Access Points Ordering Guide for details
• – Maximum (worst-case) power consumption: 10.9W
• – Maximum (worst-case) power consumption in idle mode: 4.7W
• – Both numbers assume no power is drawn from the USB interface

  • Drawing 0.5W from the USB interface increases max access point power consumption by up to 0.7W

Mounting Details

A generic mount bracket to attach the AP-503 to suspended ceiling rails ships with the access point. Alternate or spare brackets can be ordered separately; see the 503 Series Ordering Guide for details.

Mechanical Specifications

• – Dimensions/weight (AP-503; unit with mount bracket):

  • 145mm (W) x 145mm (D) x 51mm (H)
  • 270g
• – Dimensions/weight (AP-503; unit without mount bracket):

  • 145mm (W) x 145mm (D) x 35mm (H)
  • 255g
• – Dimensions/weight (AP-503; shipping):

  • 196mm (W) x 183mm (D) x 67mm (H)
  • 515g

Environmental Specifications

• – Operating conditions

  • Temperature: 0C to +40C / +32F to +104F
  • Relative humidity: 5% to 95%
  • ETS 300 019 class 3.2 environments
  • AP is plenum rated for use in air-handling spaces
• – Storage conditions

  • Temperature: -25C to +55C / +13F to +131F
  • Relative humidity: 10% to 100%
  • ETS 300 019 class 1.2 environments
• – Transportation conditions·

  • Temperature: -40C to +70C / -40F to +158F
  • Relative humidity: up to 95%
  • ETS 300 019 class 2.3 environments

Reliability

Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF): 930khrs (106yrs) at +25°C operating temperature.

Regulatory Compliance

• – FCC/ISED
• – CE Marked
• – RED Directive 2014/53/EU
• – EMC Directive 2014/30/EU
• – Low Voltage Directive 2014/35/EU
• – UL/IEC/EN 62368-1

For more country-specific regulatory information and approvals, please see your HPE Aruba Networking representative.

Regulatory Model Numbers

• – AP-503 (all models): APIN0503

Certifications

• – Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA):

  • Wi-Fi CERTIFIED a, b, g, n, ac
  • Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6
  • WPA, WPA2 and WPA3 – Enterprise with CNSA option, Personal (SAE), Enhanced Open (OWE)
  • WMM, WMM-PS, Wi-Fi Agile Multiband
• – Ethernet Alliance (POE, PD device, class 3)

Warranty

HPE Aruba Networking’s hardware limited lifetime warranty.

Minimum Operating System Software Versions

HPE Aruba Networking Wireless Operating System and HPE Aruba Networking InstantOS 8.11.1.0, HPE Aruba Networking Wireless Operating System 10.5.0.0

Antenna Patterns

Horizontal Planes (Top View)

Showing azimuth (0 degrees) and 30 degrees downtilt patterns (averaged patterns for all applicable antennas)

Vertical (elevation) planes (side view, AP facing down)

Showing side view with AP rotated 0 and 90 degrees (averaged patterns for all applicable antennas)