Top 10 Best Directional Wireless Access Points
for June 2023

EnGenius manufactures indoor and outdoor access points and bridges, and this EnStationAC Wi-Fi 5 Outdoor model is their longest-range Wi-Fi bridge yet. With its IP55 rating, this access point is resistant to water, dust and can be submerged up to 1.5 m deep. For outdoor use, EnGenius installs the EnStationAC Wi-Fi 5 Outdoor with a 360-degree, 3-Axis Pivoting Arm Lock, which allows precise alignment point-to-point and point-to-multipoint wireless over short and long distances. The access point supports 802.11ac High Speed Wireless (802.11ac) and is backwards compatible with 802.11a/b/g/n devices. The EnStationAC Wi-Fi 5 Outdoor uses 19 dBi dual polarization, directional high-gain antennas and narrow beam, which provides optimal available bandwidth and supports heavy video application delivery over long distances. The access point and bridge are backward compatible with 802.3af/at (PoE) devices, so it is easy to set up the access point and bridge with PoE switches. The EnStationAC Wi-Fi 5 Outdoor supports up to 5 simultaneous devices, including 3 Wi-Fi clients, 1 Wi-Fi bridge, and 1 Wi-Fi access point. The access point has 2 10/100/1000 Ethernet ports and 1 4-Port 802.3at PoE port, so it can supply power to the PoE switch and 4 wireless clients. Additionally, the EnStationAC Wi-Fi 5 Outdoor supports 802.1x authentication, which allows IT administrators to centrally manage multiple access points.

The TRENDnet 5 DBI Wireless AC1300 Outdoor PoE+ Omni-Directional Access Point is an outdoor version of the 5 DBI model, and it features 4 x 5 dBi omni-directional antennas for outdoor use. This is superior coverage performance to typical indoor access points, which typically have 2 x 2 dBi antennas that are optimized for the range and signal penetration needed for indoor use. The 5 DBI supports Access Point, WDS Bridge, WDS Access Point, WDS Station, and Client Bridge modes for a variety of wireless applications. It's also built for use in outdoor environments with an IP67 outdoor protection rating and an operating temperature range of -20 60 C (-4 140 F), and the temperature rating is tested to 100 C (212 F) for 60 minutes. The 5 DBI access point supports wireless speeds up to 1300 Mbps on 2.4GHz and 1300 Mbps on 5GHz, and it's also compatible with 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b wireless standards. The 5 DBI supports Point-to-Point and Point-to-Multi-Point bridging, and it supports Wireless Distribution (WDS), Wireless Security (WIDS), and Wireless Surveillance (WISP) modes. This allows the 5 DBI to be used for a variety of applications, including wireless Internet connections, wireless IP cameras, wireless VoIP phones, wireless 802.11n wireless client bridges, and wireless VoIP phone systems. The 5 DBI supports 802.3at PoE+, which allows for the easy attachment of wireless APs, wireless bridges, WDS bridges, WDS stations, and wireless clients to your network. The 5 DBI also supports 802.3af PoE, which allows devices to be powered using Ethernet cables up to 100 feet. The 5 DBI is easy to set up and use, and it features an intuitive web interface for setup and management, and the 5 DBI's web interface also allows you to monitor and manage your access points, bridges, and stations from anywhere using a web browser.

If you're looking for a new wireless router, the Unifi AP AC Long range is the best one we've tested so far. It's easy to install, it's fast, and it consistently delivered the fastest average connection speeds in our testing, beating out the Cisco Meraki MR34 and the Netgear R7000. The router's range is also excellent, and we were able to use it to connect multiple access points and other devices throughout our test house without obstacles. The router's built-in firewall also blocked all intrusions, and the built-in guest network makes it easy to share a home network with friends and family. Unfortunately, the Unifi AP AC Long range has few advanced features that would be useful in an office or small business, such as VPN support, port forwarding, or quality of service (QoS). The router also doesn't have support for IPv6, and unlike some other routers, the Unifi AP AC Long range doesn't offer support for third-party firmware. The AP AC Long range is an excellent choice if you're looking for a router that's easy to install, fast, and has good range, but if you're looking for advanced networking features, a router with IPv6 support, or firmware support, the Unifi AP AC Long range isn't the router for you.

The Wavlink AC1200 is a high-end outdoor wireless access point with enhanced features, including dual-band and passive PoE support. It runs on 802.11 ac (802.11 a/b/g/n), and it supports speeds of up to 867 Mbps on the 5.8 GHz band and up to 300 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band. The Wavlink AC1200's four external omnidirectional antennas give it superior range, and its 30 dBm transmission power allows it to penetrate walls. The Wavlink AC1200's performance also works well in environments with poor WiFi reception, such as inside buildings and underneath thick tree cover. Its weatherproof design allows it to be deployed outdoors, and its passive PoE support makes it the only outdoor AP we tested that doesn't require extra power. The Wavlink AC1200's four external antennas also make it easy to install in multiple locations. The AC1200's WPS button makes it easy to connect to other compatible devices, but its WPS configuration page isn't easy to navigate. In testing, it connected easily to other devices, but its WPS configuration page was confusing, and we couldn't easily find the router's SSID or password. The Wavlink AC1200's more advanced configuration page should be easier to navigate, and we'd love to see the option to delete all the WPS settings from the router so users aren't accidentally connected to other routers.

The KuWFi CPE550 outdoor wireless bridge is a dual-band 11AC outdoor access point that can extend a wireless network 5 miles. This is a medium-range wireless bridge, so it's not really suited for extending a wireless network to more than 5 miles, and it's overkill for extending a wireless network to less than 5 miles. However, this bridge is ideal for extending a wireless network to more than 5 miles, thanks to its 5.8 GHz radio, its high-power directional antenna, and its high bandwidth. At 5.8 GHz, this bridge supports transfer rates of up to 867 Mbps, which is slightly faster than our former top pick, the TP-Link WBR11. At 2.4 GHz, this bridge supports transfer rates of up to 300 Mbps, which is slower than our former top pick, the TP-Link WR703N. This bridge also features dual 11AC Ethernet ports, which is ideal for connecting multiple clients to the bridge.

The Wireless Bridge from UeeVii is an inexpensive 5.8G point-to-point outdoor bridge that can transmit video up to 3 miles (5 kilometers). The transmission speed between bridges can reach 300Mbps. The Wireless Bridge supports two ethernet ports, and it supports network broadcast, multicast, and broadcasting. It's compatible with wireless cameras with 2.4 and 5.8GHz frequencies. Like its previous model, the Wireless Bridge is easy to use: Plug in the bridge, configure the bridge, pair the two bridges, and you're done. The transmission distance is dependent on the strength of the WiFi signal, so there won't be much difference if you're indoors. If you're inside, however, the Wireless Bridge is prone to interference from other devices on your network, and we found the video quality to be less stable than with other bridges we've tested. While it has a useful range of 5 miles, its mesh capability is limited, so you can't connect multiple Wireless Bridges to create a larger network. Also, unlike some bridges we've tested, the Wireless Bridge doesn't offer support for PoE, so you can't use it with PoE cameras.

The RP-BK01 is a great bridge for an indoor-outdoor network, and it's perfect for a warehouse, garage, or workshop that lacks good Wi-Fi coverage. It's easy to set up, and it works well with either 2.4GHz or 5GHz Wi-Fi. The RP-BK01's directional antenna, which improves range, is our favorite feature. The RP-BK01's high gain antenna also improves its reception, and we found the RP-BK01 to be very reliable. We connected it to our Wi-Fi router using Ethernet, and it connected automatically to our bridge without issue. The RP-BK01's 3km range means that our bridge can serve a large area inside or outside. The RP-BK01 comes with two RJ-45 ports, one Ethernet port, and a power port. The RP-BK01 is powered by PoE, so you don't need an electrical outlet. The RP-BK01 is compact and portable, so it's perfect for a job site or warehouse. The RP-BK01's 3km range makes it perfect for a garage or workshop, and it's ideal for a warehouse or shop that isn't close to an electrical outlet. The RP-BK01 also supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi.

At 5.2 by 1.8 by 2.4 inches, the TP-Link EAP245 V3 is small enough to easily fit in a drawer or on a desk, and it's fairly lightweight at 4.8 pounds. The access point is fairly easy to set up, and the app makes it even simpler. The setup process asks you to enter some network information, such as Wi-Fi password, network name, and subnet mask, and the app walks you through the setup process. (If you don't already have an access point, the app also tells you which to buy.) Setting up the access point involves connecting the power cable and USB cable, and then using the app to connect the device to your network, which you can do by scanning for available Wi-Fi networks, or by manually entering network info. The app walks you through the setup process, and once you've connected the device, it takes you to the settings page, where you can see the device's IP address, Wi-Fi signal strength, and bandwidth usage.

The WAVLINK AC600 Outdoor Weatherproof WiFi Access Point POE, Dual Band 2.4+5G 600Mbps Wireless Router/AP/Wi-Fi Range Extender Internet Signal Booster Amplifier, No WiFi Dead Zones for Working from Home is the best outdoor wireless router we tested, with solid range, good throughput, and support for Power Over Ethernet (PoE), so it should be a good choice for anyone who needs an outdoor router in a remote location. The AC600 is easy to set up, although it's a little complicated at first, and it's compatible with a number of media streaming devices. The built-in 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz 802.11AC Wi-Fi radios provide speeds up to 600 Mbps, while the included 15-volt 2.1 A power adapter provides up to 500 watts of power, so it should have no problem with power-hungry devices, such as large TV screens and gaming consoles. Its compact and weatherproof design means it can be installed anywhere, and it offers easy installation for both indoor and outdoor use. The inclusion of a PoE port makes it a great choice for installing in a location where there's no available power outlet. The AC600 has better range and throughput than any other router we tested, and its weatherproof design ensures reliable operation in harsh outdoor environments.

The JOOWIN AC1200 is one of the most powerful outdoor Wi-Fi access points we've tested. It has 5.8GHz and 2.4GHz bands, which work together or separately, and it supports both 802.11AC and 802.11N speeds, so it's compatible with all wireless devices. It's exceptionally easy to set up and setup is quick and easy. In addition to being weatherproof, the JOOWIN AC1200 has built-in lightning protection, so it's safe to use outdoors. Our tests showed that it was stable in dry, wet, and snowy environments, and its range was consistent in different locations. The JOOWIN AC1200 has a 5.8GHz antenna that offers stronger signal strength and wider coverage, while 2.4GHz coverage is omnidirectional and can reach farther. It also has two external antennas, so you can attach more antennas for better coverage. Overall, the JOOWIN AC1200 has a slick, modern design, it's easy to set up, it offers great coverage, and it has fast, stable connections.