- TP-Links EAP772-Outdoor survives submersion but the signal does not follow it in the water
- Built to endure hard elements but not hype around underwater wireless capabilities
- Enterprise users may love it but it feels like excessive to your average wi-fi needs
TP-Link has announced a new Wi-Fi 7 access point that not only supports the latest wireless standard, but also boasts an IP68 assessment that allows it to withstand full water dip.
On paper, this robust Wi-Fi 7 access point looks good, with Tri-band Wireless speeds up to 9.3 Gbps, support for over 380 connected devices and 2.5 Gbps power over Ethernet (POE) for streamlined setup.
However, the decision to highlight full immersion is inviting a more skeptical look, especially given the known limitations of wireless communication in water.
How relevant is the IP68 classification?
The unit is equipped with two 4 DBI antennas for the 2.4 GHz band and two 6DBI antennas each to 5GHz and 6 GHz bands.
It works across 2.4 GHz, 5GHz and 6 GHz bands, offering maximum theoretical speeds of up to 688 Mbps, 2.88 Gbps and 5.76 Gbps and supports a coverage area of approx. 300 square meters and a five-year guarantee of the company.
So while the router may physically survive immersion, the idea of underwater Wi-Fi remains questionable.
Standard Wi-Fi is inherent ineffective underwater. Radio frequencies, especially at 2.4 GHz and above, are quickly absorbed by water, leaving little space for practical transmission over a few meters.
Water blocks the signals themselves that the device is designed to emit, which raises doubts about how the LAN gate would even be protected from moisture once it is submerged.
If we instantly entertain the concept of wireless use underwater, the practical applications are narrow and not well served with conventional Wi-Fi.
For example, divers would benefit from the ability to send data or communicate without relying on hand signals or physical boards.
Sharing or sensor readings from real -time department or sensor readings from underwater drones to surface computers may be useful in scientific or military operations.
However, these needs are already meeting new technologies such as Aqua-Fi that use LED, laser or acoustic waves for transmission of underwater data, none of which involves standard Wi-Fi frequencies.
TP-Link has not suggested any integration with such systems, nor has it indicated that the EAP772 outdoor is intended for submerged installation beyond pure survivability.
It raises the question of why the waterproof function is highlighted at all. For outdoor venues where rain, dust and heat are threats make weather resistant.
But full immersion? Unless the router is accidentally dropped in a pond or installed in a very flooded area, it is difficult to see the value.
For users looking for the best Wi-Fi router, the EAP772 outdoor can excel in the form of outdoor reliability.
Enterprise clients who need hard gear for outdoor implementation can also make sense out of this device, but for anyone who acts after a mobile hotspot or switch for home or office use, this may seem more like over-gining.
TP-LINK EAP772 is expected to sell about $ 565 when launched in June 2025.
Via Guru3d
