Networking

Review: SonicWave 641 Series Wireless Access Point

This device is fast, robust and quickly connects to peripherals — all benefits to state and local governments.

Carlos Soto is an award-winning reviewer and journalist with 20 years of experience covering technology and business within various sectors and industries.

Wireless access points can be the unsung heroes of state and local government networks, which are increasingly supporting citizen services in a connectivity-driven world. Specifically, WAPs play a significant role in facilitating seamless communication, enhancing productivity and improving service delivery.

They enhance connectivity, improve productivity, remain cost-effective and benefit from Wi-Fi 6 advancements.

The SonicWave 641 Achieves High Throughput

To make the move to Wi-Fi 6 smooth sailing for an IT staff, agencies must choose a solid unit such as the SonicWave 641 Series wireless access point from SonicWall, which provides always-on, always-secure connectivity for complex, multidevice environments.

According to SonicWall, the SonicWave 641 uses Wi-Fi 6 technology to increase overall wireless throughput by up to four times when compared with Wi-Fi 5 technology. While reviewing this product, I ran fully 4K video through 10 devices at the same time on my existing Wi-Fi 5 network, then repeated the same test using the SonicWave 641 WAP. I noticed that not only did the SonicWave 641 perform about four times faster than the Wi-Fi 5 network, but latency was cut by about 75 percent as well.

Video feeds buffered and sputtered using the Wi-Fi 5 network; with the SonicWave 641, all 10 feeds were perfect for the duration of the hourslong test.

SonicWave 641 Series Wireless Access Point

Ensuring Devices Stay Connected Anywhere

With local and state agencies leveraging the Internet of Things to improve and deliver citizen services, solutions such as the SonicWave 641 enable IT staff to build and optimize IoT environments. The tiny unit easily paired with many IoT devices in my lab. Everything from security cameras to temperature sensors quickly linked up with the new access point, sharing faster and more reliable connectivity than ever.

Aside from Wi-Fi 6’s key benefits, such as higher data rates, increased capacity, and improved battery life for wireless client devices, fully backward compatibility is another good feature. Even my older devices, which most state and local governments likely have a few of, can connect to the SonicWall WAP.

Wireless access points are essential parts of any modern office setting, and the SonicWave 641 not only provides the best possible speed but also the security and reliability required for government service. Being fully backward compatible is icing on the cake, allowing agencies to modernize piecemeal as needed and providing good connectivity for both old and new equipment in the meantime.

SPECIFICATIONS

ANTENNAS: Eight internal
ENCRYPTION: AES, SSL, WPA2, WPA3
INTERNET OF THINGS COMPATIBLE: Yes
DATA LINK PROTOCOLS: 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.0 LE, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n
DATA TRANSFER RATE: 4.8Gbps
NETWORK BAND: 2.4GHz, 5GHz
POWER: Power over Ethernet (PoE)
WIRELESS LAN: 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.0 LE

3 Lesser-Known Features of Effective Wireless in State and Local Agencies

Modernization efforts and modern workplace management are umbrella terms for several technologies and operational functions delivering value to citizen services.

The combination of 5G-powered networks with the advent of Wi-Fi 6-enabled devices empowers state and local governments with the simplified dissemination and adoption of mobile solutions.

For example, many state and local governments set up vaccine treatment sites during the COVID-19 pandemic. A product such as the SonicWave 641 wireless access point could serve well in an environment like that, which is extremely transient in terms of users and which also demands high security. A less advanced wireless access point would be a liability in such a situation, but the 641 would be the perfect anchor — one that is easy to set up and deploy to boot.

There are three key reasons why the SonicWave 641 can operate in a government environment not as suited for other wireless access points.

Improved service delivery. Wireless access points such as the SonicWave 641 enable state government applications and services to be distributed and delivered to citizens in remote and rural areas. It is quick to set up and can act as a hotspot for a large area, such as a parking lot or other temporary facility set up to provide services. With reliable coverage within a large area, anyone given access to the wireless signal will have reliable connectivity no matter how much they wander within the coverage area, even if they are accessing it inside of a vehicle or from behind temporary walls or barriers.
Improved encryption. WAPs come with different security protocols, such as WPA2, 802.11i, etc., which ensure that all communication within the network is secure. The SonicWave 641 implements the highest level of security that a connected device can handle, and it can be configured not to go below a certain level of encryption for increased scrutiny.
Advanced cyberattack prevention. Capabilities such as the SonicWall Capture Advanced Threat Protection sandbox service, patented Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection and Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection deliver increased protection against active cyberattacks. Even if someone with a compromised device is given access or decides to act in a malicious way, the advanced protection will keep that person from attacking connected networks, providing yet another layer of security and peace of mind when providing public access to state resources.