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TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor vs TP-Link TL-WA801N

Researched, not hands-on tested.How we review ›

all judged against Wi-Fi access points at a similar price

The TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor scores 5.9/10 overall, ahead of the TP-Link TL-WA801N at 4.1/10.

The TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor leads on wi-Fi standard and bands, uplink and power, management, software and security and value.

The biggest difference is uplink and power, where the TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor scores 6/10 to the TP-Link TL-WA801N's 3/10.

TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor

TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor

5.9/10verdict: good, not the best

The TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor is for people who need Wi-Fi coverage outside a building from a single PoE cable. It suits homelabbers and small sites that already run, or plan to run, an Omada controller. It is a Wi-Fi 5 dual-band unit, so it fits buyers who want range and manageability rather than the newest standard.

Typically about £65 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

TP-Link TL-WA801N

TP-Link TL-WA801N

4.1/10verdict: skip

The TL-WA801N is for people who need a simple 2.4 GHz access point with a web interface and VLAN-tagged SSIDs. It suits small, light-duty wireless jobs where a 300 Mbps wireless rate and a 100 Mbps wired port are enough. It is a poor fit if you need 5 GHz, WPA3 or controller-based management.

Typically about £25.97 in the UK when we researched itCheck price at Amazon UK (opens in a new tab, affiliate link)

Affiliate link. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Details

Scores, criterion by criterion

CriterionWeightTP-Link EAP225-OutdoorTP-Link TL-WA801N
Wi-Fi standard and bands25%5/103/10
Uplink and power20%6/103/10
Management20%7/106/10
Software and security20%5/104/10
Value15%7/105/10
Overall5.9/104.1/10

Specifications

SpecTP-Link EAP225-OutdoorTP-Link TL-WA801N
Wi-Fi standardWi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)IEEE 802.11n, 802.11g and 802.11b (Wi-Fi 4)
Bands and speed classDual-band 2.4 GHz (up to 300 Mbps) and 5 GHz (up to 867 Mbps)2.4 GHz only, 300 Mbps
Uplink port1x Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) portOne 10/100 Mbps Ethernet port (RJ45) with passive PoE support
Power (PoE class)802.3af PoE; passive 24V PoE option (dry indoor use); maximum consumption 10.5 W; 802.3at support conflicting in manufacturer rowsPassive PoE; external supply 9 VDC / 0.6 A
ManagementOmada app; Omada Cloud-Based, Hardware or Software Controller; web-based management; management VLAN; SSH, SNMP v1/v2c/v3, syslogWeb-based user interface; SNMP listed; no cloud or Omada controller management listed for this model
MountingPole or wall mounting, kits includedDesktop use with wall-mounting design

Strengths and weaknesses

TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor

  • + Owners report strong outdoor range, over 40 m with line of sight
  • + Standard 802.3af PoE with a 10.5 W maximum draw
  • + Omada controller options plus web management and management VLAN
  • − Wi-Fi 5 only, with no newer standard
  • − Single gigabit port; 802.3at support is conflicting in manufacturer rows
  • − Setup has a learning curve for some owners

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need Wi-Fi 6 or newer radios
  • Anyone who needs an uplink faster than gigabit
  • Buyers who need confirmed WPA3 and guest isolation, or a rating for harsh climates
Read the full TP-Link EAP225-Outdoor review ›

TP-Link TL-WA801N

  • + Multi-SSID with VLAN support listed on the datasheet
  • + Passive PoE support as well as an external supply
  • + AP isolation and SNMP are both listed
  • − 2.4 GHz only, Wi-Fi 4 at 300 Mbps
  • − Single 10/100 Ethernet port
  • − WPA3 not listed; no controller management listed

Skip it if:

  • Buyers who need a 5 GHz band or anything newer than Wi-Fi 4
  • Anyone who requires WPA3 on the wireless network
  • Admins who want central controller or cloud management of several access points
Read the full TP-Link TL-WA801N review ›

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