Aside from a better antenna what makes an AP a better choice than a consumer wifi router? I rarely if ever have range issues using Apple units, far more often losing sync within a few feet of the wireless router in high RF density environments like hotels and special event sites.
Several things to me:
1 - Better radio's - Better filters on the front end, connectorized antenna ports, multiple radios in one box (no need to time share 1 radio)
2 - PoE - Stick the AP on a pole with a single wire feeding it
3 - Real user interface, Cisco has a CLI. You can modify deep setting within both the radio and network interfaces. The wireless and wired sides are actual interfaces and can be configured without the VooDoo of consumer devices. The interface is bridged and you have visibility into the forwarding and spanning tree activity
4 - A continuation of three....Reports on MAC tables, radio statistics etc.
5 - Build quality...Built to take a beating
6 - Runs a real OS, Cisco takes the cake here (real Cisco not pretend Cisco small business). AP's run IOS.
