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The Omada EAP773 BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 access point is not the first TP-Link business access point I've had my hands on. Prior to this, I used a large number of Omada units and have published reviews on a few.
What makes the new AP special, though, is the fact it's the first among its peers that features Wi-Fi 7—it won't be the last. Additionally, it's among the first to support the newly added cloud-based management, Omada Cloud Essentials, right out of the box.
Like the case with most access point reviews, I look at the EAP773 here mainly as a standalone unit, applicable to the case you only need a single broadcaster without a controller. I'll address its controller-based advanced setup in a separate post on Omada, which I plan to update in due time.
Here's the bottom line: The Omada EAP773 is a solid and straightforward access point that adds entry-level Wi-Fi 7 to any existing network. The AP has more than enough to justify the current friendly cost of $190. Get one today!
TP-Link Omada EAP773: A standard Wi-Fi 7 access point
The Omada EAP773 looks like a typical access point out of the retail box. It's a round device with plastic housing designed for wall or ceiling mounting and includes an accessory for the job.
On the underside, the AP has a 10Gbps PoE+ port and a power port. However, neither a PoE injector nor a power adapter is included, which is relatively standard for a business access point. You're supposed to have a PoE switch already. If not, an injector will come in handy.
For a Wi-Fi 7 device, it's nice to have the 10Gbps port (instead of 2.5Gbps), but 10Gbps PoE switches, such as the Zyxel XS1930-12HP, can be a significant investment. The AP will work with a slower (Gigabit or 2.5Gbps) PoE power sender as long as it supports PoE+ or PoE++. And considering the EAP773 is an entry-level Wi-Fi broadcaster, chances are a 2.5Gbps switch or injector is enough.
The table below shows its hardware specs against the similarly specced and priced Zyxel NWA130BE.
Hardware specifications: TP-Link Omada EAP773 vs. Zyxel NWA130BE
 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Name | TP-Link Omada EAP773 BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Wireless Access Point | Zyxel NWA130BE BE11000 Wi-Fi 7 Triple-Radio NebulaFlex Access Point |
| Model | EAP773 | NWA130BE |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE11000 | |
| 6 GHz Speeds (channel width) | 2x2 BE: Up to 5760 Mbps (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| 5 GHz Speeds (channel width) | 2x2 BE: Up to 4320 Mbps (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
| 2.4 GH Speeds (channel with) | 2x2 AX: Up to 574 Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2x2 BE: Up to 688 Mbps (20/40MHz) |
| Broadcasting Power | < 25 dBm (2.4 GHz) < 25 dBm (5 GHz) < 23 dBm (6 GHz) | US (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 29/28/23dBm EU (2.4GHz/5GHz/6GHz): 19/25/22dBm |
| Number of SSIDs | 8 (single or multiple bands) | |
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | Not at launch (possibly added via future firmware) | |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes (at launch) | Yes (with the latest firmware) |
| Roaming Standard | 802.11r/k/v | |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11/axe/ax/ac/n/g/a/b | |
| Power over Ethernet (PoE) | 802.11at (PoE+) | |
| Injector Induded | No | |
| DC input | DC 12 V | |
| Adapter Included | No | |
| Multi-Gig port | 1 x 10GBASE-T PoE+ | 1 x 2.5GBASE-T PoE+ (uplink) 1 x 2.5GBASE-T |
| Gigabit Port | none | |
| Wireless Security Methods | WEP/WPA/WPA2-PSK/WPA3 | |
| Authentication | IEEE 802.1X/RADIUS | |
| Access Management | L2-isolation/MAC filtering/Rogue AP detection | |
| Management Options | Local Web UI, Omada Cloud-Based Controller, Omada Local Hardware Controller (OC300 or OC200), Omada Local Software Controller | Local Web UI, Nebula Cloud-Based Controller |
| Mobile App | TP-Link Omada | Zyxel Nebula |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 8.7 × 8.7 × 1.3 in (220 × 220 × 32.5 mm) | 9.84 x 6.30 x 1.85 in (250 x 160 x 47mm) |
| Weight | 2.92 lbs (1.32 kg) | 1.79 lbs (808 g) |
| Operating Environment | Operating Temperature: 0 °C–40 °C (32 °F–104 °F) Operating Humidity: 10%–90% (non-condensing) | Temperature: 0°C to 45°C (32°F to 113°F) Humidity: 10% to 90% (non-condensing) |
| Release Date | February 6, 2024 | March 4, 2024 |
| Warranty | 5-year | Lifetime |
| U.S. Price (at launch) | 189.99 | $179.99 |
A standard access point with a host of Wi-Fi settings and networking options
Similar to other Omada access points, the EAP773 is a standard PoE AP. That means, among other things, you can install the hardware the way you do any PoE access point.
Here's the general direction in getting it hooked to an existing network:
- Mount the AP where you want it to be using the included mounting accessories.
- Connect one end of a network cable to the AP's PoE network port and the other end to a PoE+ (or PoE++) switch or an injector of the same PoE standard. For best performance, a 10Gbps switch or injector is recommended, but any of the correct PoE standards will do.
That's it.
The next step is to set up the AP's Wi-Fi network, which is simple as long as you know its IP address—you can find that out via the network router's list of connected clients.
Now, open the AP's IP address using a connected computer's web browser. You'll be asked for the default username and password (admin and admin) and then create a new password. After that, the rest is generally self-explanatory.
Home users can simply create an SSID for each Wi-Fi band. The AP doesn't feature "Smart Connect," but you can use the same network name and password for all bands and use band-steering to get a similar effect.
You can create up to 24 virtual SSIDs (8 per band) and configure them with different settings, including guest network (isolation) and login portal, which work well for public access.
Among these SSIDs, there's a new option to create multiple MLO-enabled SSIDs where you can combine two or more bands in a single link to deliver higher bandwidth.
At the time of testing, the EAP773 didn't support AFC, but TP-Link told me that the feature would be added later via a firmware update, which is generally the case for most Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters in 2024.
Other than the in-depth customization of the Wi-Fi bands, like other Omada APs, the EAP773 comes with other networking features you can use.
Examples are QoS, LAN, Wi-Fi scheduler, and more. Virtually anything you'd want from standalone access will be found within the local web user interface.
Addtionally, when you have multiple units or a few Omada APs, the EAP773 is ready to work with hardware controllers such as, such as a hardware controller (OC200 or OC300), a computer with controller software, or the new Omada Cloud Essentials cloud-based option to form a mesh system. As mentioned, I covered this mesh respect in the post on TP-Link Omada mesh.
TP-Link Omada EAP773: Reliable performance, runs a bit hot
I tested the Omada EAP773 as a standalone unit, with the help of a Zyxel XS1930-12HP 10Gbps PoE++ switch, for over a week and was happy with it.
The AP generally delivered solid Gig+ performance, which is generally the case for mid-tier Wi-Fi 7 business broadcasters. As mentioned, the 10Gbps didn't play much of a role, and if you use the AP with a 2.5Gbps switch (or injection), chances are its performance will remain the same.
As mentioned, the AP didn't have AFC at the time of testing, so its 6GHz band's range was clearly shorter than that of the 5GHz. Overall, its coverage is about the same as what TP-Link claims, between 1500 ft2 (139 m2) to 1700 ft2 (158 m2), but your mileage will vary.
The EAP773 passed my 3-day stress test with no disconnection, but it ran pretty hot. Heat has proven to be a convenient issue with Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster, and this AP was about as hot as Ubiquiti U7 Pro Max on the underside here. I couldn't rest my hands on it for more than 10 seconds. However, if you have an open place to mount it, chances are this is not a big issue.
TP-Link Omada EAP773's Rating
Pros
Reliable Wi-Fi 7 performance with MLO and 10Gbps PoE+ port
Robust local web UI with lots of settings and features
Easy to mount, lots of advanced controller options
Cons
Modest mid-tier Wi-Fi 7 specs
No power adapter or injector is included
Runs hot, no AFC at launch
Conclusion
While not the top-tier hardware, the TP-Link Omada EAP773 is an excellent BE11000 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 access point for those wanting to add the latest Wi-Fi standard to their network. Its support for Omada mesh, especially the new and free loud-based controller, is well worth the current sub-200 price tag. Get one today!
Thinking of getting Access Point.
If mainly just focus on signal strength do you think this will be better than AX86. Understand that they are of a different class of WiFi.
But I felt that external antenna will be better than internal.
So getting this or even the higher end EAP783 might eventually end up to be a downgrade in terms of coverage.
Hope to see in review when Asus BE86 comes out and compare with TP-Link EAP783.
They are different things, Chin, but the coverage is generally the same in hardware of the same Wi-Fi specs.
This is great! Any chance a comparison with the EAP783 is incoming? I’m trying to decide between the 773 and 783, mostly trying to understand if the 783 will be significantly faster or have better range for single clients (even if those clients only support 2×2).
It’s on my calendar, later this month, Dylan.
Would it be safe to say the EAP773 is the fastest 2×2 WiFi7 broadcaster tested so far?
I can’t help but wonder, what makes the high-end 4×4 broadcasters so much faster when serving just a single 2×2 client? Do they still somehow leverage the four available spatial streams (and if so, how?)
Or do they only use two streams but benefit from better antennas and software?
Lastly, I can’t help but wonder what makes the EAP773 ~30% faster than the Zyxel NWA130BE when their specifications and pricing are similar.
Actually, it might make for an interesting article – a deep dive into design decisions that make similarly-specced and similarly-priced broadcasters perform so differently, and indicators outside the spec sheet (say, in the FCC documentation and photos ) that correspond to higher performance.
Yes, Alex, except it was also tested with the latest Wi-Fi 7-enabled firmware. The Zyxel at the time of its review didn’t even support MLO yet (it does now).