The maximum data rate is 300Mbps for each radio. That rate requires bundling two 20MHz channels into wider 40MHz channels, in keeping with the IEEE 11n draft standard. Each radio can support 11abg and 11n clients and operate in either 2.4 or 5GHz bands. The two-radio model can run both transceivers in 11n mode at the same time, without compromising performance, according to Cisco. (Network World blogger Ken Presti talks with Cisco about the 1140 on our .) 

New AP runs on existing PoE gear

Both 1140 models can use existing 802.3af PoE infrastructures, a huge gain for Cisco and its customers. As with most rivals, Cisco's previous 11n access point needed additional power, via additional hardware such as power injectors, to run at full 11n performance, especially with two radios. For the 1140, Cisco engineers sifted through the electronics design to boost efficiency and trim power use wherever possible, according to Chris Kozup, Cisco senior manager, mobility solutions. The new product also cuts power consumption by up to 20% by lowering the 1140's energy use during inactive periods.

With the new hardware is a free update to Cisco's Unified Wireless Network software, currently version 5.2. The update bundles together a group of existing features, now labeled M-Drive, including dynamic frequency selection, optimized roaming, and coverage hole detection.

The new element in the M-Drive bundle is beamforming, which is intended to strengthen the signal between a wireless client and an 11n access point, by means of improving the signal-to-noise (SNR) ratio.