The Aruba 52 AP is the first dual-purpose wireless device that functions both as an access point and as an air monitor letting administrators provide user access or monitor the air across the 2.4GHz and the 5GHz spectrum.

Each Aruba AP comes equipped with two discrete radios allowing simultaneous support for 802.11a (54 Mbps) and 802.11b (11 Mbps) or 802.11g. Aruba APs can function both as an air monitor or as an access point. Diversity allows for the best possible signal processing using dual omni-directional antennas.

Aruba's APs are completely plug-and-play requiring no configuration. Once plugged into the network, Aruba APs automatically discover the Aruba WLAN switch through a secured GRE tunnel and download their software image. Each Aruba AP is then automatically configured and remotely controlled (e.g. channel assignments and transmit power levels) by the switch.