MikroTik hAP ax S WiFi 6 Router — Buy in Lebanon
MikroTik hAP ax S — The Mid-Range WiFi 6 Router with SFP
The MikroTik hAP ax S fills the gap between the budget hAP AX Lite and the flagship hAP AX3. It pairs a dual-core MediaTek EN7562CT ARM processor at 950 MHz with 512 MB DDR3 RAM, five Gigabit Ethernet ports, a 2.5G SFP cage, and dual-band WiFi 6 (802.11ax) radios with triple-chain 5 GHz delivering up to 900 Mbps real-world throughput. Passive PoE-in and PoE-out, a DC jack power option, and RouterOS v7 with a Level 4 license round out the feature set.
HI-GAIN stocks the hAP ax S at our Dora, Beirut warehouse. For Lebanese homes, small offices, and WISP subscriber premises, the hAP ax S delivers fiber-ready connectivity with SFP support — a feature rarely found in this price range.
Full Hardware Specifications
Processor and Memory
The dual-core MediaTek EN7562CT runs at 950 MHz on a 32-bit ARM architecture. While it lacks the quad-core power of the hAP AX3's IPQ-6010, the EN7562CT handles NAT, firewalling, simple queue trees, and VPN tunnels (WireGuard, IPsec) for a household or small office with 20-40 devices. The 512 MB DDR3 RAM is double what the hAP AX Lite offers, ensuring enough headroom for firewall address lists, DHCP leases, and DNS cache.
Wireless Performance
The hAP ax S runs dual-band WiFi 6:
- 5 GHz (802.11a/n/ac/ax): Triple-chain MIMO, up to 1200 Mbps PHY rate. Real-world throughput tested at 800-900 Mbps in clean RF environments. Triple-chain provides a measurable signal strength improvement over dual-chain radios — roughly 2-3 dB gain, which translates to better coverage through Lebanese concrete walls.
- 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g/n/ax): Dual-chain, up to 574 Mbps. WiFi 6 on 2.4 GHz improves capacity in congested apartment buildings where dozens of neighboring networks overlap.
Ports and Connectivity
- 5x Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000): One port typically assigned as WAN, four for LAN devices. All ports support VLAN tagging for advanced segmentation.
- 1x 2.5G SFP: Accepts 2.5G, 1G, or 100M SFP modules. Connect directly to a fiber ONT with an SFP module — eliminating the media converter box that most routers require. Lebanese FTTH subscribers can plug a GPON SFP directly into the hAP ax S for a cleaner, more efficient setup.
- 1x USB: Attach an LTE dongle for WAN failover or external storage for RouterOS file sharing.
Power Options
- DC Jack: 12-57V input range, included 24V/0.8A adapter
- Passive PoE-in: 12-57V on Ethernet port 1
- Passive PoE-out: On the last Ethernet port — power a downstream MikroTik device like an SXT CPE or IP camera
- Max Power Consumption: 22W
The wide 12-57V input range is useful in Lebanon where power adapter quality varies. The PoE-out port eliminates the need for a separate PoE injector when powering a single downstream device.
hAP ax S vs hAP AX3 vs hAP AX2 vs hAP AX Lite
MikroTik now offers four WiFi 6 routers in the hAP family. Each targets a different balance of performance, features, and cost:
| Feature | hAP ax S | hAP AX3 | hAP AX2 | hAP AX Lite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | EN7562CT 2-core 950 MHz | IPQ-6010 4-core up to 1.8 GHz | IPQ-6010 4-core 864 MHz | IPQ-5010 2-core 800 MHz |
| RAM | 512 MB DDR3 | 1 GB DDR3L | 1 GB | 256 MB |
| 5 GHz Chains | Triple-chain | Dual-chain | Dual-chain | N/A (2.4 GHz only) |
| 5 GHz Max Speed | 1200 Mbps | 1200 Mbps | 1200 Mbps | N/A |
| Ethernet Ports | 5x 1G | 4x 1G + 1x 2.5G | 5x 1G | 4x 1G |
| SFP Port | 1x 2.5G SFP | None | None | None |
| PoE-in / PoE-out | Yes / Yes | Yes / Yes | No / Yes | No / No |
| USB | Yes | USB 3.0 | No | No |
| RouterOS License | Level 4 | Level 6 | Level 4 | Level 4 |
Who Should Buy the hAP ax S Over the hAP AX3?
Choose the hAP ax S If:
- You need an SFP port. The hAP ax S is the only WiFi 6 hAP with a 2.5G SFP cage. For FTTH subscribers using GPON SFP modules, this eliminates a separate media converter.
- You need PoE-in and PoE-out on a budget. The hAP ax S accepts passive PoE-in and provides PoE-out — letting you power the router from a PoE switch and power a downstream device from the router.
- Your network has under 25 devices. The dual-core 950 MHz CPU and 512 MB RAM handle typical home and small office workloads. Simple queues, 50 firewall rules, DHCP, DNS — all run comfortably.
- You want triple-chain 5 GHz. The hAP ax S has three antenna chains on 5 GHz, versus two chains on the hAP AX3. Triple-chain improves signal reliability at the edge of coverage — meaningful in apartments with multiple concrete walls.
Choose the hAP AX3 If:
- You need maximum routing power. The quad-core IPQ-6010 at 1.8 GHz outperforms the hAP ax S in VPN throughput, complex queue trees, and large firewall rule sets. ISP resellers and power users should step up.
- You need a Level 6 RouterOS license. Level 6 unlocks unlimited CAPsMAN managed APs, unlimited PPPoE sessions, and unlimited OVPN tunnels. Level 4 limits these features.
- You want a 2.5G Ethernet WAN port. The hAP AX3 has a dedicated 2.5G Ethernet port — useful when your ISP provides a standard RJ45 handoff at speeds exceeding 1 Gbps.
SFP Port: Direct Fiber Connection in Lebanon
The hAP ax S's 2.5G SFP cage accepts standard SFP modules compatible with Lebanese fiber providers. Typical configurations:
- GPON SFP ONU module: Plug directly into the hAP ax S's SFP port. The router authenticates on the ISP's GPON network, replacing both the standalone ONT and media converter. HI-GAIN stocks compatible GPON SFP modules — contact us to verify compatibility with your ISP.
- 1G SFP copper module (RJ45): Use the MikroTik S-RJ01 SFP-to-RJ45 module to add a sixth Gigabit Ethernet port for wired devices.
- SFP fiber module: Connect to another MikroTik device over fiber — useful for linking a router in one room to a switch in another via fiber patch cable, avoiding long Ethernet runs that pick up interference.
Deployment Scenarios in Lebanon
Home FTTH Router
Replace the ISP-provided router with the hAP ax S. Connect fiber via GPON SFP, configure PPPoE (if required by the ISP), set up WiFi 6 on both bands, and enable simple queues to prevent one device from hogging bandwidth. The triple-chain 5 GHz radio covers a typical 120-150 sqm Lebanese apartment including rooms separated by concrete walls.
Small Office / Co-Working Space
Use the hAP ax S as the primary router and WiFi access point for 15-25 users. Create separate VLANs for staff and guest WiFi. Assign bandwidth limits per VLAN using queue trees. Connect a wired printer and NAS on the LAN ports. For larger offices needing additional AP coverage, add a cAP AX ceiling AP managed via CAPsMAN from the hAP ax S.
WISP Subscriber Premises
Lebanese WISPs can deploy the hAP ax S at subscriber locations. The PoE-out port powers an outdoor CPE like the SXT SQ 5 AX mounted on the roof. The SFP port connects to a fiber drop if available. RouterOS v7's simple queues enforce the subscriber's bandwidth plan directly on the CPE router.
Where to Buy the MikroTik hAP ax S in Lebanon
HI-GAIN stocks the hAP ax S alongside the full hAP WiFi 6 lineup at our Dora, Beirut warehouse. We provide local warranty, same-day pickup, and technical support for home, office, and ISP deployments. Check real-time hAP ax S stock, browse all MikroTik routers in Lebanon, or compare with the hAP AX Lite for budget-constrained projects. Call +961 3 337 666 for pricing and recommendations.