CRS354-48P-4S+2Q and cAP LTE12 ax PoE problems

Hardware MikroTik hardware general
1

Issue Description

In the current network setup, six MikroTik cAP access points are connected to a CRS354-48P switch and powered via PoE.

When up to five cAP devices are connected, the network operates normally and all access points are stable and reachable.

However, when a sixth cAP is connected, the following issues begin to occur:

  • Intermittent ICMP packet loss when pinging cAP devices

  • Unstable connectivity to multiple access points (not only the newly connected one)

  • No link drops or interface errors are reported on the switch

  • No relevant errors or events appear in system or STP logs

  • The issue affects management connectivity (e.g., ping), while devices may still be partially operational

If any one of the six cAP devices is disconnected, the network immediately stabilizes and all remaining access points operate normally again.

Observations

  • All links show link-ok and no physical errors (FCS, drops, etc.)

  • STP is running normally with no topology changes during the issue

  • PoE is enabled on all ports, and devices are powered successfully

  • Average power consumption per cAP appears normal (~7W), but instability occurs under full load

Conclusion

The issue appears when the sixth PoE-powered access point is added, suggesting a power-related limitation or instability (e.g., PoE budget, voltage drop, or internal power distribution constraints on the switch).

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2

And the question to AI formulated summary is?

If power budget seems to be ovverrun, then I would use the external PSU.

3

@BartoszP

The device is rated for 700W total PoE output.

From the post it has an isssue when only 5x3+5x7=50W are actually used.

There is an issue.

Difficult to say if actually related to PoE power of the device (as the screenshot looks fairly normal) or to something else.

With all due respect, if I had spent almost one thousand bucks for a powerful PoE switch, I would expect it to work as advertised, and be capable to power more than 1/10 of what it should, suggesting to use external PSU's seems to me inapposite.

4

PSU2 current is 0.9A out of the 13A available for powering access points and other network devices.

5

Let me sustain the question: "What is the question?"

Te Almost Inteligent AI suggests power problems but I wouldn't focus on it but on other ascpects.

Are they really "issues"?

6

They should to be categorized as non-issues, this way it is more clear:

Still, there is no real proof of connection of the issues (and non-issues) with the power budget of the switch, it could well be a configuration problem of some kind (on the switch, or on the CAPs or on some other device in the network.

7

So the conclusion is: what is the real configuration, not the AI "suggestion" !!!