Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points comparison

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Ranking in Wireless LAN

3rd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

4.4

Number of Reviews

122

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Wireless 9100 Access ...

Ranking in Wireless LAN

21st

Average Rating

9.6

Reviews Sentiment

5.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

DolfKrikke

Senior Network Architect at Previder

Centralized management has simplified remote branch control and improved network visibility

Cisco Meraki Wireless is very powerful and very easy to manage. The solution is also integrating Cisco Catalyst Wireless products into their portfolio, and they are managing the Catalyst switches as well. The seamless roaming capabilities function well. I monitor network performance with Meraki's real-time analytics. The most useful metrics to my team are the internet performance metrics, as there is a lot of information in the dashboard that I can access. All auditing and event logs are centralized in the dashboard. When I need to apply to compliance requirements or other regulatory needs, I can have my auditing in one place, which is an advantage. I use Cisco Meraki Wireless's Layer 7 application traffic shaping with the MX and the Meraki MX Firewalls.

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Syed Aathif Hussain

Principal Associate IT at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees

Has improved wireless connectivity by supporting high user density and signal reliability

Catalyst 9100 Access Points reduce network vulnerabilities. The frequency reuse technology is used in Wi-Fi 6 technology. The devices are nowadays intelligent compared to the legacy devices. They communicate with each other, adapt themselves, and improve the quality of Wi-Fi infrastructure connectivity within the premise. They are more robust and adaptable. They have significantly improved wireless connectivity compared to the legacy environment. The legacy environment was not effective with those kinds of algorithms, whereas Catalyst 9100 Access Points have different inbuilt features and are more optimized and adaptable to situations. Catalyst 9100 Access Points provide Wi-Fi connection to end users, similar to home routers with broadband connectivity. When a technician connects the device to the modem, it starts providing Wi-Fi. The configuration is inbuilt, requiring only an IP address to operate. It listens to the wireless controller, and whatever SSID is configured in the controller will be broadcasting. Catalyst 9100 Access Points are next-generation access points without the limitations of legacy access points. They have better reachability, signal strength, power utilization, and scalability. While legacy access points could accommodate 15 users practically, Catalyst 9100 Access Points can reach up to 40 or 50 users simultaneously on different radios with MIMO technology. There are different models of Catalyst 9100 Access Points depending on site requirements. Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity significantly. Post-pandemic, everything has become hybrid, and wireless network has become an undeniable infrastructure requirement. Previously, LAN cable connectors were used for better speed achievement. Now, Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity to such an extent that LAN cable connectivity is no longer necessary. Users can work remotely with Wi-Fi connectivity, achieving both speed and scalability. The sixth-generation Wi-Fi provides improved bandwidth and security on wireless infrastructure.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The most important feature is flexibility."

"It improved the installation time."

"The functionalities are quite professional and complete. It offers good integration with other Meraki products, like switches and the firewall. You can get an overview of all networks and the host. It's really great; nobody else can do that."

"I'd recommend this solution because it's easy to use and secure — the security is integrated."

"The most valuable feature of Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN is that it is fast and does the job."

"Cisco's technical support is very good and better than other vendors."

"The most valuable features include key elements like creating SSIDs, networking configurations, and the ability to manage all devices through a single console."

"With the Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN system, it can be shipped as new to any location, connected to the network, and the rest will come up automatically from the cloud interface."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pros

"The features in Catalyst 9100 Access Points that I have found most valuable include that it's a complete solution; we go with Cisco because you have access points, you have a controller, you have Cisco ISE, and you have Cisco DNA Center."

"Wi-Fi 6 technology has improved wireless connectivity to such an extent that LAN cable connectivity is no longer necessary, allowing users to work remotely with Wi-Fi connectivity while achieving both speed and scalability."

"The reliability of Cisco is the number one aspect I have seen, and the performance is pretty stable."

Cons

"They're great. If there's anything that they need to change, it is just simplifying the site to which you go to make changes on the admin side."

"The licensing could be a bit better."

"The cost of the devices and the solution itself could be more competitive."

"The initial setup could be made easier."

"It is not a budget-friendly solution."

"The product's coverage area could be expanded. It would help ensure better connectivity."

"It is not a very stable solution."

"There is only one particular thing that needs improvement. Sometimes, for example, when you need to open a ticket, although it's under the umbrella of Cisco, you still need to go to the Meraki support."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN cons

"Frankly, ease of use is one of the things that needs improvement, as the management interfaces have always been complex and not very intuitive."

"Technical support from Cisco has been a bit degraded lately because the first support we get is challenging."

"Theoretically, you can connect up to 100 clients simultaneously, but practically, this is not feasible. There will be bandwidth deterioration, and 100 clients using the same bandwidth will impact the quality of service."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay a yearly license fee for the solution."

"The platform is highly priced."

"It's not super expensive and it's not super cheap."

"The pricing is on the higher side."

"This solution is reasonably priced."

"The tool is reasonably priced."

"Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN's pricing is high."

"These units cost between $800 and $900 per device and on top of that, you have to pay yearly fees for maintenance."

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Comms Service Provider

Educational Organization

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	69
Midsize Enterprise	27
Large Enterprise	31

No data available

Questions from the Community

What are pros and cons of Aruba 515 Series AP vs. Cisco Meraki or Extreme Networks?

Depends. I have personally used both Cisco and Aruba so I am familiar with them. Extreme I am not, so unless they have some feature that I need or want, I wouldn't consider them. Do you have expe...

Which is better - Cisco Wireless or Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco Wireless is very robust, very rugged, and can handle indoor and outdoor coverage extremely well. We found it to be very reliable and to consistently run very efficiently. Cisco Wireless helpe...

How does Ruckus Wireless compare to Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN?

Cisco’s Meraki Virtual MX is a virtual instance of the Meraki SD-WAN appliance. We liked the Meraki. The Wifi APs are a great feature. The dashboard is a simple interface and easy to learn. It feat...

What needs improvement with Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

Frankly, ease of use is one of the things that needs improvement, as the management interfaces have always been complex and not very intuitive. I believe Cisco needs to enhance its visibility solut...

What is your primary use case for Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

We have recently deployed hundreds of access points in the last two years.

What advice do you have for others considering Catalyst 9100 Access Points?

I am currently working with Fortinet, but frankly, I have a team which is more working on Fortinet and other products because I am managing them, so I am a little less hands-on right now. Basically...

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Comparisons

Compared 34% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 10% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 9% of the time

Cisco Wireless vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 4% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Compared 4% of the time

More Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN Competitors

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Compared 23% of the time

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Compared 18% of the time

Aruba Access Points vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Compared 14% of the time

Juniper Mist Wireless Access Points vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Compared 12% of the time

Aruba Wireless vs Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Compared 11% of the time

More Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points Competitors

Product Reports

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN

Download Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN product report

Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points

Download Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points product report

Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points report

Also Known As

MR18, MR26, MR32, MR34, MR66, MR72, Meraki Wireless LAN, Meraki WLAN

Catalyst 9100 Access Points

Overview

Cisco Meraki access points are built from the highest grade components and carefully optimized for a seamless user experience. The outcome: faster connections, greater user capacity, more coverage, and fewer support calls. The Cisco Meraki dashboard gives visibility into the network users, their devices, and their applications. Armed with rich analytics, administrators can quickly create access control and application usage policies, optimizing both the end-user experience and network security.

Cisco

Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points deliver cutting-edge performance and security for enterprises seeking reliable wireless connectivity. They cater to both large and small businesses aiming to optimize network infrastructure.

These access points offer robust features tailored for today’s digital workplace. With advanced analytics, enhanced security protocols, and support for high-density environments, Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points provide seamless connectivity across different sectors. Their ability to operate in complex conditions makes them ideal for industries with heavy reliance on data and constant connectivity.

What are the standout features of Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points?

High-Density Support: Efficiently manages large numbers of devices simultaneously.
Advanced Security: Offers WPA3 and segmentation to enhance network protection.
Analytics: Provides insights into network activity to aid in decision-making.
Flexible Deployment: Adapts to indoor and outdoor environments.

What benefits and ROI can you expect from Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points?

Improved Network Efficiency: Better device handling reduces downtime and increases productivity.
Security Assurance: Enhanced measures protect sensitive data.
Cost Savings: Long-term investment with scalable infrastructure reduces upgrade expenses.
Enhanced User Experience: Reliable access ensures consistent connectivity and satisfaction.

Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points are implemented in industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. They support high-capacity transactions and critical operations, ensuring uninterrupted service and data flow. These access points meet industry-specific demands for security, scalability, and reliable connectivity.

Cisco

Sample Customers

Advanced Medical Transport, Banco de Guayaquil, Baylor Scott & White Health, BH Telecom, Bowling Green State University, Calligaris, Children's Hospital Colorado, City of Biel, Del Papa Distributing, Department of Justice, Dimension Data, Dualtec Cloud Builders, Electricity Authority of Cyprus, Grupo Industrial Saltillo (GIS), Hertz, K&L Gates , LightEdge, Lone Star College System, Management Science Associates, Mindtree, NBC Olympics, Quest, Sony Corporation, The Department of Education in Western Australia, Valley Proteins

Information Not Available

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Wireless 9100 Access Points