Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs Cisco Meraki MR Wireless comparison

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Download the complete report

Helped 881,757 peers since 2012

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

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Ranking in Wireless LAN

13th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Ranking in Wireless LAN

17th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

3.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Featured Reviews

Manoj Adiga

Senior Manager Solutions at iBus Network & Infrastructure Pvt. Ltd.

Reliable connectivity and robust support enhance customer experience

We are working with version 2.0, which is usually the latest one.Cambium Networks Wireless LAN is 100% reliable, as I have never faced any issues in our deployment after deployment, and the support is also very good. It takes a maximum of 15-20 minutes to configure one particular site of Cambium Networks Wireless LAN. The usual deployment process involves inspecting the hardware at our warehouse, dispatching it to the customer location, where the vendor installs the access point, and once it has internet, the configuration will be directly pushed from the cloud to the access point, making it up and running. Currently, around 100 plus of my customers are using this solution. My customers are a mix of medium and enterprise businesses. The least amount my customers usually pay is around $1,000, and the largest amount is approximately $10,000 per year. On a scale of 1-10, I rate Cambium Networks Wireless LAN a 9 overall.

Read full review

Sanjay Gaiswal

Technical Presales at Vcom Technologies

Cloud-based management transforms branch network operations efficiently

The most useful feature of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is its cloud-based management. Configuring Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is easy because it's a cloud-based solution. Once you connect it, it gets registered on the cloud. You can configure it through there itself, and you don't need to be at the site while configuring. Layer 7 traffic shaping helps with bandwidth management, and now you have the five gigabit port on the AP itself, so the bandwidth increases. No other wireless OEM provides a bandwidth of five gigabits. I have worked with the Network Analytics feature in Cisco Meraki MR Wireless, and it's used on the cloud. The Meraki controller, which is a cloud-based controller, allows us to manage multiple Cisco Meraki MR Wireless APs and monitor their performance, user connectivity, signal, and the AP performance itself. Regarding security features such as Air Marshal and WIPS, the Meraki 1700 series has the WIPS feature. We have used the WIPS feature to prevent rogue APs and to enable the security features in the wireless itself. You don't need to buy any other separate security devices, making it a very effective and useful feature.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It offers features that are essential for an efficient and high-performance wireless LAN deployment, where capacity, coverage, and quality are optimized, and frequency bands are selected based on the specific needs of the network."

"Cambium Networks Wireless LAN was well-priced and offered a controllerless setup, which was more unusual at the time we first used them. This meant they could operate independently without a controller, unlike many other products that required a controller."

"The web-based administration is what I find most beneficial."

"The cloud-based management provided by Cambium Networks is particularly valuable to us, as it allows us to efficiently manage Wi-Fi, point-to-point connections, firewalls, and switches across various locations from a centralized platform. This enables us to be proactive in providing support and ensures smooth operations for our clients."

"We can scale it if we need to."

"The product's initial setup phase is very simple and involves just a PnP process."

"Cambium Networks Wireless LAN was highly scalable, allowing deployment of fewer access points while covering more area, adapting well with the evolution of wireless standards."

"Meraki products are better than Cambium Networks Wireless LAN because the quality of the Wi-Fi is better, and it is easier to manage."

More Cambium Networks Wireless LAN pros

"Some of the best features with the wireless solution are that you have a cloud console, so you don't have to create or manage your own instance of a controller."

"The Meraki controller, which is a cloud-based controller, allows us to manage multiple Cisco Meraki MR Wireless APs and monitor their performance, user connectivity, signal, and the AP performance itself."

"Some of the best features with the wireless solution are that you have a cloud console, so you don't have to create or manage your own instance of a controller."

"As a user of the product, the biggest advantage for me is that it works seamlessly; users can switch between access points, and it works great."

"Some of the best features with the wireless solution are that you have a cloud console, so you don't have to create or manage your own instance of a controller."

"Cloud management is something I appreciate; it's an easy product to manage in comparison to many others."

"The most useful feature of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is its cloud-based management."

More Cisco Meraki MR Wireless pros

Cons

"The problem with the tool is that its prices are on the higher end."

"Our areas for improvement would be a refresh with the most recent technology available."

"Channel management required manual intervention, especially in environments with multiple floors, leading to potential signal interference issues."

"I believe there's room for improvement in the configuration options for point-to-point setups directly from the cloud management interface. Currently, the process feels a bit clunky—you monitor the unit in the cloud but need to make configuration changes by editing a text file, then downloading it back to the unit. This method can be error-prone, as even a small mistake in the text file could disrupt the unit's configuration."

"The product pricing needs improvement."

"If they could include some sort of web filtering, in-built antivirus, anti-malware, and data stream scanning in the next release."

"We would like this product to have more information data sheets available. At present we cannot easily access details around the full capability of a piece of equipment."

"The problem with this radio wireless technology is that it cannot compete in terms of bandwidth with the fiber optics at this moment. That's the biggest weakness."

More Cambium Networks Wireless LAN cons

"The challenge with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that for any Meraki device, you require internet connectivity to get it registered on the cloud."

"To do that effectively, I really need accurate floor plans, which I don't yet have. Without having the full picture, I'm operating somewhat blind and have to be careful."

"Overall, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is a bit pricey; that's the main and probably only disadvantage."

"My main concern is that Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is overpriced, has limited functionality, and the hardware is not prepared for any further improvements in terms of features."

"To do that effectively, I really need accurate floor plans, which I don't yet have. Without having the full picture, I'm operating somewhat blind and have to be careful."

"The challenge with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is that for any Meraki device, you require internet connectivity to get it registered on the cloud."

"To do that effectively, I really need accurate floor plans, which I don't yet have. Without having the full picture, I'm operating somewhat blind and have to be careful."

More Cisco Meraki MR Wireless cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"In general, the way we purchased it was we purchased it at the beginning, was with five years of support, once our initial cost was met, we didn't have to pay for anything else."

"Cambium Networks Wireless LAN is cheaper than Aruba."

"The licensing costs for this solution are calculated per asset, and depending on the model of the equipment, it starts at $230, and goes up to roughly $1,200. The benefit of this solution is that there are no hidden costs; no cost for managing the equipment, and no cost for maintaining the equipment during its usable lifetime."

"It is an expensive product compared to other competitors."

"If one is a high price and ten is a low price, I rate the product price as one."

"High-end products from Cambium PTP, point-to-point radio, maybe cost around $1000 per year."

"The pricing for Cambium Networks Wireless LAN is much cheaper than Meraki. For example, I have to pay $200 for one AP from Cambium, while for a Meraki AP, I have to pay $450 including the user license. Meraki has a higher price over Cambium Networks Wireless LAN."

"I would place it in the mid-range market segment, balancing affordability and profitability."

More Cambium Networks Wireless LAN pricing and cost advice

Information not available

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Wireless LAN solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

881,757 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Comms Service Provider

16%

Educational Organization

11%

Manufacturing Company

Computer Software Company

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	2

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Cambium Networks Wireless LAN?

It is a stable and secure platform.

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cambium Networks Wireless LAN?

Cambium's pricing is better compared to Ruckus, which has multiple components with associated costs, like license support and access point support costs. Although nominal, these costs are still there.

What needs improvement with Cambium Networks Wireless LAN?

I would Cambium Networks to improve by having more products on the product side.I would want more WiFi products, specifically WiFi indoor access point products. They should also look into getting a...

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

The cost of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is high; the price of one AP to the end customer is approximately 50,000 INR.

What needs improvement with Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

I have utilized Meraki's RF Optimization to some extent. To do that effectively, I really need accurate floor plans, which I don't yet have. Without having the full picture, I'm operating somewhat ...

What is your primary use case for Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

My use case for Cisco Meraki MR Wireless is in automotive retail. I work with a dealership ownership group that currently operates 95 locations.

Ubiquiti WLAN vs Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Comparisons

Compared 18% of the time

Cisco Meraki Wireless LAN vs Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Compared 10% of the time

Ruckus Wireless vs Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Compared 8% of the time

Fortinet FortiWLM vs Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

Omada Access Points vs Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Compared 7% of the time

More Cambium Networks Wireless LAN Competitors

Aruba Access Points vs Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Compared 29% of the time

Fortinet FortiAP vs Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Compared 29% of the time

Aruba Instant vs Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Compared 23% of the time

More Cisco Meraki MR Wireless Competitors

Product Reports

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN

Download Cambium Networks Wireless LAN product report

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless

Download Cisco Meraki MR Wireless product report

Overview

Information not available

Cambium Networks

Cisco Meraki MR Wireless offers a robust wireless connectivity solution designed for scalability and ease of deployment, making it suitable for modern enterprises seeking reliable network performance.

With its cloud-managed structure, Cisco Meraki MR Wireless provides comprehensive visibility and control over wireless environments, catering to diverse locations and user counts. Its seamless integration simplifies network management, crucial for data-driven decisions in enterprises. The system's configuration and maintenance are streamlined via the intuitive dashboard, ensuring users can optimize performance with minimal effort.

What are the important features of Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

Cloud Management: Access and control your wireless network from anywhere, providing flexibility and ease of administration.
Seamless Scaling: Effortlessly expand the network as the organization grows without disruption.
Advanced Security: Integrated security features protect against threats and ensure data integrity.
Powerful Analytics: Gain insights into network usage to make informed decisions and optimize performance.

What benefits and ROI should users consider when evaluating Cisco Meraki MR Wireless?

Cost Efficiency: Reduced operational costs due to simplified management and deployment tools.
Time Savings: Quick setup and easy maintenance lead to significant time savings for IT teams.
Improved Performance: Enhanced network reliability and speed increase productivity and satisfaction.
Scalability: Adaptable solution that supports business growth without needing significant manual intervention.

Healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and retail environments favor Cisco Meraki MR Wireless for its robust security and ease of management in environments demanding reliable connectivity. Its ability to handle high-density environments with minimal latency makes it an asset in education. Retail chains utilize comprehensive analytics to optimize in-store experiences and operations.

Cisco

Cambium Networks Wireless LAN vs. Cisco Meraki MR Wireless