Overview:
High performance 802.11ac Wave 2 wireless
The Cisco Meraki MR42 is a four radio, cloud-managed 3x3 MU-MIMO 802.11ac Wave 2 access point. Designed for next-generation deployments in offices, schools, hospitals, shops, and hotels, the MR42 offers performance, security, and simple management.
The MR42 provides a maximum 1.9 Gbps aggregate dual–band frame rate with concurrent 802.11ac Wave 2 and 802.11n 3x3:3 MIMO radios. A dedicated third radio provides real-time WIDS/ WIPS with automated RF optimization. In addition, an integrated fourth radio delivers Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning and Beaconing functionality. With a combination of cloud management, high perfomance hardware, multiple radios, and advanced software features, the MR42 makes an outstanding platform for the most demanding of uses today and tomorrow. These uses include high-density deployments and support for applications like voice and high-definition video.
MR42 and Meraki cloud management: A powerful combo
The MR42 is managed through the Meraki cloud, with an intuitive browser-based interface that enables rapid deployment without training or certifications. Since the MR42 is self-configuring and managed over the web, it can be deployed at a remote location in a matter of minutes, even without on-site IT staff.
24/7 monitoring via the Meraki cloud delivers real-time alerts if the network encounters problems. Remote diagnostic tools enable immediate troubleshooting over the web, meaning multi-site, distributed networks can be easily managed.
The MR42’s firmware is automatically kept up to date via the cloud. New features, bug fixes, and enhancements are delivered seamlessly over the web. This means no manual software updates to download or missing security patches to worry about.
Product Highlights
- 3x3:3 MU-MIMO 802.11ac Wave 2
- 1.9 Gbps dual–radio aggregate frame rate
- 24x7 real-time WIDS/WIPS and spectrum analytics via dedicated third radio
- Integrated Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon and scanning radio
- Enhanced transmit power and receive sensitivity
- Full-time WiFi location tracking via dedicated 3rd radio
- Integrated enterprise security and guest access
- Application-aware traffic shaping
- Optimized for voice and video
- Self-configuring, plug-and-play deployment
- Sleek, low-profile design blends into office environments
Features:
Aggregate data rate of up to 1.9 Gbps
A 5 GHz 3x3:3 802.11ac Wave 2 radio and a 2.4 GHz 3x3:3 802.11ac radio offer a combined 1.9 Gbps dual–radio aggregate frame rate. Supports up to 1,300 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band. Technologies like transmit beamforming and enhanced receive sensitivity allow the MR42 to support a higher client density than typical enterprise-class access points, resulting in fewer APs for a given deployment.
Multi User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO)
With support for the 802.11ac Wave 2 standard, the MR42 offers MU-MIMO for efficient transmission to multiple clients. Especially suited for enviroments with numerous mobile devices, MU-MIMO enables multiple clients to receive data simultanously. This increases the total network perfomance and improves the end user experience.
Third radio delivers 24x7 wireless security and RF analytics
The MR42’s sophisticated, dedicated dual-band radio scans the environment continuously, characterizing RF interference and containing wireless threats like rogue access points. No longer choose between wireless security, advanced RF analysis, and serving client data: a dedicated third radio means that all three occur in real-time, without any impact to client traffic or AP throughput.
Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon and scanning radio
An integrated fourth radio for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) provides seamless deployment of BLE Beacon functionality and effortless visibility of BLE devices. The MR42 enables the next generation of locationaware applications while futureproofing your deployment, making it ready for any new customer engagement strategies.
Automatic cloud-based RF optimization
The MR42’s sophisticated, automated RF optimization means that there is no need for the dedicated hardware and RF expertise typically required to tune a wireless network. The RF analysis data collected by the dedicated third radio is continuously fed back to the Meraki cloud. This then automatically tunes the MR42’s channel selection, transmit power, and client connection settings for optimal performance under even the most challenging RF conditions.
Integrated enterprise security and guest access
The MR42 features integrated, easy-to-use security technologies to provide secure connectivity for employees and guests alike. Advanced security features such as AES hardware-based encryption and WPA2- Enterprise authentication with 802.1X and Active Directory integration provide wire-like security while still being easy to configure. One-click guest isolation provides secure, Internet-only access for visitors. Our policy firewall (Identity Policy Manager) enables granular access control at the group or device level. PCI compliance reports check network settings against PCI requirements to simplify secure retail deployments.
Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) & Mobile Device Management (MDM) integration
Meraki Systems Manager natively integrates with the MR42 to offer simple automatic security that is context aware. Rapidly deploy self-service MDM enrolment without installing additional equipment or dynamically tie firewall policies to client posture. End-to-end security has never been so easy.
Application-aware traffic shaping
The MR42 includes an integrated layer 7 packet inspection, classification, and control engine, enabling you to set QoS policies based on traffic type. Prioritize your mission critical applications, while setting limits on recreational traffic, e.g., peer-to-peer and video streaming. Importantly, controls can be implemented per network, per SSID, per user group, or per individual user.
Voice and video optmizations
Industry standard QoS features are easy to configure and come built in. Wireless Multi Media (WMM) access categories, 802.1p, and DSCP industry standards all ensure important applications get priorotized correctly, not only on the MR42, but on other steps in the traffic flow. Unscheduled Automatic Power Save Delivery (U-APSD) ensures minimal battery drain on wireless VoIP phones.
Low-profile, modern, user friendly design
Despite its extensive capabilities, the MR42 is packaged in a sleek, low-profile enclosure that blends seamlessly into any environment. This makes it ideal for modern offices, high end retail locations, and discrete deployments. Using human interface design principles, even the physical installation and mounting experience has been developed to eliminate error and simplify installation process.
Self-configuring, self-maintaining, always up-to-date
When plugged in, the MR42 automatically connects to the Meraki cloud, downloads its configuration, and joins the appropriate network. If new firmware is required, this is retrieved by the AP and updated automatically. This ensures the network is maintained with bug fixes, security updates, and new features managed for you.
Advanced analytics
Drill down into exceptional detail with highly granular traffic analytics. Understand how your network is used with access to numerous datasets. Extend your visibility to the physical world with journey tracking through location analytics. View vistor numbers, dwell time, repeat visit rates, and track trends. Fully customize your analysis with raw data available via simple APIs.
