Cisco Meraki MG Review
Use Cases and Deployment Scope
We support construction sites. Some of these sites are in remote locations where we can't get internet in or the length of the job will not justify the cost of bringing in a dedicated internet connection. We were using wireless hotspots, but this would require the users to use a VPN to connect into the network. Also, some of the wireless hotspots that we used had very limited capability. We deployed this, the MG 52 along with other network equipment in these job site trailers and it becomes an extension of our network over the SD WAN and allows the users and these job site trailers to operate just like they are on the network here at our headquarters.
Pros
- Performance. So far I haven't really had any real issues with them
- Internet speed
- Signal strength
Cons
- From a user aspect, to just a provider of the internet source for myself, they're very easy to set up. I don't have any real complaints over it. We use T-Mobile as our cellular provider, so there is some limitations on the signal strength and coverage. We could use AT&T, but the integration between the Meraki T system and our preexisting corporate AT&T account, there seems to be no integrations there. So that's where I would say the limitations are. I would prefer that the AT&T onboarding allows us to connect to our corporate AT&T wireless account.
Return on Investment
- Definitely keeps cost down on jobs, so it's definitely increases the profit margin on our jobs.
