As you’re looking for the right wireless access point to extend your Wi-Fi reach, you need to fight devices that will meet all of your needs.
Regardless of how certain you are about the specific features you need, the device will need to work so your organization can use wireless productively.
If you’re a small or medium-sized business, The KR Group networking gurus will typically recommend you look into a Meraki access point.
In the interest of full disclosure, we are a Meraki partner, but that’s not the only reason we’re fans of these devices. We honestly believe it is a solid choice for many customers.
With a user-friendly interface, band steering, in-depth analytics, and many more benefits, Meraki wireless access points work for a variety of customers.
That doesn’t mean they don’t have problems, though. Three common complaints our team hears about Meraki wireless access points include:
- Loss of internet connectivity
- Mandatory license renewals
- No command-line access
Each of these issues has a solution, and with the below information, you can make an informed decision on if you should choose Meraki gear for your wireless infrastructure.
If you’re already a Meraki wireless user and looking for answers to a current problem you’re experiencing, you’ll want to head over to this guide ways to solve those issues.
Problem #1: Loss of Internet Connectivity
Although this problem typically isn’t sourced to Meraki, it’s a complaint we hear often enough that it’s worth addressing.
If you have connectivity issues with your wireless access point (your users aren’t able to access your Wi-Fi through it), the most likely culprit is an internet or power outage.
If you still have an internet connection, though, you might want to investigate how your access point is configured or see if a Meraki partner (like The KR Group) can provide technical support or insight.
Solution: Work with Service Provider
Unfortunately, the only solution to an outage is to work with your internet service provider (ISP) to resolve the issue.
If you end up calling Meraki for support and they identify the problem to be an outage, they’ll tell you the same thing — wait for your provider to restore your internet connection
While it’s out of Meraki’s hands what happens with your internet access, they design their products (including access points) to remain functional even when your internet is down.
So, while connectivity is unavailable, you can continue to access your wireless network and make changes to your configurations.
Problem #2: Mandatory License Renewals
Meraki’s licensing model is the most common complaint we and other partners hear about Meraki products in general.
While other manufacturers offer optional support licensing for their products (for example, Cisco SmartNet is highly recommended but optional), Meraki requires users to pay for current licensing for support and basic functionality.
If you don’t keep up on the licensing for every Meraki device, you’ll find yourself out of compliance.
After a 30-day grace period, your Meraki products will stop working.
What does this mean for your Meraki wireless access points?
Your wireless network and users not connected with a cable won’t be able to access the Internet.
You’re typically going to use your access point to exenten your wireless network within your company’s space. An access point that stops because of a gap in licensing mean will tether all of your internet-reliant employees to an ethernet cable.
Solution: Get Familiar with Meraki’s Licensing Model
First, understand this requirement isn’t just for management. Meraki has a reason for requiring license renewals.
With this high level of support, you’ll receive next business day replacement of your licensed gear. Plus, all the support you end up requesting from Meraki, as well as their firmware upgrades, is included with the license cost. (However, it doesn’t include paid support from your Meraki partner.)
Meraki is also extremely transparent about licensing requirements (you can read their information on their website). You’ll receive ample notifications about upcoming, due, and past due licenses.
If you go past your license expiration date, you’ll be reminded on the dashboard that you’re in a 30-day grace period before your devices stop working.
Problem #3: No Command-Line Access
One of Meraki’s better features is its all-encompassing dashboard. It’s a single interface where you can configure and control all of your Meraki products.
This is a great feature if you’re an IT manager who doesn’t want to dedicate a ton of time to configuring and monitoring a device.
However, if you prefer to manually configure and fine-tune settings exactly how you wan them, you’ll realize Meraki’s simplicity means limited control.
A common scenario where you might be frustrated about this feature is when an update is rolled out. If you realize you don’t like the new features or it doesn’t work well with your other IT, you have no way to downgrade to a previous version of licensing.
Solution: Enjoy the Straightforward Management
Meraki’s lack of command-line control is purposeful.
To provide the simplistic experience their products aim for, it’s necessary to take away the option for some of the granular, less used controls.
With wireless, this is generally a good thing since most users want a more streamlined control experience.
However, you cna’t get around this problem, so if command-line control is important to you, Meraki might not be the right manufacturer of wireless access points. You may want to consider Cisco or Ubiquiti instead.
Why Consider Meraki Wireless Access Points?
As with any product, Meraki wireless access points have their problems.
Whether its connectivity issues stemming from an Internet outage, frustration with licensing, or missing command-line control, Meraki’s access points aren’t perfect.
We believe the majority of businesses won’t find these issues to be so-called “show stoppers,” as the benefits of an easy to manage, secure, supported, and up-to-date wireless infrastructure significantly outweigh these problems.
Meraki’s wireless access points might not be free of user complaints, but they do offer a straightforward option for a business wanting to extend its Wi-Fi coverage.
If you’re interested in a wireless access point, check out our article on Meraki’s free trial program and learn more about how you can try one risk-free.
