Cisco Systems, Inc. MR52-HW 802.11ac Wave 2 access point

Cloud-managed enterprise access point

The Cisco Meraki MR52-HW is a dual-band 802.11ac Wave 2 access point built for high-density environments such as schools, offices and hotels. It combines a 4x4 160 MHz MU-MIMO radio with a dedicated third radio for continuous WIDS/WIPS and RF optimisation, plus a fourth integrated Bluetooth Low Energy radio for beaconing and location services. Management is handled entirely through the Meraki cloud dashboard, enabling zero-touch deployment and remote troubleshooting without on-site IT staff. Two Gigabit Ethernet ports provide wired uplinks and PoE input.

Suited for managed Wi-Fi deployments

This model suits organisations that want cloud-native management, integrated Layer 7 firewall policies and automatic rogue AP containment without deploying separate sensors. The dedicated scanning radio allows real-time threat detection and spectrum analysis while client traffic runs on the primary 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios. Buyers who need a standalone access point without ongoing licensing, or who prefer on-premises controller management, should look at something else.

Requires 802.3at PoE+ for full functionality

The unit draws up to 21 W and requires an 802.3at PoE+ injector or 12 V DC adapter to operate at full performance; 802.3af PoE is supported only in a restricted mode. Both power sources are sold separately. The access point also requires a separate Meraki cloud licence to activate any network services.