CW9166 vs MR57 - Signal Coverage

[CiscoWiFiGuy]

Hi,

I was trying to run just plain simulation of Signal Coverage patterns on Ekahau for CW9166 and MR57 and match the propagation patterns with Datasheets just to see how good they are when being compared to datasheet Coverage patterns. Please note , i have done plain simulation which no walls , no attenuation , etc. Did it with 6mw for 2.4Ghz and 25mw for 5Ghz and 6Ghz as Tx power.

Based on Published gains for MR 57 (4.5 dBi gain in 2.4 GHz, 5.5 dBi gain in 5 GHz, and 5.5 dBi gain in 6GHz) and CW9166 (3 dBi in 2.4Ghz, 5dBi in 5Ghz and 4dBi in 6 Ghz) , what i felt is 2.4Ghz & 6Ghz for both access points are more or less same but 5Ghz is showing more difference in terms of coverage although there is only 0.5dbi Difference in both. So looking here your thoughts on it. Also can anyone tell based on your experience which one is better MR57 or 9166 other than the little difference in Gain and that 9166 is supported on both platforms like Meraki and on-prem ( WLC based). Do they both have any other major difference?

[marce1000]

 - I would suggest you also ask the question here : https://community.meraki.com/t5/Wireless-LAN/bd-p/wireless-lan , 
   because there are good Meraki Wifi experts out there , 

  M.

[CiscoWiFiGuy]

Sure , I will post over there as well.

Thanks

[Haydn Andrews]

If you look at the antenna patterns the APs are slightly different.

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9166-series-access-points/catalyst-9166-series-access-points-ds.html 

https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/MR_Overview_and_Specifications/MR57_Datasheet

What I would say is with everything wireless it depends. First question would be do you plan to deploy into the Meraki Cloud environment? if not then the MR isnt much use to you.

There not really much between them from what I can tell, it might be a question for the Meraki Sales Engineers to answer. 

That being said which ever you choose a wireless design is required 

[ammahend]

page 12 here shows somewhat of a comparison, i don't see any major difference other than usb power consumption and what you mentioned above at least at higher level.