The Cisco Meraki line of products is famously easy to set up and manage. One single cloud-based dashboard manages firewalls, switches, AP’s, and even security cameras, . Cisco Meraki allows IT staff to break the chains from their desk and manage their security infrastructure from anywhere. Nevertheless, Cisco Meraki is still designed to be managed by someone with at least a small amount of IT knowledge.
However, Meraki has a solution for a small businesses to set up and manage, without any IT experience. Enter Meraki Go. Meraki Go is the new product line from Cisco Meraki, designed with the small business owner in mind. Simply plug up your access points, log into the Meraki Go app on your phone, and set it up. You can have a reliable wireless network set up in minutes. But what if you want to provide wireless access outside? Most wireless access points are not designed to withstand the elements. Luckily, Meraki thought of this too when designing the Meraki Go outdoor WiFi access point, the GR60.
Outdoor Setup
With an IP-67 rating, the Meraki Go GR60 is truly an outdoor wireless access point. The GR60 can function in temperatures anywhere from -4°F to 131°F (-20°C to 55°C). As long as you aren’t using this access point in a Manitoba snowstorm, or during the summer in Death Valley, you should be ok. The Meraki Go GR60 is waterproof and can function in humidity anywhere from 5 to 95%. I wouldn’t recommend installing the access point at the bottom of a lake though. Like any other access point, the Meraki Go GR60 does require power. You can provide power to the GR60 using PoE from a switch with PoE capabilities, a PoE injector, or with a 12v power supply. Switches, PoE injectors, and the power supply are all sold separately.
Meraki Go GR60 Specs
The Meraki Go GR60 has 2.4 GHz 802.11n and 5 GHz 802.11ac radios. The GR60 has 2 x 2 multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) with two spatial streams. It has integrated omni-directional antennas (5.6 dBi gain at 2.4 GHz, 5.3 dBi gain at 5 GHz). The GR60 has 1 RJ45 port and 1 DC power connector. The GR60 also has an LED status light, so you can see the status of your wireless connection. The Meraki GR60 comes with a wall mount (screw kit included), quick start guide, and an ethernet cable.
Manage the Meraki Go GR60 With Your Smartphone
All of the setup and configuration for the Meraki Go GR60 can be done using the Meraki Go app. All you have to do is scan the QR code on the back of the GR60, and begin managing your network. You can set up multiple networks, customize security, and set up web control. You can even throttle bandwidth across your networks. This way you can ensure that business critical apps can still operate, even when your patrons are streaming videos.
Conclusion
As a business owner, you shouldn’t have to worry about your wireless network. You have more important things to do with your time. Meraki Go allows you to provide wireless access without all of the work that is typically associated with setting up and managing a wireless network. And, if you want to provide wireless access anywhere, even outside of the building, you should take a look at the Meraki Go GR60. Reliable WiFi, easy management, and an affordable price. You really can’t lose with Meraki Go and the GR60.