Wi-Fi 7 APs now available

[marce1000]

 - FYI : https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/MR_Overview_and_Specifications/CW9178_Datasheet

 https://documentation.meraki.com/MR/MR_Overview_and_Specifications/CW9176I_%2F%2F_CW9176D1_Datasheet

  M.

[RaphaelL · Accepted solution]

Good eye !

[KarstenI]

announced != available ...

Although there are plenty of CON-SKUs in CCW, the APs haven't shown up yet. I hope we don't have to wait too long for the 9174 and 9172.

[Mloraditch]

They will orderable tomorrow. FCS next month. If you are a partner you can see the TDM here: https://salesconnect.cisco.com/sc/s/simple-media?vtui__mediaId=a1m8c00000qPr6fAAC

There are very import PoE caveats if you don't have UPoE available.

There are also bunch of other bits of info available as well, including available new licensing (standard Meraki Licenses will still work): https://salesconnect.cisco.com/sc/s/simple-media?vtui__mediaId=a1m8c00000qPr40AAC

[RaphaelL]

As a big/large Meraki customer , we are not ready at all to fully unleash the potential of Wifi7. 

I wonder how many customer are ready ? PoE and link speed ( in some cases cabling ) are some of these points that I'm refering to.

[Mloraditch]

Very few I have to imagine, but they do work with 802.3at with somewhat diminished capacity and do still  offer the same backwards compatibility that the 6e models do, so from a financial perspective you can do this now and lock things in for the future.

Pricing wise MSRP is basically equivalent of their 6e cousins so discounts to be negotiated with your partner/cisco am can basically get you the newer thing for the same price as the old

[KarstenI]

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There are very import PoE caveats if you don't have UPoE available.

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I have Meraki switches ... 😞

[Chris_Skees]

This morning we published updated learning modules on Wi-Fi 7 and the Cisco Networking Subscription. Check it out here: https://community.meraki.com/t5/Unifying-Cisco-Hardware-and/ct-p/Unifying-Cisco-Hardware-and-Licensi...

[KarstenI]

The most important table:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/wireless-91...

and for the 9178:

https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/products/collateral/wireless/catalyst-9100ax-access-points/wireless-91...

This means the 9176 will likely give more value if UPoE won't be available in your network anytime soon.

[SeanW]

Great find!!!! 

[GIdenJoe]

Anyone know what the difference will be between the 802.11be R1 and R2 standards?
I just hope these will be fully compliant and we don't have another MR45/55 range on our hands.

[KarstenI]

I am not sure if that will be relevant this time. If I remember right, the planning was that R1 would be based on Draft 2 and R2 would be based on Draft 4 which should have been the Draft before it was finalized.

R2 was planned to be quite small, and the most relevant feature of R2, the Multi-AP operation, was moved to 802.11bn.

[Paccers]

There was a presentation on Wi-Fi 8 at WLPC a few weeks ago where they stated Multi-AP was dropped by the .11be WG due to the complexities of achieving both that and MLO

[GIdenJoe]

I'm hoping this means in the 802.1bn standard you could roam between AP's using one band whilst still being connected to the current AP to have a smoother handover.

[KarstenI]

At least this is the actual planning. However, I am unsure if the term "roaming" is still the right one to use when a client can be simultaneously associated with two APs. 

This is the mentioned talk on Wi-Fi 8: https://youtu.be/tCMub1DN_Gc?si=SO_-Yb9ND1xA5jpi

[BHC_RESORTS]

• Dual 10 Gbps mGig ethernet port support for PoE and link redundancy

We aren't even doing 2.5/5 gig yet. That's some crazy throughput.

[Paccers]

Really hoping they're just needing an extra few months to bring out a 9174...

We don't have the $ to go out and replace our .3at 9K switches with .3bt capable switches so there's no point paying a 9176 price to run it at equivalent 9164 specs, unless they come to the party with lower pricing!

[jrhop]

Anyone have any news on the MR WiFi 7 equivalents?

[KarstenI]

There is no equivalent. These devices can be operated both with Catalyst and Meraki. Even the SKU is the same. 

[jrhop]

There isn't at the moment, but I am sure they will be releasing an MR version at some point, they had a mix of CW/Catalyst and MR/Meraki with WiFi 6E models. 

[KarstenI]

There is no MR version needed. The firmware is the same. The only difference is whether the management tunnel to the dashboard is built or the CAPWAP tunnel to the Controller. This can be controlled in different ways, for example, through DHCP options. I expect it to be documented soon.

[KarstenI]

This picture shows it quite well:

 

[GIdenJoe]

The MR57 was just at the cusp before having the dual persona hardware.

The WiFi 7 equivalents are now:
CW9166 -> CW9176
MR57 -> CW9178

There will be lower end models later on that will then refresh the CW9164 and 9162 for sure.

The Cisco vision is single hardware, single licensing but the ability to choose your management between cloud (dashboard) and on prem (Catalyst center).