Meraki MR46E Wi-Fi 6 Indoor AP w External Antenna Connectors

Product Overview

The Cisco Meraki MR46E-HW is a powerful, cloud-managed Wi-Fi 6 access point engineered for modern, high-density enterprise environments. With 4×4:4 MU-MIMO support and a peak dual-radio aggregate frame rate of 2.98 Gbps, the MR46E delivers exceptional wireless throughput and application performance. It’s purpose-built to serve demanding use cases across campuses, corporate offices, retail floors, hotels, and healthcare facilities.

Equipped with external antenna connectors, the MR46E offers extended deployment flexibility, enabling IT teams to fine-tune wireless coverage and performance according to spatial layout and usage patterns. This is especially valuable in RF-challenging environments where internal antennas may not provide the required coverage profile.

The MR46E features a dedicated third radio for full-time WIDS/WIPS, spectrum analytics, and RF optimization, along with a fourth Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio for IoT visibility and location services. Combined with Meraki’s intuitive cloud dashboard, these features deliver enterprise-grade networking capabilities with minimal onsite configuration or maintenance.

Backed by Cisco’s proven Meraki platform, the MR46E simplifies network expansion and operations by enabling zero-touch provisioning, automated updates, and centralized visibility for distributed locations. It’s a future-ready access point designed for organizations that require maximum control, visibility, and reliability.

MR46E-HW Benefits to Your Business

The MR46E-HW helps organizations significantly improve wireless reliability, security, and manageability, especially in sites where RF conditions require custom antenna placement. By decoupling the antenna design from the access point hardware, businesses gain more precise control over wireless signal directionality and coverage, helping eliminate dead zones and interference.

With Meraki cloud management, the MR46E enables faster rollouts and lower total cost of ownership. IT administrators can deploy, configure, and troubleshoot APs remotely from a centralized dashboard. Combined with advanced telemetry and alerting features, this reduces the need for on-site support and streamlines network operations.

The MR46E also enhances user experience and security through layer 7 traffic shaping, application-aware QoS, and secure guest access. Enterprise mobility is further supported by 802.1X authentication, WPA3, and seamless integration with mobile device management platforms like Meraki Systems Manager and Cisco ISE.

MR46E-HW Key Features and Specifications

Performance and Radios

• Dual-band 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) access point with 4×4:4 MU-MIMO
  
• Aggregate data rate: up to 2.98 Gbps
  
  • 5 GHz: up to 2402 Mbps
    
  • 2.4 GHz: up to 574 Mbps
    
• External antenna connectors: supports MA-ANT-3 series antennas (dipole, omni, panel, patch)
  
• Dedicated third radio for 24/7 WIDS/WIPS, RF scanning, and location analytics
  
• Dedicated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) radio for beaconing and scanning
  

Advanced Features

• Automatic RF optimization based on real-time data
  
• Integrated enterprise security: 802.1X, Active Directory integration, AES encryption, WPA3, VLAN tagging, rogue AP containment
  
• Guest access support with device isolation and PCI compliance reporting
  
• Application-aware traffic shaping with L7 packet inspection
  
• Voice and video optimizations: WMM, DSCP, 802.1p, TWT, U-APSD
  

Hardware and Interfaces

• One 100/1000/2.5G BASE-T Ethernet port (RJ45)
  
• Power: 802.3at PoE or 12V DC input (up to 30W max)
  
• Mounting: Desktop, wall, or ceiling mount options included
  
• Physical security: Kensington lock support, tamper-resistant mounting plate
  

Environmental and Physical Specs

• Operating temperature: 0°C to 50°C (32°F to 122°F)
  
• Dimensions: 12.05” x 6.15” x 1.39” (30.6 cm x 15.62 cm x 3.54 cm)
  
• Weight: 850g (29.98 oz)
  
• Regulatory compliance: FCC, CE, RoHS, UL 2043 (plenum rated)
  

Integration with Other Meraki Products

The MR46E-HW is fully compatible with the Cisco Meraki ecosystem. It integrates seamlessly with:

• Meraki MS switches for VLAN management and PoE power
  
• Meraki MX security appliances for network segmentation and traffic filtering
  
• Meraki Systems Manager (MDM) for policy-based client access
  
• Cisco ISE for guest access and BYOD posturing
  
• Meraki Dashboard for unified monitoring, configuration, and troubleshooting
  

The consistent interface and cloud-managed model allow businesses to scale wireless infrastructure across multiple sites while maintaining uniform security and performance policies.

Licensing

All Meraki access points, including the MR46E, require a valid Meraki cloud license. This license enables centralized cloud management, automatic firmware updates, 24/7 monitoring, and access to Meraki support. Licensing tiers vary based on feature requirements and support level (Enterprise vs Advanced).

For expert advice on selecting the proper license or designing a wireless solution with the MR46E, contact Stratus Information Systems today.