Cisco MA-ANT-20-N Meraki 4/7 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna.

Cisco MA-ANT-20-N Dual-Band Omni Antenna Set Overview

The Cisco MA-ANT-20-N is a high-performance dual-band omni-directional antenna set designed for Meraki access points including the MR72, MR74, and MR84. Engineered for outdoor and industrial environments, it ensures seamless network coverage, superior connectivity, and dependable signal strength across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

Main Features and Technical Highlights

• Manufacturer: Cisco
• Part Number / SKU: MA-ANT-20-N
• Product Type: Network Accessories
• Sub-Type: Omni-Directional Antenna

Electrical Specifications

Built with cutting-edge engineering, the Cisco MA-ANT-20-N offers consistent wireless performance with optimized signal coverage for demanding applications.

• Antenna Type: Omni-directional for 360° horizontal beam coverage
• Frequency Range (2 GHz): 2.400 – 2.500 GHz
• Frequency Range (5 GHz): 5.150 – 5.875 GHz
• Gain (2 GHz): 4 dBi for extended 2.4 GHz reach
• Gain (5 GHz): 7 dBi for high-frequency stability and range
• Half Power Beamwidth (Horizontal): 360° for consistent coverage
• Half Power Beamwidth (Vertical): 45° for focused transmission efficiency
• Polarization: Vertical (Linear) for enhanced signal clarity

Physical and Environmental Design

The robust physical design of the MA-ANT-20-N ensures reliability in extreme conditions, maintaining performance even under environmental stress.

• Connector Type: N-type for secure and reliable connections
• Dimensions: 1.0 x 7.1 inches (25 mm x 180 mm)
• Weight: 0.17 lbs (79 g) – lightweight yet durable
• Material: High-grade ABS plastic for long-lasting durability
• Operating Temperature Range: -40°F to 158°F (-40°C to 70°C)

Compatibility and Application

Perfectly matched for Cisco Meraki outdoor access points, this antenna set supports optimal coverage in a wide range of environments:

• Compatible Models: MR72, MR74, MR84
• Ideal for outdoor Wi-Fi deployments and enterprise-level connectivity
• Ensures reliable signal distribution in open or high-interference areas
• Supports scalable network configurations for growing infrastructures

Cisco MA-ANT-20-N Meraki 4/7 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna

The Cisco MA-ANT-20-N Meraki 4/7 dBi Dual-Band Omni Antenna Set is designed as a purpose-built external antenna solution for Meraki MR72, MR74 and MR84 access points. Engineered to provide clean dual-band performance across both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, the MA-ANT-20-N antenna set improves signal reach, uplink reliability and multi-client handling in challenging indoor and semi-outdoor deployments. This category page description outlines the antenna’s technical characteristics, compatibility notes, performance benefits, installation guidance, typical deployment scenarios, optimization tips, and buyer considerations to help site visitors, network engineers and procurement teams make informed purchasing decisions.

Key Technical Characteristics and Radio Performance

The MA-ANT-20-N antenna set is characterized by a dual-band omnidirectional radiation pattern with nominal gains of 4 dBi on one band and 7 dBi on the other, optimized for the frequency ranges used by modern enterprise Wi-Fi deployments. The antenna’s omnidirectional pattern delivers broad horizontal coverage which is particularly useful when an access point must serve clients in multiple directions from a single mounting location. The dual-band operation ensures that both legacy 2.4 GHz clients and newer 5 GHz clients benefit from physical layer improvements and improved spectral efficiency, allowing the Meraki MR72, MR74 or MR84 AP to maintain client performance over increased distances without sacrificing spatial diversity or MIMO performance.

Electrical and Mechanical Specifications

From an electrical perspective, this antenna set provides stable impedance matching across the supported bands, low VSWR values to reduce transmitted power loss, and robust intermodulation performance to minimize self-generated noise in dense RF environments. Mechanically, the set is built for ease of mounting and durability, with connectors and cabling specifications that align with Meraki AP mounting points and mounting kits. Durable housings protect internal radiating elements from dust and humidity while maintaining a low-profile aesthetic suitable for enterprise, retail, manufacturing, education and hospitality installations.

Compatibility with Meraki MR72 / MR74 / MR84

The MA-ANT-20-N is explicitly designed for Meraki MR72, MR74 and MR84 series access points, providing plug-and-play compatibility with the AP’s external antenna connectors and support for the APs’ internal RF calibration. When used with the recommended Meraki access points, the antenna set retains AP compliance with regulatory certificates and ensures the radio firmware can correctly manage power levels, antenna diversity and beamforming where applicable. Customers should verify firmware version compatibility and check that the AP's configuration in the Meraki dashboard is updated to reflect the presence of external antennas so transmission power and regulatory domain settings are properly enforced.

Performance Benefits and Business Impact

Deploying the MA-ANT-20-N antenna set with compatible Meraki APs translates into measurable improvements for many enterprise use cases. The increased gain and optimized radiation patterns yield extended client coverage, which can reduce the number of access points required to deliver consistent service across large open areas or segmented retail floors. The dual-band nature of the antennas improves client distribution between 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, reducing the load on a single band and enabling better throughput for modern applications like video conferencing, real-time streaming and cloud-hosted business applications. For organizations pursuing cost efficiencies, the ability to achieve required coverage with fewer APs can reduce hardware, licensing and maintenance costs over the lifecycle of the network.

Client Density and Multi-User Performance

In environments with high client density—such as auditoriums, retail checkouts, university lecture halls or conference centers—the MA-ANT-20-N supports the Meraki AP’s multi-user MIMO capabilities by providing a stable RF environment and predictable antenna behavior. The omnidirectional coverage assists in evenly distributing clients around the AP footprint, minimizing the formation of RF dead zones and helping the AP to manage airtime fairness and client association decisions more effectively. Administrators can leverage Meraki dashboard analytics to monitor client distribution and fine-tune channel planning and power settings to complement the antenna’s performance.

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The Meraki MA-ANT-20-N antenna set is versatile and suits a range of deployments where omnidirectional dual-band coverage is required. In retail environments, the antenna supports point-of-sale terminals, inventory scanners and customer devices without intrusive cabling or aesthetic impact. In education settings, the antenna can be mounted in corridors or in multi-classroom common spaces to provide consistent Wi-Fi for staff and students. Hospitality venues benefit from the antenna’s balanced coverage because it helps maintain guest connectivity across lobbies and shared spaces while keeping a consistent look and feel. In light industrial or warehouse areas, the antenna can support handheld scanners and IoT sensors when installed away from heavy metal shelving that would otherwise shadow RF signals.

Comparison with Directional and Sector Antennas

Compared to directional or sector antennas, the MA-ANT-20-N offers a simpler installation profile and broader coverage without requiring precise aiming. Directional antennas are ideal when long, focused links or corridor-style coverage is needed, but they introduce complexity in aiming and in planning for overlapping sectors. Sector antennas can serve dense outdoor deployments by shaping coverage into fan-like sectors, but they require careful planning to avoid co-channel interference at sector edges. The MA-ANT-20-N’s omnidirectional pattern makes it the preferred choice for general-purpose coverage where convenience, ease of placement and balanced client distribution are priorities.

MA-ANT-20-N Over Internal Antennas

Choose the MA-ANT-20-N when the built-in internal antennas of MR72, MR74 or MR84 APs do not provide sufficient reach, when placement constraints require an external antenna mounted away from the AP body, or when a specific radiation pattern is needed to overcome site-specific obstructions. External antennas also provide the flexibility to upgrade or replace radiating elements without swapping the entire access point, offering a cost-effective path to RF performance tuning as site needs evolve.