Overview
ProductRatingMost Used ByProduct SummaryStarting Price
Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller
Score 8.4 out of 10
N/A
The Cisco 3504 Wireless (WLAN) Controller provides centralized control, management, and troubleshooting for small to medium-sized enterprises and branch offices.N/A
Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points
Score 8.8 out of 10
N/A
Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points are designed to provide simple installation, intuitive web-based configuration, and an integrated setup wizard to make them easy to use. Models include the Cisco WAP 150, and the WAP 125. The WAP 131 and WAP 121 older models are end of sale.N/A
Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Score 8.9 out of 10
N/A
Cisco offers wireless LAN.N/A
Pricing
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Editions & Modules
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
No answers on this topic
Offerings
Pricing Offerings
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Free Trial
NoNoNo
Free/Freemium Version
NoNoNo
Premium Consulting/Integration Services
NoNoNo
Entry-level Setup FeeNo setup feeNo setup feeNo setup fee
Additional Details
More Pricing Information
Community Pulse
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Considered Multiple Products
Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller
Chose Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller
As mentioned before, the choice to acquire the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller was natural since our organization already used Cisco solutions and also the Cisco wireless solution. Even compared with other solutions, the proven quality that Cisco presented us motivated us to …
Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points

No answer on this topic

Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
I would say the Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers would be a top contender as the best enterprise wireless controller that I have used. It has so many features and settings that can be controlled compared to other vendors. The newer Cisco 9800 is a different technology. At …
Chose Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers
When we first converted from autonomous WAPs to controller-based LAPs we chose a Cisco 2504 Wireless LAN Controller (recently replaced by the Cisco 3504). Although the Cisco 2504 performed perfectly, once our connected endpoints reached 50, we decided to upgrade to the more …
Best Alternatives
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Small Businesses
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
Score 9.2 out of 10
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
Score 9.2 out of 10
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
WatchGuard Secure Wi-Fi Cloud
Score 9.2 out of 10
Medium-sized Companies
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Score 8.5 out of 10
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Score 8.5 out of 10
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Cisco Aironet 1800 Series Access Points (discontinued)
Score 8.5 out of 10
Enterprises
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Score 9.2 out of 10
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Score 9.2 out of 10
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Cisco Catalyst 9100 Access Points
Score 9.2 out of 10
All AlternativesView all alternativesView all alternativesView all alternatives
User Ratings
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Likelihood to Recommend
8.9
(21 ratings)
8.7
(6 ratings)
9.2
(75 ratings)
Likelihood to Renew
9.0
(2 ratings)
10.0
(1 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Usability
8.6
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
9.2
(12 ratings)
Availability
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Performance
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Support Rating
9.4
(5 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(5 ratings)
Implementation Rating
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
10.0
(2 ratings)
Configurability
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Ease of integration
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Product Scalability
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
7.3
(1 ratings)
Vendor post-sale
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
Vendor pre-sale
-
(0 ratings)
-
(0 ratings)
8.2
(1 ratings)
User Testimonials
Cisco 3504 WLAN ControllerCisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access PointsCisco Wireless LAN Controllers
Likelihood to Recommend
Cisco
What I
like most about the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller is that its user interface makes
networking very simple. Shows real-time information about the network which
helps admins watch the traffic flow and client connections using the dashboard.
Since it’s so simple, people find it very easy to start using the system. The complexity in setting it up for the first time could hinder
efficient deployment in fast-paced environments.
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Cisco
As an IT technician I was involved in the deployment and configuration of some access points. Work was easy to attach it to the ceiling and connect to the CAT6A network cable. The controller located in the main building transmits all settings remotely in less than 15 minutes to the access point and it is already operational. The WAP 150 has a compact style and looks great on the ceiling because the antennas are internal and radiate omnidirectionally to users. We created three networks, one 2.4Ghz, the second 5Ghz and the other exclusively for patients.
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Cisco
I believe that Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are well suited for the enterprise environment for medium sized to very large companies. While there are smaller WLC appliances for smaller sized businesses, a case can be made for simpler or more cost effective wireless licensing solutions (e.g. Cisco Meraki). Cisco Wireless LAN Controllers are extremely well suited for dense deployments like stadiums, arenas, hospitals, theaters, and large offices because of their ability to support a large number of APs with a very diverse technology feature set.
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Pros
Cisco
  • Allows an administrator to manage all the wireless access points through a single point.
  • It can accommodate the increase in the size of the network and accommodate other new devices with ease.
  • It has several technological features that make it secure against hackers, especially to corporate networks and data owned by the user.
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Cisco
  • Compact access point with internal antennas and easy ceiling mounting.
  • They are reliable and fast access points that work on the 802.11ac wave protocol with speeds of up to 1.2gbps at 5ghz. But they also work at 2.4 GHz.
  • Allows you to create a cluster of up to 4 access points on site and thereby manage radio frequency, power, and other network resources.
  • Access points can be managed on management and monitoring platforms with Cisco FindIT Network Management.
  • Allows to be installation easily with ethernet network cable.
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Cisco
  • The cisco wireless controller allows for very granular access to internal and external systems.
  • The system allows for allowing special needs uses (medical, security, guest) very easy.
  • The system allows for various levels of bandwidth to a variety of users.
  • The security, flexibility and ease of use is phenomenal.
Read full review
Cons
Cisco
  • I have been using the Cisco 3504 wlan controller for about 1 years now. I have found it to be very reliable, but cumbersome to setup and configure. The GUI is not very user friendly, but if you configure it a few times you get used to it. It is lacking in some of the latest features that are offered by other vendors. The power usage is pretty good and the amount of AP's you can add is pretty standard
  • Cisco is everywhere. If you are looking for WLAN, Switching, or other related products, Cisco is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. With this in mind, you'd figure that their wireless controller would be their flagship product, right? Unfortunately, this is not the case. For the price point, the 3504 is a pretty lackluster product.
  • I was given the task to setup a new wifi network in a very large building. With many departments and a complicated layout, we needed to have a solid router to handle all of the network traffic and throughput. I was given the task to find a reliable, robust and cost-effective solution. With the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller, I was easily able to setup an autonomous access point with a few clicks. The cloud based controller software was easy to use and had many features I was able to utilize and control, all other things are perfect .
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Cisco
  • I see that this model does not have the ability to mitigate strong interference at 2.4 GHz.
  • It is a model that does not serve auditors.
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Cisco
  • Configuring wireless settings is very confusing because various settings are scattered all over the interface in different tabs
  • Lots of settings use Cisco's technical verbiage rather than common phrasing, so it's confusing what a lot of settings will do and requires researching the meaning before modifying the setting
  • The interface could be easier to use to do simple tasks such as reboot an access point
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Likelihood to Renew
Cisco
We have been using Cisco 3504 Wireless Controller in our network infrastructure for a long time now and it has been a very critical and beneficial addition in our network infrastructure. it has provided us with the tools required to efficiently manage and monitor our wireless network and users. it is a highly reliable and efficient device for any kind of environment.
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Cisco
Overall, we have been very happy with the results.
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Cisco
Although it is a very good product, support is easy and can manage by Level 1 support persons and downtime is too much less but still there is a cost factor matters which is consider by each organization. Furthermore, organizations also compare with other competitors so it is hard to pursue and defend the high prices.
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Usability
Cisco
The centralized management give a good overview of the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller. Its rich in security features like advanced security, RF optimization, and scalability. Cisco provides extensive documentation and support, although it can be highly technical. It is easy to configure and setup the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller. Strong security features, including WPA3, rogue AP detection, and WIPS, enhance network protection.
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Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
As I said before, the only thing we miss in our old model is the fact that the management interface never received an improvement in design. It has the same look and feels since it was launched. It's not that it's hard to use. It's just the case of could be modernized.
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Reliability and Availability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Downtime fear is the first fear which IT persons look and want to eliminate as much as they can but eventually you have to face it as nothing is perfect. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you can get the best up time. now it also depends on scenario as well as environment.
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Performance
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Cisco Wireless Lan controller are feasible to use and easy to manage and other than this their issue reported are pretty low so you get the better uptime. if your get the uptime then it means its a stable product in your environment. Product performance also depends on the product management and Cisco Wireless Lan controller management is easy so you can get the great output.
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Support Rating
Cisco
Cisco TAC is well known and SLA levels are great. Cisco support website and Cisco communities are another help for issues resolution. TAC is always supportive over Webex and helps to resolve issues pretty fast. This is another assurance for people to go with Cisco as the TAC capabilities are proven for all product lines.
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Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
As usual, the support from Cisco's TAC (Technical Assistance Center) is lacking. Granted, they always get the job done, but the amount of lead time on a non-emergency is enough to make you just handle it yourself. The good news is that if you ask for Cisco's assistance and forget about it, they'll jump on by the time you've forgotten where you were in troubleshooting it and have it fixed for you.
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Implementation Rating
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Originally, when we deployed our first controller it was on a very limited basis. We only deployed it to our administration building and our High School. It was pretty straight forward. Because this was new to us we leaned heavily on our Cisco partner to assist us. With our last upgrade, we upgraded the controllers, added redundancy and expanded the building count along with new SSID's and restrictions. It went much easier, but again, we did rely on Cisco TAC and our partner to clarify and assist as needed. Having already been familiar with the product help tremendously.
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Alternatives Considered
Cisco
The main reason why our company chose to opt for the Cisco 3504 WLAN Controller was the magnificent quality-price ratio of the product. It is very easy to handle if you have the appropriate technical knowledge and if not, you will always have Cisco technical support supporting you for whatever you need. Once the product is configured, it works stably without intervention and is fully integrated with the company's other Cisco solutions.
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Cisco
The products of the Cisco Small Business 100 Series Wireless Access Points family are an excellent option within the segment in which they compete. We provide many enterprise-level features with costs close to entry-level. It allows us to maintain centralized administration, scale easily, and not lose observability, and it maintains the quality and robustness that Cisco has accustomed us to.
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Cisco
The Aironet access points are used for employee WiFi access, and they integrate well with Meraki. They would offer a separate guest network, too, but the decision was made to physically separate the guest network, so even if a bad actor would gain access to the ethernet port of the AP, they'd still not see any company traffic.
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Scalability
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
No answers on this topic
Cisco
Cisco is a brand name and people trust on it. if any one thing about the networking then Cisco is among those brand which is count as trusted brand and people rely on it. Also it support is good so people can use it. Cisco Wireless Lan controller are easy to use and manage so it requires less effort.
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Return on Investment
Cisco
  • Due to the stability of the system, there is practically no incidence of serious problems that require total interruption of the environment.
  • Even with EOL, product support will still continue for a long time, ensuring peace of mind and time to work on a new solution and/or upgrade.
  • Investment in a single wireless network, segmented, without multiple devices from multiple brands.
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Cisco
  • Increased productivity with the use of notebooks and tablets.
  • Mobility and allowed to work from home during the pandemic.
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Cisco
  • We have had our [Cisco Wireless LAN Controller] 5508s for a very long time now and although they are getting dated, they have earned us our money's worth with consistency, stability, and ease of use. Users have minimal wireless complaints and when they do seldom are they WLC-related.
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ScreenShots