The IT Nerd

EnGenius Technologies today announced that its EWS850AP high-capacity Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) outdoor access point will begin shipping worldwide in October 2020. The new weatherproof AP uses the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology needed to support the growing bandwidth demands of densely congested outdoor environments like stadiums, airports, smart cities, and parks.

Backed by EnGenius’ decades-long expertise in outdoor wireless networking, the new EWS850AP paves the way for outdoor use of Wi-Fi 6’s top features. Armored by the ruggedized IP67-rated dust and water-resistant enclosure, the EWS850AP is fully capable of withstanding harsh weather environments, including prolonged exposure to sunlight, extreme cold, frost, snow, rainfall, and humidity. It features four external detachable 5 dBi high-gain, 360° module SMA type antennas, which optimize the Wi-Fi signal, reception and bandwidth to connected devices through beamforming. Key benefits include:

• Superior Connectivity: With up to 2 streams across both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz
  bands, the EWS850AP encompasses downlink and uplink MU-MIMO and OFDMA to simultaneously manage and transmit data between AP and client devices.
• Powerful Computing: Dynamic data processing and management to boost data throughput up to 25% with 1024QAM and expand connectivity capabilities.
• Advanced Data Management: Cut through densely congested outdoor environments with better data management and extend wireless coverage through longer OFDM signals and reduce channel interference through BSS coloring, offering less latency and improved transmit signals. 
• Powerful Networking Acceleration: The exquisitely designed architecture can successfully associate and maintain connectivity for complex and secure data transfer. Enabled with WPA3 security, the EWS850AP supports higher encryption for sensitive data transfers for hundreds of simultaneously connected devices.

The EWS850AP delivers optimal performance through stronger, and more efficient wireless connections. 

The EWS850AP will ship worldwide in October 2020. For more information visit https://www.engeniustech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/ews850ap-datasheet.pdf

WiFi is a huge deal these days for business. Especially in the age of IoT. You need to have good speed and good coverage to keep your workers and devices happy. The best way to do this is to deploy wireless access points throughout your environment. And EnGenius has one in the form of the ECW120 Cloud Managed 11ac Wave 2 Indoor Wireless Access Point which is very much worth looking at:

It looks good and will fit into any decor. Plus it won’t attract any negative attention. That’s a good thing.

Here are the key specs:

• Dual-radio 2×2 802.11ac/a/b/g/n with MU-MIMO & Beamforming technology
• Supports up-to 867 Mbps in 5-GHz band & 400 Mbps in 2.4-GHz band
• Compliance with 802.3af & 48V power over Ethernet input for flexible installation up-to 328 feet
• MU-MIMO support

You get everything in the box to mount this on a wall or a ceiling, except a power adapter despite having a plug for a power adapter. That’s not a big deal as this access point supports power over ethernet. So if you pair it with a switch that supports power over Ethernet, you’re golden.

Setup is pretty easy using the EnGenius App which makes the process insanely easy. It walks you through everything you need to do to get it online, keep your firmware up to day, and observe and manage performance. The app has one other advantage. All the functionality is free. That’s a total win.

In terms of what this access point can do, the list includes 802.11r and Captive Portal which has various Authentication Types. That increases the possible use cases that this access point can be used in. In terms of performance, it seemed to be very consistent when I threw a bunch of IoT devices at it along with some high bandwidth devices. It wasn’t insanely fast, but I don’t think it has to be. When I set these sort of devices up for my clients, I prefer to have strong consistent performance as it is more important for devices to be able to get online and stay online than to have the fastest speeds known to man. That’s not to say that it is slow because it isn’t. In terms of range, I was able to pick up the 2.4 GHz band from the back of my condo building 12 stories below my unit. That was impressive. It also means that you likely need fewer access points to cover your space with WiFi.

If you need wireless access points, the EnGenius ECW120 Cloud Managed 11ac Wave 2 Indoor Wireless Access Point is a nice solid choice. It’s $199 on Amazon in the US but can be found for less if you look around.

Today I am reviewing something slightly different which is an 8 port managed switch that is aimed at the enterprise. Specifically, the EnGenius ECS1008P 8 Port Gigabit POE Managed Switch:

Let’s break this down. You get the following features in the box:

• 8 10/100/1000 Base-T GbE Ports
• Full-Featured Layer 2+ Switching
• 802.3af Compliant. Also known as power over Ethernet or POE.

This is a managed switch which means that you can configure it to suit your use case. You can log into the switch directly using the switch’s IP address via a web browser, or you can use the EnGenius Cloud app. I chose the former, but I perhaps should have chosen the latter as the EnGenius app has a whole lot of functionality such as being able to set up your network, upgrade the firmware, monitor network performance and the like. And all that functionality is easy to use which is a win for network administrators.

I set this up on my test network and found it to be largely solid. Since it supplies power over Ethernet, you can power cameras, WiFi access points and the like. Performance was good and I really didn’t find any issues with it. While this switch is aimed at the enterprise, I would recommend this switch to SMB environments or even a power user for home use. The only catch that I see is that it has a maximum bandwidth capacity of 16GB. While I couldn’t get close to that limit, I can see a graphic design house or some other environment where multiple computers who are firing large files over the network would stretch this switch. The bottom line that the EnGenius ECS1008P 8 Port Gigabit POE Managed Switch is a must buy if you need a solid and versatile switch for your network. Especially given that it goes for a rather affordable $215 US on Amazon (But it can be found for less if you shop around).

EnGenius today announced the Cloud-To-Go solution for small businesses like coffee shops, clinics, stores, hospitality, and SOHO to do straightforward but flexible network management on-the-go through a mobile App. The Cloud-To-Go App provides non-IT staff a simple way to configure, monitor, and manage networks without complicated processes and settings, giving a quick device setup, visualized monitoring UI, and smart management all at your fingertips. 

Configure Your Devices in Minutes

Setting up devices is as simple as 1-2-3. Register your device via scanning a QR code, easily set up your Wi-Fi with SSID Wizard, and get connected just in minutes. There are also advanced settings you can do for a more detailed configuration if needed.

Monitor and Manage the Network from the Palm of Your Hand

The Cloud To-Go app enables you to manage and monitor your network wherever you go. The visualized dashboard, the top ranking of usage, client lists, or instant notifications, etc., help you get insights into your network health and device status.

Flexible Network Expansion for Your Future Business Growth

EnGenius Cloud helps you expand your network with flexibility for your business growth. It’s simple to manage networks of multiple companies and locations with a single-pane-of-glass via your smartphone. At the same time, users can use a web-based Cloud portal to do advanced settings and management.

To learn more about how EnGenius is building the future of cloud-managed wireless networking, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/cloud-to-go.html

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a high-profile multinational networking company for over two decades, today announced the release of its new EnGenius ECW260 Cloud Managed Wi-Fi 6 Outdoor Dual-Band Wireless AP designed to handle enormous crowds on multiple devices using the fastest speeds available.

The AP uses the latest in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology to support the ever-growing bandwidth demands of densely congested outdoor environments such as airports, smart cities, campuses, parks, and massive industrial sites—all while reaching combined wireless speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps.

Easy Cloud Management: The EnGenius Cloud solution can manage an unlimited number of APs from anywhere. Devices can be quickly scanned, registered, pre- & auto-configured, and remotely monitored and troubleshot. EnGenius Cloud’s dashboard quickly checks network health, provides managed device status, and displays overall top network performance and insights including client applications & operating systems.

Rugged Weatherproofing: Backed by EnGenius’ decades-long expertise in outdoor wireless networking, the redesigned hardware form-factor ECW260 is armored by an IP67-rated dust and water-resistant enclosure, fully capable of withstanding harsh weather.

Security: Each ECW260 AP securely communicates with EnGenius Cloud using two-factor authentication, non-sequential serial numbers, and MAC address verification to ensure only authorized cloud devices are connected. It also uses the latest, most advanced wireless security WPA3 and WPA3 Enterprise to strengthen encryption. EnGenius Cloud offers MAC filter, event-based alerts and push notifications to divert and prevent network hacks and other security threats.

Powerful coverage: The ECW260 AP has a 2.5 GigE PoE-compatible port for easy placement where power outlets are scarce. It also features four detachable 360° antennas that boost signal strength and allows users to swap them out for bigger, better antennas. When meshing, the AP uses high power radios to extend the distance between itself and other access points.

Unmatched Affordability: The ECW260 AP is valued at $499 and—like all EnGenius cloud managed access points—comes with no access point licensing or subscription fees. 

For more information, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-cloud/hardware.

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a multinational networking company, known for delivering future-proof networking solutions for all businesses, today announced that the newly released EnGenius Cloud ECS2512 and ECS2512FP multi-gigabit switches are now shipping. 

Designed for businesses of any size, these new switches allow industry professionals to meet the high-speed requirements of today’s advanced business networks, ensuring efficiency and peak performance.

Both the EnGenius Cloud ECS2512 ($499 MSRP) and ECS2512FP ($749 MSRP) multi-gigabit switches come with a full-featured layer 2+ switching capacity (120G), eight high-speed 2.5G ports, and four dual-speed 10G SFP+ slots for fiber uplinks. These switches deliver high speeds that equipment like network attached storage (NAS) devices, routers, and workstations demand.

Meanwhile, the more advanced ECS2512FP model supports IEEE 802.3bt Power-over-Ethernet, allowing it to transfer 60W of power to each port (from a budget of 240W) to such power-hungry devices as Wi-Fi 6 access points, PTZ cameras, or AV controllers. 

EnGenius switches also come with the company’s subscription-free EnGenius Cloud that allows IT technicians to monitor system metrics in real time, display network topology, troubleshoot problems, and analyze network behavior. 

The new EnGenius Cloud ECS2512 ($499 MSRP) and ECS2512FP ($749 MSRP) are now available. For more information about EnGenius Technologies products, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/.

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a multinational wireless networking company, known for delivering future-proof Wi-Fi solutions for consumers and businesses, today revealed contact tracking within their Client Timeline feature in the EnGenius Cloud platform.  The new feature will provide the ability to identify surrounding client devices to assist in scenarios such as COVID-19 over Wi-Fi.

The new feature provides network insight into user locations through their devices to help mitigate epidemic scenarios.   This works in understanding ownership of each client device on the network and adding in “alias” markers within EnGenius Cloud.  In using the scenario of COVID-19, this then creates the opportunity to track when and where client devices were within the Client Timeline dashboard to allow the network controller to isolate where the outbreak originated and trace back all devices, and device owners, who were within contact of the infected.  The new Client Timeline feature also allows for easy export of data.   

EnGenius Cloud offers a fully scalable network management solution with many features that provide complete network control and management.  With the license-free platform, companies can easily deploy reliable wireless networks and stay on top of network traffic to isolate suspected client devices and ensure network health.  

With companies, such as Apple and Google, leveraging BLE to aid in tracking contact of COVID-19, the new Client Timeline feature that allows for contact tracking within EnGenius Cloud will allow the similar capabilities over Wi-Fi.

The new contact tracking feature, along with enhanced two-factor authentication (TFA) and alias naming, will go live May 30^th.  Learn more about the EnGenius Cloud platform by clicking here.

EnGenius Technologies Inc., a multinational networking company, known for delivering future-proof networking solutions for small and medium businesses, expands their cloud solution with a wall-plate access point to meet the demands of in-room Wi-Fi to connect the many wireless client and IoT devices found in student housing, hotels and resorts, senior and assisted living, condos and apartment complexes.

The EnGenius Cloud wall-plate access point, ECW115, extends the line of EnGenius Cloud APs to provide the best in-room wireless experience for the growing demand of new technology in mid to large environments like student housing, hotels and resorts, senior and assisted living, condos and apartment complexes. This device will not only offer in-room Wi-Fi connectivity, but it will also provide the ability to connect and power other devices via Ethernet.

The EnGenius Cloud ECW115 is a dual-band wall-plate wireless access point that can be powered by PoE+ and has two additional gigabit Ethernet ports that will provide wireless and wired connectivity, PoE pass-through and enterprise-class features for IT professionals who are interested in using a simple and scalable solution that simplifies network configuration and monitoring. 

The power of EnGenius Cloud equips the user with fast device onboarding, auto firmware updating and provisioning making daunting jobs with many rooms seem simple. The latest access points by EnGenius utilize the capabilities of the subscription-free EnGenius Cloud which includes real-time system metrics, deep-dive analytics, network troubleshooting, and advanced view to display network topology with the devices and relationships.

The EnGenius ECW115 is now shipping.  To learn more about the EnGenius Cloud solution, please visit https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-cloud/overview-cloud-networking.

EnGenius today announced the next three feature releases for EnGenius Cloud delivering new functions to enhance management and troubleshooting of wireless networks. To simplify troubleshooting, the new Client Timeline creates a visualization of device connection history to assist IT personnel to find potential issues easier and faster. In addition, splash page customization tools provide greater customizability in creating your network’s introduction to visitors. Finally, the client blocklist feature enables administrators to block rogue client devices from accessing specific SSIDs. With the latest feature releases to the company’s growing cloud solution, IT administrators all over the world are empowered to achieve greater efficiency in their network management.

Troubleshoot with Client Timeline Visualization

With the lack of network information and error reporting tools, a complex network can spend vast amounts of time locating and fixing simple problems through troubleshooting. 

The client timeline creates an interface that enables IT administrators to track client connection histories, gain insights into client behavior, and solve network issues easier and faster. IT personnel can detect connection patterns, radio information, and wireless problems with easy-to-comprehend graphical representations. The time-based client connection sequence makes troubleshooting easier and recommends possible solutions to implement for common problems. 

Customize Your Splash Page with Greater Flexibility

The cloud networking evolution continues on the splash page, where EnGenius offers customization tools with more flexibility for their clients’ needs. IT personnel can customize the splash page with a design that suits your company’s aesthetic. Pre-made templates, logos, images, and a WYSIWYG editor for inserting custom HTML offer maximum flexibility in crafting the captive portal introduction that your company wants visitors to see before accessing the network.

Block Suspicious Clients to Safeguard Network Security

Keeping your network secure from malicious intruders is among the highest priorities to IT administrators. The client blocklist feature enables administrators to deny client devices with suspicious activity that may influence network security or speed from accessing the network. This can be done for specific SSIDs by selecting client devices from the device list to block out or by manually entering in the device’s MAC address.

To learn more about how EnGenius is building the future of cloud managed wireless networking, visit https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-cloud/features.

EnGenius today expands their Cloud solution with multi-gigabit PoE++ switching to meet the demands of Wi-Fi 6 access points that support over 1 gigabit speeds, power devices that exceed 30 watts and appeal to upmarket customers.

The EnGenius Cloud multi-gig switches, ECW5212FP & ECW5212, are the first of many switches that will be released in 2020 to serve the ever-increasing demand of new technology in mid to large environments like student housing, condominiums, assisted living facilities, hotels & resorts. The devices will not only future-proof but further expand the capabilities of the company’s cloud-managed networking platform EnGenius Cloud.

The EnGenius ECW2512FP & ECW2512 are multi-gigabit L2+ networking switches will provide enterprise-class features for IT professionals who are interested in using a solution that simplifies network configuration and monitoring. With advanced management, the new EnGenius switch enhances network performance and provides peace of mind so companies can spend fewer resources on network management.

The multi-gigabit switches come with eight 2.5 gigabit ports that automatically detect the speed needed by the end device. Both switches by EnGenius support 120 Gbps switching capacity with the ECW2512FP supporting one of the latest PoE standards, 802.3bt for the growing demand of higher powered devices like Wi-Fi 6 wireless access points, AV controllers, PTZ Cameras, digital signage, and lighting. The new multi-gig switches also come with four 10 Gbps SFP+ slots that extend connectivity via fiber for uplinks, redundancy, and failover. The latest switches by EnGenius utilize the capabilities of the subscription-free EnGenius Cloud which includes; real-time system metrics, deep-dive analytics, network troubleshooting, and advanced view to display network topology with the devices and relationships.

Key EnGenius benefits include;

• 2.5G Ports to serve high-bandwidth devices like Wi-Fi 6 access points
• 10G Fiber ports to connect floors and buildings at extreme distances & speeds
• 240 Watts of total budget for maximum power supply to PoE++ devices
• Cloud managed to decreases administration time through remote management
  Port-based client authentication with dynamic VLAN and security through RADIUS server
• Prioritize compliant VoIP & video traffic ensuring its immediate delivery.

The EnGenius ECW2512FP & ECW2512 are expected to hit the shelves next month. To learn more about the EnGenius Cloud solution and the latest hardware offerings that it supports, please visit https://www.engeniustech.com/engenius-cloud/overview-cloud-networking.