EnGenius ENH1350EXT Outdoor Wi-Fi 5 Access Point: specs and who it suits

The EnGenius ENH1350EXT is an outdoor Wi-Fi 5 access point built to take wireless coverage to places where an indoor unit would not survive, such as a yard, a car park, a campsite, a workshop or the side of a building. It is a wired access point, not a router: it connects to your existing network by Ethernet and broadcasts Wi-Fi from where you mount it.

What AC1300 and Wave 2 mean

AC1300 is a combined figure for the two bands. EnGenius rates the 5GHz radio at up to 867Mbps and the 2.4GHz radio at up to 400Mbps. These are theoretical link rates. Real throughput is usually lower and is shared among everyone connected. The 5GHz band typically gives faster speeds over shorter distances, while 2.4GHz carries further and passes through obstacles better.

Wave 2 refers to the second stage of 802.11ac. Its main addition is MU-MIMO, which lets an access point send data to several compatible devices at the same time instead of one after another. EnGenius says this improves performance and the number of users the unit can handle.

Antennas and coverage

The unit has four detachable 5dBi high-gain SMA antennas with 360° coverage, and EnGenius also mentions beamforming, which focuses the signal toward client devices. Detachable antennas are handy: they can be swapped or moved if your installation calls for a different pattern. Coverage depends heavily on walls, trees, mounting height and local interference, so treat any range claim as a rough guide.

Built for the weather

EnGenius lists an IP67-rated housing, meaning it is designed to be dust-tight and to withstand temporary immersion. The brand says it is made to cope with rain, snow, dust and temperature swings. Connectors and cable entries are still the weak points of most outdoor installs, so follow the manual on sealing them.

Operating modes and management

The access point can run in Access Point, Client Bridge or WDS modes. Access Point mode is the standard choice. Client Bridge connects a wired device wirelessly to another access point, and WDS links access points wirelessly to extend a network. EZ Controller software is included for local or remote management.

Power and mounting

Power arrives through Power over Ethernet, using the supplied PoE injector, so a single cable carries data and power. A mounting kit is included. The unit measures about 6.0 x 9.7 x 4.5 inches (15 x 25 x 11 cm) and weighs 1.8 lb (about 0.8 kg). Outdoor and mains-powered installations should follow local electrical codes and the manual. If in doubt, have a qualified installer do the work.

Who it suits

It suits homes with large yards or outbuildings, small businesses, farms, workshops and campgrounds that need Wi-Fi outdoors and can run an Ethernet cable to the mounting point.

What to check before you buy

• Cable run: you need an Ethernet cable from your network to the mounting spot, within standard length limits.
• Power: the injector must stay indoors or in a protected place with mains power.
• Mounting: decide on a pole, wall or other fixing and check it matches the kit.
• Wi-Fi 5 only: newer devices may support faster standards, but will still connect.
• Setup: check how you will manage it, either through EZ Controller or its local settings.
• Surge protection: outdoor cabling may call for extra grounding or protection. Check local guidance.

The short version

• Outdoor dual-band Wi-Fi 5 access point, rated up to 867Mbps (5GHz) and 400Mbps (2.4GHz).
• IP67-rated housing and four detachable 5dBi SMA antennas.
• MU-MIMO, beamforming, and Access Point, Client Bridge and WDS modes.
• PoE injector, mounting kit and EZ Controller management included.
• Needs a wired Ethernet connection to your network.

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