EnGenius ECW526 WiFI 7 Access Point Review vs EnGenius ECW536 & Unifi 7 Pro

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I recently tested the impressive EnGenius ECW536, which now acts as the primary access point in my home.

Initially priced at $1000, the EnGenius ECW536 has recently been discounted to $500, making it the most cost-effective 4×4 MIMO WiFi 7 AP with 10GbE.

More recently, EnGenius introduced the budget-friendly ECW526. Priced $200 lower, it features a 2×2 MIMO setup but retains the 10GbE uplink. While it may offer similar throughput to its pricier counterpart, it may not be as well-equipped to handle a large number of users.

EnGenius ECW526 vs ECW536 Specification

| Feature/Specification | ECW526 | ECW536 |
| — | — | — |
| Wi-Fi Standard | 802.11be (WiFi 7) | 802.11be (WiFi 7) |
| Frequency Bands | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz |
| Max Data Rates | 2.4 GHz: 700 Mbps 5 GHz: 2,900 Mbps 6 GHz: 5,800 Mbps | 2.4 GHz: 1,400 Mbps 5 GHz: 5,800 Mbps 6 GHz: 11,600 Mbps |
| MU-MIMO | 2x2x2 | 4x4x4 |
| SU-MIMO | 2x2x2 | 4x4x4 |
| Antenna Gain | 2.4 GHz: 5 dBi 5 GHz: 6 dBi 6 GHz: 6 dBi | 2.4 GHz: 5 dBi 5 GHz: 6 dBi 6 GHz: 5 dBi |
| Ethernet | 1 x 10GE Port (PoE+) 1 x 10GE Port | 1 x 10GE Port (PoE++) |
| Power Source | PoE: 802.3at, 12VDC/2A Power Adapter | PoE: 802.3bt, 12VDC/3A Power Adapter |
| Max Power Consumption | 21W | 38W |
| Additional Interfaces | 1 x DC Jack, 1 x Reset Button | 1 x DC Jack, 1 x Reset Button |
| Max Concurrent Users | 512 | 512 |
| Management Features | Multiple BSSID, VLAN Tagging, QoS, SNMP, Fast Roaming | Multiple BSSID, VLAN Tagging, QoS, SNMP, Fast Roaming |
| Wireless Security | WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA3-PSK, WPA3-Enterprise | WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise, WPA3-PSK, WPA3-Enterprise |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C | 0°C to 40°C |
| Storage Temperature | -40°C to 80°C | -40°C to 80°C |
| Humidity (non-condensing) | Operating: 90% or less, Storage: 90% or less | Operating: 90% or less, Storage: 90% or less |
| Dimensions | 190 x 190 x 39.5 mm | 230 x 230 x 37 mm |
| Weight | 720 g | 1270 g |
| Package Contents | Access Point, Ceiling Mount Base, Ceiling and Wall Mount Screw Kit, T-rail Mount Kit, Product Card | Access Point, Ceiling Mount Base, Ceiling and Wall Mount Screw Kit, T-rail Mount Kit, Product Card |

Unboxing

The EnGenius ECW526 shares the design of the ECW536 but is considerably smaller, making it a great fit for my SOHO setup. The ECW526 features a single 10GbE port and includes an additional 12V DC port for power, similar to the ECW536.

EnGenius Cloud & Set Up

The setup and settings for the ECW526 are identical to the ECW536, providing a familiar experience for EnGenius users.

WiFi 7 Settings

The access point settings allow for customization of radio and SSID settings, including:

Radio Settings:

• Channel
• Channel Width
• Target Tx Power
• Minimum Bitrate
• Client Limit
• Dynamic Channel Selection
• Client Balancing
• Mesh
• Zero Wait DFS

  SSID Settings:

• Type (Wireless / SmarCast)
• Enabled Radio Bands
• Security Type
• Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
• 802.11r
• 802.11w
• Default VLAN
• Client IP address (NAT/Bridge/Tunnel)
• Dynamic Client VLAN Pooling
• Application Analysis
• Advanced settings like L2 isolation, mDNS Forwarding, Band Steering, BCMC Suppression
  

  Test Set Up
  

  For testing, I used:

  WiFi 7 Performance
  

  Multi-Link Operation (MLO)
  

  MLO is a revolutionary feature in Wi-Fi 7 that allows devices to establish multiple connections across different frequency bands, enhancing throughput, reducing latency, and improving reliability. However, both the access point and client devices must support Wi-Fi 7 and MLO to benefit fully.

  6GHz WiFi Throughput
  

  The ECW526’s 10GbE port enables it to outperform most other options at a similar price point. While the throughput is impressive, consider the costs and power consumption of running a 10GbE network.

  5GHz WiFi Throughput
  

  2.4GHz WiFi Throughput
  

  Power Consumption
  

  The ECW526 has a maximum power draw of 21W, significantly lower than the ECW536’s 38W rating.

  Price and Alternative Options
  

  The EnGenius ECW526 is priced at $299 and offers a budget-friendly alternative to the ECW536. Other options like the TP-Link Omada EAP773 and Unifi U7 Pro Max provide similar features at varying price points.

  Overall
  

  The EnGenius ECW526 is a cost-effective solution for small office/home office users, offering impressive performance and a 10GbE port. While it may not have the same range as other models, it provides excellent value for the price.

  Review Source