EnGenius Point-to-Point link

Morning all,
Wondering if anyone has experience of setting up an EnGenius Point-to-Point link?
Specifically the EnStation6/ENH500-AX

The distance is less than 70 metres. Good clear line of sight.
I want to share new fibre gigabit connection from one building over to the other.
It's been years since I last did something like this.

Neither Openreach or CityFibre will install fibre to the second building - too expensive to dig up the roadway.
The connection will need to handle a good throughput at times. Also VoIP for phones, and provide for the card payment machine.

I've got all the documentation for this unit, but hoping maybe someone has recent experience of installing and using this. Even maybe any other EnGenius system.

I'd also be open to alternative options, other manufactuers etc, if based on personal experience.

I have seen the cost of those !

What sort of throughput do you actually require in each direction?

You could use a pair of Ubiquiti NanoStation 5AC Loco at £38 each (+VAT) https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/wireless-airm... and they will give potentially 300Mbps although the CPU may max out if Rx + Tx gets towards 350Mbps

The next up is the NanoStation 5AC https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/wireless-airm... at £105 each (you can buy from UK or EU store)

I have had a pair of Locos installed for several years - no issues with them at all. I run cameras and a small switch so a continual 10-15Mbps upload.from the cameras.

Thanks for that, MHC, appreciated.

The shop is presently running on ADSL2+ , so it's at the bottom of the speed scale.
Although I'd like to future proof it as much as I can. Next time around it will have to be a younger person dealing with this!

I expect the requirements to increase in the near future. But a good 300Mbps is way more than they have right now.

I will check out that Ubiquiti you mention.
Earlier I was looking at the Ubiquiti PowerBeam AC Gen2

Reason for the EnGenius is that I've had good experience with their stuff in the past, and also good support from the supplier.

The PowerBeam (and NonoBeam) are probably overkill for what you need and possibly too powerful at 70m.

If you are currently on ADSL2+ you have a (max) 24/1.3 link so replacing with the NS5AC Loco would give a massive boost.

Easy to set up - do it on the ground indoors first then mount. Use the inbuilt alignment capability on mounting and you will have it up and running an a couple of hours.

£76 for the devices, plus 2x PoE injectors https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/accessory-tec... if needed. I use https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/accessory-tec... for mounting and at £5 each - good value (I cannot believe they are that cheap) or there is an alternative: https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/products/quick-mount. Then which ever solution you go with, a surge protector is useful: https://uk.store.ui.com/uk/en/category/accessory-tec...

Then go to https://ispdesign.ui.com/# Click on te Point-to-Point link top left (two circles with line between); Place them where you require Master and Slave.

A pop up will appear at the bottom ... enlarge it and then untick <Auto Product Selection> and use NS5AC Loco at both ends. Set to 40MHz bandwidth and it should tell you that 300Mbps is possible. Play around with power and even down at -4dBm it should give around 250Mbps

Wow, that's a powerful tool, the design one.
Yes as you say, it's showing over 300Mpbs with the two Loco units.
I guess that's my weekend sorted, checking it all through.
Thanks for the info.

The Ubiquiti marketing, and to some extent the design tools, tend to be optimistic of what is acheiveable. That said a pair of 5AC locos at that distance will easily provide 300Mbps using a 40MHz channel.
One thing to note is that out of the box even when set to United Kingdom Ubiquiti radios will use channels prohibited by Ofcom for outdoor use (the so-called Band A), or require a licence (Band C). To ensure compliance edit the control channels so only the frequencies in the range 5500-5720 are ticked and all the others are unticked.
As the 5GHz spectrum is becoming more crowded it can be difficult to find clear channels, probably less of an issue for short links such as this compared to fixed wireless access networks, but it may be worth looking at 60GHz links such as the Mikrotik RBwAPG-60ad, a pair of which will support gigabit upto 200m but they absolutely require clear line of sight with no obstructions.

In reply to a post by tdw42:

... but it may be worth looking at 60GHz links such as the Mikrotik RBwAPG-60ad, a pair of which will support gigabit upto 200m but they absolutely require clear line of sight with no obstructions.

I have never had any need for a fixed link, but if I did, this is the kind of thing I would look at first, rather than blasting out on regular wifi frequencies.

Thanks, that's good info

In reply to a post by clyde123:

Thanks, that's good info

What tdw42 said about outside frequencies is sound, they also can and do change. So do your homework and make sure your equipment meets what you want to do and meets the regs (in theory it should if its sold in the uk but you never know)

Yes will do, thanks Taras