Engenius ENS202: Access Point and Bridge working together?

[xcoyote]

I'm not well versed in this, so this may be crude. Here's the scenerio: Connecting two houses with one ISP.

House 1 has the main internet from the provider.
House 2 will connect wirelessly to House 1, but on a separate network.

Here's the possible setup:

House 1: ISP modem >>> Router then connect Engenius ENS202 (access point) via cable to Router and aim ENS202 to House 2.

House 2: 2nd Engenius ENS202 aimed at House 1 and 1st ENS202.

Here's where I'm confused. I'm not sure how to configure the ENS202's in each house.

I'm assuming an Access Point would be in House 1
Should the 2nd ENS202 be in Bridge Mode or Repeater mode?
If in Bridge Mode, would another router have to be used in House 2? Or, could the ENS202 be used as a router as well?

I'm wanting to get the most internet speed at House 2.

I've read that in repeater mode the final speed is cut in half so I'm wanting the best (and least complicated) way to make this happen.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[bill001g]

You will need another AP to provide service inside of house 2.

The ens202 have a special point to point bridge mode. Both devices are acting as a bridge. These devices are designed exactly for the application you are using so they are a little different than the AP or repeaters you see. Engenius though has lots of features they can be made to run as even routers on some models.

I forget the setting but they have pictures in the manual that show a point to point and what the settings should be

 

[xcoyote]

So, if I understand what you're saying, the set up should look something like this:

House 1 ISP>>>Router>>>Cable to 1st ens202 (in bridge mode) aimed at House 2 >>> 2nd ens202 (in bridge mode) aimed at House 1.

Then what? Another router connected to the 2nd ens202 for use in House 2?

My biggest confusion is the difference between AP/Repeater/Bridge. I'm not sure when to use each.
Everything I find on the net gets into details on the guts of each and all I want to know, since I'm not a techy and don't understand that gut speech, is when to use which mode for best results (in my case minimal-loss of mps) does that make sense?

 

[kanewolf]

You will need another AP to provide service inside of house 2.

The ens202 have a special point to point bridge mode. Both devices are acting as a bridge. These devices are designed exactly for the application you are using so they are a little different than the AP or repeaters you see. Engenius though has lots of features they can be made to run as even routers on some models.

I forget the setting but they have pictures in the manual that show a point to point and what the settings should be

I would run house two in Router mode. That way the ENS202 in house 2 is the DHCP server for that house. Treat the link to house 1 as any other WAN link. That way house 2 doesn't care what house 1 does as long as the link is available. That is how I did my LAN when the transition to Frontier communications didn't go well.

 

[xcoyote]

Thanks! Since I don't know, I'll assume DHCP means like another ISP coming into house 1. And WAN is, basically, the same thing?

So then, in House 2, the "router" mode would pick up the signal from House 1 and distribute it wirelessly in House 2, right?

I think I may have this!

 

[kanewolf]

To MAXIMIZE the speed of network in house 2 I would probably recommend a pair of ENS500 -- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833168116 which are the 5Ghz units. They will be able to have more bandwidth between them than the 2.4Ghz ENS202s

I am testing the WIFI capabilities on the ESN202 now. I will let you know if you can get WIFI signal 1 in and create an independent WIFI signal when in router mode.

 

[kanewolf]

The ENS202 does have an option called "Virtual AP" which is an option on the wireless setup screen. It will create a local access point with the same subnet as the wired access. It is also on the same channel as the remote WIFI. That probably wouldn't be very useful with the 5ghz only model. Optimally maybe a 5ghz ENS500 at house1 with an ENS1200 (dual band) at house2. That way the link between the houses can be 5Ghz but the ENS1200 can have a 2.4Ghz AP running at house 2.

 

[xcoyote]

Thanks! I'm totally lost, but I'm sure this info is GREAT! Looked at the ens1200, way too much $$ for what I'm looking to do. Only need about 10mps at House 2. Should be able to get it since House 1 ISP is coming in at 50mps, right?

 

[kanewolf]

Thanks! I'm totally lost, but I'm sure this info is GREAT! Looked at the ens1200, way too much $$ for what I'm looking to do. Only need about 10mps at House 2. Should be able to get it since House 1 ISP is coming in at 50mps, right?

I believe so. You said wanted maximum speed, so I focused on that.

I believe that you would configure house 1 in AP mode. I would configure house 2 in router mode with DHCP for the WAN (remote wireless) then configure the LAN side of house 2 to a different subnet from house 1.

You can test all of this in the comfort of house 1 with both units sitting on a table and a laptop. Start by setting up the house 1 unit in AP mode. Connect house 1 unit to the house 1 network. Then connect the laptop to house 2 unit and configure it. When you are done with everything you should be able to get to the internet via a wired connection from house 2 unit.

The thing that I was confused on when I first configured my unit is that hitting the "APPLY" button on the web page you are on is not enough you ALSO have to hit the "Save/Reload" button on the left

If you don't hit the "Save" button nothing happens.

 

[xcoyote]

Thanks for all the great answers! DHCP and WAN? I don't know what that is. I just want something I can plug in, call the company for technical support to help set up (in ENGLISH), and want it to work.

Getting more techie than that does not interest me. Not being mean, just being honest.

Everything I'm reading says that Engenius is the way to go, that's why I'm looking at their products.

 

[kanewolf]

If the terms I am using are too techie then Engenius isn't for you. You should buy the products but get someone that is willing (or already understands) what is being described.

 

[xcoyote]

I received TWO of the ENS202, one to set up at House 1 and the other at House 2, as stated above.

I called Engenius because I didn't want to make errors when setting these up. After 1.5 hours of being on the phone, the rep realized he wasn't doing the right settings for my situation. As far as I could tell, all I needed was an access point and a way to repeat that access point. The rep didn't see it that way.

Well, after ANOTHER 1.5 hours on the phone, I was told that "repeater" mode does not repeat the signal. Huh? He said the only thing I could do would be to connect ANOTHER router to the unit in House 2 as these units do NOT rebroadcast the signal.

Anyway, after we finally set up both units, there was hardly a signal in the office AT ALL! Holy Smokes!! WTF!

After 3 hours with this guy on the phone (who was a trooper by the way. He was kind, pleasant, and polite. No complaints about how I was treated, he just didn't seem to know his stuff, but what do I know).

I'm fed up with these units. If a company rep can't configure them, how in the world could I? I don't think I'm asking for anything to difficult, am I?

Maybe they would have worked with the right set up, but that was beyond my capabilities. Oh well, I'll keep searching.