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After ASUS showcased the new ExpertWiFi series for commercial use at COMPUTEX 2024,
Fox has been closely following the developments of this series.
From the introduction at the time, it’s clear this series isn’t meant to compete with enterprise-grade routing equipment manufacturers.
Instead, it’s positioned as an option offering features a step above consumer-grade wireless routers.
Fox recently unboxed the ASUS ExpertWiFi EBA63 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Commercial PoE Wireless AP,
which serves as a solution for traditional businesses to quickly expand wireless nodes under an existing physical firewall.
This time, we’re unboxing
ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68 AX7800 Mesh,
which offers a different choice for businesses like retail stores or rental spaces.
Compared to consumer-grade wireless routers, this model emphasizes SDN (Software-Defined Networking) functionality,
supporting up to 5 SSIDs and enabling a customizable portal page for offering free Wi-Fi to customers.
It also boasts impressive node scalability, supporting up to 12 Mesh nodes (compared to the typical AiMesh limit of 8, beyond which stability may suffer),
providing users who need more advanced features than consumer routers with an alternative in the high-end commercial router market.
In terms of specifications, it’s an AX7800 tri-band design with 6 built-in antennas.
It supports dual 5GHz bands, one of which can be dedicated to AiMesh wireless backhaul.
The accessories include a wall-mount hook designed specifically for installation,
allowing the EBM68 to blend seamlessly with store decor when mounted on a wall.
The exterior features a rounded, white design,
establishing a distinct product characteristic for the ExpertWiFi series (the entire product line is white).
It also differentiates itself stylistically from the ZenWiFi series, which is predominantly black.
The top features a large ExpertWiFi logo
and prominent ventilation holes.
The ports include one USB 3.0, one 2.5GbE WAN port with Dual WAN support,
and three LAN ports, all supporting up to 1GbE.
Now, let’s start setting it up.
The ASUS ExpertWiFi series also offers a convenient mobile app interface.
The operation interface is quite similar to the ASUS Router app.
Those familiar with the ASUS Router app should find it easy to get started.
The initial setup process is also very user-friendly.
The series is currently divided into wireless and wired products, and this time we’re selecting the EBM68 for setup.
In terms of guided app usage, ASUS’s design is far more user-friendly than others.
Even those less tech-savvy can follow the instructions for easy setup (though they’re unlikely to purchase this series).
However, for commercial network products, Fox strongly recommends using the computer interface for more detailed configuration.
Compared to consumer routers, ASUS’s Expert commercial network product series
requires agreeing to quite a few terms before use.
But this time, we’ll try setting it up using the app for a demonstration.
After completing the basic connection setup, a “Custom Network” setting appears,
which is essentially the SDN setting for ASUS ExpertWiFi.
Through this setting, you can easily and conveniently create multiple wireless network SSIDs
and isolate users based on usage scenarios—a feature not typically found in consumer-grade routers.
During the setup process, if a new update is available, the app will prompt you to update to the latest firmware.
Compared to the homepage of ASUS’s consumer-grade app, ExpertWiFi’s interface directly displays the status of all system functions.
While it’s relatively simplified, detailed data requires clicking into specific sections.
The interface avoids excessive page-flipping, making it highly intuitive and user-friendly for professional network administrators.
The detailed settings are largely similar to those of consumer-grade routers, with the standout feature being the custom network functionality.
We’ll demonstrate this next.
The ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68’s dashboard interface is more feature-rich compared to the ExpertWiFi EBA63, which lacks router functionality.
The interface is visually clean and straightforward.
The left side of the web interface lists the EBM68’s main features: AiMesh, Custom Network SDN, VPN Server, VPN Fusion, AiProtection, and Traffic Monitoring and Settings.
The dashboard on the main page presents information in card format, sharing the same design philosophy as the app interface, allowing network administrators to quickly grasp the network’s status.
The AiMesh design interface will feel very familiar to those accustomed to ASUS systems.
The information interface is essentially ASUS’s familiar web-based management interface.
It supports adding nodes, optimization, topology, and details on connection methods and speeds between nodes.
The EBM68’s Custom Network SDN
supports up to 5 VLANs, with guided settings based on usage scenarios.
The guest portal settings allow for a high degree of personalization.
In addition to built-in images, you can upload custom images
to achieve instructional or promotional effects.
This way, users connecting to the wireless network will be presented with a forced advertisement
and must click to agree to the terms of use before accessing the network.
This is ideal for cafes, restaurants, or stores offering free Wi-Fi, with a dedicated “Guest Portal” to guide guests through agreeing to service terms.
These settings are fully customizable.
You can also set up additional SSIDs for other purposes,
such as one for internal staff with full wireless network access.
Each custom network can be individually disabled,
offering greater flexibility for network customization.
The VPN functionality is also quite robust,
offering features typically found only in ASUS’s top-tier consumer models.
ASUS’s signature AiProtection feature is, of course, included here as well.
All other detailed settings are categorized under the Settings section.
Fox personally finds this web layout quite effective.
The overall page is cleaner, and it’s easy to navigate to the appropriate settings category.
That concludes the brief unboxing.
In terms of user experience, Fox genuinely believes
that for users who need more advanced features than consumer-grade routers but don’t require enterprise-level equipment,
the ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68 offers a highly practical solution.
At a price point below enterprise-grade but slightly above consumer-grade routers,
it provides small businesses or enterprises with essential custom SDN functionality.
Through simple settings, it’s easy to manage multiple SSIDs, with preset scenarios to assist administrators in setup.
For store owners, such as those running cafes or restaurants,
the ASUS ExpertWiFi EBM68 is definitely a wireless router worth considering for your procurement list.
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Originally published on fox-saying.com
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