ASUS, a major player in Taiwan’s router market, has finally entered the commercial networking market.
But facing numerous established commercial networking giants, how can ASUS carve out its own path in this fiercely competitive market?
Compared to other brands’ comprehensive yet complex interface designs, ASUS’s biggest advantage is its router Web UI interface.
Alongside its commercial networking equipment, ASUS has launched a new product ecosystem: the ExpertWiFi series.
Today, I’m going to introduce an expansion node device from this ecosystem.
ASUS ExpertWiFi EBA63 AX3000 Wi-Fi 6 Commercial PoE Wireless AP
It’s important to note that this is not a router and does not have DHCP functionality.
It must be paired with another router for use.
As for which router to pair it with, Expert series nodes are best used with Expert series routers.
(Of course, if your company already has a router, it can be compatible as well.)
Additionally, it supports ASUS’s AiMesh technology for expanding network connection points.
The expansion method is quite unique, and we’ll explain it in detail later.
The specifications listed on the packaging highlight the support for a PoE port,
and the ExpertWiFi EBA63 can handle up to 100 simultaneous device connections.
The package includes a network cable and a power adapter.
The ports on the back are simple, with only a PoE IN port and a power port.
It only serves as a WAN port, meaning it has no LAN port functionality.
It’s purely designed to support office wireless networking.
The mounting options for the AP are quite flexible.
In addition to wall-mounting points, it also includes sliding clips for securing to lightweight steel-frame ceilings.
In offices with lightweight steel-frame ceilings,
the ExpertWiFi EBA63’s clips can be directly attached to the ceiling’s T-bars.
The clips make it easy to secure, and when paired with a PoE-capable router or switch,
a single network cable can provide both connectivity and power to the ExpertWiFi EBA63.
By planning the cable routing in the ceiling, you can simplify the installation and expansion of wireless nodes.
It’s simple, aesthetically pleasing, and avoids messy cabling.
Now, let’s start the setup process.
The ASUS ExpertWiFi series also offers a very convenient mobile app interface.
The interface is quite similar to the ASUS Router app.
If you’re familiar with ASUS’s Router app, you’ll pick this up quickly.
However, for commercial networking products, I strongly recommend using the computer interface for more detailed configuration.
Compared to consumer routers, ASUS’s Expert commercial networking product series
requires agreeing to quite a few terms before use.
Following my own habits, I always select “Advanced Settings” when starting the setup.
However, this interface is quite different from the familiar consumer series.
ASUS’s commercial series includes a default login password before setup begins,
preventing security issues from overly simple default management interface passwords.
The default password is printed in the user manual included in the packaging.
There are two operational modes: one as a wireless AP node,
where you can manage it through the ExpertWiFi management interface,
and the other as an AiMesh node integrated into a Mesh network,
where it can only be managed via the wireless router’s AiMesh management interface.
By default, it checks for firmware updates first.
Here’s the key point!
Although the ExpertWiFi EBA63 doesn’t have router functionality,
its interface may look simpler, but it can be configured as a standalone wireless network independent of the main router.
It can also establish an AiMesh wireless network system independent of the main router.
The wireless specification is AX3000 WiFi 6 dual-band,
which meets the connectivity needs of most mainstream wireless devices today.
It also includes customizable network settings, making it easy for business owners to plan their wireless network configurations.
Other detailed wireless network settings are also available here,
including professional-grade wireless settings typically found in ASUS consumer routers.
So, if a company uses a professional-grade physical firewall router,
the ExpertWiFi EBA63 can be paired to build the office’s wireless network system
without worrying about the setup interface.
System management is very similar to the Web UI management interface of ASUS consumer routers,
so users familiar with ASUS’s management interface will find it easy to get started.
From here, you can see that
although it lacks router mode, the ExpertWiFi EBA63 can still act as an AiMesh router to help you build a Mesh network,
allowing users to expand their wireless network optimally without significantly altering existing network equipment.
The device can also function as a regular AiMesh node within ASUS’s consumer network system,
but doing so diminishes the purpose of using a commercial network device.
Therefore, I recommend using it as an AiMesh router and pairing it with a second EBA63 as an AiMesh node for a cleaner setup.
Whether to use wireless or wired backhaul depends on the environment’s configuration.
If possible,
pairing it with a high-end ASUS consumer router and a PoE switch to install this wireless node in an office
seems like a good approach.
That’s the quick unboxing.
With the equipment I currently have, I can’t fully utilize the ExpertWiFi EBA63’s capabilities.
At most, I can use the EBA63 as an AiMesh server paired with an existing PoE switch to connect another EBA63 node for a wired backhaul, achieving the cleanest cabling setup.
But even at this stage, supporting up to 100 simultaneous device connections already offers significant convenience for IT staff in many settings.
I hope we’ll have the opportunity to further test the full ASUS ExpertWiFi router lineup in the future
to truly understand ASUS’s vision for this product line.
That’s the quick unboxing. Thanks for reading!
[Tutorial] How to Resolve Interference Between Your ASUS Wireless Router and Bluetooth Devices
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Originally published on Fox-saying.com
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