Question 1

Do you need a minimum of a pair of these?

Accepted Answer

No, they can be used as an access point which requires only one. For a site-to-site or repeater setup, you will need more than one.

Question 2

I wish to connect my house computer to a computer in my shop, about 500 feet away.

The house computer runs Windows XP. It is presently connected to a 4-port Linksys #BEFSR41 Cable/DSL Router, no  WiFi. This router is connected to the internet through a telephone company DSL modem and my router has one RJ45 port  available to make a connection to the shop computer.

The shop computer runs Windows 7. I have an ALFA # AWUS036NH 802.11 b/g/n/ Long-Range WiFi adapter that I can  attach to the shop computer. The ALPHA adapter has a RP-SMA antenna connector at the rear of the chassis. A  panel/directional antenna came with the unit or I can pickup a yagi. I have the cable to mount a directional, outdoor antenna outside of the shop and aim it at the house.

Note: Outdoor antennas are necessary here. The house is double wrapped with two-sided felt air-barrier and double sided foam insulation resulting in 4 layers of aluminum foil. The metal framed windows with metal screens along with the aluminum foil "blanket" makes an effective Faraday cage. Cell phones and BCB radios don't work in here.

Can I simply plug the EnGenius ENH200 Wireless Client Bridge/Access Point unit into the router and add an external directional antenna outside the house, or am I hoping against hope?

I am open for suggestions. Thank You
Patrick

Accepted Answer

The ENH200 does not have a external antenna connector.  I has an internal antenna only.  You must mount the complete unit outside pointing in the direction of the receiver.  If you want to use a external antenna, you need the ENH200EXT which will have a RP-SMA connector for a antenna.

The ENH200 does come with a POE injector so I would mount the unit outside and run Cat-5 to it from Linksys through the POE.  It's a clean install with only 1 cable (Cat-5) running to it.  If you have to power reset it, just cycle power to the POE located near your Linksys.

Question 3

what are the steps for configuring EnGenius ENH200 wireless?

Accepted Answer

These are pretty easy to set up. Once you get logged into it on the graphical interface on the web, you can select the tabs on the left hand side and select what mode you want it to operate in. When you have it in AP access point mode, you can either have a DHCP address or a static address. Pretty easy and neat

Question 4

I will be evaluating a pair of EnGenius ENH200's to bridge Internet access across my neighbor's back yard to the house next door to them.  The distance is about 200 feet.

A Cisco surveillance camera, wireless access point, LINKSYS VoIP adapter and Windows Vista desktop system will be connected to the host network at all times over the wireless bridge.

Does the ENH200 provide low enough latency to make a VoIP call work satisfactorily ?  Nothing tests latency like a VoIP application.

Accepted Answer

I use a pair of ENH210EXT to make VOIP calls on near daily basis without issue.

Questions & Answers