EnGenius Technologies has unveiled its latest Wi-Fi 7 access point, the ECW520.
Designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the device carries a price tag of $189 MSRP with EnGenius positioning the device as a blend of affordability and advanced capability that’s meant to bring enterprise networking strength at a “disruptive” price.
Core Features of the ECW520
Built on the Qualcomm Networking Pro 1220 Wi-Fi 7 platform, EnGenius claims the ECW520 can deliver tri-band 2x2x2 wireless performance with a combined throughput of up to 10.8 Gbps.
At the core of the product, however, is a collection of features that EnGenius says are meant to improve performance in high-density networking environments such as multi-family residences and hospitality venues.
Among the core technical features:
- 320 MHz and 240 MHz channel widths for broader bandwidth.
- 4096-QAM for higher data rates.
- Multi-Link Operation (MLO) to aggregate multiple bands for increased stability.
- Multi-RU puncturing to optimize performance in congested environments.
- 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet with PoE+ support for flexible deployment.
- Backward compatibility with legacy Wi-Fi standards.
As with other EnGenius networking products, the ECW520 is fully integrated with its EnGenius cloud license-free management platform for real-time visibility, configuration and troubleshooting of the device.
This can all be done through the Cloud To-Go mobile app, which also lets users provision devices—reportedly in under five minutes.
The device also supports zero-touch provisioning, and comes with an interface EnGenius says is designed for both new and experienced network managers, which, ideally, is meant to reduce operational complexity and labor time across the board.
The ECW520 also includes WPA3 Enterprise encryption and is backed by a five-year warranty. The device also supports scalable multi-AP deployment and includes a click-and-twist mounting system with a Kensington lock slot for added physical security.
Availability
With the ECW520, EnGenius joins the burgeoning list of products building out Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure in homes and businesses. Other companies that have released their own products include Firewalla, Amazon, NETGEAR, TP-Link, among many others.
Despite this, device adoption still remains in its formative stages, as the Wi-Fi Alliance only just started issuing official certifications a little over a year ago, meaning that the majority of devices currently used by the public may not be able to take advantage of Wi-Fi 7 infrastructure at this time. Many have already begun to update existing infrastructure, however, to prepare for devices that can take advantage of the Wi-Fi 7 network capabilities, when those arrive.
The EnGenius ECW520 is expected to be available through authorized resellers and distribution partners by the end of July. More information, including technical specifications and purchasing options, is available at EnGenius Technologies’ official website.
