Tried for over a week to get two ENH500 devices to to connect with each other so I could test out their capabilities and put them in tough positions for upcoming projects with the company I work for.
Found a few videos on youtube that showed me how to set up static I.p. addresses on my pc. Which is exactly what’s in the pdf and brochure from the manufacture.
I had to turn to the tech support and see if they can get me the information I need for Setting up my ENH500 devices.
Device #1
Step 1: Log into device #1 (192.168.1.1, both user name and password are admin). You will need
to set your computer to a static IP address in the same subnet like 192.168.1.10
Step 2: Go to “Operation Mode” and change mode to “WDS Bridge” and also select Country code and Accept change.
Step 3: In “WDS Link Settings” set security type and key (we recommend AES). Then below on the same page, enable
ID field 1 and enter the Wireless MAC address of device #2 (the other device). The Wireless MAC address can be found
by looking at the serial label on the back of the unit. It will be the one on the top. After you’re done, hit “Accept”.
Note: You can also find the Wireless MAC address of a unit on the “Main” page when logged into the unit.
Step 4: Go to “Wireless Network” and change channel to 149, 153, 157, or 161 (USA) and Accept change.
Step 5: In “Administration” change the default user name and password (if desired).
Sept 7: In “IP Settings” change the IP address to a new, unused, static IP address on the same subnet and also
enter the default gateway (example 192.168.1.5 if router is 192.168.1.1).
Step 8: Apply all changes by selecting “Save/Reload” (IP address, user name and password and all other changes will
now actually take effect).
Step 9: Leave this unit powered on and move to device #2 (see next page).
Device #2 (Do this while device #1 is on and next to you, not installed at the remote location yet).
Step 1: Log into device #2 (192.168.1.1, both user name and password are admin). You will need
to set your computer to a static IP address in the same subnet like 192.168.1.10
Step 2: Go to “Operation Mode” and change mode to “WDS Bridge” and also select Country code and Accept change.
Step 3: In “WDS Link Settings” set security type and key (we recommend AES). Then below on the same page, enable
ID field 1 and enter the Wireless MAC address of device #1 (the other device). The Wireless MAC address can be found
by looking at the serial label on the back of the unit. It will be the one on the top. After you’re done, hit “Accept”.
Note: You can also find the Wireless MAC address of a unit on the “Main” page when logged into the unit.
Step 4: Go to “Wireless Network” and change channel to the same channel as device #1 and Accept change.
Step 5: In “Administration” change the default user name and password (if desired).
Sept 7: In “IP Settings” change the IP address to a new, unused, static IP address on the same subnet and also
enter the default gateway (example 192.168.1.5 if router is 192.168.1.1). Do not use the same IP address as device #1.
Step 8: Apply all changes by selecting “Save/Reload”. All changes will now actually take effect.
Step 9: Go to “WDS Link List” and verify link is UP.
Step 10: Install unit at remote location. Go to “WDS Link List” again and verify link is UP and RSSI signal.
-59dBm or better = excellent, -60dBm to -69dBm = good, -70dBm to -79dBm = good, -80dBm or worse = fair to poor.
Verify speed and connectivity etc. If everything tests good, you are done (connect the camera now).
Note: Output power should be the same as device #1. Default power is 20dBm. Turn it up only if RSSI is low
(in “Wireless Advanced Settings”). Add a network switch to connect multiple Ethernet devices at the remote
bridge (if desired). The secondary Ethernet port is “pass through” only, no POE power is available.
Here’s the video from EnGenius
In the test portion of this article I will number the devices by how far from the network they are up to my pc which will be plugged into device #3. So Device 1 is feeding network connection to device #2. Device #2 will be feeding network connection from device #1 to device #3 which my pc is plugged into.
The tests performed
Close Range – Two ENH500 devices sitting less than a foot apart. Signal level was at -3. Which i would have guessed would have been at 0 since there was nothing to interfere.
Line of site – Separated by about 20 feet. Used three EnGenius devices. One connected to the switch next to me to connect to the network, one across the room to receive signal from the first device and one connected to my computer to to connect to the second device. signal strength was -16 and -23.
Obstructed view – Turn all three devices away from each other. No two faced each other. Signal strength -26 and -28.
Very Obstructed view – Took the second ENH500 downstairs and placed it behind a small refrigerator and faced it away from the other devices then the faced the other devices away from that one.Distance about 30 feet. Signal strength -34 -40
Daisy chain around obstruction – Placed device 1 at the office modem down stairs. Device 2 in the storage warehouse area, device three still at my pc. Distance from enh500 #1 to #2 approximately 60 feet, Distance to device #3 from device #2 Approximately 45 feet. Signal strength -47 -52.
Mesh – Turned on all three devices and allowed them all to see and communicate with each other. Had fail to connect. This test is on pause until I figure out where I went wrong.
Worst case Scenario– Took device #2 across the lot into another unit, and plugged in and set it on top of their refrigerator behind a tv. Failed to connect. Distance roughly 120 feet from Device #1 to device #2. Distance from device #2 to Device #3 Roughly 135 feet.
On the final test (worst case scenario) I could not detect device #2. I had to unplug from device #3 and connect myself back into the office network and then log into device #1 to see what the signal was reading. Signal -88. This was through 3 offices,a metal building with brick face and tinted glass, through company vehicles parked in front, across the driveway through more vehicles,brick,tinted glass, an office, a cross path hallway, kitchen wall, to a device laying on a refrigerator behind a tv.
Line of site on a pole, with no obstruction, doesn’t seem like it’s going to be too strict.
Firmware needs to be the same as well!
If adding any additional ENS500 to the mix, especially if the are communucatinig with a ENS500EXT unit (which accepts signal from multiple ENS500 units), then be sure to upgrade the ENS500EXT unit to the latest firmware!
Found this out the hard way, and ran in circles with no cure (accept for the firmware upgrade in the end).
They thought of lots of stuff ahead of time.
You’d think as much thought as they put into this software they would at least have put a little more effort into a browser or application that didn’t require so much rig up.
This was extremely helpful! Thank you for saving me hours of trial and error. I am not very network proficient, and I had the system up and running in an hour. One small nit for the newbies out there: In step 2, you have to select “WDS” before “bridge” becomes visible. “Client Bridge” is not the same thing.
Tried to set up my pair of ENH500 with a MacBook Pro. Gave up and used my wife’s Dell PC Laptop.. B I N G O I got in followed the instructions above until I got the units paired and communicating. Just have patience, you will make it, if I did it ANYBODY can do it!!!
I used the step by step instructions above to make ENH500 units work for me. I tried more that 10 times to log on from my MacBook Pro, not until I threw up my hands and used my wife’s Dell PC Laptop did I log on to the ENH500 and get them set up of my application.
Thanks so much! Worked first try. Someone else before me had set these up and the link went down. I hit the soft panic button, but then found this document. Followed these instructions and it made it easy. Thanks again.
I really appreciate this article. It is so much better then the manual.
Have you done any testing of the Wireless Advanced Settings page?
The default settings show 1 meg of max upload speed. When I try to raise that number, but saving and then doing the master save, the settings revert to stock.
I’m using this system in bridge mode for live streaming and we need the upload bandwidth.
I am a bit late in finding this but found it useful, Hope you do not mind my asking a couple of questions. First- I have a location (home) where I need to establish an internet connection at location about 300 yards away, where I have several cameras connected to a recording DVR – that supports an internet connection, additionally I have a chemical monitor to communicates to wireless hub, that at present connects to a hotspot.
So my question is thus: If I put the #1 ENS500 connected to my home router and #2 ENS500 in the second locations, do I connect #2 it to a wireless hub, or to a wireless router to support the DVR and other devices.
I would be happy to send you a diagram if that would help clarify my configuration.
I would GREATLY appreciate any thing you can answer