EnGenius ESR9850

[tipstir]

Good questions. My cable modem is a new Motorola SB6120 Docsis 3.0. I do not believe it is also a router. I think this has to be the router as I did not have this problem before I moved from dlink 655 to this EnGenius 9850. Also the fact that I am getting the IP on the WAN side of the router leads me to think the problem has to be in the router.

Both my PC's are using ethernet lines into a gig switch that uplinks back to the Engenius router LAN ports. They do in fact use DHCP. One of the PC's has a reserved mac address in the router so that it always gets same IP.

I can't duplicate your ping issue. Not happening for me with 1.10 1/10 latest firmware. Yes I am back on the ESR-9850. Doing Through-put test and trying to fix a network node.

 

[tipstir]

New Diagram

Added ESR-9850 and New Hauppauge MediaMVP -HD

 

[Az Syndicate]

What IP addresses do your PCs get from the ESR9850?

What happens when you type in ping 192.168.1.xx?
Does that work?

My computer are getting the 192.168.10.x address that I have set up for my LAN. So they are in fact getting the correct LAN addresses from DHCP server.

I can ping computers via addresses. I can not ping via name. When I perform a nbtstat -A and a IP address, it returns a correct computer name. When I perform a nbtstat -a and a computer name it returns the correct IP address.

So WINs is not the issue. Has to be DNS I am thinking.

I can't duplicate your ping issue. Not happening for me with 1.10 1/10 latest firmware. Yes I am back on the ESR-9850. Doing Through-put test and trying to fix a network node.

Well either I have a setting wrong, or I have a defective unit, or I hosed my firmware upgrade.

 

[tipstir]

My computer are getting the 192.168.10.x address that I have set up for my LAN. So they are in fact getting the correct LAN addresses from DHCP server.

I can ping computers via addresses. I can not ping via name. When I perform a nbtstat -A and a IP address, it returns a correct computer name. When I perform a nbtstat -a and a computer name it returns the correct IP address.

So WINs is not the issue. Has to be DNS I am thinking.



Well either I have a setting wrong, or I have a defective unit, or I hosed my firmware upgrade.

You know you can re-flash the firmware again using the latest one. So you change the 3rd IP address number. This router might have a fickle issue IP address table. What happens when you use the factory default? Test two systems only shutdown the rest of them.

My through-put speed on the LAN has improved. MediaMVP HD did not get DHCP with Belkin N+ really screwy there. I can pint the MediaMVP HD from the main to the unit TTL64 not bad. The diagram and had draw-up shows you what I did. That is also a live action network diagram. Packets can be sent to it. Virtual though.

 

[tipstir]

ESR-9850 - Wireless N Access Point
Manual Channel 1
Set to 20Hz
50mW
RSSi = -60
Basement Level in the closet

WHR-HP-G54 Wireless G Access Point
Manual Channel 6
Set to 20Hz
75mW
RSSi = -22
First Floor

Belkin N+ - Wireless N Access Point
Manual Channel 9
Set 20Hz
40-45mW?
RSSi = -53
Upstairs Second floor from the first floor

 

[tipstir]

2nd ESR-9850 Cloned with DD-WRT 802.11g Test

This is firmware 1.09 using the hardwired AP in 802.11g mode only no DHCP, no DNS relay, no NAT, no Smart NAT. This is monitor. Do you guys see this in your 1.10 firmware.

See the attached

 

[tipstir]

2nd ESR-9850 Cloned with DD-WRT 802.11g Test

So now I've clone the Buffalo wireless settings for 802.11g into the second ESR-9850. Location is the same. Results using inSSIDer are:

ESR-9850 Wireless G Access Point
Manual Channel 6
Set to 20Hz
50mW
RSSi = -34
First Floor
Stable no drops as I was starting to get with Buffalo. Dropping every ten seconds on the dime. Well it's 4-5 years old now. That's why I wanted two ESR-9850s I should have gotten 3x.

 

[tipstir]

Qos Tester

Belkin N+ DHCP Router mode
http://www.qostest.com/img-summary.php?id=5086

ESR-9850 DHCP Router Mode
http://www.qostest.com/img-summary.php?id=5125

See the results are different. Not by much though 6 points off.

 

[tipstir]

Reached 4.01mb/s on downloads on P2p

Prior both Belkin N+ and ESR-9850 max out at 3.83mb/s. A few hours ago I got over 4.xmb/s. with ESR-9850 firmware 1.10 latest. I was RDP into my Server over wireless 802.11n at the time of the results.

See image results..

 

[jemz0r]

This is firmware 1.09 using the hardwired AP in 802.11g mode only no DHCP, no DNS relay, no NAT, no Smart NAT. This is monitor. Do you guys see this in your 1.10 firmware.

See the attached

As mentioned in a previous message, the monitor is disabled when the Hardware NAT Engine is enabled, which is on by default in v1.10.

According to them, with HNE the packets a processed by the hardware directly and do not go to the software level, therefore the software cannot analyse the packets for the monitor.

 

[jemz0r]

Prior both Belkin N+ and ESR-9850 max out at 3.83mb/s. A few hours ago I got over 4.xmb/s. with ESR-9850 firmware 1.10 latest. I was RDP into my Server over wireless 802.11n at the time of the results.

See image results..

I still don't think BT is an accurate test of Internet throughput as there are too many variables that will impact the results.

 

[jemz0r]

So now I've clone the Buffalo wireless settings for 802.11g into the second ESR-9850. Location is the same. Results using inSSIDer are:

ESR-9850 Wireless G Access Point
Manual Channel 6
Set to 20Hz
50mW
RSSi = -34
First Floor
Stable no drops as I was starting to get with Buffalo. Dropping every ten seconds on the dime. Well it's 4-5 years old now. That's why I wanted two ESR-9850s I should have gotten 3x.

I'm a bit confused, how come you mention ESR9850 is unstable, then you say it is stable and better than the Buffalo..... was it with different settings or location setup?

 

[tipstir]

I still don't think BT is an accurate test of Internet throughput as there are too many variables that will impact the results.

Not measuring through-put that way. I am measuring transfer rate in mb/s since the old DSL days and with this current router on cable modem. Each router performs differently with P2P. Thus the selling point of this router is P2P not choking pipeline. I do see how fast it reacts to the packets coming in and out.

The file being used has never change in size (content has) so it's a good one to test to see after all these years how long it takes to get to me and what the transfer rate is.

Anyway except for the wireless, I still think this would make an excellent wired router for anyone need fast downloads, fast web browse able to look at 1080p content on Youtube over 802.11n or 802.11g. Now this is where this router shines over my old Buffalo high power dd-wrt firmware.

Boy I was able to run face book cafeworld on my Asus Eee PC with the Atom core and 2GB of RAM on Win7 U32-bit using the second ESR-9850 in 802.11n mode. Those Java Applets take a beating over the network, the more through-put is needed there as when the wife and me on there doing the same thing. Got downloading going on in the background, watching recorded HD over the network.

Anyway more testing.. As for the monitor feature well no big deal just they need to mention that in the firmware that feature is being dropped if HNE is enabled.

 

[tipstir]

I'm a bit confused, how come you mention ESR9850 is unstable, then you say it is stable and better than the Buffalo..... was it with different settings or location setup?

Prior testing, if you go back a few post you'll see. Buffalo seems to be dropping connections very heavy. Don't know why that started. Under the two Belkin N+ running with the Buffalo that is not happening. Only with the two ESR-9850 AP active. I've set the channels manually for the 3. Anyway I get odd blink on the main router for AP mode where the wireless light doesn't stay solid. Looks like it out. Monitoring the wireless network sure enough it out the comes back again. This happens in firmware 1.10. I didn't see this in firmware 1.09.'

Funny the Buffalo in the same room the wireless is -22 were as the ESR-9850 in the same room in 802.11g mode shows -34 to -37 between the two.

Location for me is in attach room to the house over my head is a second roof. From this point signal doesn't reach to the other-side of the main house as did the Buffalo did. Right now Belkin N+ in 802.11n AP and the other two seem stable all night. Didn't have any issues with RDP on either network mode.

 

[holland]

I have 2 ESR9850 and 1 ESR7750. 1 ESR 9850 is the gateway, the other 2 are APs. The ESR 7750 is for media, as it's a wire AP to the media room for streaming at 5GHz. I just needed wireless to cross the room, not giga speeds, but I don't really need it right now. I don't have ripped bluray content and other HD content seemed fine. I will try pulling some HD streams from other external servers with test clips.

The ESR9850 has a stronger signal than the Netgear FWAG114 it replaced. I thought I would need additional access points to cover the 1 Netgear but I don't really need it. I have much stronger signals throughout the house now, overkill with 3, 2 would be more than adequate for the 2 story 3200sq. ft. house.

VPN is solid, with Cisco client. I've been working at home all day today, no issues.

There were some issues while surfing generically, with timeouts, but changing the laptop's adapter power management (older Intel 3945ABG adapter) from maximum power savings to medium made that go away. Medium is the default. No issues otherwise.

I have not tried that ping test nor a transfer test, but I don't forsee any problems.

windows networking seems fine pulling up machine names and connecting to them via \\name\share.

 

[tipstir]

I have 2 ESR9850 and 1 ESR7750. 1 ESR 9850 is the gateway, the other 2 are APs. The ESR 7750 is for media, as it's a wire AP to the media room for streaming at 5GHz. I just needed wireless to cross the room, not giga speeds, but I don't really need it right now. I don't have ripped bluray content and other HD content seemed fine. I will try pulling some HD streams from other external servers with test clips.

The ESR9850 has a stronger signal than the Netgear FWAG114 it replaced. I thought I would need additional access points to cover the 1 Netgear but I don't really need it. I have much stronger signals throughout the house now, overkill with 3, 2 would be more than adequate for the 2 story 3200sq. ft. house.

VPN is solid, with Cisco client. I've been working at home all day today, no issues.

There were some issues while surfing generically, with timeouts, but changing the laptop's adapter power management (older Intel 3945ABG adapter) from maximum power savings to medium made that go away. Medium is the default. No issues otherwise.

I have not tried that ping test nor a transfer test, but I don't forsee any problems.

windows networking seems fine pulling up machine names and connecting to them via \\name\share.

Which Windows Client OS are you ruining on your side. Everything here is Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate 32-bit or 64-bit. I am in old house built in the roaring 20's. So those power AC Ethernet I can't use since modern wiring was introduce. So thus the need to APs. I can get by with two APs. DD-WRT just kick start mW on Buffalo to 71mW that beats both ESR-9850. The main 9850 is in the bottom of the house where I the garage and family room is located. There are cast iron piping for steam boiler then those two 275 gallon oil tanks. So lots of stuff to hamper my wireless in net closet. In my other home there is no basement nor upstairs. That house only need one unit that's it. I'll be testing there soon in the Summer should be interesting.

Anyway the main ESR-9850 just not keeping the wireless up. I know it has Smart Channel, I've disabled that and it still tries changing the channel. The second one is here on the first floor and it starting to drop again. Funny the Belkin N+ don't drop the connection stream is smooth. DD-WRT might be coming for them I heard. I going to put back into action the TEW-652BRP with DD-WRT on that has Atheros 400MHz, 32MB 8MB Flash combo though it' 10/100 connections with 4,096 max connections like the Buffalo I have. All I need is stable strong N and strong G that's it!

G on the ESR-9850 at times it's slow going. Then it kicks up power. Like you go from D to N then back into D.

 

[holland]

Which Windows Client OS are you ruining on your side. Everything here is Windows 7 Home Premium or Ultimate 32-bit or 64-bit. I am in old house built in the roaring 20's. So those power AC Ethernet I can't use since modern wiring was introduce. So thus the need to APs. I can get by with two APs. DD-WRT just kick start mW on Buffalo to 71mW that beats both ESR-9850. The main 9850 is in the bottom of the house where I the garage and family room is located. There are cast iron piping for steam boiler then those two 275 gallon oil tanks. So lots of stuff to hamper my wireless in net closet. In my other home there is no basement nor upstairs. That house only need one unit that's it. I'll be testing there soon in the Summer should be interesting.

Anyway the main ESR-9850 just not keeping the wireless up. I know it has Smart Channel, I've disabled that and it still tries changing the channel. The second one is here on the first floor and it starting to drop again. Funny the Belkin N+ don't drop the connection stream is smooth. DD-WRT might be coming for them I heard. I going to put back into action the TEW-652BRP with DD-WRT on that has Atheros 400MHz, 32MB 8MB Flash combo though it' 10/100 connections with 4,096 max connections like the Buffalo I have. All I need is stable strong N and strong G that's it!

G on the ESR-9850 at times it's slow going. Then it kicks up power. Like you go from D to N then back into D.

Why don't you run a conduit with CAT-6? Older houses should be easy to add that. My house is about 15 years old now. I bought it new and had each room wired with 5E (best at the time).

I've not seen the channel switching issue. My channels are fixed solidly, I've been monitoring it most of the day as I was working. I am mostly G, but will change everything out to 2.4G N soon and use 5G N for media. I live in a populated area, and I can pick up my neighbor's access points at 60% strength on channel 6. I use 1, 6, and 11. 1 for the 7750.

Does a reset (using the reset pushbutton) help?

Unfortunately my work laptop uses XP Pro 32-bit. It's an older Thinkpad T60P. My wife uses the same with an AT&T VPN client instead of Cisco. She's due for an upgrade at work and is supposed to get it soon. That one should have Windows 7. I do have an EEE PC 1000H that I use as well and a much older T43P, both XP 32-bit, that have no issues neither. Both are just web surfing, sofa machines. FWIW, my iPhone has no issue neither on WiFi.

My main systems are hardwired PCs with all Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, but they do have wireless cards on their mobo as well. My wireless media PC uses Windows 7 Pro 32-bit. My wireless media machine is running an Engenius EUB-9703 at the moment, which I will be upgrading to the EUB-9801 before the end of the month (promotional sale). I don't forsee problems there, being all Engenius product.

My wired media PC (different room) and my 6TB RAID NAS (WHS) is solid, as expected.

The slow going thing, I have noticed. I resolved that (oddly, don't know why it mattered) by tweaking my notebook adapter's power management setting. I used to timeout on the first ping, 2nd ping would be 2ms, third would be 1ms, and it'll stay at 1ms until I hit ctrl-c and start again and the pattern repeats. With the power setting put to medium, it was solid 1ms. I didn't have this issue with my old Netgear FWAG114.

Overall I'm happy with the Engenius. I will run some torrents over the weekend and see how that goes.

I will try engaging WiFi on my main PC and see what happens over the weekend. It's a b/g only on the mobo. It's an Asus P5W Deluxe running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. I'll need to dig around to find the drivers first.

 

[holland]

I just did a ping of my other machines using the machine name instead of IP. Everything is OK, from Windows 7 to other machines and Windows XP to other machines. Windows 7 is using wire. Windows XP is using WiFi.

It did not pull up my WAN IP. There doesn't seem to be any DNS issues.

 

[tipstir]

I just did a ping of my other machines using the machine name instead of IP. Everything is OK, from Windows 7 to other machines and Windows XP to other machines. Windows 7 is using wire. Windows XP is using WiFi.

It did not pull up my WAN IP. There doesn't seem to be any DNS issues.

Same here no ping issues. 802.11g clients are managed by second ESR-9850. Belkin N+ manages 802.11n clients. I don't want to use the Buffalo it's getting old now. Through-put around the home is quick wired and wireless is pretty fast. I have only two netbooks and the rest are laptops. 3 desktops are all quad-core I have 2 others that are signal core one 64-bit and 32-bit. Both run Windows 7 and are gig boxes. That's about it the rest are network media boxes for watching recorded TV, moves, music etc.. Wii and other wireless gear works fine.

I'll see how it goes.

 

[tipstir]

Figure out how to get ESR-9850 secondary to work

Since I've purchase both it's been a very up hill battle. Ran many test here with 4 routers with access point with two Belkin N+ features the two ESR-9850 have repeaters. The repeater feature not the best way to go in my opinion. Through-put suffers as we all know to half. Hardwired into the device as access point best way. Typical environment should make it easier to have both networks 802.11g and 802.11n to coexist and still ofter high signal ratio and very good through-put.

Belkin N+ range in G MIMO is 1,000 ft in N MIMO is 1,200 ft
ESR-9850 in MIMO should be around the same. Don't see any data available.

Next finding key points to position the devices so they can coexist without collision. Dead space is another issue but I am only concern with to two floors. First and second. The basement and attic territory is another issue. Signal strength is good but should be stronger. Initials testing found there much interference thus the RF get slammed hard.

Right now second ESR-9850 with RSSi equaling -46 in Access Point mode is functioning without dropping the connections. The second Belkin N+ running in 20Hz mode for 802.11g running stable as well with RSSi equaling -51 that's on the second floor near a window.

Backup access points can be triggered if needed in there key locations points.