EnGenius ECW270 review – Cloud managed 4×4 WiFi 6 outdoor access point

REVIEW – As I continue to replace all of my network equipment, the next step is to add another Access Point to replace the one I lost when I replaced my Netgear Router with the EnGenius ESG620 VPN Router. Having one that can be installed outdoors would be perfect, since the one I removed was providing access for several devices outdoors and in my detached garage. I am certain that this EnGenius ECW270: Cloud Managed 4×4 WiFi 6 Outdoor Access Point will fill the gap and then some.

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Price: $699.00
Where to buy: Engenius website, Amazon

What is it?

The EnGenius ECW270 is a high-performance, cloud-managed outdoor access point designed for demanding environments that require robust, high-speed Wi-Fi coverage. It leverages Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology and is built to withstand harsh outdoor conditions.

What’s included?

• 1 x Cloud Managed Outdoor Access Point
• 8 x Detachable Antennas
• 1 x Mounting Pole Kit
• 1 x Ground Cable
• 1 x Wall Mounting Kit

Tech specs

Design and features

• Highest-rated, IP68-rated waterproof & dustproof housing withstands extreme environments
• Detachable four (4) 7 dBi 5 GHz & four (4) 5 dBi 2.4 GHz, Omni 360° N-type antennas
• Supports up to 2,400 Mbps in 5-GHz band & 1,200 Mbps in 2.4-GHz band
• Dual-band 802.11ax & backward-compatible with 11ac/a/b/g/n client devices
• Dedicated radio for Dynamic Channel Selection (DCS) scanning to ensure best performance
• 2.5 GigE PoE++ compatible port for easy placement in outdoor spaces
• 1 GigE port with PSE (802.3af/at) to power up IP-cameras or other compliant devices

The EnGenius ECW270 is designed for all outdoor weather conditions. It features a robust IP68-rated waterproof and dustproof enclosure that ensures reliable operation in harsh weather conditions and extreme temperatures ranging from -4°F to 149°F (-20°C to 65°C).

Its design includes eight detachable omnidirectional antennas—four 5 dB antennas for 2.4 GHz and four 7 dB antennas for 5 GHz, which provide 360° coverage. The option to wall mount or mount on a pole adds flexibility for placement.

The connectivity includes two Ethernet ports: a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port (PoE++ compatible) for high-speed uplink and power, and a standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet port with PSE capability to power devices like IP cameras. There are LED indicators on the device that show the power status, LAN, LAN 2, 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz activity. Having the option to connect via PoE or a PoE injector provides additional flexibility.

Assembly, Installation, Setup

The EnGenius ECW270: Cloud Managed 4×4 WiFi 6 Outdoor Access Point is easy to assemble and install. After attaching the detachable antennas, the next step is to determine how you want to mount the device. For my installation, I chose to use the wall mount bracket and run the wires to the inside of my garage. The ECW270 is quite robust and somewhat heavy. It is important when attaching it to get a good grip on it. This is important for me to mention since there is no way to mount the bracket and then attach the AP. The mounting bracket has to be attached ot the AP first. I chose to use a 2-inch-thick board as an interface between the garage surface and siding for additional security.

The following photo shows my installation in my garage, including a POE network switch. Initially, I planned to use the POE switch only, but I soon realized that the Access Point needs over 60W, so I used the included injector.

The next step was to add the EnGenius ECW270 to my network. First, I used the EnGenius Cloud-to-Go app to add it to my network:

Then I added it to my EnGenius Cloud Desktop dashboard, assigned it an SSID, performed some basic additional configurations of my choice, and it was good to go.

Performance

delivers as promised with very impressive performance. Once I installed it, I tested the speed from my basement office/studio. Keeping in mind that my garage is detached and on the ground level at the back of my house, I was extremely pleased with the signal strength and the bandwidth I got on my iPhone 16 Pro Max:

I continued testing repetitively using my iPhone, laptop, and other devices, and this device delivered consistently fast and reliable performance for both uploading and downloading. I also tested the speed after making sure that I had multiple devices connected simultaneously, and again, this AP did not blink when providing great connectivity speeds and responsiveness.

For connectivity, it offers a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port (PoE++ compatible) for high-speed uplink and power, alongside a standard 1 Gigabit Ethernet port with PSE capability to power external devices. (“An Ethernet port with PSE (Power Sourcing Equipment) capability is an Ethernet interface—typically found on network switches or PoE injectors—that can supply electrical power, in addition to data, over a standard Ethernet cable to connected devices.”)

Overall, the EnGenius ECW270 performs well as a high-performance, cloud-managed outdoor access point, and maintains high bandwidth and stable connections for all devices on my network that I connect.

Final thoughts

The EnGenius ECW270: Cloud Managed 4×4 WiFi 6 Outdoor Access Point is yet another great device designed and built by EnGenius. It performs well in every area. I have to give them yet another well done!

What I like about the EnGenius ECW270: Cloud Managed 4×4 WiFi 6 Outdoor Access Point

• It is built like a tank
• Installation and connectivity are easy
• It is cloud-managed like the rest of my EnGenius devices
• Its signal is powerful

What needs to be improved?

• I love this AP. No complaints

Price: $699.00
Where to buy: EnGenius website, Amazon
Source: EnGenius provided a free sample for this review. EnGenius did not have a final say on the review and did not preview it before it was published.

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