EnGenius XtraRange ESR750H Dual-Band Wireless-N Router Review

Final Thoughts on the EnGenius ESR750H XtraRange Router

After using the EnGenius ESR750H router for a few weeks, I really fell in love with some aspects of this sub-$100 router namely, the size, power consumption and user interface. Because the ESR750H is outfitted with 2 external 5 dBi antennas, we really expected the router to have a larger range of service than that of the other routers we have in our arsenal with internal antennas. The TP-Link TL-WDR4300 is probably the closest router to directly compare the EnGenius because of its price form-factor and external antennas. When looking at the performances of the EnGenius versus the TP-Link, the EnGenius is consistently outperformed when it came to wireless speed testing.

Our tests were validated further when we tried to connect our Sony PlayStation 3 wirelessly up to the network so we could play the latest Madden football game. The guys in the Legit Bunker arent the best console players and the EnGenius ESR750H made our skills even worse online. The wireless connection that we obtained with the router no more than 40 feet away but still turned out to be very painful. Most times we couldnt even connect to a PSN server to play against one of our friends.

During normal use, we never experienced any sort of drops or losses with the router, only painfully slow speeds. Streaming HD media proved to be frustrating and depended highly on how close our client was to the server attached to the EnGenius. Within 10 feet or so, our laptop and wireless WD TV Live Media player played 720p and 1080p multimedia content with no problems. As soon as we moved further away from the router (as you would find in a 2-story single-family house), the connect rate dropped and the media stuttering increased. Again, this behavior was much different that we saw with the TP-Link and our current router of choice, the Netgear R6300.

We found the GUI layout to be very logical and very responsive to commands and changes. It was actually refreshing to see all the various customization functions that EnGenius packed into the ESR750H. Our favorite feature had to be the ability to customize and secure 4 SSIDs per channels. This really makes the router very good for those wanting to use it in a small office environment. Because of the routers struggles with wireless speed, a small and non-obtrusive area will maximize this routers abilities.

While we really like the overall design and look of this router, the fact that it does such a poor job with wireless data, doesnt allow us to recommend this router. For the price point, we would point you in the direction of the TP-Link TL-WDR4300 where you get a better overall performer. You might need to get used to the GUI, but really, how much time are you going to spend there after you initially configure the router? The EnGenius ESR750H XtraRange Dual-Band router comes with a 1-year limited warranty on parts and labor. The routers MSRP is $129, but is now available for $99.99 shipped from many online retailers.

Legit Bottom Line: For the price, the EnGenius SR750 XtraRange Dual-Band router is a great looking, power efficient, small form-factor router containing some of the best features and customization options in its class. Unfortunately, its wireless speeds prove it to be a real lightweight lagging behind the competition.