A review of the EnGenius SN-920 by a user, 1/15/2001
Here my review must diverge into two paths. And this is an incredibly important bifurcation for the EnGenius 920. The first path is the simple installation procedure without the outdoor antenna, the second path is the very labor-intensive and expensive installation with the outdoor antenna.
Without the outdoor antenna, the EnGenius SN-920 is a piece of cake to install. It is also extremely flexible. The phone system is actually two units, each with its own power supply cube/and or charger. The first unit is the handset and its charger. (see photo below)
To set this up, simply put it on a shelf and plug in the power supply cube! It doesn't even require a phone jack, so you can set it up anywhere you have an electrical outlet.
The second unit is the base station. The base station is easy to set up too. Simply plug in the phone line and plug in the power supply cube. The instructions state that the base station should be installed "as high as possible" for greatest range. As you will see later, this "high as possible" dictum is very important, but you can also just plunk it on your desk.
Note here that this two-part set-up provides great flexibility because the handset (the part you use for phoning) doesn't need a phone line--you can put it exactly where you need it. And the clunkier base station can be hidden away someplace where it doesn't get in the way.
In my situation, I merely unplugged the old cordless phone on my desk, plugged the EnGenius in, and I was in business.
All in all, installation of the EnGenius 920 without the outdoor antenna is simple, elegant, and flexible.
EnGenius SN-920 User Review Home Page
1) Purchasing the EnGenius SN-920
2) Installation Without Outdoor Antenna
3) Testing the Range Without the Outdoor Antenna
4) Installation With the Outdoor Antenna
5) Testing the Range With the Outdoor Antenna
6) Technical Details and Miscellaneous Observations
8) Conclusions about the EnGenius SN-920
10) Ten years later, the Project Ends
copyright Eric Geilker geilker5@aol.com