Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 Review (vs. RP-AX58U): A Robust PoE+ Mesh-ready Wi-Fi 6 Access Point

The EBA63 is not a huge deal in terms of Wi-Fi. In fact, it’s rather dated in specs, supporting the mid-tier AX3000 Wi-Fi 6. However, it’s the first standalone access point of Asus’s new ExpertWiFi family and features Power over Ethernet (PoE), something previous hardware of the same specs, such as the RP-AX58, doesn’t have.

As a standalone AP, the Asus EBA63 can work with any existing network. Considering the common AiMesh feature, though, it’s best used as a wired extension of an existing network hosted by an Asus router, particularly the Asus ExpertWiFi EBR63 or the non-Wi-Fi EBG15, to form a robust mesh system. This is especially true when you need more than one unit.

Clearly, as there are Wi-Fi 7 options today, the Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 PoE Access Point is not a must-have. But if you’re still using Wi-Fi 6, which is more than fast enough for most homes or small offices with modest bandwidth needs, at the suggested retailed price of $129.99—street price varies—the it can be an excellent investment. Consider one—or a few together with the EBG15 or the EBR63 of the same ExpertWiFi family—today!

Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63: The starter access point of a robust mesh family

Like the case of the EBR63 Wi-Fi 6 router, I’d call it the EBA63 starter hardware. It represents a new class of APs with lots of functionality for those who want to experience what Asus’s ExpertWiFi has to offer. There will be higher-end hardware down the road, including those supporting Wi-Fi 7.

The idea is simple. If you have a network already powered by an AiMesh-ready router, this access point will make expanding the system a breeze. In that sense, it’s very similar to the RP-AX58, plus the support for PoE, allowing users to place it in a spot without an electrical socket. Also, it’s meant for a wired environment, which is generally recommended for best performance.

The table below shows the similarities and differences between the two.

Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 vs. Asus RP-AX58: Hardware specifications

Full Name	Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 PoE Access Point	Asus RP-AX58 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Access Point
Model	EBA63	RP-AX58
Dimensions	6.23 x 6.23 x 1.65 in (16 x 16 x 4.2 cm)	5.91 x 3.43 x 2.83 in (15 x 8.71 x 7.18 cm)
Weight	15.02 oz (426 g)	6.7 oz (190 g)
Wi-Fi Bandwidth	Dual-band AX3000
5GHz Wi-Fi Specs (channel with)	2×2 AX: Up to 2.4Gbps (20/40/80/160MHz)
2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs (channel with)	2×2 AX: Up to 574Mbps (20/40 MHz)
Backward Compatibility	802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Wireless Security	WPA, WPA2, WPA3
Mobile App	Asus ExpertWiFi (required for the setup process)	Asus Router (optional)
Web User Interface	Yes (not available for the setup process)	Yes
Processing Power	1.7 GHz quad-core processor, 256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM	Undisclosed
Available Operating Mode	AiMesh Node Mode Access Point Mode	Access Point Repeater (Extender) Media Bridge AiMesh Node
Mesh-Ready	Yes (AiMesh) with wired backhauling (preferably with an ExperetWiFi router)	Yes (AiMesh) with wireless or wired backhauling
Gigabit Port	1x Gigabit PoE+	1x LAN
Multi-Gig Port	None
Release Date	March 2024	February 2023
Power Intake	PoE+ (injector not included) 100-240V DC port (power adapter included)	100-240V (snap-on design with built-in power adapter)
Firmware Version (at review)	3.0.0.6.102_44199	3.0.0.4.388.21901
Suggested Retail Price (at Launch)	$129.99	$99.99

Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63: Modest hardware, no Multi-Gig

As shown in the table, the ExpertWiFi EBA63 has modest hardware specs. Specially, it features mid-tier (2×2) Wi-Fi 6 and has a single Gigabit PoE+ port.

It’s interesting, however, that it requires PoE+, which requires more power than PoE. In my experience, most PoE+ access points have a 2.5Gbps port.

The AP doesn’t include a PoE+ injector but a standard power adapter instead. Still, it’s best to use it with a PoE+ switch since you can mount it where there’s no wall socket. Any standard switch will work, though you can also get the ExpertWiFi EBP15 of the same family.

No matter which switches you use, considering the EBA63’s hardware specs, its Wi-Fi bandwdith will be at 1Gbps, due to its sole Gigabit LAN port for uplink.

ExpertWiFi app required for initial setup as a standalone access point

As mentioned, you can use the EBA63 as a standalone router or an AiMesh satellite node.

As with the former, the access point comes with an in-depth local web user interface, similar to the case of most enterprise-class access points. This interface is similar to that of any ExpertWiFi router, such as the EBR63, within the scope of an access point.

Interestingly, however, this web user interface is not available for the initial setup process. Instead, you need to use the ExpertWiFi mobile app to scan the QR code on the AP’s underside to initiate the hardware, namely by creating the admin password. After that, the interface is available via the IP address.

The app makes the process easier—you don’t need to first figure out the AP’s local IP address, which can be a hassle if you don’t have a smartphone.

It’s worth noting, though, that the ExpertWiFi mobile app can work locally by default and doesn’t require an Asus login account. However, it has an option to log in using an Asus, Google, or Facebook account for easy remote management.

A convenient and versatile AiMesh satellite node

The best way to use the EBA63 is to use it in a network hosted by an AiMesh-enabled router. In this case, you won’t need to bother with its local web user interface. Instead, add it as an AiMesh satellite node using the router’s web user interface, and it’ll work as a mesh satellite.

I tried it with different routers, and the process panned out as intended. With the RT-BE96U, the EBA63 can be added the same way you set up any AiMesh node.

With the EBR63 or EBG15, things were even easier. Within the ExpertWiFi routers’ interface, the uninitiated EBA63 automatically appeared as a potential satellite node. All I had to do was click on the Set up as AiMesh Node button, and the system took care of the rest.

That said, while the EBA63 can work as a standalone access point, it’s a perfect wired mesh node for an AiMesh-endable router, especially one of Asus’s new ExpertWiFi family.

Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63: Excllent perormance

I tested the Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 for over a week using an EBG15 router and EBP15 PoE+ switch and was happy with it.

As mentioned, as a mid-tier Wi-Fi 6 access point with a Gigabit uplink port, its performance can’t sustained and couldn’t exceed Gigabit. And that was exactly what I got in most cases.

The AP performance reliably and passed my 3-day stress test without disconnection. When working with a router with Wi-Fi routers with Guest Network Pro—the RT-BE96U or EBR63 in my trial—the EBA63, as an AiMesh satellite, could deliver all extra SSIDs (for the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands), making it an excellent satellite for a high-end system.

Wi-Fi coverage is always hard to put in a number, but I estimated that the EBA63 could cover about 1700 ft2 of residential area, which is excellent Note that your mileage will vary. The AP became a little warm during heavy operation but never hot enough to cause concerns.

Conclusion

The Asus ExpertWiFi EBA63 AX3000 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 PoE Access Point has nothing new in performance due to the relatively dated hardware. However, as a Wi-Fi extender unit, it’s an excellent addition to a network currently hosted by an AiMesh-enabled Asus router, especially a Wi-Fi 6 one.

If you’re still using such a router and want to expand your network reliably, or if you want to build a low-budget system for modest bandwdith needs, this is an excellent AP to get together with the ExpertWiFi EBR63 or EBG15.