Cisco Aironet 350..first impressions...

[Need4Speed]

Picked one of these up over the past weekend, and I must say I am impressed. The range and speed is excellent, especially if used with a cisco wireless nic. it was quite easy to setup and had a fairly straight forward web interface as well as the option for serial connection. It's powered through the LAN cable, which is nice since no outlet is now required near the WAP.

Plenty of options/logs/secuirty settings to keep things secure.

very nice indeed.

 

[mcveigh]

I knew someone made a power over ethernet model !
does it need a power injecteor (I don't know what the technical term is) to the ethernet line to get enough power?

 

[Need4Speed]

yes...it needs the injector...a power brick with a LAN IN and a WAP OUT rj45 connection.

 

[spidey07]

Or a switch with built in power over ethernet.

 

[mcveigh]

I only found these for like $600 at cdw, anyone else have them cheaper?

 

[ktwebb]

You might try Ebay. They really should be cheaper now since the 1200 and 1100 models are out but they serve a slightly different marketing scope. Not much really but the 1100/1200 have a few more infrastructure options.

Cisco makes the best 802.11b equipment out there. Unfortunately, unless your buying for the enterprise, that is little consolation considering their extremely high end pricing scales.

The terminal console window doesn't offer you much of ther GUI. In fact, since they changed it from the Aironet number screen scheme, it makes it a much more laborious task to navigate than using a browser. If you want to play with it, just get a DB9 cable and use hyperterminal to connect. Been a while but I believe it is the default on the port settings except for 9600 for the Baud rate and Xon/Xoff for flow control. Once you get to the console screens you use the first letter of the category to get to the next screen. If there is more than one entry with the same first letter you use the first two letters, and so on. Pain in the ass.

 

[Need4Speed]

Originally posted by: mcveigh
I only found these for like $600 at cdw, anyone else have them cheaper?

thats roughly what i paid for it. ebay seems like a reasonable idea.

You might try Ebay. They really should be cheaper now since the 1200 and 1100 models are out but they serve a slightly different marketing scope. Not much really but the 1100/1200 have a few more infrastructure options.

IMHO, the 1200 is but ugly. I just finished designing a ruggedized enclosure (to be installed in attack class sub) for the navy around the 1200. Nice WAP, but its looks dont do much for me. Then again it would just be burried in my network closet. The 1200 was a bit out of my range though.

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Cisco makes the best 802.11b equipment out there. Unfortunately, unless your buying for the enterprise, that is little consolation considering their extremely high end pricing scales.

Who is next in line for making good products?

I would like to get something that is good, but I can not afford to spend 600 on an access point.

 

[ktwebb]

Proxim/Avaya. Formerly Orionoco after it was lucent. Just go to proxim.com and look at their 802.11 gear. Outstanding hardware for a very reasonable price.

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: integramodder

Originally posted by: ktwebb
Cisco makes the best 802.11b equipment out there. Unfortunately, unless your buying for the enterprise, that is little consolation considering their extremely high end pricing scales.

Who is next in line for making good products?

I would like to get something that is good, but I can not afford to spend 600 on an access point.

 

[ktwebb]

Not sure what your trying to say with that post. Orinoco AP-200's can be had for under 200 bucks. You asked for the next best in line after Cisco and you got it, Orinoco.

 

[SaigonK]

The 1200 is the best AP you can buy, get the 350 for small offices and the 1200's for enterprise level equipment.
I have been using a 1200 since they came out, they ule.

I alsohave a few 352's and a couple 340's deployed.
They are second to none!

I get my 1200's for $1000 total. (AP, POEthernet injector - 9dbi anntenae - Cisco Smartnet contract - 2 Dipole 2.2dbi anntenaes and 2 client 352 series cards.)

 

[integramodder]

This is going into my house, not a company. I just want a decent WAP for my system.

I plan on getting the Cisco Aironet 350 Card for the laptop. What's a good AP thats moderatley priced yet performs best, the Orinoco AP-200?

 

[SaigonK]

The Orinoco units are very nice for the money.
They arent as good as cisco, but like you said you want to save some cash. They are more than sufficient for what you will want to do.

 

[Need4Speed]

i'd consider selling you my aironet 350 PM me if youre interested

 

[integramodder]

Originally posted by: SaigonK
The Orinoco units are very nice for the money.
They arent as good as cisco, but like you said you want to save some cash. They are more than sufficient for what you will want to do.

How do you know this? Have you owned both? How did they compare?

 

[SaigonK]

I have owned the follwoing cards:

Cisco 342 PCMCIA card
Cisco 352 PCMCIA card (in my laptop now)
Dell Truemobile Mini PCI 1100 series card (Orinoco rebadge)
Orinoco Gold Card
Cisco Aironet 4800 Series PCMCIA card
Enterasys Roamabout card (Orinoco rebadge)
Avaya card (Orinoco rebadge)
Symbol pcmcia card (sold by Nortle until they come out with their new stuff soon)


The Cisco cards are hands down the best, i had to do a price and ability comparision for the enterprise.
I tested all of the following gear:


Cisco - Enterasys - Avaya - Orinoco - Symbol and even some home units (linksys - Netgear - Dlink - Buffalo)
None could touch the Cisco in range, throughput and stability. Plus word is the 352 series of cards will be 802.11g capable with a simple firmware upgrade instaed of having to buy a whole new card.

The Cisco cards handled wep at about a 40% better rate than any other card. The Symbol cards were next then Orinoco.

 

[integramodder]

Thanks for the info.

Cisco it is...now which one?

 

[SaigonK]

350 series all the way!

 

[taxi]

IMHO, the 1200 is but ugly. I just finished designing a ruggedized enclosure (to be installed in attack class sub) for the navy around the 1200. Nice WAP, but its looks dont do much for me. Then again it would just be burried in my network closet. The 1200 was a bit out of my range though.

So what sort of range do you get in a submarine?



I like my 1200 a lot. It does everything I ask it to do and then some. Well worth the money.

I also have a AP200. I am happy with the performance of it, it is just lacking in configurability.

 

[SaigonK]

taxi - right you are!

The 1200 series rocks, who cares what it looks like it isnt going on my desk.
I have one here and it is way more than I need for home!

 

[Need4Speed]

who cares what it looks like it isnt going on my desk.

true true....but things are getting uglier and uglier.
I like black and square not all this weird looking outerspace stuff, because its a pain in the a$$ to clamp something down that doesn't have a square corner....but yes, the 1200 is one hell of a WAP. Got a couple sitting on my desk right now that we are getting ready to ruggedize to pass Mil-s-901D shock testing....thats an impulse of 120in/s....this baby needs to sit tight

 

[taxi]

I would be interested in hearing the results of your shock testing. My 1200 has something rattling in it. I have opened it up and nothing is loose inside. The only thing that I can figure that is moving it that the whole board is shifting just fraction of an inch or so.

Does anyone else?s 1200 make noise if moved around?

 

[integramodder]

Taaxi,

Would you suggest the AP200?

I have the chance to buy a used Cisco 350 Series AP. Should I jump on this deal?

 

[Need4Speed]

I think you should....wait...my opinion might be partial!