Information: Wireless Access Points

[DuallyMcCrash]

I'm looking to get a wireless access point and was looking for feedback on different products currently being offered. Please tell me your thoughts on these products and any others that are worth taking a look at.

Cisco AP48000
3Com 3CRWE20096A
Netgear ME102
LinkSys WAP11
IBM Access Point 500 09N9906
Xircom APWE1120
Intel WEAP2011Bx
Belkin F5D6130
D-Link D-LinkAir DWL-1000AP
SMC EZ Connect SMC2655W
TRENDnet TEW-AP100plus
Hawking Technology WA210
AOpen AOI-706
GigaFast Wireless Engine 711-AP
Zonet ZEW3000

 

I have a combo router/WAP from LinkSys - BEFW11S4.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173

It's ok for wireless. I have no problems and it's easy to setup.

 

[DuallyMcCrash]

I just set one of those up for a friend and it seemed to work nicely. I've never been fond of the plastic Linksys uses for their casing but if it works, it works.

-jay



<< I have a combo router/WAP from LinkSys - BEFW11S4.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=22&prid=173

It's ok for wireless. I have no problems and it's easy to setup. >>

 

[JackMDS]

Conventional Wisdom* claims that the combination Orinoco Gold, SMC Wireless Router yield the best results in the Entry level category.

This link:

ORiNOCO PC Card - Gold.

There are no real big differences between the entry level Routers.

As can be seen in this link:

Wireless Routers Compared

The SMC Wireless Router has build in Printer Server interface.

When it comes to Wireless your mileage may varied, there are too many environmental variables that are unique to each individual setting.

 

[Zorn]

I agree with JackMDS regarding the SMC entry level routers. I've installed two of those in homes and found that they offer range on par with more expensive routers. Definatley go with the Orinoco cards -- the receiving card is typically more of a limiting factor than the AP, in my experience.

As far as the APs you listed, I've installed the D-Link 1000AP and was very happy with the results. These APs are cheap, compact and offer pretty decent range. They also support roaming between access points, which was the main draw in my case as I was installing them in a very large home that required two APs for full coverage.

 

I have an ORiNOCO PC Card - Silver and would highly recommend it or the Gold to anyone looking for a wireless card. It has a lot of support, more than the Linksys cards.

The Linksys Router/WAP really screwed me last night. I got the latest firmware, dated 2/1/2002 and it had a Javascript bug in the WAN static IP setup page. I could not save my settings, really pissed me off. I had to explain to customer service I was not an idiot and that their latest firmware was really screwed up.