Wireless G Access Point w/ P.O.E. and Rangebooster. Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I needed to wirelessly network a Brooklyn Brownstone approximately 45' long by 100 feet tall 4 floors. Initially started with the Netgear
RANGEMAX WIRELESS ROUTER Netgear RangeMax Wireless Router (WPN824)because of the advertised (last year Sept)
-MIMO (Multi-In, Multi-Out) technology boosts network performance with up to 10x the speed and 10x the coverage of Wireless-G
Result: Signal traveled straight up to the upper floor without a problem, but could not reach the rooms from the middle to the front of the house 2nd ,3rd ,or 4th floors (Comcast cable modem placed on the second floor back). Mysteriously connections would drop without reason from time to time. Theory Comcast equipment was causing that problem, too, wireless phone and fax interference too being the possible gremlins.

Phase 2-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
used 3 Linksys Wireless G Extenders to act as repeaters on the upper floors. Could only manage to get a strong signal partially to the second floor but signal was intermittent. Could only link two extenders but the second, again dropped the signal intermittently and the dreaded `limited or no connectivity' message began. Observation proved these messages materialized while roaming-connecting to the second or third node (first node being Netgear WPN824). Though the signal was seen (in some cases very good) Netgear had a time issuing IP addresses past the first node.
Phase 3, after spending 1 whole day surfing the net for info. I decided to start anew....after much comparing and no reviews to go by. I decided on the Linksys WAP 200 because of its versatility and advertised signal strength - it could be an accesspoint, a repeater, or a bridge...and because I had the G extenders from Linksys that I became familiar with....
200AP2 Linsys WAP200
Setup 1- Continue the Netgear as the Ethernet to cable box, wireless access point, with DHCP server, using the 2 200's as repeaters. The main problem, after becoming familiar with the WAP200 was still the `Limited or no connectivity' message. I `trial and erred' the settings ,I observed a correlation between RIP and the error msg.I also noted the msg occurring much more on my older lap (XP home), vs my girl friends newer (XP) lap.
Setup 2- using the Netgear as the DHCP server, Ethernet to cable box SWITCH. One of the 200's would account for a wireless access point (located on the second floor, 2 ft from the Netgear), the other a 200 a Repeater (3rd floor hall...I added a Hawking Technology's HAI15SC,Hawking HAI15SC 15dBi Hi-Gain Directional Corner Antenna 2.4GHz Hi-Gain Wireless Corner Antenna, boosts your wireless signal strength from 2dBi (standard) to 15dBi to the second floor 200...didn't think I needed it). This configuration covered the whole house, there were a few low signal readings at the extreme ends on the 4th floor 3ft from the front window , which I intended to eliminate with the Linksys G Extender.
Which brings me to the only concern- AP Mode gives you the opportunity to use the 200 in either 1 of 3 modes
AP Mode Screen
Use this screen to configure the Access Point mode. The three available modes are Access Point, Wireless Repeater, and Wireless Bridge.
The 200 that was used as the wireless access point needed the MAC address of the 200 used as a Repeater (in Repeater mode-- max 3 MAC addresses). Adding the address of the second wap200 (as Repeater) was'nt an issue, all worked perfectly. When I added the MAC addresses of the G Extenders `Limited connectivity' messages again appeared, I tried various combo's including changing the order but always a problem...perhaps the repeaters have to be legit repeaters or WAP200's...anywho I found this interesting and will be taking the 3 extenders back to Best Buy
Conclusions-
overall I found the Linksys WAP 200 a really good product. I don't believe you have to know the nuts and bolts about networking to get the WAP200 up and running. The documentation will not be of help to a newbie, but if you google your concerns you may learn a thing or two. $124 is a really good price for the endless possibilities one could use this 3-in-1 wireless network product......btw I speed tested the connections, watched video (google video, Youtube) while roaming around the house and it never dropped a signal.
it is now 11-28-2008 and this product has been running non stop since the original review..
asH


Click Here to see more reviews about: Wireless G Access Point w/ P.O.E. and Rangebooster.

The Linksys WAP200 Access Point lets you connect Wireless-G (802.11g) or Wireless-B (802.11b) devices to your wired network so you can add PCs to the network with no cabling hassle. Power over Ethernet support makes it easy to install -- you can mount the Access Point anywhere, even without ready access to a power plug. With appropriate Power Over Ethernet support at the other end, you only need to run one cable to the Access Point to deliver both data and power. Of course, you can also use the included AC adapter if your installation point has power available nearby. Moreover, the integrated QoS features provide consistent voice and video quality on both the wired and wireless networks, enabling the deployment of business qualilty VoIP and video applications.

Get 12% OFF

Click here for more information about Wireless G Access Point w/ P.O.E. and Rangebooster.

Read More...

Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station Router MN-500 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I love gadgets and technology, but I am NOT a computer expert and wireless networking terms such as MAC numbers and Port Forwarding and DMZ are pretty foreign to me. I just wanted a wireless way to share my broadband internet connection between our home office desktop, my PDA (iPAQ 5455) and our kitchen/family room based laptop. The Microsoft MN 500 Wireless Base Station is the ticket to easy wireless networking. All you really need to read is the 4 page quick start guide and the device will be up and running. I read the very informative 100 page manual as well and learned a thing or two, but I really didn't need that informtion. The base station connected flawlessly -though I did reset my cable modem after connecting. That is not in the instructions but my ISP told me it would be a good idea. The base station has worked perfectly since and the signal is very strong throughout my house, upstairs and down- and in fact even in my driveway outside (so I was certain to leave the built-in encryption feature on to prevent drive-by theft of my signal.) My base station is tucked into a cubby hole in my computer desk next to the cable modem and has no problem sending its signal throughout the house. Those who have had problems with the signal probably just need to move the device. There is a lengthy discussion about placement of the base station in the manual (away from metal computer cases, for example). The MN-500 also comes with a hardware firewall. There is much debate as to whether software or hardware firewalls are best. I'm testing. The first two weeks I had my base station I disabled the hardware firewall and continued to use my Norton software based protection. Now, I've disabled that and am using the MN 500 alone. The ease of installation and the firewall and encryption features make this a great product for people who want to share the internet at home but don't want to learn the inner workings of wireless.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station Router MN-500

The Microsoft wireless router is the ideal central access point for your wireless network. Connect multiple computers to a single broadband connection. Roam your house or office with the freedom and mobility of a Wi-Fi equipped laptop computer, share files and printers with all the other computers on the network, or play games with multiple players on the Internet and within your own network.
Features include an easy-to-use setup wizard, designed to make connecting your computers together easier. The router comes with strong security features, including a built-in firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), and access control lists. The 4-port router easily connects to your network with universal plug and play for functionality such as voice messaging, video messaging, and games. You can also monitor your network status easily with Microsoft broadband network utility.
Included in the box with this wireless router are a stand (detachable), power supply cable, Ethernet cable, startup guide, user's guide, setup CD-ROM, and a blank floppy disk.
System requirements include: a computer with a network adapter to configure the router, an external broadband (cable, DSL, or other) modem with Ethernet port (not compatible with dial-up modems), Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.7 or later to view and use the management tools, and an available 120 V AC power outlet.
Additional requirements include: a computer running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home Edition, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later(setup will install Internet Explorer 6.0 browser components, if necessary, but will not displace your primary browser), 28 MB of available hard disk space if you already have Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (132 MB of available hard disk space if you are installing Internet Explorer for the first time), a 4x or faster CD-ROM drive, and a VGA or higher resolution monitor.
Note: Not all Internet service providers (ISPs) allow the sharing of a broadband connection. Please check with your ISP.

Click here for more information about Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Base Station Router MN-500

Read More...

D-Link DI-713P Wireless Broadband Router and Access Point with 3-Port Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros: reasonable price; three ports for wired connections; reasonably simple administration procedures and usable interface; integrated print server (parallel connector)
Cons: no support for bi-directional communications with my HP LaserJet 1200se (e.g., it no longer tells me I'm out of paper, etc.).
After scouring the Web for insight and equipment reviews (the PracticallyNetworked site was especially helpful) of the myriad of router options, I decided on this one from D-Link. My housemate and I needed to share our newly installed cable Internet service in our three-story house, so wireless seemed like the easiest option. I put the router in my office on the second floor, and he has no trouble accessing the Net by laptop from his office on the first floor, and I can usually get 500+ Kbps (on a PII-333 laptop running a NetGear PC card) in the living room on the third floor. 2Wire's bandwidth meter clocks about a 1.5 Mbps connection for my P4-1.2 wired directly to the router.
I haven't had to call D-Link for tech support, so I can't speak to their abilities/response time. I did use their Web site to download a firmware upgrade. All told, I had our wireless net up and running in less than an hour (which also included a call into RCN to get them to tweak our cable modem on their end).
One thing to bear in mind: pick access clients that are solid performers, whether they're PC card or USB devices. Routers like this are only the access point portion of the wireless equation -- speed and range can be easily hobbled by anemic clients that can't hold up their end of the bargain.

Click Here to see more reviews about: D-Link DI-713P Wireless Broadband Router and Access Point with 3-Port Switch

The D-Link DI-713P is a broadband IEEE 802.11b compliant wireless gateway. It provides the ability to share a broadband connection as well as a print server function. You can share a DSL or cable modem connection through its three local 10/100 Ethernet ports or via its integrated Wireless IEEE 802.11b component. The DI-713P is equipped with a bidirectional LPT port to support a direct printer connection. Its integrated router and firewall provide NAT, DHCP, and packet filtering services between the local network and the Internet.
D-Link's DI-713P allows wireless LAN users to share the Internet connection while providing the security of 128-bit encryption. Static address support, integrated DHCP, PPPoE, and device name support will allow it to connect to nearly any broadband provider, whether cable or DSL based, and at the same time simplify local area network settings.
The DI-713P provides two levels of security support. First, it masks local users' IP addresses from others on the Internet, making it much more difficult for a hacker to target a machine on the network. Second, it can block and redirect certain ports to limit the services that outside users can access. Specific ports can be opened by the user to ensure that games and other Internet applications will run properly.
The router and access point combo also provides special pass-through for common VPN implementations including PPTP (Point to Point Tunneling Protocol), L2TP (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol) and IPSec*. The Virtual Server feature allows the user to expose HTTP, FTP, Game Servers, and other local services to be accessible to Internet users located outside the LAN. The User-Definable Application Sensing Tunnel feature allows the user to define the attributes to support special applications requiring multiple connections, such as Internet gaming, video conferencing, and Internet telephony. A DMZ setting can be applied to a single client behind the DI-713P to expose it to the Internet and ensure complete Internet application compatibility, even if specific ports are not known.
Unlike proxy server or NAT software that requires the software server to remain visible on the Internet, no local computers are directly externally visible when using the DI-713P. Also, the DI-713P, like broadband, is always on, removing the need to constantly boot a software server when Internet access is desired from a client.
Integrated DHCP services allow up to 252 users to obtain their IP address automatically on bootup from the DI-713P. Client machines require no software; simply set them to accept a dynamically assigned IP address and reboot. Each time they are powered up, the DI-713P will recognize them and set their IP address to instantly connect them to the LAN.
* PPTP, L2TP, and IPSec support compatibility are dependent on the platform used.

Click here for more information about D-Link DI-713P Wireless Broadband Router and Access Point with 3-Port Switch

Read More...

NETGEAR WG602 54 Mbps 802.11g Wireless Access Point Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this item, because, on the back of the box, it shows the WG602 being used as a bridge to connect to a WGT624 access point. This is extremely misleading, and well, plain wrong, as a couple of other reviewers have pointed out. I was on the phone with extremely unhelpful tech support (that they outsourced to India, I believe), and it took several hours of run-around for the support guy to actually admit that the two products are not compatible (he had to ask someone else). Had he researched this properly in the beginning, hours would have been saved. I was eventually informed (after being told to upgrade firware, change numerous settings, etc.) that the WG602 would only bridge to another WG602. THE BACK OF THE BOX IS WRONG! Don't buy this if you're looking for a bridge that's compatible with any other AP.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WG602 54 Mbps 802.11g Wireless Access Point

The NETGEAR WG602 54 Mbps 802.11g Wireless Access Point lets you easily set up a wireless network in your home so you can share a single internet connection with everyone in your household at speeds up to 54 Mbps. Note that to share an internet connection you will need a router into which you can plug the WG602 access point. If you do not have a router, consider NETGEAR's Wireless-G Router WGR614."
Easy Setup The WG602 makes it easy for even a novice to set up a wireless network: just plug the included Ethernet cable from your LAN into the device and insert the included CD into any computer on the network, which will provide step-by-step instructions. The WG602 offers a myriad of placement options by including a stand for vertical placement and slots on the bottom for mounting on a wall or ceiling. The default 2 dBi omnidirectional antenna can be removed and you can install an external antenna most suited for your needs onto the standard SMA connector.
The WG602 employs a web-based interface for configuration, allowing you to adjust settings such as the beacon interval, RTS threshold, and DTIM interval. The firmware is also upgradeable via the web interface so you can be sure your access point will always be up-to-date.
Fast and Secure Supporting the 802.11g standard, the NETGEAR WG602 offers data speeds of up to 54 Mbps, making it possible to share a broadband internet connection, stream music without hiccups, watch videos with less load time, and videoconference without problems. Downloading files is up to five times faster than it was with 802.11b. If you still have computers that use 802.11b, don't fret as the access point is backwards compatible with the older wireless standard and can be set so all your computers can connect to the network and the WG602 will automatically figure out the connection type and work accordingly.
The WG602 offers many security options to ensure your data is private. Both 40/64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption is available, as well as Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK). You can also use MAC address authentication to allow only authorized users onto the network.
Bridge and Repeater Mode In addition to functioning as an access point, the WG602 can also be used as a bridge and as a repeater. Used as a bridge, the device allows you to connect two LANS wirelessly; as a repeater, your wireless signal's range is extended so even the remote corners of your home or office can be covered.
The NETGEAR WG602 54 Mbps Wireless Access Point is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box WG602 54 Mbps Wireless Access Point, vertical stand, power adapter, Ethernet cable, resource CD, user's guide, warranty/support information card.

Click here for more information about NETGEAR WG602 54 Mbps 802.11g Wireless Access Point

Read More...