Advantages: Bargain bundle with wireless card for my laptop Disadvantages: Just an access point, no modem/hub/etc
I use the 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless11gAccessPoint in my home wireless network, and bought it as part of a bundle with a laptop wireless card - check my other reviews to see if I've got round to reviewing that too...
It used the IEEE 802.11g standard (data transfer speeds of up to 54Mbps), plus is backwards compatible with IEEE 802.11b (upto 11Mbps) so works with older equipment (such as a slightly outdated laptop from a previous employer) with no problems.
The included CD installed all the necessary drivers very quickly and also contains all the manuals in PDF format. Once the drivers were installed, the configuration wizard runs in a standard web browser. This involves configuring IP addresses, encryption settings, DHCP settings and other techy bits and bobs. This was pretty straightforward, although a basic knowledge ...
Advantages: Good features, repeater and bridging modes Disadvantages: Minor installation problem
bridging types that can be enabled, point to point and multipoint. I didn't try those and to be honest, I'm not entirely sure what they are for! The Netgear unit comes with a 3 year warranty and the web site provides the usual firmware updates and FAQs should you hit any problems.
Summary
As an accesspoint, the Netgear WG602 has much to commend it. It looks quite nice and can be stacked with similar devices in their range. It has all the usual functions you'd expect and at around £40 now (I paid £66 for mine), it is good value for money. However, should you need to extend the range of your wireless network, it really comes in to its own and provides an economic way to make a real difference to your range and quality of signal for your wireless network. ...
Advantages: Very small - Good connection and signal - doesn't overheat - does the job Disadvantages: Not sure how well it works with PCI wireless PC card
My experience of this product is that it works quite well the reason why it doesn't go from good to excellent will be explained bellow.
I have 2 PC's and 1 laptop I wanted the main PC to be hard-wired as that one is right next to the access hub and modem so no need to be wireless and anyway the main machine should always be hard-wired as no wireless can beat that.
Then I have my son's laptop a Dell Inspiron 2200 which has already a wireless network card, and this machine runs perfect via the wirelessaccesspoint anywhere in the house, and my house is a 3 storey house so plenty of range.
However I did install a wireless PCI network card on the PC on 3rd level of the house and this connection was intermittent which meant going back to hard-wire there, now I cannot say for sure if this was a card problem or the accesspoint problem or even ...
Product Information for "3Com Wireless 8760 Dual Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point" »
Manufacturer's product description
The 3Com Wireless 8760 Dual Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point offers a cost effective solution for high-speed dual band wireless connectivity. Dual-radios operate in IEEE 802.11b/g and 11a simultaneously, expanding connectivity support and bandwidth availability. The 3Com Wireless 8760 Dual Radio 11a/b/g PoE Access Point can be powered by a 3Com Power over Ethernet (PoE) Switch or mid-span PoE injector eliminating the need for an AC power plus on each access point. Providing speeds of up to 108 Mbps, this access point supports up to 64 wireless users per radio (128 total). Wi-Fi certified IEEE 802.11a/b/g ensures interoperability with Wi-Fi certified products. Wireless Distribution System (WDS) solves complex wireless connectivity problems, supporting point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, repeater and client modes. Sophisticated security features support the latest encryption and virtual LANs (VLANs) for secure remote communication, including Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2), Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) and Wi-Fi Equivalent Privacy (WEP) packet encryption. For additional protection, this access point supports IEEE 802.1X and MAC address access control, authentication and authorization through backend RADIUS servers, ensuring only trusted clients access the WLAN.
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