Linksys Instant Wireless Network Access Point WAP11

It was time for me to extend my home network, I have a fixed wire RJ45 network at home, and this worked well, giving transfer speeds up to 100 Mbps and access to our Cable modem for internet access.

Whilst talking about speed, it should be remembered that although the wired portion of the network is capable of 100Mbps Mega Bits per second) the wireless section is running at 11 Mbps. This is great for internet access, where even the ...
...are using your home network purely for internet access, wireless is all you need. The problem comes if you want to view large files, such as video footage from another PC on the network, it is probably worth plugging in a cable.

I didn't want to rely on the wireless access so having a fixed router and a Wireless Access Point (WAP) seemed to me to be the best of both worlds.

This WAP arrived as a Christmas present, so ... more

It was time for me to extend my home network, I have a fixed wire RJ45 network at home, and this worked well, giving transfer speeds up to 100 Mbps and access to our Cable modem for internet access.

Whilst talking about speed, it should be remembered that although the wired portion of the network is capable of 100Mbps Mega Bits per second) the wireless section is running at 11 Mbps. This is great for internet access, where even the best service only operates at 8-10 Mbps, so if you are using your home network purely for internet access, wireless is all you need. The problem comes if you want to view large files, such as video footage from another PC on the network, it is probably worth plugging in a cable.

I didn't want to rely on the wireless access so having a fixed router and a Wireless Access Point (WAP) seemed to me to be the best of both worlds.

This WAP arrived as a Christmas present, so I'm not sure how much it cost. It was simple to set up, just plug into a free port on the router, using a standard network patch lead, then run the setup disk that was provided on one of the PCs attached to the router.

I would say that you would need to understand the basics of networking in order to set this unit up properly, not least of all, remembering to change the default access point name and admin password, which can be looked up on Linksys's website. mine was altered to something that could never be guessed and I also created a hexidecimal network key that needs to be entered on any device that I wish to attach to the network.

So often wireless neetworks are left unsecured. If I use my work laptop on my car, I often find wireless networks and usually I can connect to them. Home wireless networks are the worst for this, If I need to send an Email whilst out at work I can usually get connected if I find a residential street somewhere.

The problems this raises are two fold, firstly, with an unsecured wireless network anyone can use up your monthly download limit and secondly, you can't tell what sites are being accessed through your connection. The worst case scenario is a paedophile could sit outside your house, downloading illegal material. The site being used could be monitored by the authorities and the connection traced back, via your ISP to your door! Not something any of us would welcome.

Having got the dire stuff out of the way, it is great to be able to use any number of wireless devices anywhere in the house or garden. Even my work PDA can attach.

All that is needed is a WiFi network card in the device to be attached. All attached devices can share the internet connection, via the router. As I write my desktop PC is downloading updates, Mrs JeffFromPoole is online window shopping, the PDA is backing up, our lodger is cruising Ebay for a bargain and I am here, on my laptop, in the kitchen, reviewing the gadget that makes it all possible.

You need to understand a few terms when setting up wireless equipment,

SSID= the name of the wireless segment of the network

WEP= Wireless Equivalence Protocol

Ad Hoc = Type of wireless network when any device can attach

Infrastructure = where the network structure resembles more a standard network.

Network Key = a code that you create to require that a device wishing to attach can prove its credentials - a password if you like

Hexidecimal = a system of counting that has 16 characters instead of the ten that the decimal system uses or 2 that the binary system uses.

The reiliability is good. the only thing that upsets it is the Dell laptop provided by my employer, there's something wrong with the system that causes the WAP to freeze up and need a reset. this is done by pressing a pen point into the reset hole in the back.

To use it you simply turn on the computer that you want to use, start the network card and you are attached.

I have a grounding in IT support so it was esay for me, had I been relying on the manual I would have been struggling. it assumes a level of knowledge that many home users may not possess. If I could recomend any improvement to the box contents I would ask for a setup guide translated by someone who speaks better English and understands networking.

The manufacturer suport in what you would expect, all the software and manuals are downloadable from Linksys.com

I see that PC World are selling this for £50 as a special offer which is a joke, as it is obtainable for much less from many on line shops.

All in all I would recomend this device to anyone who has a wired network and wishes to add more functionality.

 

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