Linksys WAP54A Wireless 802.11a Access Point

The Instant Wireless access point from Linksys delivers the freedom to configure your network your way. Utilization of state-of-the-art wireless technology gives you the ability to set up workstations in ways you never thought possible; no cables to install means less expense and less hassle.

The Instant Wireless access point's high-powered antenna offers a range of operation of up to 328 feet indoors, providing seamless roaming throughout your wireless LAN infrastructure; an advanced user-authentication feature ensures a high level of network security. The Instant Wireless access point is easy to install--just plug it in and you're ready to go--and easy to use. With Internet browser-based diagnostics and statistic tools, you're always in control.

Using the 802.11a networking standard, the Linksys Instant Wireless access point can reach maximum data transfer rates of 72 Mbps (turbo mode), when used with the Linksys WPC54A Wireless 802.11a PC card, and up to 54 Mbps when used with other 802.11a products. The WAP54A features 152-bit WEP encryption, for higher security than 802.11b products.

Note that 802.11a wireless products do not function with 802.11b wireless products.

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere -- without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.

What Wireless Standard is Right for Me?
Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use.

Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed.

For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time:

802.11b

802.11a

802.11g

To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.

Don't be bound by cabling restrictions any longer! The Instant Wireless Access Point from Linksys delivers the freedom to configure your network your way. Utilization of state-of-the-art wireless technology gives you the ability to set up workstations in ways you never thought possible; no cables to install means less expense and less hassle.The Instant Wireless Access Point's high-powered antenna offers a range of operation of up to 100 m (328 feet) indoors, providing seamless roaming throughout your wireless LAN infrastructure; an advanced user authentication feature ensures a high level of network security. The Instant Wireless Access Point is easy to install and easy to use. With Internet browser-based diagnostics and statistic tools, you're always in control. When all these features come together in one compact, lightweight, and power-efficient unit, you have the ultimate in flexible networking the Linksys Instant Wireless Access Point.

1 Mixed bag
Router and associated card worked just fine for me, no glitches. That's the good news.

Bad news: this frequency is _extremely_ range-limited in my home, there is no range extender antenna for it, and it looks for all the world like Linksys is offering less and less support for the product on their website (in favor of 802.11g, perhaps?).

If you need blazing speed and you have a _very_ short LOS working range, you should have no problems. If range is any kind of an issue (and when is it _not_?) then /caveat emptor/.

2 Excellent product
I bought this product along with the linksys WPC54A pc card. I plugged it into my router [also linksys] and installed the client software [for the pc card]. It worked instantly.

I then started messing around. I set the MAC filtering to give access only to my WPC54A [using ipconfig/all to get its MAC address] and switched on turbo mode. Worked fine.

Then I tried WEP encryption. I added a 154 bit key in the router and the card and .... it did not work! Apparently the key was not saved in the pc card's software. I entered it again and it worked. You have to remember that the pc card's software takes the WEP key in colon separated bytes while the router does not. Enter it as 12:34:.... in the pc card but as 1234...in the router.

Everything worked beautifully and I've had no problems.

P.S: A month later I exchanged this for a WAP51AB router since it had both 802.11a and 802.11b for the same price. On that router I'm having the following problems:

1. Bandwidth is very good at times and very bad at other times [down to 14 kilobits]
2. Turbo mode does not work.

3 Nice Wireless Networking product
We have this product hooked into a corporate LAN running at 100Mbit and have 5 users right now. We all have Window 2000, some with SP2 and some with SP3 and we have no problems. Works very well. Very easy to set up.

4 Re-Review
OK.. I really blasted the product when using it's matched WPC54A card. You have a (2) reviews describing the problem, so I will not elaborate.

I gave the access point a second chance. I paired it with an Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Cardbus adapter.

Next, in the WinXP Wireless Network Connection Properties, I disabled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings". The configuration was done with Intel's PROSet II software provided with the card.

The solution works flawlessly now. Environment is Win2K Server with WinXP Professional clients.

5 WPC54A / WPA54A Combo under Win2k
The units work for 5-30 mniutes then lock up, and does not bring up the task manager. A cold boot is required.
There is no updated driver since 4/18/02 and this appears to be a known issue - see:
Newsgroup: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.networking
for details.
I would not recommend these for operation under the OS Windows 2000 pending the release of a certified driver.
-= Chris § =-
6 Best in the Business
This Linksys product certainly shines in my network. The WAP54a is a great access point for your wireless needs. Why choose it? Using the 802.11a wireless technology on the basically empty 5 GHz spectrum, the access point offers blazing speeds with NO interference. For me, all I had to do to get it going was hook up the power supply and connect the ethernet cable to the port on the back. For configuration purposes, you only have to type in the ip address provided and change a few settings. This is easily done with the guide also included. And when you hook up a wireless, 802.11a PC card, you can have high wireless speeds up to 328 feet indoors. I have recently purchased the product and could not be happier. It may seem a little pricey to some, but it certainly gives you anything you could possibly want from a WAP.