Cisco-Linksys WAP54G Wireless-G Access Point Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I'm using the unit in a REPEATER mode. My house have 3 floors and my router (WRT54G) is located in the basement. I get a signal of 11 Mbps on the sec flr using a centrino powered notebook. The signal would drop to 1 Mbps after some use and the only way to get the signals back is to to reboot the notebook for some reason or go to the first flr. Hence, decided to get this unit and use it as a repeater.
Steps that worked for me are as follows:
01. Disable any security you have on the router (I'm using WEP) and enable SSID broadcast prior to any configuration .
02. Configure the unit using the setup disk and provided the ff:.
---- Provided a different SSID (or you can provide the same SSID) with enabled broadcast.
---- No encription
---- The same transmission channel (Chan 11) as with my router
---- New password
03. Exited program setup. Run browser and connect to the AP interface using the default address [...]
04. Configured the AP in REPEATER MODE placing my router's wireless MAC address as the repeated source signal.
05. Saved the setup.
06. Test if working by removing the wire behind the AP. On your PC/Notebook, open up a command window (START,RUN, type in "cmd" and click [OK]). Type in "ping 192.168.1.245" and press [ENTER]. You should see something like "Reply from 192.168.1.245 bytes=32 time=3ms TTL=225". If you get a "Request timed out." then that means your AP cannot be seen in your network and was not configured successfully go through STEP#1 again.
07. If successful, you need to enable security back (NOTE: At this point, the AP is running stand alone with no wires connected at the back from the router). Since I'm using WEP, connect to the AP using a browser at [...]
Go to wireless security and enable WEP and add the key codes and save your setup.
08. Now enable security back on the router with same key as you have on the AP and save your setup.
09. Test connection again by running STEP#6.
10. Place the AP where you want it to.
11. With a wireless PC/Notebook, scan for wireless networks. You should see the new SSID as well as the old one. Connect to it so that your PC/Notebook would save that information.
12. Connect to your AP, disable SSID broadcast, save setup.
13. Connect to your roter, disable SSID broadcast, save setup.
14. You're done!I placed the WAP54G on the third floor. After all is said and done, my signal was boosted to 45 Mbps (max at 54 Mbps). Works like a charm!!!
NOTE:
- These procedures is specifically if you want to configure your AP as a REPEATER.
- If you configure the AP with WEP security on the get go, you will never be able to get it to work!! I spent hours on this to no avail.
- You can use the same SSID. I used a different one because I want to see what wireless unit I am connecting to when i transfer from floor to floor.
UPDATE 031810
The unit I believe is starting to die on me. My internet access will get cut off all of a sudden and it has been happening frequently (like 4-5 times a week). I have to unplug then plug it back to make it function again. I might upgrade my system to the WRT610N and WAP610N soon.
UPDATE 033110
I decided to get a new WAP54G instead since reading through the WAP610N manual, there is no provision for a REPEATER mode. I placed the old one on the first floor. So now, I have the WRT54G on the basement, my old WAP54G on the first floor and my new WAP54G (with a NETGEAR 5 port switch connected to it) on the 3rd floor. I noticed that with the new one, my web browsing is a lot faster compared to the old one!
UPDATE 041110
So I had the NEW WAP54G for a couple of days since my last update and I still had the same problem of getting disconnected intermittently. I tried shutting down the OLD unit totally but the issue persists with the new unit so it looks like the AP is not the problem. Now, my IPOD TOUCH 32GB 3Gen needed repair and has been out of commission since last Friday 04/09 (bought this last January). And guess what? I have had no problems with my WIFI connection since then (both APs running). I have to see if the replacement Ipod screws up my wifi connection again but I do think I found out the culprit for my WIFI issues.
UPDATE 042510
I got my new replacement Ipod Touch a week ago. My WIFI failure started again but not as frequent. Now, I always turn off the Ipod's Wifi when I'm not using it. I guess I'm stuck with it.
UPDATE 072610
When I got the IOS 4 software update for the Ipod Touch, my WIFI issues disappeared. :)

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The Linksys Wireless-G access point lets you connect Wireless-G (802.11g) or Wireless-B (802.11b) devices to your network. Because both standards are built-in, you can protect your investment in existing 802.11b infrastructure, and migrate your network clients to the new screaming-fast Wireless-G standard as your needs grow.
For more information on the differences between an access point and a router with access point, see the following table: To protect your data and privacy, the Wireless-G access point can encrypt all wireless transmissions. The MAC address filter lets you decide exactly who has access to your wireless network. Configuration is a snap with the Web browser-based configuration utility.
Wireless-G is the upcoming 54 Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country--but since they share the same 2.4 GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also work with existing 11 Mbps Wireless-B equipment.
Future-proof your wireless network with the Linksys Wireless-G access point. You'll enjoy Wireless-B connectivity today, and be prepared for a high-speed Wireless-G tomorrow.
The Linksys Wireless-G access point is compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0, 2000, and XP.

Click here for more information about Cisco-Linksys WAP54G Wireless-G Access Point