Ok, everyone wants wireless networking. But there's always a question of where to start. For wireless LANs the place to start is with 802.11b. To extend a network to the 802.11b wireless range, an access point is needed to connect wireless clients to the LAN. D-Link's DWL-900AP+ is an affordable access point (AP) with additional features not normally found in APs.

To begin with the DWL-900AP+ extends normal AP functionality with additional modes. The DWL-900AP+ can be configured as a wireless client, access point, bridge and multipoint bridge. In wireless client mode, the DWL-900AP+ allows stand-alone computer systems to connect to it through its Ethernet port to wirelessly connect to a LAN. In this mode it acts as a pass-through to communicate to another 802.11b compliant access point to transfer the data.

In access point mode the AP listens for wireless 802.11b clients to connect to the LAN. Setting the AP in bridge mode allows seperated LANs to connect together. Each LAN must have an AP setup in bridge mode. Multipoint bridge mode is similar to bridge mode except that it can connect up with multiple bridges at once.

The AP has a maximum data rate of 22Mbps but will scale down to 11, 5.5, 2 and 1Mbps. The greater the distance between 802.11b devices or the more devices on a channel the slower the data rate will be. 802.11b devices operate in the 2.4 - 2.465 GHZ range. The DWL-900AP+ transmits at a maximum power of 15dBm.

For security the AP uses WEP encryption at 68, 128 and 256 bit. It can also filter access by either MAC addresses or by IP Addresses. The access point can be assigned an IP address statically or through DHCP. It also has DHCP servering ability to assign wireless clients addresses when they are within range. Configuration is web based so any type of computers with a browser can access it for set up.

Pricing and Availability

D-Link's DWL-900AP+ Access Point is available at retail outlets with a price tag of $119.99.

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