Intel 802.11a access point

The WSAP5000 802.11a access point from Intel is one of the first 54Mbit/s wireless LAN (WLAN) devices available in the UK. It costs £290 +VAT for the access point and £116 + VAT for the PC Card.

Because both the card and access point transmit data signals in the 5.15GHz to 5.35GHz radio frequency spectrum, it is illegal to use them without a licence from the Radiocommunications Agency. Users pay £300 per site for a six-month permit.

We reviewed the WSAP5000 in two configurations: connected direct via a cross-over cable to a desktop system, and linked through a switch.

The access point has one RJ-45 connection and a socket for a power brick.

It also features a hard reset, which returns access-point parameters to factory default settings. We had one 802.11a PC Card adapter and updated the firmware for this to the latest available, V1.01.10. However, the WSAP5000 cannot yet be upgraded to give 802.11b back-compatibility.

The manual indicates the four channels that can be used in the UK, which are from 5.18GHz to 5.24GHz in increments of 0.02GHz. Other channels are available but the instructions warn that to set such channels is "an infringement of national law".

The access point is managed through a Web browser - IE 5.5, Netscape 4.78 or 5.x; the operating systems supported are Windows 98SE, Me, 2000 and XP. If the PC Card is fitted to a notebook, the system must be configured to maximum battery power when away from the mains or transfer rates will suffer. High performance and high power are not selected by default and we altered these settings to maximum before measuring data transfer rates.

We loaded the Netbench 7.01 benchmark onto a desktop system, and the client software onto a laptop fitted with the adapter. Full duplex mode is needed on both sides when data transfer rates are being measured. Rates ranged from 18.7Mbit/s to 20.9Mbit/s, with a mean response time from the access point of 25.5ms.

We also measured a straight transfer rate by dragging and dropping a 1GB file onto a mapped drive on the desktop system to which the access point was attached. Encrypting traffic with 64bit and 128bit WEP caused little change in throughput. A configurable aerial gives omni and half-circle-front radio frequency radiation patterns.

LEDs show if the system is ready, indicating 54Mbit/s transmissions and whether they are linked to a client. Slower 11Mbit/s 802.11b transmissions are also flagged.

A site survey is essential before fixing the access point, since the 5GHz band is more sensitive to obstruction than the 2.4GHz band used by 802.11b products.

See also:

Wireless LANs

Exploring wireless networking technology and its business applications  08 Aug 2003

D-Link DWL-900AP+

D-Link's latest wireless access point offers souped-up 802.11b throughput, but only when linked to other D-Link products  29 Nov 2002

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