I have installed the WAP54G wireless access point since its release and found it a great access point to work with. I have installed the WAP54G wireless access point in small offices, large warehouses, schools and office buildings. Companies like the WAP54 so much because first it’s cheap and second it’s cheap.If you have the money you will always want to purchase enterprise class wireless access points. They are sturdier and have many more power and antenna features that the WPA54G wireless access point.If you don’t have the money and need a wireless network the WAP54g is the most versatile and cheapest access point you can buy on the market. Cheap does come with Quarks and over the years I have noticed many which I will list here.

1. Firmware - Before you start configuring your wireless access points upgrade the firmware first to avoid head aches. WAP54g’s will work 100 times better if you have the correct firmware version installed. Linksys is very good at fixing bugs and if they have a more recent firmware version out you better install it. If you don’t have the most up to date firmware and plan on using WPA2 with AES you will have problems.

2. Power Cycling - A common problem with all Non- Enterprise class access points is that sometimes they need to be restarted or power cycled. The WAP54g is no exception, if your wireless users are experiencing slow connections or they are not associating with the wireless access point then restart it. It is a quark but it does fix many of the WAP54g’s issues.

3. Less is More - Because the WAP54g is a cheap wireless access point companies will purchase a lot of them (often too many) a place them in a small space. Just like all wireless access points placement is the key to having seamless quality wireless coverage in you operations area. If a company says that its wireless network is slow or they are always losing connections they might have too many wireless access points in a small area. Too many WAP54g in a small area will cause chaos, turn them all off and start placing them in better higher positions one at a time, preferably mounted on the wall.

You will need less wireless access points if you use the correct wireless antenna. The WAP54g comes with two di-pole omni-directional antennas that emit a wireless signal in a doughnut pattern. If you place the WAP54 wireless access point near a wall half of your signal is going out the window. Purchase a directional antenna to replace the rubber duck antennas. You will find that you have a better signal quality and your wireless network will be more secure because nobody can sit in the parking lot and pick up your SSID.

4. Bad Access Points - I due recommend the WAP54g wireless access point but I have run into many lemons. If you install a wireless access point and many people are having problems connecting, after you have upgraded the firmware and upgraded their drivers, You could have a lemon wireless access point. As a network admin you don’t have hours and hours of time to screw with one thing, if everyone connects fine to all the WAP54g’s except for one toss it or return it. WPA54g’s are sensitive to power fluctuations and it could have got zapped, always have it plugged into a surge protector.

Like I have said before the WAP54g is a good cheap wireless access point. When your client is strapped for cash and needs a wireless network use a linksys WAP54. Just remember to upgrade you firmware, power cycle if you are experiencing odd problems, less is more and don’t waste your time on a lemon.

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