Rapid Review Double-Header: ASUS WL100g 802.11g CardBus adapter and WL-300g 802.11g Access Point : Introduction, Features and Internals
Source: Tom's Guide US | Keywords: rapid, review, double, wl300g
- 1. Introduction, Features and Internals
- 2. Setup, Admin & Use
- 3. Wireless Performance
1. Introduction, Features and Internals
| ASUS 802.11g WLAN Access Point | |
|---|---|
| Summary | Versatile Broadcom-based 802.11g AP with WDS bridging and repeating. Also can be used as a wireless router |
| Update | None |
| Pros | • Innovative packaging
• Can run as an AP or wireless router • WDS-based bridging / repeating |
| Cons | • Routing features need time to mature
• Limited U.S. availability |
I find it interesting that ASUS - a company known most for its PC motherboards - would surprise me as much as it did with its WL-300g 802.11g WLAN Access Point. Though it's not a perfect product, I was definitely impressed with it, and sorry that I have time only for a short review.
The WL-300g is a very full-featured 802.11g access point that supports WDS-based wireless bridging and repeating. My first surprise was that it also has a Home Gateway mode, which reveals a full-featured wireless router. Because the 300g has only one 10/100 auto MDI / MDI-X Ethernet port, though, it supports multiple wireless clients only when set to Gateway mode.
My second surprise was the 300g's packaging. The simply styled, yet attractive, enclosure is about the size of a dual-CD jewel box and sits vertically on its base. But for wall mounting, one of the side panels and the base can be snapped off and the box slipped onto a supplied metal wall-mounting bracket.
The main negative for wall mounting, however, is that the three indicators (Power, Air, and Link) are positioned so that they might be hard to see if the AP were ceiling mounted.
Figure 1: The board
(click on the image for a full-sized view)
The 300g uses Buffalo Tech's WBRG54 router and Linksys WAP54G and WRT54G AP and routers. It's a little difficult to tell from Figure 1, but the Broadcom AirForce-based radio is part of the main board, the balance of which is made up of FLASH and dynamic memory.
Also etched directly into the board are two antennas - one vertical, the other horizontally positioned - supporting antenna diversity. This might present problems in fixed-mounting situations, but ASUS has provided a connector - cleverly hidden behind the second, sliding, side panel - for one external antenna. Unfortunately, ASUS has been unable to tell me the connector type and the connector is deeply recessed in the case. So external antenna attachment will probably require some hacking.
Rounding out the surprises is that the 300g supports 802.3af Power over Ethernet. This allows the AP to be powered via the Ethernet cable from devices that support 802.3af, such as Gemtek Systems' recently announced E-820 Power-over-Ethernet Switch (PDF).
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