Linksys WAP54G Instant Wireless-G Access Point reviewed



Advanced Features

Figure 3 shows the Advanced Wireless settings screen, which includes mostly settings you shouldn't mess with. The exceptions are Authentication Type (Auto, Open System, Shared Key), which would be better grouped with the WEP settings, and Transmission Rate , which offers a selection of rates from 1 to 54Mbps. Note that you don't get to play with the Transmit Power setting in the AP, but can tweak it in the CardBus client card's Advanced Adapter properties.

WAP54G: Advanced Wireless settings

Figure 3: Advanced settings
(click on the image for a full-sized view)

In an attempt to counter BuffaloTech's WDS feature, which provides both wireless bridging and repeating, the 54G includes the ability to act as a Wireless Bridge with up to four other APs. Figure 4 shows the setup screen.

WAP54G: AP Mode screen

Figure 4: AP Mode
(click on the image for a full-sized view)

The screen text says that the Bridge should work with WAP11, WAP54G, and WAP51AB APs, so I tried it with an original WAP11 which I upgraded to 1.4i.1 firmware. But, unfortunately, I couldn't get it to work after about 30 minutes of trying, so either I missed something in the setup, or the feature doesn't yet work.