Linksys WAP51AB Dual-Band Access Point
The AP's design mirrors that of other Linksys products, and we expected similarities in ease of setup as well. As anticipated, the installation and configuration process was hassle-free. We connected the AP to our test network and loaded the installation and configuration software on a machine on the same subnet. The installation software quickly discovered the AP and let us configure the IP address, subnet mask, AP name, SSID (service set ID), channel and WEP for both radio modules through a user-friendly interface. One caveat: Because the device cannot receive an address through DHCP, administrators must assign static addresses to all access points--a flaw that will be less noticeable in small deployments.
Considering that Linksys targets the WAP51AB at deployments up to 500 nodes, as well as the hot-spot market, we were surprised by its lack of functionality and features. In addition to the settings we were able to change through Linksys' installation and configuration wizard, the Web-based management interface only let us edit MAC address filters and a few rarely altered wireless settings, such as beacon intervals and RTS (request to send) threshold values. Considering the broad scope of the intended market, such a thin feature set will hamstring administrators who are interested in more than the most basic of wireless deployments.
On the positive side, though, both range and performance put the WAP51AP on par with higher-priced rivals. Our tests showed throughputs of about 20 Mbps for 802.11a and close to 4.5 Mbps for 802.11b. Testing both radios with simultaneous throughput tests, the total average aggregate performance was an acceptable 24 Mbps. We were even more surprised by the range results the Linksys dual AP posted: Second in both radio spectrums, the Linksys device was close behind Cisco in 802.11b and Proxim in 802.11a range.
We have mixed feelings about Linksys' WAP51AB AP. The device performed well but is significantly lacking in functionality, seeming better suited for home and small offices than for enterprise deployments. However, at the bargain price of $279, it earns our Best Value nod.
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