Cisco-Linksys WAP54A Wireless 802.11a Access Point

by Cisco

Product Details

Product Manual [283kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000066JQS
• Item model number: WAP54A
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 2, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Don’t be bound by cabling restrictions any longer! The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point from Linksys delivers the freedom to configure your network your way. Utilization of "state-of-the-art" wireless technology gives you the ability to set up workstations in ways you never thought possible; no cables to install means less expense and less hassle.

The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point's highpowered antenna offers a range of operation of up to 328 feet indoors, providing seamless roaming throughout your wireless LAN infrastructure; an advanced user authentication feature ensures a high level of network security. The Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point is easy to install (just plug it in and you’re ready to go!) and easy to use. With Internet browserbased diagnostics and statistic tools, you’re always in control.

When all these features come together in one compact, lightweight, and powerefficient unit, you have the ultimate in flexible networking the Linksys Instant Wireless Wireless Access Point.

Package Contents

• One Wireless Access Point (IEEE 802.11a)
• One Power Adapter
• One User Guide
• Registration Card (not shown)

Minimum Requirements

One Pentium Class, 200MHz or Faster, PC equipped with Windows 98, Millennium, NT version 4.0, 2000, or XP, 64 MB RAM, and an Ethernet Adapter with Network Cable for Initial Setup

One 802.11a-compliant Wireless Adapter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product, September 21, 2002

By 

Cadaver (Emini) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WAP54A Wireless 802.11a Access Point (Personal Computers)

I bought this product along with the linksys WPC54A pc card. I plugged it into my router [also linksys] and installed the client software [for the pc card]. It worked instantly.

I then started messing around. I set the MAC filtering to give access only to my WPC54A [using ipconfig/all to get its MAC address] and switched on turbo mode. Worked fine.

Then I tried WEP encryption. I added a 154 bit key in the router and the card and .... it did not work! Apparently the key was not saved in the pc card's software. I entered it again and it worked. You have to remember that the pc card's software takes the WEP key in colon separated bytes while the router does not. Enter it as 12:34:.... in the pc card but as 1234...in the router.

Everything worked beautifully and I've had no problems.

P.S: A month later I exchanged this for a WAP51AB router since it had both 802.11a and 802.11b for the same price. On that router I'm having the following problems:

1. Bandwidth is very good at times and very bad at other times [down to 14 kilobits]
2. Turbo mode does not work.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best in the Business, July 17, 2002

By 

James E Airey (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WAP54A Wireless 802.11a Access Point (Personal Computers)

This Linksys product certainly shines in my network. The WAP54a is a great access point for your wireless needs. Why choose it? Using the 802.11a wireless technology on the basically empty 5 GHz spectrum, the access point offers blazing speeds with NO interference. For me, all I had to do to get it going was hook up the power supply and connect the ethernet cable to the port on the back. For configuration purposes, you only have to type in the ip address provided and change a few settings. This is easily done with the guide also included. And when you hook up a wireless, 802.11a PC card, you can have high wireless speeds up to 328 feet indoors. I have recently purchased the product and could not be happier. It may seem a little pricey to some, but it certainly gives you anything you could possibly want from a WAP.

7 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Re-Review, August 10, 2002

By 

James Bish (Gilbert, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WAP54A Wireless 802.11a Access Point (Personal Computers)

OK.. I really blasted the product when using it's matched WPC54A card. You have a (2) reviews describing the problem, so I will not elaborate.

I gave the access point a second chance. I paired it with an Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Cardbus adapter.

Next, in the WinXP Wireless Network Connection Properties, I disabled "Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings". The configuration was done with Intel's PROSet II software provided with the card.

The solution works flawlessly now. Environment is Win2K Server with WinXP Professional clients.