D-Link DWL-2000AP AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Access Point

by D-Link

Product Details

Data Sheet [244kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00007LTBE
• Item model number: DWL-2000AP
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 10, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

D-Link introduces another performance breakthrough in wireless connectivity--the D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G series of high-speed devices capable of transfer rates up to 54 Mbps. And with the new AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-2000AP Wireless Access Point, D-Link once again sets a new standard for wireless access points.

The DWL-2000AP can be configured to perform in any one of four modes--as a wireless access point, as a point-to-point bridge with another access point, as a point-to-multipoint wireless bridge, or as a wireless client. It also includes an embedded DHCP server that once enabled will automatically assign IP addresses to wireless clients. This unique feature makes the DWL-2000AP an ideal solution for quickly creating and extending a wireless local area network (WLAN) in offices or other workplaces, or even at trade shows and other special events.

Several wireless clients can also securely connect to the network with the DWL-2000AP using 802.1x* for wireless user authentication, as part of WPA* (Wi-Fi Protected Access) providing a much higher level of security for network data and communication.

The DWL-2000AP is also fully compatible with the IEEE 802.11b standard, so it connects with all existing 802.11b-compliant devices. But unlike standard 802.11b access points, its transfer rate can be up to five times faster when the wireless network is comprised of other D-Link AirPlus Xtreme G products such as the DWL-G520 Wireless PCI Adapter, DWL-G650 Wireless Cardbus Adapter.

* Available Spring 2003.

Product Description

The new AirPlus Xtreme G DWL-2000AP Wireless Access Point features the latest technology to deliver data transfer rates up to 54Mbps in the 2.4GHz frequency. T he DWL-2000AP can be configured to perform in any one of four modes ¿ as a wireless access point, as a point-to-point bridge with another access point, as a point-to-multi-point wireless bridge, or as a wireless client. It also includes an embedded DHCP server that once enabled will automatically assign IP addresses to wireless clients. Plus, the DWL-2000AP is also fully compatible with the IEEE 802.11b standard, so it connects with all existing 802.11b-compliant devices.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Does not work with the DI-624; product description incorrect, February 13, 2004

By 

Tom Griffin (Enfield, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link DWL-2000AP AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Access Point (Personal Computers)

My experience with the DWL-2000AP has been very disappointing, not necessarily because it's a bad product, but because of the way it's being marketed and supported.

I have two separate networks in my house - one on each end. Network A consists of the D-Link DI-624 Wireless Router which is wired to a DSL modem and a computer. The other network, Network B, consists of two computers and a network print server wired together via a 10/100 switch.

I bought the DWL-2000AP based on the fact that one of its operating modes is that of a wireless client. (Wireless client mode allows a wired computer [or more via a switch] to communicate with another access point wirelessly ... at least that is my understanding.) The wireless client mode should allow me to connect Network B to Network A so that computers on Network B have access to the Internet. Furthermore, D-Link's product description web page clearly indicates that the DWL-2000AP works with the DI-624 wireless router.

After enabling the wireless client mode and configuring it to communicate with my DI-624 router, the two devices connected and I had full Internet access for all of my computers. This worked flawlessly...until activity between the DI-624 and the DWL-2000AP ceased for more than five minutes. Thinking that I had configured something incorrectly, I checked my settings, and restarted the DWL-2000AP via its built-in web pages. Viola... it worked! Again, I browsed the Internet, and paused to read. And again, with no activity between the DWL-2000AP and the DI-624, the connection dropped.

I investigated this issue for the better part of a Sunday afternoon, testing various configurations, but to no avail. I then emailed D-Link technical support and got a response within two hours indicating that I should call the support hotline due to the complexity of my issue.

I called. After 25 min on hold (the call is toll-free), a support specialist answered, logged my issue, and walked me through a series of checks, but was unable to correct the problem.

Lastly, the support specialist indicated that the wireless client mode was only supported from one DWL-2000AP to another. This, however, did not make any sense to me since the DWL-2000AP supports point-to-point, and point-to-multi-point bridging with another DWL-2000AP. Why add a proprietary wireless client mode if you already have a proprietary wireless bridging mode? Realizing that the issue was beyond his remedy, I thanked him for his help and hung up.

Obviously, based on how the device behaved for me, the DWL-2000AP was quite capable of communicating with the DI-624 router without issue. I temporarily resolved my disconnecting issue with a home-brewed Windows app that sent out a ping to the router every 4 minutes. This kept the connection alive so that communication was maintained. Since I was able to resolve the disconnecting problem, I believed that D-Link had a firmware bug and that the issue would probably be corrected in a future firmware update. (I guess I'm too optimistic.)

A few days later, I was checking D-Link's support site for updates, and noticed that a firmware update for the DWL-2000AP had been posted. When I updated the firmware, the WAP and the router ceased communicating with each other altogether. Again I phoned D-Link tech support.

I explained to the support specialist what my issue was, how I was able to temporarily resolve it, and asked when would D-Link have a correction. The support specialist vehemently indicated that the DWL-2000AP would only function with another DWL-2000AP in wireless client mode, and that there were no plans for supporting any other device with the DWL-2000AP in that mode.

At that point I realized that my complaint was moot, and that, although D-Link was sitting on a gold mine if they supported what I asked, they did not care.

After I hung up the phone, I promptly RMA'd the wireless D-Link products I bought and returned them.

I researched my issue further and found that Netgear easily supported my networking needs.

It's sad to know that a networking company has the hardware capable of supporting your needs, but is not interested in doing so. I'll think twice before buying D-Link wireless products again no matter how nice the price might be.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Access Point with 802.11g speeds, July 2, 2003

By 

full moon - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link DWL-2000AP AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Access Point (Personal Computers)

This AP has some good quality features. Filtering, WEP, soon WPA, and more. I have this plugged into my 4 port router and now I can access the Internet with my laptop and DWL-G650 (wireless adapter for laptop). These two products give me great range (throughout the house, and even outside), good security, and a reliable wireless connection. This is all I need for a small price.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good at what it does ..., February 18, 2004

By 

Judy (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link DWL-2000AP AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless Access Point (Personal Computers)

I had two of these to extend my network across the house without running wires. They are set in bridge mode, and connect and work perfectly with each other. Everything about these were simple and worked when I first tried it.

I recently bought a DI-624 Wireless Router and ended up selling my DWL-2000APs and buying a DWL-G810 to connect to my switch in the back room. The G810 was made for that reason, to bridge a wireless network to a wired one. The DWL-2000AP was made for bridging, or as a stand alone AP. it also has the functionality to be a client, but only with other 2000APs. Makes sense.

If you want to connect a switch with multiple wired devices on it, to a wireless network get a DWL-G810 from D-Link.