TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Access Point TEW-430APB (Blue)

by TRENDnet

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.4 x 4.9 x 1.6 inches ; 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000799LPE
• Item model number: TEW-430APB
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 29, 2004

Product Description

TRENDnets TEW-430APB Wireless Access Point is todays link to Wireless Technology. Compliant with the IEEE Wireless Networking Standard 802.11g, it provides Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) operation for transparent bridging and roaming capabilities for wireless nodes. The TEW-430APB also provides WDS bridging functions, allowing users to connect two or more Access Points together, wirelessly. With TRENDnets Wireless Access Point and Wireless Network Adapters, users can connect to Ethernet/Fast Ethernet LAN at home or office to access network resources such as hard drives, CD-ROM/DVD drives, network printers, and Internet connection - with coverage up to 300 meters.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works as I wanted it to, after difficult setup, April 5, 2008

By 

R. Simpson (Athens, Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Access Point TEW-430APB (Blue) (Personal Computers)

I have a couple of computers in one room, connected via LAN to a Linksys Wireless G router/access point, which is connected to a DSL modem. I wanted to put another computer an an Ethernet-attached printer on the floor above. The standard way to do this would be to run a Cat-5 cable from the Linksys router to a small hub on the upper floor, and connect the new computer and printer to it. It would be a long and complicated run, though, and would involve drilling through the floor. Not impossible, but I didn't really look forward to doing it.

This device seemed to be just what I was looking for: a way to replace a long run of Cat-5 cable with a wireless link. Put the TRENDnet Access Point on the upper floor along with a small hub (the Access Point has only one Ethernet jack), and plug the computer and printer into the hub.

The Access Point offers five modes of operation. The one I expected to use is called "WDS", for Wireless Distribution System. From the user manual, it appears as if this is the mode for just extending a LAN as I wanted to do. I was never able to get this mode of operation to communicate with the Linksys router. The manual is not well written, and the help windows from the Access Point's built in web server are even worse. Using browsers to look at the settings of both the Linksys and the TRENDnet, I verified that everything that I can set was entered correctly: Channel number, SSID, passphrases, MAC addresses, everything. No connection was ever made, in WDS mode.

So I tried "AP + WDS" mode; still nothing worked.

Finally I tried "AP Client" mode, in which (quoting now) "the AP will be a wireless Ethernet adapter transforms any Ethernet-enabled devices to have the wireless function." From the diagram, it would seem that only one device (computer, printer) could be attached. I tried connecting the switch with both computer and printer to the Access Point in this mode, and finally it all works.

Now that it's working, it is doing just what I wanted it to. The new computer can access the internet and share files with the ones downstairs, the downstairs computers can print on the upstairs printer, and so on.

The poor manual and even worse help text really drags this product down. I would have rated it much higher if it hadn't required so much experimentation to get it going.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good value, instructions and software interface lacking a bit, January 11, 2008

By 

Roger Feekleberry (poughkeepsie, ny) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Access Point TEW-430APB (Blue) (Personal Computers)

If you need this device to work as a wireless access point, then it will serve you quite well. The headaches begin when you try to go beyond this default setup, as the instructions lack in clarity. The paper instructions that come in the box give NO instructions beyond the basic setup, which I found mildly annoying. To get more detailed instructions you must either download the full pdf from the TrendNet website or get it from the included cd (which has little else - no drivers, no real software).

And here's your tip of the day: ENTER YOUR IP SETTINGS BEFORE CHANGING THE MODE FROM WAP TO AP CLIENT. I ran into a problem where after setting the device as an AP Client, when I muddled around with other settings it outright refused to work. The only cure was to press the reset button and enter my settings from scratch. After I figured this out, I am able to use it as an AP Client using DHCP with zero problems two stories below my wireless router, and on the other side of the building. No problems yet.

Conclusion: It may take some tinkering if you are doing something beyond the default settings, but this device is very capable and a good value.

PS: As another reviewer stated, the product you receive may look nothing like the one pictured. I like the one I received better anyway - no big deal.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Allows you to wirelessly network for DirecTV on demand, September 17, 2008

By 

Log Jammin (Basking Ridge, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G Access Point TEW-430APB (Blue) (Personal Computers)

I never knew that this was a possibility for extending my wireless network until I read about it on a DirecTV chat room. Basically, I have DirecTV with HD DVR and wanted to use the newly enabled on-demand functionality that allows me to download television shows and movies so I can play them when and as often as I want. Unfortunately, my wireless router is too far away from my DirecTV receiver (cable box) to allow me to plug the two together. This product allows me to 'create' a new wired connection that is near enough to enjoy this DirecTV service. It is both low cost and low maintenance, a perfect combination for mankind.