ActionTec 11 Mbps Wireless Access Point Manual de usuario descargar pdf (Pagina 3)

32 edn

September 26, 2002

www.edn.com

I expected that I’d be able to change the IP address

if I could get to the Actiontec configuration page. So

I disconnected the access point from my Ethernet

LAN and cycled power to both the access point and

the notebook. I assumed that, even though only the

two Actiontec products would be connected, I’d be

able to access the configuration page. It didn’t work.

I phoned Actiontec tech support and was con-

nected after a wait of only a couple of minutes. The

tech immediately stated that I had a subnet

problem, and suggested the fix I had just at-

tempted. When I told him that it hadn’t

worked, he suggested that I change the IP ad-

dress in my Linksys router to “192.168.0.200.”

The tech also admitted that the 802.11a-ac-

cess-point software was a bit immature.

NET RISKS

I was tempted to end my experiment right

there, rather than placing my 802.11b and Ethernet

networks at risk. But I figured I could always per-

form a hard reset on the Linksys product if neces-

sary to get back to the factory configuration.

Changing the IP address on the Linksys router

proved a bit trying. It took several power cycles to

the router, my desktop PC, and the Ethernet switch

in my office. I first changed the IP address but then

had no net access because the DHCP (Dynamic

Host Control Protocol) IP address server in the

router was now on the wrong subnet. After three

power cycles, I had my network back up, and I was

finally able to access the Actiontec configuration

page.

Unfortunately, there’s little you can change in the

802.11a access point via the simple menus. You can

name a network, you can enable wired-equivalent-

privacy security, and you can change the IP address.

You can handle more advanced settings only via a

clumsy command-line interface that’s not well-doc-

umented in the supplied manual. I did create a new

network name in the access point and in the client

system, but I didn’t realize any better performance.

TURBO LOCKUP

Still, I wanted to try the turbo mode, and that set-

ting was available on the configuration page. I en-

abled it and rebooted the access point. The client-

configuration utility had no explicit way to enable

turbo mode, but the status screen included a tur-

bo/nonturbo indicator. So, I assumed that the client

would automatically switch to turbo mode. After the

reboot, however, I could get no wireless connection.

According to the manual, you can depress a reset

switch for five seconds to make the access point re-

vert to factory defaults. I tried this tactic several

times to no avail. I finally went to my desktop and

was able to access the Actiontec configuration page

via an Ethernet connection. After disabling turbo

mode, I got back the wireless connection.

After my tests, I’d say that this 802.11a product

needs a lot of polish before Actiontec sells it to con-

sumers. And I don’t necessarily blame the compa-

ny. For the most part, Actiontec is selling a product

based on an Atheros reference design and software

base. It’s apparent that Atheros is new to the game.

I’d expect products based on chips from Intersil

(www.intersil.com), Agere, or other 802.11b veter-

ans to be far more polished because the 802.11a and

802.11b MACs (media-access controllers) are the

same; few software changes should be required.

Meanwhile, my experience has me wondering

whether 802.11a will ever carry video streams. I re-

cently wrote an article about the upcoming battle

between 802.11a and ultrawideband technology in

home-entertainment networks (Reference 3). In

that article, I reported that start-up Magis Networks

(www.magisnetworks.com) was relying on an

802.11a-compatible physical layer and leveraging a

proprietary MAC layer to carry video.Magis believes

that the collision-sensing MAC is the weakest link

in the 802.11a technology stack. I saw a prototype of

Magis’ system in operation.

However, I’d judge the range/bandwidth limita-

tions I just experienced to be physical-layer-relat-

ed. We’ll have to wait to see whether future revisions

of the 802.11a chips deliver on the promise of the

OFDM physical layer.

왍

References

1. Wright, Maury, “Missing Link,” CommVerge

magazine, November 2001, pg 50, www.comm

vergemag.com.

2. Wright, Maury, “Sine surfing,” CommVerge

Magazine, May 2002, pg 53, www.commvergemag.

com.

3. Wright, Maury,“On the Air,”CommVerge Mag-

azine, July 3, 2002 www.commvergemag.com.

wrks

how it

Editor at Large Maury Wright will be sticking with

plan “b” for his home network. You can reach him at

mgwr[email protected].

I’D JUDGE THE RANGE/BANDWIDTH LIMITATIONS I

EXPERIENCED TO BE PHYSICAL-LAYER-RELATED. WE’LL

HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE WHETHER FUTURE REVISIONS OF

THE 802.11A CHIPS DELIVER ON THE PROMISE OF THE

OFDM PHYSICAL LAYER.

1 2 3

Comentarios a estos manuales

Sin comentarios

ActionTec 11 Mbps Wireless Access Point Manual de usuario Pagina 3

Comentarios a estos manuales

Relacionado con productos y manuales para Redes ActionTec 11 Mbps Wireless Access Point