[KLUG Members] Wireless

[Bruce Smith]

> >>>>Because these are X-terminals (and a jetdirect printer), I
> >>>>cannot buy a wireless network card, nor a wireless PCMCIA card.
> >>>>I want to know if I can use two access points???
> >You are supposed to be able to use two linksys access points as a bridge,
> >but good luck. I helped "try" and set two of them up last weekend. First
> >you'll need the newest firmware and configuration software from linksys,
> 
> Translation: "We don't have it working yet".  In other words,  continue to
> avoid Linksys products.

More reasons I'm going to avoid Linksys products:

We bought two of the wireless access points with hopes of bridging.
Before I even got to try it, I noticed their web based configuration
tool was FLAKY.  I would page through the different config screens
(with Netscape and Opera both), and they would flake out.  Menu tabs
would disappear and reappear the next time.  SUBMIT buttons would NOT
do anything sometimes, other times they would work.  Sometimes changes
would work, sometimes they were ignored.  This worked exactly the same 
on BOTH units.  I could see maybe getting one bad one, but BOTH units 
were flaky.  I even double checked to make sure they were running the 
latest and greatest firmware (they were).

They also have a RESET button you can press if the unit hangs up.
That doesn't give me a warm fuzzy feeling about it's dependability.

And they have a DHCP server turned ON by DEFAULT!  Combine that with
the fact if you press the RESET button for 2-3 seconds the unit
resets to FACTORY DEFAULTS.  That's just what I need, a rogue DHCP
server on my network sending out bogus info to DHCP requests!!!

Did I mention that I emailed their tech support last weekend asking 
them about the bridging issue?  No reply yet.  Impressive ... NOT!


Yesterday, both AP units were boxed up and returned to the reseller.

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Bruce Smith                bruce@armintl.com
System Administrator / Network Administrator
Armstrong International, Inc.
Three Rivers, Michigan  49093  USA
http://www.armstrong-intl.com/
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