[NoCatNet] Dusty Lane Speed and some WAP11 fun facts

[Matt Townsend]

In keeping with experimental findings I bought a WAP11 to replace the relay 
radio at Dusty Lane. The incumbent setup is Via-based with two Senao cards 
next to each other front to back.

Speeds at the Via at my place seldom exceeded 1.3mbps and only occasionally 
1.8. Never over 2mbps.

The swap involved installing a hub, connecting the WAP11 to it and the 
sector ant, and yanking the Senao card. Roger did the software changes. The 
AP is sitting about 1.5 feet from the Via, pending later installation in a 
waterproof box and a longer lead to the antenna. Speed tests, using 
10.42.2.1's 10meg FTP file and measured at my desktop range from 3.5 to 
4.55 mbps over 8 runs at 2pm. So, we now have 3 cases where moving the AP 
side of the node away from the other radio card(s) out I/O speed ratios.

And I'm thrilled BTW!

In using the WAP11 in AP mode I found little of the problems reported 
recently in a forum. In fact I found their Tech Support, both Telephone and 
Email to be quite excellent especially for a $63 unit.  But the items I 
needed tech support for should have been in their documentation. Why did I 
need tech support?

- Chapter 6 of the User Manual states I can connect the unit directly to my 
computer's NIC and view their HTML-based setup using a browser. But the 
connection needs to be a crossover cable. Also, you need to change your 
TCP/IP settings to a fixed address that's in range of their default 
192.168.1.251. Otherwise the setup is pretty straightforward.
- You can view that interface through a hub as well and still need to 
change IP address. You'll also need to turn off any use of proxy servers 
for both this and the above case.
- Unless you need to add filters or change durations and antenna settings 
you can make all the other changes using the Setup CD directly.
- On the HTML interface, if installing the WAP11 using an external antenna, 
you'll need to go to their wireless setup screen (not found on the CD 
setup) and change the antenna setting. Default is diversity. The transmit 
side is connected to the right antenna. Set the antenna setting to right. 
As you look at the front of the unit the right antenna is on the leftmost 
connector. Yes, yes. tech support will tell you its the right connector. 
Its not.

I'd use WAP11 again, especially at under $70.

Matt