D-Link DWL-900AP+ Wireless access point for $49.99 YMMV

[Challenger]

First hot deal so be kind. I was at Office Max today and outside the store they had a clearence rack and the only thing that caught my eye was D-Link DWL-900AP+ for $49.99 and tax. I don't know how hot it is but I got one anyway

 

[dchilder]

It would help if you put the price in your thread title...

 

[Challenger]

Originally posted by: dchilder
It would help if you put the price in your thread title...

Done!

 

[nautiazn85]

I think that's the best price I've seen it for. Anybody else seen it for cheaper (in the market for an access point).

 

[supiammike]

im new to wireless...

do access points only do wireless to wireless?

or can i have a wire in and wireless out ?

 

[Ionizer86]

If it's an access point + router, it usually has 802.11b along with four 10/100 ports, letting you do both. Pure access points, though, take up one 10/100 slot on a wired router and allow wireless products to be on the network as well.

 

[KBtrade]

I have owned the D-Link 900AP+ since January, it works great! I can use the laptop anywhere in my home and never drop the signal. The one thing I did notice is my U.S.Robotics 22 Mbps Wireless PC card #2210 works better for distance than the D-Link DWL-650 PC card The $49.99 is the cheapest price I have seen on it so far.

 

[Yo2]

This thing has been $49.90 for a while at my OM (wonder if it's the same one )

Anyhow they work great if you leave the deafult settings (accesspoint with SSID: default/ channel 6/ No WEP. Otherwise it's a bit cumbersome to change the configuration.

A couple of points for the advanced user: this thing basically works in three modes: access point (default), bridge (!!!), and wireless access card (plug into ethernet card on PC or other device you want to join into your wireless network).

The lateset version also supports a fourth mode which is REPEATER (boosts a signal to stretch the useable distance of a wireless link) - the ones in my OM did not have that feature - thus they were an older version. I wonder if OM is trying to offload old stock. Still they are good devices definitely worth $49.90.

 

[Challenger]

There were three left. Anybody want one?

The lateset version also supports a fourth mode which is REPEATER (boosts a signal to stretch the useable distance of a wireless link) - the ones in my OM did not have that feature - thus they were an older version.

How do I tell if it is an older or newer version?

 

[bocaboy]

Originally posted by: Challenger
There were three left. Anybody want one?

The lateset version also supports a fourth mode which is REPEATER (boosts a signal to stretch the useable distance of a wireless link) - the ones in my OM did not have that feature - thus they were an older version.

How do I tell if it is an older or newer version?

It's all in the firmware, which is flashable, so don't worry about getting an older one. The latest firmware is always on D-Link's website. I have one of these and am very satisfied. 50 bucks is about 1/2 list, so it's a good deal.

 

[Davetx1133]

I found one of these units at my local OM for $49.00 on clearance so I picked it up to replace a Netgear ME102 that died suddenly.

Here is some info I found on it:

Tom's Hardware

and the D-link site shows three versions of the DWL-900AP+ model A and B which use the ARM7 processor and version C which uses the ARM9 processor. I wonder if version C is better. I got the last unit at the OM store I went to, it is version B.

D-link Firmware

Is there a program to measure signal strenght coming from an AP or wireless router? besides netstumbler sine it only works with cards I do not own. Thanks