Wireless Access Point Reccomendation

My LAN is all wired in CAT5 - done when the house was rewired a few years back. However will likely be getting a tablet device for "work" (I'm a County Councillor) which will not have a wired connection. Therefore wanted a Wireless Access Point.

Looking in Amazon, I chose a TeckNet® 300Mbps Multi-function Mini Wireless-N Repeater/Router/AP with WPS, 5 working mode: Wireless Router, Repeater, AP, Client and Bridge.

Reasons being; It would mount direct in a 13A socket (I do not want a desk/wall mount with separate PSU). It looked neat, Sensible price.

I would have preferred it to include 5G - I mistakenly thought that N was 5GHz ooops

Anyway, it had to go back. When setting up as per the user manual, my netbook could access ok with wifi, but could not set to AP mode. Could set to AP if using a CAT5 connection, but then could not get the netbook to access when WPA2 enabled. (My netbook can access my Draytek Vigor 2920 router when wifi is switch on)

So I'm looking for a recommendation for an AP which will connect to my existing wired LAN via CAT5 (I do not want a wireless repeater - which would also hog another channel) Will mount in a 13A socket and Ideally also has 5GHz.

Amazon do a:-

HooToo® HT-WR04 Dual Band 2.4GHz & 5GHz Wireless N Signal Repeater and Range Extender, (300 Mbps 802.11 b/g/n Access Point / Repeater with WPS Button)

Anyone any experience? Or any other device I should look at?

Many thanks.

Cheers!

I have a lot of TP Link devices which "just work" so maybe http://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WA850RE-Universal...
I don't have one of those though

Thanks, I've looked at that.

Problem there is that they do not include Wireless Access Point mode (which I want) instead it can be used as a Wireless Adapter - which is slightly different - can be used to give a device such as a smart TV, wireless connectivity to a wireless network.
http://www.tp-link.com/en/products/details/?model=TL...

The big problem, for me, is that most manufacturers assume that you want to have wireless repeaters so no CAT5 involved.

Dreytek do a nice Access Point, but desk/wall mounted with separate psu. Not cheap either, but I like Dreytek routers and modem/routers when I had ADSL.

Cheers!

I have a TL-WA701ND which does "everything" - AP, repeater, bridge - you just set it up accordingly.

A lot of the TP-Link devices are like this but it appears not this.

What about the "TeckNet® 300Mbps Multi-function Mini Wireless-N Repeater/Router/AP with WPS, 5 working mode: Wireless Router, Repeater, AP, Client and Bridge" at http://www.amazon.co.uk/TeckNet%C2%AE-300Mbps-Multi-...

OK this is the device in the opening post - doh

Edited by greenglide (Fri 14-Feb-14 19:34:09)

After reading the user manual, I see what you mean. I find it strange they don't offer the 3 obvious modes of operation that this one does http://www.amazon.co.uk/Huawei-WS322-Wi-Fi-Repeater-... and I recognise the name

Looking at a picture, the TL-WA701ND appears to be desk mount. Which is a pity.

Cheers!

I'm not too sure about the Huawei one, they do not actually list Access Point (AP) but does offer router mode. That would likely clash with my existing router? Certainly the TeckNet I sent back had both Router mode and AP mode.

AP mode simply needs a SSID and a password inputting and plugging in to a LAN.

Cheers!

I assume the clash would be the DHCP server? You just disable it on the Huawei.

An Airport Express with a Macbook mains plug will achieve what you specify.

Personally, I'd wall mount a PoE access point.

Certainly another option. Although would I be able to set up using Win7 or WinXP?

I note that there is a similar model with built in 13A plug.

Cheers!

Yes, setup is via Airport Utility which is available for Windows

There is only one current model of Airport Express - it's wireless section is basically an Atheros reference design, with simultaneous 2.4ghz and 5ghz capability and it's pretty good. The older models of Airport Express are a wall plug design, 2.4ghz only, and wireless performance is not as good but perfectly decent.

Of course, if you have a spare wireless router lying around you could just use that. Remember to turn off DHCP and plug the ethernet cable into one of the LAN ports and the job's a good 'un.

Many thanks for your suggestion of an Airport Express.

Whilst 90% of the time the tablet supplied to me, an iPad, was able to connect to my wifi, the other 10% it did not.

Looking at specs, the Airport Express seemed more future proof in that it also offered 5 GHz as well as 2.4 GHz connectivity.

Re mounting the unit, I also bought an 'Out of Sight Bracket' in white, which I can fit underneath my desktop (the wooden variety) for a neat unobtrusive installation.

Setting up was not quite as per the book, in that although my Win7 pc with Airport Utility could see the Airport Express, it had trouble downloading data from it. I resolved that by connecting the Airport Express directly to the Win7 pc. All ok until the end when it informed me that the AE could not find my network... Restored my pc to the network switch along with the AE and away it went. Unlike the TeckNet® 300Mbps Multi-function Mini Wireless-N Repeater/Router/AP the Airport Express does not also (as default) leave me with an open wifi access point as well as the encrypted WPA2 channel.

All in all, a nice piece of kit. Thanks again for your suggestion.

Cheers!

Thanks for the update, glad you found a solution you're happy with.