Subscribe to the Free Print Edition!
Celebrating 25 Years

GCN Home > 03/31/08 issue

Speed 'n' distance

GCN Lab review: SMC SMCWEB-N

By Greg Crowe

THE SMCWEB-N from SMC is an inexpensive wireless device that can be easily added to an existing network. Its light weight, highly adjustable antennae and array of ports allow it to perform multiple functions.

Each of the SMCWEB-N’s long antennae has a full 270 degrees of rotation and 90 degrees of inclination, allowing users to find the optimal configuration for their needs. It even has holes for wall-mounting, giving it a wide array of placement options.

The Ethernet ports are only 10/100 megabits/sec, but there are four of them. This lets you use the SMCWEB-N as an Ethernet switch or a wireless AP.

In addition to performing in an AP mode, this device can also change to client mode with the flip of a switch. In this mode, the SMCWEB-N acts as a wireless client for computers or devices connected to it via its four Ethernet ports. This could save money because each connected device doesn’t require its own client adapter, but transfer times tended to be slower connecting this way. This mode of operation is unique among the devices we tested, and the increased flexibility is definitely a benefit.

For the client mode, the SMCWEB-N has Wi-Fi Protected Setup, a one-touch method developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance of connecting to other WPS wireless devices.

In our transfer speed test, the SMCWEB-N performed admirably. At short distances, it hit speeds faster than 18 megabits/sec and was often the best of the bunch.

At 70 feet, the speed dropped to less than 12 megabits/sec, but it degraded slowly after that, going to 6.54 megabits/sec at 160. However, at 170 feet, we got our biggest disappointment.

The signal weakened to the point of dropping repeatedly and gave us a transfer speed of only 0.61 megabits the few times we could transfer the whole set of files before getting dropped. We have never tested an AP with a more definite maximum range.

In one sense, this is a good thing because you can be pretty sure just how far your wireless signal is traveling and write off any hack attempts beyond that distance.

The retail price of $115 for the SMCWEB-N y can’t be beat unless you consider its government price of $76. This device would be ideal if you want to give wireless capability to small workgroups within 160 feet of the network center.

SMC Networks, (949) 679-8120, www.smc.com

Previous << 1 2 3 4 5

More news on related topics: Communications / Networks, Mobile & Wireless, Enterprise Architecture, Hardware



GCN Popup