Home CCNP Study Guide Wireless LANs Cisco Aironet Wireless 340 Series

Wireless LANs Cisco Aironet Wireless 340 Series

Written by Wendell E. Jaynes    Sunday, 08 March 2009

The Cisco Aironet Wireless 340 Series' AIR-AP342E2C access point and AIR-PC342 Wireless PC Card turned in the best performance of any of the 802.11b-based products we tested, and Cisco's access point management software and client utility software, are in a class of their own, earning the product our Editors' Choice. But that performance comes at a price: The AIR-AP342E2C lists for $1,299, the most of any access point in our review group. The AIR-PC342 PC Card lists for $249, also near the top in terms of price. The AIR-AP342E2C access point is tiny, about the size of a desktop modem. It has dual swiveling antennas--one on each side--and can be desk- or wall-mounted. Initial setup of the access point is done with an unusual female-to-female 9-pin to 9-pin RS-232 serial cable, but we were miffed to find that one isn't provided in the box. Once you've set the IP address via the serial interface, you can perform the rest of the configuration from any Web browser using the Cisco Aironet's browser interface. This browser interface is more complicated and less attractive than 3Com's, but it offers finer control over authentication, encryption, and compatibility options. Like the 3Com interface, the Cisco Aironet browser interface has a quick-start button to help guide you through the initial configuration steps. The Cisco Aironet access point also provides a complete command line interface via a serial or telnet connection. The Cisco Aironet's outstanding client software includes signal strength, site survey, and link-testing tools. The onscreen signal-strength meter is large enough to be seen across the room; it's a nice feature to have when you're trying to optimize access point placement by watching the signal strength on a laptop 30 feet away. Another small touch we liked was a faint beep signal that lets you know when you've wandered too far from an access point.

Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 March 2009 )