Wireless home networking just got a boost. D-Link Systems shipped its new DWL-120 USB Wireless Adapters—the first of several 802.11b USB adapters expected to hit the market—then., shortly after, slashed prices on its entire 802.11b line. The price reduction makes D-Link's 802.11b networking solution more cost competitive than other wireless standards, such as HomeRF, and the addition of USB components simplifies setup.
The D-Link DWL-120 adapters are available separately ($99 street) or in the DWL-920 USB Wireless Kit ($399 street). The kit includes two DWL-120 adapters and the DWL-1000AP Wireless Access Point, a device that acts as a transmitter, receiver, and network manager.
Wireless networking is a boon to the notebook crowd. With a wireless adapter in your notebook, you can maintain a network connection as long as you stay within about 300 feet of an access point indoors or 900 feet outdoors. This enables you to share files, printers, and Internet access. D-Link's introduction of a USB adapter benefits users of desktop PCs because installation consists of merely plugging in a connector rather than having to open the computer's case and struggle to insert a network card.
HomeRF, the other wireless standard for home networks, held an advantage for those with desktop systems because the adapters connected via USB plugs and the components were less expensive. D-Link's recent announcements, however, have cleared these barriers to widespread 802.11b adoption. What's more, 802.11b is faster than HomeRF (11 Mbps versus 1.6 Mbps) and is already the undisputed corporate and campus standard.
Installing the DWL-920 was a cinch. The DWL-120 adapters, at 0.75 by 4 by 2.75 inches (HWD) and with a two-inch antenna on the side, required little room and simply plugged into available USB ports. Windows then prompted us to pop in the included CD and quickly installed the drivers. We restarted the computer (leaving the default settings) and were good to go. We tested the two adapters included in the kit using Windows Me and Windows 98SE. In each case, installation took under a minute. After rebooting, a network status icon shows up on the Windows task bar; green signifies a good connection, red means no connection, and yellow indicates a so-so connection. You can bring up a utility for changing settings, or leave everything at the defaults, as we did.
The 5.3- by 1.6- by 4.8-inch (HWD) DWL-1000AP access point was even easier to install than the USB adapters: we just attached the AC cable and turned on the power. The access point started working immediately with our adapters set to their defaults, and the PCs were instantly able to communicate with one another. To connect to an existing wired network, you plug an Ethernet cable into both the DLW-1000AP's RJ-45 jack and a hub or PC equipped with an Ethernet adapter. We plugged the DWL-1000AP into a hub connected to a router that was in turn connected to a cable modem. After rebooting our PCs we were able to access the Internet via the network within minutes.
You're probably better off ignoring the user manuals that come with the D-Link devices or just reading the first few pages, though. (The manuals quickly get into much more technical information than most people setting up home networks will require.)
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