Print
Close Window
From: www.itworld.com
Interactive scorecard and NetResults: Wireless LAN access points
February 6, 2001 —
Every network is unique. This calculator lets you change the weights given to scores from our review to see how this product might be best suited for your needs.
Here's how it works:
New scoring for reviews
As of Jan. 8, Network World has switched its scoring scale. We will now score products on a scale of 1 to 5, rather than 1 to 10. We feel that scoring on a 1 to 5 range would be more easily understood than previous methods. As it relates to school grades, the new scoring would establish 1=D, 2=C, 3=B, 4=A. A score of 5 would be the exceptional score -- a scholastic equivalent would be scoring an A in an honors class.
For each category below, assign the percentage weight you think is most appropriate. The percent-o-meter box on the right will keep track of your weightings to let you know when you've reached 100%. When you fill in the last box, hit your enter key, and you'll see how the apps rate (along with our final score for comparison).
| Percent-o-meter% |
|
Category | Our weight | Your weight |
| Security | 25% | % |
| Stability | 20% | % |
| Throughput | 20% | % |
| Management | 15% | % |
| Installation | 10% | % |
| Price | 10% | % |
Results table
Below, you'll find the 1-5 score given to each app by our reviewers. To obtain the final score: Multiply each individual score by the weighting given that category, then add up all those resulting numbers.
| Cisco | Enterasys | DLink | Lucent | Proxim | |||
| Security | 5 | 5 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | ||
| Stability | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | ||
| Through-put | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | ||
| Manage-ment | 5 | 4 | 2.5 | 3 | 4 | ||
| Install-ation | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | ||
| Price | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | ||
| Our total | 4.90 | 4.55 | 4.25 | 4.15 | 3.98 | ||
| YOUR TOTAL | |||||||
| Scoring key:5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average; 3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad; 2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected; 1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed. | |||||||
| Symbol | Intel | Buffalo | Intermec | ||||
| Security | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3.5 | |||
| Stability | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | |||
| Throughput | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | |||
| Management | 3 | 3 | 3.5 | 3 | |||
| Install-ation | 5 | 5 | 3.5 | 5 | |||
| Price | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | |||
| Our total | 3.95 | 3.95 | 3.78 | 3.73 | |||
| YOUR TOTAL | |||||||
| Scoring key:5: Exceptional showing in this category. Defines the standard of excellence;4: Very good showing. Although there may be room for improvement, this product was much better than average; 3: Average showing in this category. Product was neither especially good nor exceptionally bad; 2: Below average. Lacked some features or lower performance than other products, or than was expected; 1: Considerably subpar, or lacking features being reviewed. | |||||||
NetResults
Aironet 340
Score: 4.9
Company: Cisco, (800) 553-6387
Cost: $1,299, $14,356 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Easy to set up, administer and use; great performance.
Con: A bit on the pricey side.
RoamAbout Access Point 2000
Score: 4.55
Company: Enterasys, (978) 684-1000
Cost: $999, $11,595 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Good setup software, management tools.
Con: Use of PCC Card NIC in AP may mandate use of an extra-cost external antenna.
DWL-1000 AP
Score: 4.25
Company: D-Link, (949) 788-0805
Cost: $299, $5,884 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Excellent price and performance.
Con: Not really an enterprise product.
Orinoco AP-1000 Access Point
Score: 4.15
Company: Lucent, (800) 674-6626
Cost: $1,194, $12,736 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: Can support multiple wireless LANs with a single AP.
Con: Use of PC Card NIC in AP may mandate use of extra-cost external antenna.
Harmony 802.11 Access Point and Access Point Controller
Score: 3.98
Company: Proxim, (800) 229-1630
Cost: $2,094, $11,851 for four access points and 40 NICs. Note: The price includes an Access Point Controller, which can support up to 10 access points.
Pros: Excellent management tools and expandability.
Con: Lackluster performance.
Spectrum 24 11M bit/sec Access Point
Score: 3.95
Company: Symbol Technologies, (800) 722-6234
Cost: $999, $11,956 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Removable external antennas give reasonable performance, and allow easy upgrade to more powerful antennas if needed.
Con: Management tools could be stronger.
Intel Pro/Wireless 2011 Access Point
Score: 3.95
Company: Intel, (408) 765-8080
Cost: $999, $11,956 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pros: Removable external antennas give reasonable performance and allow easy upgrade to more powerful antennas if needed.
Con: Management tools could be stronger.
Buffalo Airstation
Score: 3.78
Company: Buffalo Technologies, (800) 688-7466
Cost: $279, $7,076 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: Very attractive pricing.
Cons: Weak manuals, lackluster performance, internal antenna.
Intermec 2102 Universal Access Point
Score: 3.73
Company: Intermec, (425) 348-2600
Cost: $895, $15,380 for four access points and 40 NICs.
Pro: External antenna.
Con: A solid "C" performer that asks a solid "A" price.
Pricing notes: In the vendor information above, all prices are list price. The first price is a single access point, including a network card if that is needed. The second price is the price for four access points and 40 NICs, which we feel is a good starting point for office automation. This price will include the needed options, such as an Access Point Controller for Proxim.
Network World