scrog
Jan 23, 08, 6:07 pm
Why are these so inexpensive? Do they work well? Are they as easy to set up as Linksys stuff?
Thanks
Thanks
Travel Technology - Airlink networking products
View Full Version : Airlink networking products
ScottC
Jan 23, 08, 10:07 pm
It varies.
Some of it is rock solid, some is total crap.
It's all cheap Taiwanese OEM stuff, mostly built around Atheros chipsets.
Their routers are ok, nothing to write home about and pretty limited firmware (but some let you load DD-WRT on them).
Their network cards are ok, wireless cameras are great and their switches/hubs are simple and cheap.
Stay away from their Powerline kit and the external NAS.
Personally, I'd spend the $20 more and get a name brand, but I have to admit that I do use a few parts of their assortment here (a 3G router, WiFi access point and a couple of Wifi cameras).
Some of it is rock solid, some is total crap.
It's all cheap Taiwanese OEM stuff, mostly built around Atheros chipsets.
Their routers are ok, nothing to write home about and pretty limited firmware (but some let you load DD-WRT on them).
Their network cards are ok, wireless cameras are great and their switches/hubs are simple and cheap.
Stay away from their Powerline kit and the external NAS.
Personally, I'd spend the $20 more and get a name brand, but I have to admit that I do use a few parts of their assortment here (a 3G router, WiFi access point and a couple of Wifi cameras).
opus17
Jan 23, 08, 10:14 pm
I have a couple that I use for wireless client access points (for a HD-DVD and a TIVO) -- I bought them on sale for about $25 each. They work fine.
SJUAMMF
Jan 23, 08, 10:14 pm
I have their pre N router working as an access point switch. While it is solid, the signal strength is nowhere near the Belkin original pre-N router (Airgo chipset).
scrog
Jan 24, 08, 6:10 am
Thanks everyone.
UALOneKPlus
Jan 26, 08, 9:18 am
It varies.
Some of it is rock solid, some is total crap.
It's all cheap Taiwanese OEM stuff, mostly built around Atheros chipsets.
Their routers are ok, nothing to write home about and pretty limited firmware (but some let you load DD-WRT on them).
Their network cards are ok, wireless cameras are great and their switches/hubs are simple and cheap.
Stay away from their Powerline kit and the external NAS.
Personally, I'd spend the $20 more and get a name brand, but I have to admit that I do use a few parts of their assortment here (a 3G router, WiFi access point and a couple of Wifi cameras).
Hi Scott, I'm curious as to why you recommend avoiding the Powerline kits and external NAS.
I avoid using any Airlink products that are wifi in nature, but I do use their Powerline kits (APL8511) and the external NAS (ANAS 250), both of which have been rock solid and amazing value for the money.
I've used the Powerline kits for over a year, and never a problem. I've had Netgear XE102 powerline kits in the past, and they're not nearly as fast and more expensive. The ANAS 250 is nothing fancy, but the kit is solid with aluminum casing to dissipate heat, and the samba / FTP protocols work great.
Have you had bad luck with them that causes you to not recommend them? Based on personal experience these are the best products that I've used.
Some of it is rock solid, some is total crap.
It's all cheap Taiwanese OEM stuff, mostly built around Atheros chipsets.
Their routers are ok, nothing to write home about and pretty limited firmware (but some let you load DD-WRT on them).
Their network cards are ok, wireless cameras are great and their switches/hubs are simple and cheap.
Stay away from their Powerline kit and the external NAS.
Personally, I'd spend the $20 more and get a name brand, but I have to admit that I do use a few parts of their assortment here (a 3G router, WiFi access point and a couple of Wifi cameras).
Hi Scott, I'm curious as to why you recommend avoiding the Powerline kits and external NAS.
I avoid using any Airlink products that are wifi in nature, but I do use their Powerline kits (APL8511) and the external NAS (ANAS 250), both of which have been rock solid and amazing value for the money.
I've used the Powerline kits for over a year, and never a problem. I've had Netgear XE102 powerline kits in the past, and they're not nearly as fast and more expensive. The ANAS 250 is nothing fancy, but the kit is solid with aluminum casing to dissipate heat, and the samba / FTP protocols work great.
Have you had bad luck with them that causes you to not recommend them? Based on personal experience these are the best products that I've used.
ScottC
Jan 26, 08, 9:52 am
Hi Scott, I'm curious as to why you recommend avoiding the Powerline kits and external NAS.
I avoid using any Airlink products that are wifi in nature, but I do use their Powerline kits (APL8511) and the external NAS (ANAS 250), both of which have been rock solid and amazing value for the money.
I've used the Powerline kits for over a year, and never a problem. I've had Netgear XE102 powerline kits in the past, and they're not nearly as fast and more expensive. The ANAS 250 is nothing fancy, but the kit is solid with aluminum casing to dissipate heat, and the samba / FTP protocols work great.
Have you had bad luck with them that causes you to not recommend them? Based on personal experience these are the best products that I've used.
The Nas was terribly slow and kept disconnecting. An exchange for a new one did not fix it. That said; I got the NAS the week it hit Fry's, so perhaps I had an early firmware? The powerline kit was dreadful, I never got anything over 2mbit and any time I turned on my track lights the connection was gone completely. When I switched to the Slingmedia powerline stuff it worked perfectly.
I don't see any reason to stay away from their WiFi stuff, it's all just Atheros chipsets like many other vendors use. Sure, the firmware is weak but it generally does work.
I avoid using any Airlink products that are wifi in nature, but I do use their Powerline kits (APL8511) and the external NAS (ANAS 250), both of which have been rock solid and amazing value for the money.
I've used the Powerline kits for over a year, and never a problem. I've had Netgear XE102 powerline kits in the past, and they're not nearly as fast and more expensive. The ANAS 250 is nothing fancy, but the kit is solid with aluminum casing to dissipate heat, and the samba / FTP protocols work great.
Have you had bad luck with them that causes you to not recommend them? Based on personal experience these are the best products that I've used.
The Nas was terribly slow and kept disconnecting. An exchange for a new one did not fix it. That said; I got the NAS the week it hit Fry's, so perhaps I had an early firmware? The powerline kit was dreadful, I never got anything over 2mbit and any time I turned on my track lights the connection was gone completely. When I switched to the Slingmedia powerline stuff it worked perfectly.
I don't see any reason to stay away from their WiFi stuff, it's all just Atheros chipsets like many other vendors use. Sure, the firmware is weak but it generally does work.
UALOneKPlus
Jan 26, 08, 10:34 am
The Nas was terribly slow and kept disconnecting. An exchange for a new one did not fix it. That said; I got the NAS the week it hit Fry's, so perhaps I had an early firmware? The powerline kit was dreadful, I never got anything over 2mbit and any time I turned on my track lights the connection was gone completely. When I switched to the Slingmedia powerline stuff it worked perfectly.
I don't see any reason to stay away from their WiFi stuff, it's all just Atheros chipsets like many other vendors use. Sure, the firmware is weak but it generally does work.
Interesting Scott. I use the Powerline stuff for file transfers, and my slingbox, and I have good luck with the Turbo mode, consistently get 20-40 mbps. My wiring is fairly new though that might be a difference. When I watch my slingbox (hooked up to the Airlink Powerline) the speed is very fast.
The NAS might have been updated with new firmware. It's not as fast as USB 2.0 with my wireless G network, but it's reasonably fast, and has never disconnected on me. So maybe I'm the beneficiary of new firmware. Even as a standalone USB drive it's a great drive.
I've never had good luck with Airlink wifi stuff. Their USB sticks were always flaky, and their routers were always inconsistent.
Funny that you and I have had opposite experiences. :)
I don't see any reason to stay away from their WiFi stuff, it's all just Atheros chipsets like many other vendors use. Sure, the firmware is weak but it generally does work.
Interesting Scott. I use the Powerline stuff for file transfers, and my slingbox, and I have good luck with the Turbo mode, consistently get 20-40 mbps. My wiring is fairly new though that might be a difference. When I watch my slingbox (hooked up to the Airlink Powerline) the speed is very fast.
The NAS might have been updated with new firmware. It's not as fast as USB 2.0 with my wireless G network, but it's reasonably fast, and has never disconnected on me. So maybe I'm the beneficiary of new firmware. Even as a standalone USB drive it's a great drive.
I've never had good luck with Airlink wifi stuff. Their USB sticks were always flaky, and their routers were always inconsistent.
Funny that you and I have had opposite experiences. :)