Reviews for Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: perfect for low cost bridging between two buildings

Weakness: Antennas. But I bought better antennas from www.wirelessnetworkproducts.com

Bridging between two building 3 miles apart (clear line of site) was easy with the wap11 using the antenna bundle I bought from wirelessnetworkproducts.com We now save over $1000 a month by eliminating one of our T-1 connections.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: Easy to install and administer

Weakness: Manual could be more detailed.

Set up Linksys WAP11 and was on the network in minutes. Great signal and no dropouts. With the new 2.2 version you can upgrade the firmware right from the browser. No more USB or SNMP management. Linksys finally got it right with this version.

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Bad experience

I purchased a WAP11 from amazon for something like $20 after rebate. Personally I have very bad experience with this product. Right after I got this AP, I cut the UPC and sent the rebate. Several days later, I tried to set it up. I changed the SSID and added WEP password. This AP only worked for a few minutes, after that, I can not connect to it any more. I tried to reconfigure the AP following the manual. However, I can not access the AP even with a cable. Then next step, I decided to reset the AP. I pressed the reset button, but when I turned on my wireless card, it still detected the same wireless network with changed SSID which means the reset does not work.

I searched online for several hours, tried all the possibilities I can found. Even for the reset, I have tried, (1) press the reset button for 10 seconds with power on as suggested in the manual, (2) press the reset button for 30 seconds with power on and then power off for 3 seconds and power on again, (3) press the reset button for 120 seconds and every 30 second power on or off the AP periodically. None of them works. Okay, it is an AP, not a military missile.

I called technique support and talked with them. They even know much less than me since I search online for such a long time. Even though, I can alomst predict what they would ask me to try, I still paid the patience and did whatever they told. After more than one hour struggling with this product, they claimed that it is a defective one and suggested me to contact the custom service for replacement. The funny thing is that, the return policy of Linksys requires the customer to pay for the shipping fee. Since I had cut and mailed the UPC, I can not return it to amazon for refund. I ended up with paying $8 dollars to ship it back.
One week later, I got the replacement which has exactly the same problem. This time, I tried the online technique support wishing they may know better. Okay, they do help me by telling me to call and ask for second level technique support. Then I called and talked with 2 second level technicians. They told me they are the highest and supposedly the most knowledgable one. I spent more than 3 hours did what they told me. Finally, they came to the conclusion that this is still defective. Fortunately, they are so generous that this time, the custom service waive my shipping fee and gave me a free shipping label for return.
Now I got the third one. I dare not to change anything except the SSID name. So far it is working, but I will drop line every several hours or days. I have to reboot it periodically.
I wasted tens of hours on this product. I do know that lots of people have good experience with Linksys. Before I purchased this AP, I read the reviews on amazon which is very high. My roommate used to have one and we are using it everyday without problem. All these make me decide to buy one. Never expect to face such a big loss of time.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: competitively priced and good ID

Weakness: Constant reboots required since new. Failed immediately after 1 yr warranty. No exceptions to fix or replace. Never buy nor recommend Linksys or Cisco Systems. No useable customer support.

A complete waste of $60, not to mention the hours I spent trying to support this hardware. Didn't talk easily to a Linksys router. Linksys and Cisco should be ashamed. I spent 2 hours troubleshooting before calling customer support. Spent another 2 hours with 2 different support people to tell me what I already knew. The unit was dead. The warranty had run out during the time I had tried troubleshooting this hardware. I am looking for a new supplier for wireless hardware.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: immediately recognized on network

Weakness: becomes very unstable when adding/deleting users.

Comes up easy but the minute you try to add additional users it drives excessive reconfiguration work up and down the network. I had more luck using it with NETGEAR equipment than with Linksys routers. Linksys support is available but unable to get the product working reliably. I think they know they have a loser here.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: Easy of setup. Flexibility w/ other WiFi devices.

Weakness: None

Product worked right out of the box. Setup in 10 minutes w/ my existing wired networked and new IBM WiFi compliant notebook. Use this device at three of my clients plus office.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: -Has external antenna connectors !! ( High value to me !) -realistic price for the features -Does NOT talk to other vendors AP's (3com, INTEL)

Weakness: -Does not do retries for lost packets -Does a lot of duplicated packets -Ofter hangs-up ( ver 2.2) seems that we sensitive to DC power voltage,and AC adapters give out much less then rated 5V

Installed about 80 pcs of them.
Good choice for OUTDOOR links.
Not very stable, but you can not ask much more for that price.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: none, won't work

Weakness: WAP11 ver 2.2 won't work with other linksys products

The WAP11 ver 2.2 will not work at all with the WPC11 wireless network card and linksys can't make it work. In the words of tech support at linksys "We have had lots of trouble with this product." Apparently this access point will only work with other companies products. hmmm way to go linksys. After many hours on the phone with tech support and a beta firmware upgrade (that the tech couldn't get to install on his stuff on his end) we got the word that if we waited a while and went thru a few hoops that maybe we could talk to someone who may or may not let us return glorified paperweight. Don't touch linksys products is the lesson here.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: Easy to set up. The web interface works well.

Weakness: Unreliable operation.

The 2.2 version of this product has been completely
unreliable for me. I tried 2 different units from
buy.com and both would only work reliably for a couple of days.

I borrowed a 1.X version from a friend, and it worked
flawlessly.

I don't know if this is product design flaw or I just
happened to get a couple of duds, but I would stay far
away from Linksys APs.

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Linksys Instant Wireless WAP11 Wireless Access Point

Strengths: Ease of setup

Weakness: Either you get a good one or a bad one.

Every review is mixed about this device. Some have high regard and others low or unsatisfactory ratings. Somewhere in the range of 78% good and 32% bad.

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