The X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router serves many different functions, including a DSL/cable router, a wireless access point, and a standard network router. The unit itself features one 100BaseTX port to connect to the DSL or cable modem and four 100BaseTX LAN ports for cabled networking, which covers the gamut of options for a wireless router. This allows total flexibility, and can be used to create a new WLAN, incorporated into an existing LAN, or even used to slowly upgrade a current IEEE 802.11b network.
X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router unit sports an aesthetically pleasing design, with a nifty silver finish and compact dimensions. The front of the X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router features an array of LEDS, showing the Power, Status, WAN, WLAN and LAN connection and transmission indicators. There is also an antenna, a reset button (sets the router to defaults) and a power connector on the back of the unit.
A wireless LAN using a DSL/cable router serves many different functions, such as allowing wireless or wired Internet access to multiple PCs, creating a WLAN (Wireless LAN) for business or game networking, and incorporating your existing network into the WLAN. The X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router is a very flexible device, and really adds a whole new dimension to networking and Internet sharing, while maintaining wireless bandwidth on par with a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network.
The hardware side of the installation process is simplicity itself, and really amounts to attaching the network cable from the DSL/cable modem to the X-Micro WLAN 11g+ Router, and then hooking up your PC's LAN card to one of the four 100BaseTX LAN ports. These LAN ports support 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet, so Gigabit network users may want to stick with their current hardware setup and add in the WLAN on top. Overall, the setup process is extremely easy to complete, and really only adds the router cables to a basic DSL or cable modem installation.
The software install is a bit more involved, and like any router, it involves changes to the firmware and security settings. This is the "best case" scenario of working with a new PC/modem install, but for those with current Internet connections, these must first be deleted from the Internet Connections, and any network card bindings or gateways must be set to defaults. This is because in order to access the router's firmware setup, the system must be free to auto-detect the appropriate IP address and Gateway settings.
After that, you log on with your Internet browser using a default user ID and password, a Wizard loads, and you work through a variety of setup screens. These include setting a new password, choosing a time zone, setting the LAN connection and server, identifying the Internet connection, and configuring the wireless LAN. This may seem involved, but the X-Micro documentation walks you through each of the steps, and it's really much easier than you would ever expect. Once the basics are completed, it's time to fine-tune some of the features and security options.
One of the most important is the wireless LAN authentication screen, which is where you set the type and level of access security. This is integral for any wireless network, as you dont just have to worry about people coming through an open port, but now it's physical proximity that is the main culprit, especially as "Open System" is the default setting. We recommend enabling WEP and choosing a set password key (64 or 128-bit encryption) for all PCs. Wireless security is a growing concern, and during our test phase, we identified no fewer than three separate WLANs in our range, and you can bet that others could see us too. X-Micro does include a basic Firewall for inbound transmissions, but we tested the router with ZoneAlarm (for outbound security) and found it worked perfectly - using Trusted Zone - for both shared Internet and LAN security and functionality.
There are other setup options such as antenna signal strength, which is also a method of limiting access if you have a close-knit network. The Super G mode can also be configured with Turbo G on or disabled, and there are Dynamic and Static Turbo G modes as well. The Status tab includes a wealth of information, such as logs, LAN and WLAN connections, utilization, and data transfer rates. There are also various MAC/IP filters and URL/domain blocks you can enable to limit network access even further. The router also supports SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) to allow basic network administration and remote management. The final Tools tab allows the user to reset the router, load custom settings, and upgrade firmware. There are many other options and settings available, but these relate more to higher-level usage and implementations.
The client-side network setup is even easier, and assuming a form of Windows XP or 2000, wireless LAN and Internet access is simply a click away. After loading the appropriate WLAN peripheral card, the Windows networking Wizard should find the available WLANs and allow you to select the correct one. If you have multiple options and are unsure, run the router Wizard again and check the SSID (Service Set Identifier) to confirm. Then enable the WEP security settings on the client and choose the same password used with the router setup.
The entire process is incredibly seamless and X-Micro deserves top marks for both the documentation and firmware design. If you've ever pulled your hair out over configuring a standard network or tried to get Home PNA or HomeRF set up, then a wireless router is for you. If you're working with a clean PC, it really amounts to 10-15 minutes work and you'll be up and running. The client side is even faster, and it's truly amazing how user-friendly the WLAN hardware and software configuration really is.
