Scorecard
| Perform- ance 30% |
Range 30% |
Mgt/ Admin. 20% |
Interop- erabil- ity 10% |
Secur- ity 5% |
Docu- menta- tion/ Online Help 5% |
TOTAL | |
| BayStack | 5x0.3 =1.5 |
7x0.3 =2.1 |
8x0.2 =1.6 |
7x0.1 =0.7 |
7x0.05 =0.35 |
6x0.05 =0.3 |
6.55 |
| RoamAbout | 8x0.3 =2.4 |
6x0.3 =1.8 |
5x0.2 =1.0 |
7x0.1 =0.7 |
5x0.05 =0.25 |
4x0.05 =0.2 |
6.35 |
| WaveLAN | 6x0.3 =1.8 |
6x0.3 =1.8 |
6x0.2 =1.2 |
8x0.1 =0.8 |
7x0.05 =0.35 |
6x0.05 =0.3 |
6.25 |
| PC480 | 9x0.3 =2.7 |
6x0.3 =1.8 |
3x0.2 =0.6 |
6x0.1 =0.60 |
7x0.05 =0.35 |
3x0.05 =0.15 |
6.20 |
Note: Products are ranked on a 1-10 scale in each category, then multiplied by the weight in each category. These are added to give a total score.
NetResults
BayStack 660
Nortel Networks Wireless LAN Division
6663 Owens Drive
Pleasanton, Calif. 94588
(510) 737-1600
Web site
Pricing: $569, PC Card; $1,799, Access Point (includes one PC Card).
Pros: Range champion; the hands-down choice for wireless novices.
Cons: Throughput is weak; needs a price cut.
WaveLAN
Lucent Technologies
1702 Grace Ct.
Smyrna, Georgia 30082
(888) 584-6366
Web site
Pricing: $495, PC Card; $1,295, Access Point.
Pros: The all-around middle-of-the-road performer in speed and range; best for interoperability.
Cons: Our first units didn't work, raising reliability concerns.
RoamAbout 2400
Cabletron Systems Inc.
35 Industrial Way
Rochester, N.H. 03866-5005
(603) 332-9400
Web site
Pricing: $495, PC Card; $1,295, Access Point
Pros: Good 802.11 throughput, even at long range.
Cons: Complex terminal-based setup; shortest range; poor documentation and security options.
Aironet PC4800
Aironet Wireless Communications Inc.
367 Ghent Road, Suite 300
P.O. Box 5292
Fairlawn, Ohio 44334-0292
(800) 247-6638
Web site
Pricing: $795, PC Card; $1,995, Access Point (no PC Card required).
Pros: Top throughput; nice design.
Cons: Terminal-based setup; rocky installation; ghastly expensive; pitiful documentation.
Performance/Range Summary *
| Throughput at 32 feet | Throughput at 70 feet | Terminal Range | |
| Nortel BayStack | 1.11M bit/sec | 0.97M bit/sec | 88 feet |
| Cabletron RoamAbout | 1.35M bit/sec | 1.37M bit/sec | 75 feet |
| Lucent WaveLAN | 1.15M bit/sec | 1.11M bit/sec | 80 feet |
| Aironet PC4800** | 2.84M bit/sec | 2.22M bit/sec | 75 feet |
** Proprietary transfer protocol.
