D-Link DWL-7700AP Outdoor Wireless Access Point, PoE, 5dBi, 802.11a/802.11g, 54Mbps

ALthough I normally tend to stay with the Linksys/Cisco brand when it comes to networking devices, I have to say that I am somewhat surprised and pleased to find that D-Link seems to be improving and in some cases, outperforming Linksys. I needed a fast and easy way to extend my wireless internet to approx. 1000 ft and decided to try a variety of solutions to see what worked best. I initially tried using some Linksys range extenders (WRE54G) which soon proved to be a networking nightmare. The units did work although I had to reset them at least once every other day. Next, I tried using some Hawking range extenders such as the 15db corner antenna and the omni-directional antenna. Both seem to work fine however the range was still insufficient and placing multiple pole antennas would detract from the outside appearance of the building.

Finally, I tried this D-link antenna and while this unit is expensive, it is well-made and appears to be very durable. With the built-in heater system, and weather-resistant casing, I'm also able to mount the antenna outside and not worry about the internal components being damaged from the cold temperatures. I will see after a couple of weeks whether it can withstand some light snowfall.

Setting up this antenna/access point is relatively easy if you know networking basics. For users who are not too familiar with setting up static IP addresses, there may be an initial learning curve involved with this device. If you know what you're doing, you should be able to get this unit up and running in about 10-15 minutes. Unlike Netgear and some of the new cheaply made Linksys/D-Link routers and range extenders, this unit hasn't needed a reset and hasn't crashed or locked up on us in the two weeks it has been running.

Pros: Well-constructed weather-resistant metallic casing, strong signals, STABLE, comes with all the mounting equipment you need including a 50 meter heavy-duty ethernet cable, looks a lot more professional and inobtrusive than the Hawking-brand range extenders

Cons: Pricey (though you do get what you pay for), setup may be somewhat difficult for those who don't have much networking experience (there is no automatic install CD like the ones included with routers). I would have liked to have the ethernet port perhaps on the back or side of the unit rather than on the bottom because it's difficult to prop this thing up on a table with the ethernet cable in the way - in the event you decide not to mount it on a wall or ledge.

Contrary to what D-link may tell you, you do not need to have a D-link router in order for this to work. This antenna connects to almost any router (I'm currently using a Linksys WRT54G). There is an extra step of configuration if you choose not to use D-link but if you know how to setup static IP addresses, you'll be up and running in no time.