Buffalo AirStation 54Mbps Router AP and CardBus card bundle

We also managed to communicate with the access point using a variety of 802.11b PC Cards, and Buffalo has implemented a method of separating mixed 'b' and 'g' data transfers so that both technologies can operate at their maximum speeds. A mixed peer-to-peer mode seemed possible too, with both 'b' and 'g' cards able to see each other, although they refused to communicate. Buffalo states that this is fixable, although a slight modification to the 'g' standard will be required for this to happen.

As a final test, we wanted to see whether we could stream a video file wirelessly to our notebook without any dropped frames. DVD playback is out of the question, as this requires too much bandwidth. However, a cached DivX file proved no problem, playing back over the WLAN as if it were stored locally, even from a distance of 20m from the access point. Skipping between scenes generates a longer than average pause, but otherwise the 54Mb/sec standard opens up a world of home-entertainment possibilities. That said, if you're hoping to wirelessly connect a desktop PC to the 802.11g network, Buffalo currently has no PCI CardBus adaptor, but it's planning to supply this plus a USB 2 adaptor by March.

Although we're hoping to see improvements to the throughputs, adopting 802.11g as your new wireless standard seems inevitable. Buffalo's access point and PC Card offer good performance and are well built, and the software is intuitive. And with the AirStation's bonus features such as broadband routing and a four-port Ethernet switch included in the cost, early adopters should consider this money well spent.

Author: Ian Robson