SMC EZ Network kit

SMC is another late entrant into high-speed wireless networking but, unlike Intel, it joins with a complete range that includes a PCI adaptor card. This component differs from other offerings: instead of using the more common Ricoh-based PCI card bus adaptor and teaming it up with a separate card, the PCI adaptor has a PC Card permanently fixed in its slot and the complete unit is installed as a network adaptor in one easy step.

The SMC2652W access point uses a single, sturdy aerial screwed firmly into a socket at the rear and can be rotated to improve reception. An RS-232 serial port also features but the documentation is vague about its function. If you plan to install multiple access points so users can roam freely you'll need to do a site survey to determine their best locations. However, SMC's documentation doesn't even mention this, let alone offer any assistance.

The access point is initially configured using the supplied WLAN AP utility. This allows a temporary IP address to be assigned, after which a Web browser can be used to access the unit. As with D-Link's DWL-1000AP (reviewed below), the main interface is very minimalist, offering basic information about the wireless channel in use, WLAN name and network details. WEP (wired equivalent privacy) can be set up from here and SMC supports both 64-bit and 128-bit encryption. Unfortunately that's all - there are no options to view connected users or to allow or deny access on an individual basis.

Installing the PC Card in an 800MHz Pentium III notebook running Windows 98 was painless. A utility displays link status and the current connection speed, as well as transfer rate. The card's settings can be easily accessed so you can select InfraStructure or Ad-Hoc modes, set up WEP encryption and enable a power-save option. Users should keep the brief manual handy as the utility's on-line help isn't available.

Performance produced no surprises: copying 153Mb of Windows ME CAB files from a networked workstation to the laptop produced a disappointing average of 3.1Mbits/sec. Testing the PCI adaptor/PC Card combo in a 700MHz Pentium III PC running Windows 98 gave similar results. For network access, the 10BaseT adaptor in SMC's access point is clearly a bottleneck, as when I reconnected the laptop to the network via D-Link's access point I saw performance rise to over 4Mbits/sec when running the same tests.

SMC's wireless products, particularly the access point, look very good value and suitable for small businesses on a tight budget. However, a quick comparison with the Intel alternative shows you lose out on features and, if you want the higher network access speeds, then D-Link is currently the best choice.

Price: SMC2632W: £115 (£135 inc VAT);

SMC2602W: £146 (£172 inc VAT);

SMC2652W: £290 (£341 inc VAT).

Author: Dave Mitchell