03 September 2010
manufacturer:
- bluetake
supplier:
- bluetake
price:
- ~£100 approx
review by:
- inder
related www:
- forum thread
- bluetake
pros:
supports many protocols and network standards, small, compact and light, four lan ports, usb port, com port, cable or dsl modem supported, print server function, built in firewall, web-based management console, wireless printing, wireless internet access, internet sharing within a lan, virtual server function, special application and dmz available, support for tcp/ip, nat, dhcp, pppoe etc..., fixed or dynamic ip address support, status leds on front of unit, provision to fix unit flat to wall, four rubber feet to protect surface, ieee 802.11b compliant, wide operating range for wi-fi (35m~100m indoors, 100~300m outdoors).
cons:
no way to extend antenna length, however they provide ample coverage as standard.
modtown rating:
- 5 out of 5
do you agree with our rating? why not drop by the forums and leave your comments...
BlueTake Wireless LAN 802.11b BW320 Router
"The BlueTake Wireless LAN Router BW320 is strictly compliant to the IEEE
802.11b wireless specification and operates in the free 2.4GHz ISM bandwidth (DSSS).
This wireless LAN router not only provides TCP/IP, NAT, DHCP, PPPoE for regular
network sharing configurations but also is a Printer Server for wireless
printing. Furthermore, the friendly web-based console makes configuring all the
router settings simplicity itself."
What is Wireless LAN / 802.11b?
A Wireless LAN (WLAN) is a Local Area Network (LAN) without any wires
connecting computers together. WLANs transfer data through the air using radio
frequencies instead of cables and they can reach a range of 30m to 300 depending
on the surrounding environment - however antennas, transmitters and other access
devices can be also used to widen that area.
WLANs require a Wired Access Point
that 'plugs' all the wireless devices into the wired network. A standard created
by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) called 802.11b
or Wi-Fi is making WLAN use both easier and faster. The 802.11b Standard
transfers data at speeds of up to 11Mbps (million bits per second) in the 2.4
gigahertz radio band.
Introduction:
BlueTake Technology manufacturer many wireless technology based products and are
more commonly known in the marketplace for their flagship Bluetooth Technology
products, such as the
BlueTake Poke2 Bluetooth USB Adaptor. BlueTake also manufacturer a range of
Wireless LAN products that are compliant to the IEEE 802.11b standard (such as
the
BlueTake
Wireless LAN 802.11b BW101 USB Adapter) and today
I will be taking a look at their top of the line Wireless LAN
802.11b BW320 Router.
This combined product allows a user to share a Cable or DSL Internet
Connection within a LAN environment - both wired and wirelessly, so that a
single connection can be used simultaneously by many users within your LAN. This wireless
LAN router not only provides TCP/IP, NAT, DHCP, PPPoE for regular network
sharing configurations but also features an inbuilt Printer Server for wireless
printing, a feature not often seen in routers. The BlueTake BW320 is suitable
for any kind of environment such as home, office, building, airport, or a
spacious public place.
Product Specification:
- Data Rate - 1 / 2 / 5.5 / 11 Mbps
- Range - 100m ~ 300m (Outdoor); 35m ~ 100m (Indoor)
- Voltage - 5.0V
Network:
- Wireless Network Standard - IEEE 802.11b Wireless LAN
- LAN protocol Standard - IEEE 802.3 10 Base-T Ethernet
- LAN protocol Standard - IEEE 802.3u 100 Base-TX Fast Ethernet
- LAN protocol Standard - IEEE 802.3x Flow Control
- LAN protocol Standard - IEEE 802.3 Auto Negotiate
- Remote configuration - Web-based Management
Radio Information:
- Frequency Band - 2.400 to 2.4835 GHz ISM
- Tx Power - +15 dBm
- Antenna - 2dBi External Antenna
- Wireless Medium - DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
- Modulation - DBPSK/DQPSK/CCK
- Operation Channel - 11 (USA, Canada); 13 (European); 14 (Japan); 6 (Taiwan)
Environment:
Operating temperature - 0 °C to 40°C
Storage temperature - -20 °C to 65 °C
Humidity - 5% to 90% Non-condensing
Dimensions - 137mm x 215mm x 36.8mm
Approval - FCC part15, CE Marked
LED indicator - Power, Status, WAN, LAN1~LAN4, USB, Wireless
In the Package:
The BW320 arrives in a colourful cardboard box, which is decorated with all
of the routers main features and specifications. Within the cardboard box, is
another box that contains the BW320 itself and all the included parts. Out of
the box, the BW320 arrives with everything you need:
Well packaged and protected...
- 2 x Network Cables (1 x
Crossover and 1 x Straight-thru)
- 1 x Power Adapter
- 1 x Driver and Software CD-ROM
There is also a BlueTake Warranty Card in the package. BlueTake warrants the
product to be free from defects due to workmanship for a period of two years
from the date of purchase, something that is not often seen with similar
products (only the standard one year warranty period). There is no printed
manual supplied in the package, instead a 64-page Adobe Acrobat Manual is present on
the CD-ROM.
The package is fairly comprehensive and the inclusion of two Network cables is very
useful, but the absence of any printed manual or even a 'Quick Start Guide' might
be an issue for some users.
The BW320 Router:
The BW320 is a very light-weight and compact unit that looks pleasing to the eye. It measures 137mm x 215mm x 36.8mm and is constructed of a white coloured plastic shell, the unit is complimented with black parts (antennas, LED cover etc...) with blue text (LED labelling etc...) and features a sweeping curve along with the BlueTake logo on the top of the unit.
There are no fans within the
BE320, instead any heat generated is passively cooled thru grilles in the
plastic shell - there are two on the top and two on the base of the unit. Also
on the base of the unit are four rubber feet and two areas for screws to mount
the BW320 on a wall. The rubber feet ensure that the BE320 does not mark the
surface it is placed on and that is does not slide about.
At the front of the unit is a long
black plastic strip, this is where all of the indicator LEDs are located - each
LED is labelled with what it displays, for example 'Power' and 'WLAN'. Upon
connection to the corresponding port, a green LED indicates a good connection
and port activity (by flashing).
To enable communication between the router and Wi-Fi devices, there are two antennas built into the rear of the unit. They are able to twist 180° to the left or right and have a lot of movement in between, to allow the user to manually adjust them to provide the best Wi-Fi coverage area.
Connections:
All of the main connections are made at the rear of the unit. Along the back
there are labelled connections for the Power Supply (5v), Printer, WAN, LAN1 to
LAN4 and a small switch labelled INIT (this allows the user to reset the router
back to the factory defaults).
Connecting WAN and LAN cables....
Continue to Page 2 (Hidden Ports)...
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