Wireless Ethernet Is Here

Ever try to explain to some of your smaller clients why it costs so much to set up a network? Ever try to justify the cabling costs--especially when you and the client know that they are either growing and will need more desks, or will end up moving into new space?

Here's an answer to those pesky questions, with an easy formula to justify the return on investment (ROI): wireless Ethernet. No cables (Ok, limited cables), no fixed positions for equipment, few office limitations, and, in the case of the 3Com AirConnect 11-Mbps Wireless LAN Solution, a pretty much fixed ROI.

The AirConnect comprises two major units, the 'base' station (the "Access Point") and the network card. Currently, only the PCMIA Ethernet cards are available (conveniently renamed PC cards), while the traditional desktop NIC card (now called a PCI card) should be available shortly. 3Com has also configured the AirConnect with the ability to draw power over an unused 10 Base-T cable (called a PowerBase-T), so you can place these base stations strategically throughout your client's office.

The advantage, according to 3Com, is that you don't have to run AC power to the location of the Access Point, but you do need a cable. It's still cheaper to run cabling than power, so unless you're replacing a traditional wired office, you'll still be ahead of the game, which will make your bean counter happy.

Here's a calculation on the ROI of AirConnect: The MSRP of AirConnect's starter pack (which is the Access Point, three PC cards and a PowerBase-T module) is $1,795. Each additional PC card is $219. An average-priced PC card on the 3Com retail site is $189. Using a cost of $125 per cable run, we need 12 computers running on Wireless Ethernet, to break even.

On the Dell site, the Starter Pack was priced at $1,135.95, and the PC card was $157.95. Using those figures, the break-even point is 33 percent less, or only 8 computers. Not a bad break-even point.

A selling point to smaller clients is that if they move offices, set-up time is almost nonexistent, since practically no cabling is required. Factor in cabling twice, and the number of computers needed to break even definitely lowers.

Installation and Performance
Installation is extremely easy--after you figure out what the skimpy instructions really meant. We had the system up and running in approximately 10 minutes. A not-so-big surprise was that you need a computer with a null modem cable (included) to configure the Access Point. Configuration takes only a few minutes, is text-driven and straightforward for the typical VAR.

During the installation process, we found large numbers of settings that one could adjust on the Access Point, but none of those options was explained. If an explanation is given, it's buried in the installable documentation somewhere.

The workmanship on our test unit is slightly less than what we've found in a typical 3Com product. The antenna is held by two clips and two flimsy plastic posts, which allows it to swivel. Small wires crisscross the back of the unit where the null modem, optional power and 10 Base-T cables attach.

The Access Point default settings seem to work quite well in a small environment; in fact, our wireless connection is much faster than our cabled connections. While we don't know how well the AirConnect works under maximum stress loads, the AirConnect allows multiple units to be installed, thus allowing multiple units to handle the traffic. After running some of the utilities that come with the End User Utilities, we found our connection was running at 5 Mbps, with it quite often maxing out at 11 Mbps. Whether it was in fact hitting this number or not, we did download an 8-Mb file from the Internet in what seemed to be an extremely short time.

Our overall impression was that 3Com's AirConnect should do as well as the Air Jordan commercials. The price point is right, the installation time is right and the product works, at least in small environments.

Wayne Spivak is the president of SBA Consulting in Bellmore, N.Y.