Price : Too low to display
The Cisco AP 541N Dual Band 802.11n Clustering Access Point gives partners and their customers a complete and easy-to-install wireless solution to address their network infrastructure needs. The AP 541N offers employees and guests highly secure, reliable access to data and multimedia, increasing productivity while providing the freedom to work efficiently. With clustering technology, configuring a wireless network is simplified, creating a single point of administration for multiple access points.
This review is from : Ap 541N Wireless Access Point
Solid access point when on the latest firmware . Cisco had a lot of bugs with early firmware, since this is their first Linux based access point. However, if you run their latest firmware (1.9 as of this writing), the device is rock solid. I replaced some older 2.4GHz-only access points with the AP541N, and so far, it's been great. I'm running this in 5.0GHz mode (802.11a/n) due to local interference on the 2.4GHz band. Note that this access point, while claiming to be dual-band, has only one radio. This means that it can only operate one of the frequencies at any given time, so you can run it in 2.4GHz mode *or* 5.0GHz mode, not both concurrently. If you still have older 2.4GHz clients (802.11b/g), you will need to either run this AP in 2.4GHz mode, or run a second AP to support the second frequency.
For advanced users, this device has a couple neat features. First, it can run a number of SSIDs concurrently, each with different security models, and associate them with VLAN tags. On our network, that enables us to run a "Guest" network with limited access to resources, along side our "Internal" network. It can also replicate it's config to multiple AP541N access points within the same network, enabling you to manage them as a single mesh, without having to purchase the complex (and much more expensive) managed wireless infrastructures. FInally, it runs the Linux OS on a Cavium MIPS CPU, and has a full SSH daemon and busybox shell environment, so I'm sure there's some creative modifications that an advanced user could run on this access point.
Solid access point when on the latest firmware . Cisco had a lot of bugs with early firmware, since this is their first Linux based access point. However, if you run their latest firmware (1.9 as of this writing), the device is rock solid. I replaced some older 2.4GHz-only access points with the AP541N, and so far, it's been great. I'm running this in 5.0GHz mode (802.11a/n) due to local interference on the 2.4GHz band. Note that this access point, while claiming to be dual-band, has only one radio. This means that it can only operate one of the frequencies at any given time, so you can run it in 2.4GHz mode *or* 5.0GHz mode, not both concurrently. If you still have older 2.4GHz clients (802.11b/g), you will need to either run this AP in 2.4GHz mode, or run a second AP to support the second frequency.
For advanced users, this device has a couple neat features. First, it can run a number of SSIDs concurrently, each with different security models, and associate them with VLAN tags. On our network, that enables us to run a "Guest" network with limited access to resources, along side our "Internal" network. It can also replicate it's config to multiple AP541N access points within the same network, enabling you to manage them as a single mesh, without having to purchase the complex (and much more expensive) managed wireless infrastructures. FInally, it runs the Linux OS on a Cavium MIPS CPU, and has a full SSH daemon and busybox shell environment, so I'm sure there's some creative modifications that an advanced user could run on this access point.
Ap 541N Wireless Access Point Reviews
Works as advertised . We wanted to move to 802.11n in the 5GHz frequency and ended up going with two of these in a busy medical practice. I love the fact that I only have to configure one unit and the other automatically updates its settings. We have had no performance issues and are getting ready to purchase three more once our new construction is completed.
I wish they made this with dual radio's so that I could run 2.4GHz for our guests and smart phones to use while the staff used the 5GHz with their laptops and tablets.
Works as advertised . We wanted to move to 802.11n in the 5GHz frequency and ended up going with two of these in a busy medical practice. I love the fact that I only have to configure one unit and the other automatically updates its settings. We have had no performance issues and are getting ready to purchase three more once our new construction is completed.
I wish they made this with dual radio's so that I could run 2.4GHz for our guests and smart phones to use while the staff used the 5GHz with their laptops and tablets.
Ap 541N Wireless Access Point Opinions
Upgraded the firmware then works beautifully! . Had a few minutes of trouble at first, but after upgrading the device to the newest firmware, this thing runs like a champ. I am considering replacing all of our old AiroNets with Cisco Ap 541N access points. It has been going solid for 4 months without a single blip.
Upgraded the firmware then works beautifully! . Had a few minutes of trouble at first, but after upgrading the device to the newest firmware, this thing runs like a champ. I am considering replacing all of our old AiroNets with Cisco Ap 541N access points. It has been going solid for 4 months without a single blip.
Cons Review
Disgraceful Technology . I purchased this unit to replace a Linksys unit which has limited range. The Cisco wireless access point was expensive but their promotional literature claimed a much wider range than other units. The Cisco unit works for a few hours then fails even when you are close by. To get it to function again I have to disconnect the power supply and reconnect. Even when it is running the data transfers appear to come in bursts with large pauses between. I recommend that people avoid this product. Indeed the device is so disgraceful that I am never again purchasing a Cisco product. Absolute garbage.
Worst AP Ever. DON'T BUY! . This product was purchased to be used in a corporate environment and to sum it up, it doesn't work well. It works much worse and is much slower than a $90 consumer router, Asus RT-N16 that is loaded up with Tomato firmware. I am running the latest iOS firmware on the Cisco AP 541N and it is disappointing to see the least. I was hopeful that it would fix the problem, but was pretty sure that it would not. The range is less, the speed is practically unusable with high ping in the 400s ms and speeds of 0.5 Mbps give or take a tenth. I cannot believe that Cisco sells this and for $400 nevertheless. I wouldn't even buy it if it was $1 since it doesn't do its function.
STAY AWAY, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED. For less money, there are much better routers running Tomato or DD-WRT. Notable mentions are the Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH with Buffalo branded DD-WRT and Asus RT-N16 loaded with Tomato. They are wireless routers, but can be setup to serve solely as APs. I ran the same tests with these routers and got 50 ms ping and over 4 Mbps easily.
I think my review speaks for itself on how no one should ever waste money and purchase this AP. We are hoping that RMAing it for a replacement will help, but I'd bet that it won't work well. It might turn into an expensive paper weight or more like a wall mounted art fixture in my office.
STAY AWAY, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED. For less money, there are much better routers running Tomato or DD-WRT. Notable mentions are the Buffalo WZR-HP-G300NH with Buffalo branded DD-WRT and Asus RT-N16 loaded with Tomato. They are wireless routers, but can be setup to serve solely as APs. I ran the same tests with these routers and got 50 ms ping and over 4 Mbps easily.
I think my review speaks for itself on how no one should ever waste money and purchase this AP. We are hoping that RMAing it for a replacement will help, but I'd bet that it won't work well. It might turn into an expensive paper weight or more like a wall mounted art fixture in my office.
Excellent Management options but it does not work . We purchased this unit to replace a Lincsys router/AP in our office. The unit has excellent range and excellent management options. However, it does not function properly. We have it operating in mixed-mode 2.4Ghz and after a few people connect to it, it stops working. After a restart, the unit works again for a little while and then it crashes again. I have searched the Web for issues related to the Access Point and others are having the exact same issue. It was mentioned in a discussion group that the unit works fine in 5Ghz wireless-n mode without a problem. Don't waste your money on this unit until Cisco comes up with a fix.
Feature Ap 541N Wireless Access Point
- The cluster, managing your wireless network as a single system without worrying about interference between access points
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Product Details
EAN : 0008826582779UPC : 008826582779
MPN : AP541N-A-K9
Brand : Cisco
Color : Black
Weight : 5 pounds
Height : 5 inches
Length : 16 inches
Width : 14 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Department : Network Switches
Format : CD-ROM
Manufacturer : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
Model : AP541N-A-K9
Operating System : N/A
Publisher : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
SKU : 0882658277962MCR
Studio : CISCO SYSTEMS - ENTERPRISE
Where To Buy
You can buy Ap 541N Wireless Access Point on Amazon . Click here to Read More
