Linksys expand wireless home networks without the need for power

Two new networking devices to expand wireless network without using a plug socket

19 January 2006 17:26 GMT / By Stuart Miles

Linksys, the consumer networking arm of Cisco Systems, has announced two new networking devices that allow you to expand the range of your wireless network without the need for a plug socket.

The two new models, the Wireless-G Access Point with PoE (WAP54GP) and the Wireless-G Exterior Access Point with PoE (WAP54GPE) work by supplying power via an Ethernet cable instead meaning that as long as you've got a long enough cable you can create a network anywhere in your home or office.

Called Power over Ethernet (PoE), the company has launched two models for both indoor and outdoor use.

For those in the know, both the indoor and outdoor access points support Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) and the industrial-strength wireless security of Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) which uses advanced encryption to protect wireless transmissions.

WPA2 support will be available via a firmware download on the Linksys website by the end of March. MAC Address Filtering provides additional security by allowing only MAC addresses identified by the administrator to access the wireless network.

The outside unit comes with a weather-proof housing that promises to protect the access point from the elements and means working in the garden come the summer should be easy.

The Wireless-G Access Point with PoE (WAP54GP) and the Wireless-G Exterior Access Point with PoE (WAP54GPE) are immediately available and cost £189 and £369 respectively.