Senao NL-3054CB3 PLUS (Deluxe) is a joke!

I've decided the Senao NL-3054CB3 PLUS (Deluxe) is crap. I think there is one guy in charge of the firmware who is pressured to get stuff out periodically. His setup has something nonstandard so he is unaware of how badly it performs in the real world. Most of the modes it says it supports are flakey at best. WDS hasnt worked at all yet.

As soon as you try to use WPA, anything that did work stops. I wish I had bought a Linksys and added a poweramp instead.

Anyone else had luck with this dog?

ps Yes: I'm using the latest 2_4_8 firmware

So wait a minute, let me get this straight...

You have a wireless network running with clients connecting fine with no encryption.
You then change the AP to use WPA and then the clients cant connect? That is to be expected you know...

(You dont specify whether or not you bothered reconfiguring the clients... )

And by the way, it's preferable to avoid amplifiers where possible.

I've never had to use WDS so I cant comment there, but the only problem I've had with my 3054 is that Netgear client cards dont seem to like connecting when the SSID is hidden. Apart from that, it goes fine.

Wow, a response from someone :-) good to hear from you.
Yep, I reconfigured the clients too. I actually used to work for Intersil with the prism choicemac in firmware before they sold everthing off.

I found that if you just use this thing as an AP with mostly set to defaults, it works. If you use it as a bridge with basic wep it works. But as soon as you try to setup WPA security, or WDS mode or some of the other features claimed. It stops. The manual is pathetic. It basically parrots what the html screens say without expanation. ie " The WPA mode button turns WPA on or off" or similar. The newer rev manual actually has setup appendix examples for bridge and AP use that are the only sections usable or informative.

My reasons for the negative post are severalfold: to drum up responses that hopefully may get read by someone at Senao for quality, stop the plug and play claims, and get reviews of what does work for other people.

Can you share what is working for you and what firmware you are using.

p.s. to whomever chewed the one guy out for his "play with it to see what works" method:

A scientific method is fine when there is underlying patterns or reason. Otherwise the 'bang on it' method is needed sometimes for the intuitive leaps or to figure out what the idiot was thinking when he coded the thing. So get off the soap-box, I need it :-)



[quote=whetu,Apr 30 2005, 01:42 AM]
So wait a minute, let me get this straight...

expected you know...

(You dont specify whether or not you bothered reconfiguring the clients... )

And by the way, it's preferable to avoid amplifiers where possible.

You seem like a good knowledgable guy, the soapbox comment was meant in fun. I saw your website and pics of your setup. Looks good!
Thanks for any suggestions.

I've owned one for over 6months. I use it to just connect to nzWireless as they gave' the modem to me... For me its been a rock. No probems at all. Its been that happy i have not even bothered to upgrade from 1.2.6.0. And thats NOT like me!!

This post was just so others knew that there is some problem free ones out there... but please remember that i use this on its most simplest setting. Bridge - No WPA etc.

And Yes Studleylee, You'll find Whetu to be one of the most consistently right posters i've ever known through the internet... Its amazing because the dude lives just up the road from me. Speaking of that... Whetu, if your around "The Car Stereo Company" on Hutt Road stop in... im the youngest Fella there.

__________________
A good friend will come bail you out of jail...but a true friend will be sitting next to you saying "Damn, we fucked up!"

I've used that senao wireless bridge for nzwireless the same as kezza, and im not sure if it was the bridge or not but generally the stability was very poor, high packet loss etc.. i did upgrade the firmware to try and alleviate the problems but had no luck. I have DSL now..

I personally reckon it's the cheap antennas that nzw are using, mine's rusted to hell and it's supposedly galvanised and powdercoated. Now I'm waiting patiently for my antenna supplier to deliver some rootennas. So very soon, the anticipation is killing me

Sure. Firmware version 1.6

wireless > general page
country code is set to NO_COUNTRY_SET-NA
2.4GHz Radio is set to Enable (no, really )
and operating mode is set to AP

wireless > 802.11g page
SSID - TROGDOR_THE_BURNINATOR
Wireless Mode - 2.4GHz (802.11g) - .g ONLY. Not mixed mode, not SuperG. Just .g
Hide SSID - deselected to make the netgear client cards happy
Security - WPA

Advanced Settings - All left on defaults
Station Select - 11g only

In the Edit Security Settings section
WPA mode - PSK
passphrase..... yeah right, as if I'm going to tell you that
cipher type - TKIP
group key update interval - left at default of 1800

all clients are set to WPA-PSK client mode with the passphrase and they instantly pick up the TKIP side of things. 802.1x authentication is disabled in the network properties for each client

Hi,
Sounds like firmware version 2_4_8 has changed alot
( maybe for the worst ). There's no country code or radio enable anymore. hmm. I'm my case it worked better before I uppgraded the firmware to the latest.

In the meantime, I bought 2 Linksys wrt54G's( they are cheap now! ) and Sveasoft firmware to play with. I hear th epower amp is rated to 300mW in them
and Sveasoft let's you set the power. Linksys limits them to 22mW or so for conservative FCC avoidance. I'll probably sell the Senao's.

Thanks for sharing the information!!! Your posts provide much needed information that helps everyone. Thanks!!!


[Sure. Firmware version 1.6

wireless > general page
country code is set to NO_COUNTRY_SET-NA
2.4GHz Radio is set to Enable (no, really )
and operating mode is set to AP

I agree with this poster about the Senao. I have read over the past month about how good this comapny is and how they have the best power of all AP's. I have been testing the 3054 against a Dlink and Linksys.

I can connect longer distances and stay connected in more areas on my property with the Linksys and Dlink.

I am really confused about this. I use WPA and am using the latest firmware. 3054 connects when it wants to and disconnects as easily when it wants to

Hi,

I bought one and I upgraded to the newest FW from senao TW web site, and I enabled the WEP 64 and WDS (allow clients, connected to buffalo 1g router) and used 11b only(because power was not enough on g mode). I installed them into an apartment building with 3 floors, and no problem at all. Although I don't like the power in g mode, so I forced the unit to use b only mode.

I have the same dilemma that studleylee had on this thread http://www.wirelessforums.org/hardwa...eluxe-696.html

So my question is for studleylee or anyone else that has gone through this dilemma as well. I am attempting to make the wisest choice with the least amount of $ to make this happen "point(AP) to multipoint(Bridge)"

Ok... back to the question.
In comparison how does the WRT54G with the Sveasoft performs vs the NL-3054CB3 plus deluxe? for wireless links of less than a mile in a relative clear Line Of Site (there are some trees but not directly in the direct LOS) for the relative path. Additionaly, the environment condition is relative humid for most of the year.

The antennas that I am scoping out for this project are panel antenna 16dbi at the remote locations while in the base probably an Omni 9dbi 7 deg downtilt.

My WiFi layout is something to this effect, such that ( B ) is about ~200meters south east from ( A ) and ( A ) is about ~500meters from ( C ) directly south.
( B )Panel(16dbi)
( A )Omni(9dbi) ( C )Panel(16dbi)

I can as well make location ( B ) the base (point) where ( A ) & ( C ) are the bridges (multipoint)


Which one of the above radios will perform best for the highest mbps and reachability between the antennas. Additionaly which one would be the best bang for your buck and have the highest security capabilities.


Thanks!

I have the same dilemma that studleylee had on this thread http://www.wirelessforums.org/hardwa...eluxe-696.html

So my question is for studleylee or anyone else that has gone through this dilemma as well. I am attempting to make the wisest choice with the least amount of $ to make this happen "point(AP) to multipoint(Bridge)"

Ok... back to the question.
In comparison how does the WRT54G with the Sveasoft performs vs the NL-3054CB3 plus deluxe? for wireless links of less than a mile in a relative clear Line Of Site (there are some trees but not directly in the direct LOS) for the relative path. Additionaly, the environment condition is relative humid for most of the year.

The antennas that I am scoping out for this project are panel antenna 16dbi at the remote locations while in the base probably an Omni 9dbi 7 deg downtilt.

My relative WiFi layout is something to this effect, such that ( B ) is about ~200meters south east from ( A ) and ( A ) is about ~500meters from ( C ) directly south.
( A )Omni(9dbi) ( B )Panel(16dbi)
( C )Panel(16dbi)

I can as well make location ( B ) the base (point) where ( A ) & ( C ) are the bridges (multipoint)


Which one of the above radios will perform best for the highest mbps and reachability between the antennas. Additionaly which one would be the best bang for your buck and have the highest security capabilities.


Thanks!

I have the same dilemma that studleylee had on this thread http://<br /> <br /> http://www.wi...eluxe-696.html

So my question is for studleylee or anyone else that has gone through this

dilemma as well. I am attempting to make the wisest choice with the least

amount of $ to make this happen "point(AP) to multipoint(Bridge)"

Ok... back to the question.
In comparison how does the WRT54G with the Sveasoft performs vs the NL-

3054CB3 plus deluxe? for wireless links of less than a mile in a relative

clear Line Of Site (there are some trees but not directly in the direct

LOS) for the relative path. Additionaly, the environment condition is

relative humid for most of the year.

The antennas that I am scoping out for this project are panel antenna 16dbi

at the remote locations while in the base probably an Omni 9dbi 7 deg

downtilt.

My relative WiFi layout is something to this effect, such that ( B ) is

about ~200meters south east from ( A ) and ( A ) is about ~500meters from (

C ) directly south.
( A )Omni(9dbi) ( B )Panel(16dbi)
( C )Panel(16dbi)

I can as well make location ( B ) the base (point) where ( A ) & ( C ) are

the bridges (multipoint)


Which one of the above radios will perform best for the highest mbps and

reachability between the antennas. Additionaly which one would be the best

bang for your buck and have the highest security capabilities.


Thanks!