Setup and Practical Use
First before I begin I would like to apologize to our readers for I was unable to deploy the HSG260-WTG2 kit in an actual business. I spent a good deal of time trying to negotiate our ability to be allowed to deploy this kit in a business for testing and was unable to reach an agreement with any business to do so. We did setup and use the HSG260-WTG2 in our TechwareLabs office and as such offer the following commentary based on that use.
While we were unable to test the POS and ticketing system of the kit, the service provided by the HSG260-WTG2 was exemplary. The menu system did take a bit longer than we would have liked to switch between certain menus but that is as a result of polling for information and the sheer amount of data being gathered by the device. The HSG260-WTG2 even includes some network utilities such as ping, sniff, ARP, Trace Route, and more. All of these utilities work for both IPv4 and IPv6 as well!
One of the most useful features of the HSG260-WTG2 is its ability to create user groups with a specific set of firewall controls and privilages associated. This makes the HSG260-WTG2 the ideal device for a business that wants to manage users internet access without the use of a domain controller or higher cost of a Cisco type managed switch. The HSG260-WTG2 can manage switches placed after it but those switches must be layer 2 devices only. Furthermore the HSG260-WTG2 can configure two separate ESSID’s in a public and private setting with authentication being required at your discretion or not.
Transmission Strength:
With the antenna and power strength set to its highest level we were able to achieve connection, transmission, and reception at over 100 feet through more than 5 walls. Try doing that with your Netgear, Dlink, or Linksys home router. The HSG260-WTG2 is in every way an enterprise device capable of servicing entire floors of a building. Add two EAP320 access points and you have full building coverage in nearly every office and conference room.
I went outside the building down two floors and was still able to get three connection bars within Windows 7 on an ultrabook.
4ipnet intends the HSG260-WTG2 kit to be used in the following manner:
As you can see this is setup for a small business internet cafe or coffee shop etc. While this will indeed work just fine, we found in our testing the added EAP320 shown in the picture would be entirely unnecessary. Using the picture as a size demonstration the HSG260-WTG2 would cover this area and approximately 4X to 5X more area with a single wall between areas easily. Add in the extra EAP320 and you have coverage at full strength of an area 5 times larger. In the demonstration above you can see how this kit adds multiple printers and will obviously work with multiple kinds of connected devices.
I would like to make it clear that the HSG260-WTG2 would also find an ideal home in a small to medium size office/professional business seeking to add wireless over which they can control. An IT admin would find all the control and configuration necessary within this device.
Overall Observation and Conclusion:
The 4ipnet HSG260-WTG2 Wi-Fi Hotspot Kit is an excellent offering for companies and businesses alike seeking to add wireless. Its a perfect example of the saying “Don’t judge based on size” as this dimminutive little device packs quite a punch in terms of power and configurability. Every aspect of the 4ipnet HSG260-WTG2 Wi-Fi Hotspot Kit we tested came out on top and did so with quality. I wouldn’t hesitate to deploy this kit for any business nor to recommend it for an excellent value. It is worthy of serious consideration due to its excellent feature set and amazing transmission strength.
I am quite happy to grant the 4ipnet HSG260-WTG2 Wi-Fi Hotspot Kit our Editors Choice award.
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