ZyXEL NWA-3165 Wireless Access Point

The ZyXEL NWA-3165 is an innovative access point which makes it relatively easy to provide graded security and quality of service to different groups of users.

Guide Price: £180
Type: Wireless Access Point
Protocols: 802.11b/g/n
Max WiFi speed: 300Mbps
Range: x1
Ports: 1x 10/100 auto-sensing RJ-45
Security: WEP, WPA1/2
Operating modes: Access point
Power: External or POE
Size: 190 x 135 x 42 mm
Weight: 0.762kg
Power consumption: 6w typical
Special Features: Power over Ethernet (PoE) and rogue access port detection

The ZyXEL NWA-3165 is a single band access point that features draft n and MIMO connectivity. Most MIMO systems can be identified by their oversized or multiple aerials. The NWA-3165 is distinguished in this respect by having no external aerial at all and no external aerial connector. Inside there are three embedded dipole aerials that are used to implement the MIMO behaviour - reducing loss of signal by multipath reception. The lack of external aerials gives the device a clean and anonymous look which might be a factor to consider if you are trying to hide it to make it more secure.

The case is off-white plastic but treated with fire retardant chemicals to make it plenum rated. You can manage the device either via the usual web interface or via a command line interface. It also supports SNMP for more complex monitoring and management tasks.

The web interface is a little more complex than you might expect for an access point. This makes simple tasks slightly harder but difficult tasks slightly easier. It features the use of multiple security profiles which can be used to assign different types of security levels to different users. For example, you could have a guest account with limited access.

Each security profile is presented to the end user as a separate WiFi network with a different SSID - a set of up to eight "virtual" access points supported by the same device. As well as security settings each profile can also specify QoS parameters and, of course, a separate password to ensure users only log on to the virtual access point they have permission for.

You can select between WEP or WPA1/2 with password or RADIUS (internal or external server) authentication. Certificate import and management is also supported. You can also opt for "Layer-2 isolation" which means that a client is controlled in what devices can be accessed - via another type of profile.

Next page: profiles and image gallery