The DrayTek Vigor AP-810 is a standalone wireless access point, ideal for adding wireless connectivity to an existing LAN, or for expanding the range of an existing wireless LAN by using the WDS features. It can also be used as part of the DrayTek managed wireless system (see details here). The AP-810 replaces our popular AP-800 model, adding full compatibility with our managed wireless platform.
The AP-810 features multiple levels of wireless security. Encryption using WEP, WPA, WPA2 (802.11i) is available you can also use the access control list (ACL) to specify the hardware addresses of clients which are permitted to connect (by MAC hardware address). Any unauthorised hardware is refused access.
For additional user authentication, you can activate 802.1x RADIUS (Remote Authentication Dial-in User Service) which allows you to centrally manage and store user names and passwords either within the AP-810 setup itself (thus not needing any external server) on an external radius server which can permit time limited, temporary or continuous access to your clients as required.
The Vigor AP-810 supports the 802.1q VLAN protocol so that if it is connected to an 802.1q enabled LAN, it can split tagged data (whether its different subnets or intended for different users) and broadcast each on its own SSID. This means, for example, that your guest WiFi access is provided on a separate isolated SSID with no access to your company data/devices.
The AP-810 has a USB interface into which you can connect a regular printer. That printer is then accessible from any wireless or wired PC which connects to the AP-810, or a PC anywhere else on the network to whick the AP-810 is connected. This is ideal to provide printer access to wireless laptops but could also be used for installing a printer elsewhere in your home/office by using a pair of AP-810s to make a bridge.
The AP-810 implements intelligent wireless traffic prioritization for the most efficient management of wireless traffic by using the Wi-Fi Multimedia standard (WMM). WMM defines Quality of Service (QoS) in Wi-Fi networks. It is a precursor to the upcoming IEEE 802.11e WLAN QoS standard, intended to improve timing critical applications such as audio, video and voice applications over WiFi. WMM adds prioritized capabilities to Wi-Fi networks and optimizes their performance when multiple concurrent applications, each with different latency and throughput requirements, compete for network resources.
Wireless Security (encryption) is important to protect your data (privacy) but also to prevent unauthorised people from accessing your network or your Internet connection. The WPS system means that instead of having to create and enter long encryption keys, you can activate WPS registration. To activate, you press and hold the WPS button, then activate the WPS function on your PC; the two devices then automatically exchange encryption keys. For security, WPS an be disabled if the AP-810 is physically accessible.
The same button on the AP-810 also serves as a physical on/off switch for the Wireless LAN if you wish to quickly disable it at any time, whilst still leaving your wired ports active.
The DrayTek AP-810 can act as a standalone wireless access point, ideal for adding wireless connectivity to an existing LAN but also operates in several other wireless modes to provide enlarged wireless coverage or wireless bridges to other parts of your LAN. Many different configurations are possible.
Bridge Mode
This mode joins two parts of the same logical network which cannot be otherwise connected by cables, for example between two adjacent buildings. As the AP-810 has a built-in 4-Port switch, you can then connect up to 4 wired devices/PCs directly to it.
Repeater Mode
As a repeater, the AP-810 can extend the wireless coverage of a network. You can add multiple units to extend the range in multiple directions or multiple hops (for best performance, more than two is not recommended due to latency and channel congestion which can result).
Station Mode
In 'Station Mode' a remote station (computer or other device) can connect to the AP-810 using a regular ethernet cable, but the AP-810 connects to the remote LAN over wireless. The AP-810 has a built-in 4-port Ethernet switch so you can connect up to 4 client devices directly by wired Ethernet (100BaseT RJ45).
The AP-810 can support two completely independent LANs; each is connected via its own independent RJ45 Ethernet interface. There are Ethernet RJ45 interfaces for LANA (4 ports) and LAN B (one port). These networks remain completely isolated from each other. Each LAN is assigned its own separate Wireless SSID so they remain separated even on the Wireless LAN. This is the equivalent of having two completely separate access points and ideal for public and private networks in the same location or wireless LANS for two separate companies.
Having two physical LAN interfaces provides a much simpler alternative to using tagged VLANs (which requires additional switching hardware with VLAN support) and a Radius server for authentication. It is also much easier/quicker to set up.
The AP-810 supports PoE (Power over Ethernet) as standard (built-in) so if the AP-810 is connected to a PoE enabled Ethernet switch or PoE injector, you don't need any local power to the unit (power supply) - the AP-810 will take its power from the Ethernet cable. This is ideal for situations where you do not have mains power available in the exact location where you want to install the AP-810 or just for general aesthetic neatness, perhaps where the AP-810 is installed somewhere prominent.
For additional security, wireless access can be restricted to authorised users only by use of a unique username and password for each user. This is in addition the encryption provided by WEP/WPA etc. When the user first opens their wireless connection, the AP-810 will request their username/password and not permit access to the LAN or Internet without it.
The AP-810 can use an external radius server to hold user credentials but also has its own built-in radius server to store up to 96 users. The AP-810's built-in Radius server can also act as a server to additional devices (such as another AP-700, meaning that you don't need to set up the same users up on several units)