Pros: Works as an access point (that's all I've tested). Setup was fairly easy, but someone in the category 1 or 2 of tech knowledge might have some difficulty. I did not use WPS.

Cons: Signals are rather weak -- has a hard time reaching 2nd floor from first floor, esp. in the evening. User manual says to "Use the wireless adapter’s site survey tool to determine the best antenna orientation for your wireless devices," but the trouble is, there is no site survey included in the firmware setup program. Says it's under the "Wireless" menu item -- it's not.

Other Thoughts: It sure would be useful to have the site survey tool. I can't really do a real setup taking into account the environment without a site survey tool, so my evaluation has to default to only 3 eggs, probably should be 2. Was this an oversight by Trendnet?

Pros: Works as it should. Running 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz networks simultaneously is a nice benefit, especially in areas where the 2.4GHz spectrum is crowded.

Configuration and setup were easy.

Nice, low-profile unit. There are no blinding blue LED lights on it, just some nice tasteful green ones of reasonable brightness.

Cons: Unit still has 1.0 firmware from nearly a year ago, and there have been no updates that I have been able to determine. Difficult to believe that they got 100% right the first shot, which almost never happens.

Pros: Lower cost, supports WDS, Repeater, and Client mode, besides just AP mode.

Cons: Slow on AC1200. I'm using mine in Client mode, and connected to the same ESR1200 AC1200 AP, in the same location approx as my PremierTek PT-8812AU, downloading from my unRAID server, I get 24MB/sec with the PT-8812AU USB wifi, and only 10MB/sec with the TrendNet.

I don't know if the gigabit interface on the TrendNet is running at 100Mbit (my mobo is gig, and I'm using the cable that came with the AP), or if the AP in Client mode isn't connecting using AC1200 mode, but rather N mode, or if the device is really using a USB AC1200 wifi chipset internally, and it's just bottlenecked by design. (Log shows "8812 firmware download", which sounds like it's initializing an 8812 USB wifi internally.)

PITA to configure too. Can't just plug it into a PC with ethernet, have to slave it to an existing router, so that it can pull an IP address and allow you to configure it. Then after you configure it, you can unplug it from your router, and plug it into your PC.

Other Thoughts: No new firmware available yet, sparse menus / feedback (for example, no way to tell if connected at N speeds or AC speeds in Client mode).

Could have spent a little longer in product development. Seems like these were designed and built for a low price point, and it shows.

Manufacturer Response:

Hello VirtualLarry,

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on the TEW-814DAP. WE are always looking for feedback to help guide product development and we will be sure to share this information with our product management team. You do not have to connect the TEW-814DAP to an existing network first. If you connect your PC directly to it, the TEW-814DAP will default to 192.168.10.100/24. Assign your computer a static IP address within the same subnet and you will be able to access it and configure it there. For the average user, the previous method tends to be simpler.


Regards,

Adrian
TRENDnet Support
http://www.trendnet.com/support