Latest Strix WLAN: No Wires Attached

Unlike traditional WLAN solutions, which require wired Ethernet at every access point, the Strix Access/One Network uses a wireless Ethernet backhaul for wire-free connections. The Access/One Network, made up of a combination of modules, measures 3 inches by 5 inches and is roughly the size of a PDA.

Angie Wong, CEO of Network Designs Integration Services, Fremont, Calif., called the Strix system a real market differentiator. The company's geographically focused channel program will prevent oversaturation, she said.

"This is a different approach, which is nice," Wong said. "They also have some very interesting products, very modular-based, and the scalability and ugradability is awesome."

Product pricing ranges from $850 to $1,300, depending upon the module mix, which is about 25 percent below a comparable Cisco Aironet solution, said Bob Jordan, co-founder and vice president of marketing for privately held Strix, Westlake Village, Calif.

For instance, a Strix Access/One base module with one Ethernet port and 802.11a radio is $900, and the list price for a comparable Cisco Aironet 1200 802.11a Access Point and Ethernet cable is $1,249.

The Strix network also automatically configures itself, adapting to changes without intervention, and serves all wireless devices using 802.11 a/b/g/, Bluetooth and RF technologies simultaneously.

"The key here is just like in the wired network, where we put in Ethernet, Token Ring, [Fiber Distributed Data Interface]," Jordan said. "It's all under the same network management and security umbrella, so it's a system."

Strix has a channel-only sales model and expects to roll out its Strix Channel/One Partner Program in several weeks, Jordan said, adding that the vendor is also talking with midtier distributors.