HP hides Ethernet/Wi-Fi access in wall - update

Stephen Withers
Friday, 05 June 2009 10:58

Opinion and Analysis

Here's a neat product: a Wi-Fi access point and four-port Ethernet switch that fits into a standard electrical wall box.

HP's ProCurve MSM317 Access Device combines an 802.11b/g wireless access point and a four-port wired Ethernet switch, and is designed to be installed in a standard wall electrical outlet.

Intended for commercial premises such as hotels and apartment buildings, the idea is to allow the connection of VoIP phones, IPTV set-top boxes and other networked equipment (Power over Ethernet is supported), while providing in-room b/g Wi-Fi for guests.

Priced at $A527, you might think this would be a handy device for keeping things tidy (and signals strong) in a home or small office - but there's a catch.

For large installations, you'll need a $A12,080 ProCurve MSM760 mobility controller to manage the access devices. If you've already installed a ProCurve 5400 or 8200 switch, you can add a $A10,570 MSM765 controller instead.   

But if you need no more than 10 MSM317s, you can go for the significantly cheaper ($A1408) MSM710 Access Controller Instead.

If you want to use the Power over Ethernet feature, you'll also need to use the devices with a switch that supports PoE, or add one or more Procurve J9407A PoE power injectors at $A110 a pop.