Although 802.11b (Wi-Fi) wireless networking still dominates in homes and businesses, the newer 802.11a standard is nipping at its heels. With 802.11a, you risk less interference from other devices crowding your bandwidth; 802.11b has to compete with cell phones and other wireless devices. You also get the promise of faster speeds: a maximum of 54Mbps. And while 802.11a devices still cost more than their 802.11b counterparts, the price gap is narrowing.

The D-Link Air Pro DWL-5000AP and the Linksys WAP54A Instant wireless access point we test here are good examples of 802.11a's strengths. The latter device is compact and makes data zip in Turbo mode, while the D-Link product excels at standard-mode performance and includes helpful start-up videos. Both access points sell for less than $350, making them attainable--but still about $100 more expensive than equivalent Wi-Fi products. Are they worth the extra cash? Read on to find out.

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Brian Nadel is a 20-year veteran of technology journalism. He also has worked for PC Magazine, Business Tokyo, Popular Science, and NBC Radio News.