6/30/2011

Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router (F5D8232-4) Review

Belkin N1 Vision Wireless Router (F5D8232-4)
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I suspect most of the people with issues or complaints have version 1000 and / or old firmware.
Additionally one needs to use this in conjunction with 802.11n wireless adapters (preferably Draft 2.0 for future upgradeability / compatibility) in order to obtain the maximum benefit out of the router, at least from a wireless performance perspective.
I recently purchased version 2000 of the N1 Vision (check the sticker on the bottom of the box). I have it mated with two PC's with 802.11n Draft 2.0 (2T2R - 2 Transmit 2 Receive) wireless USB adapters (each with just an internal, but high quality, antenna).
I was up and running in no time.
I also had no problems using VPN to connect to my office network.
I am using WPA2 with AES encryption.
For extra security I have it set up with (broadcast SSID set to 'off' and have specifically only allowed my two wireless adapters by entering their MAC addresses in the 'MAC address control' of the router's setup utility).
Upstairs (one room away from the N1 Vision I get 95 - 100% signal quality and 90+ signal strength with a pretty consistent connection speed of 270 Mbps! (not the full 300 maximum but certainly close enough for me). :)
Downstairs (one floor down and all the way on the other side of the house relative to the router), I get something like 45 - 75% signal strength depending where I am in the room. The speed varies between 45 Mbps, at worst (will have to verify this tonight as I only used it one night and believe this minimum can be improved upon), to a more typical 170 or 210 Mbps (wide range, I know, but I only tested it one night and haven't tweaked settings or placement yet via the flexible silver mini extension cable).
The display is useful in that you can see who connected to your network in the past 24 hours (if an unexpected visitor enters your wireless network, at least you will have a way of knowing it).
I am pleased with the Vision N1's speed, range and overall performance, other than the disconnect issue for which there is an easy enough workaround until they fix it permanently, hopefully, via a firmware upgrade for the 2000 model).
Keep in mind my testing was done using Draft 2.0 802.11n wireless USB adapters. Wireless G adapters won't have the same performance or even close to it.The one thing to note is that there is a known issue where the N1 Vision disconnects every two hours (wireless or all around). This occurs when the router software connects to the time server to get the time (check the router setup page's security log and you can see the entries every two hours).
There is a firmware fix for this for version 1000 but ironically NOT for the newer version 2000.
The N1 Vision 1000 hardware has other issues (reported overheating etc.) though, so I still much prefer version 2000.
For version 2000 there is a workaround to stop it from disconnecting every 2 hours (search the net for it as it requires accessing a "hidden" page).
The workaround works very well and is only required to be performed once after a reboot of the router.
I haven't had to do so in a long time.
I gave it 4 stars due to the issue with it disconnecting every 2 hours and the fact that version 2000 does NOT have a firmware fix for this, even though the older version does.
This should have been caught during pre-release testing. If not, at worst, a firmware fix should have been created for version 2000 very early on.

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N1 vision Wireless router

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ASUS WL-330gE - Portable Wireless Access Point with 4 Functions: Access Point, Ethernet Adapter, Gateway, and Universal Repeater - 802.11b/g Review

ASUS WL-330gE - Portable Wireless Access Point with 4 Functions: Access Point, Ethernet Adapter, Gateway, and Universal Repeater - 802.11b/g
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I bought two of these, one to use as a wireless adapter and one as a repeater. My primary wireless router is a Dlink DIR-622 running the original 1.11 firmware.
Initial setup is fairly easy. The manual is TERRIBLE but you really don't need it for basic setup. Out of the box, or after a hard reset, the device is in "Gateway Mode" with it's DHCP server active and ready to hand out addresses in the 192.168.1 subnet. Connect it to a PC's ethernet port, open your browser to http://192.168.1.220 and you get the configuration screen. From there, it is easy to choose one of the other (3) modes and make a connection to your wireless network.
If you want to make additional configuration changes to other parameters, it gets harder. Once you switch from Gateway mode to one of the other (3), the device no longer acts as a DHCP server for the ethernet port; rather, it effectively becomes a device with a static IP of 192.168.1.220. To make additional configuration changes, you must open your PC's TCP/IP settings and change from DHCP (i.e., "obtain an IP address automatically") to a static address (i.e., "use the following IP address") in the 192.168.1 range. Only then can you again open your browser and use http://192.168.1.220 to access the device.
I setup the first unit in "Adapter mode", configured it for wpa2 and then connected it to my Dish Network 622 dvr. Everything connected and worked perfectly.
I have a large house with my wireless router at the North end, so signal quality at the South end of the house is poor. I configured the second wl-330ge for "Repeater mode" and placed it near the center of my house. Devices in the South end now get excellent signal quality from the centrally located wl-330ge repeater. Devices that used to get 6mbps now hit 35mbps.
Both my units came with firmware 2.0.1.8, but I noticed a newer 2.0.1.9 firmware on the ASUS web site with 11-23-2009 release date. As it mentioned a fix related to Repeater mode, I decided to download it and update both units. I then hard reset and reconfigured them. The one in Adapter mode still worked just fine. The one in Repeater mode ceased to function; devices would connect to it momentarily then lose the connection. After several hard resets and reconfiguration cycles, I gave up and flashed it back to 2.0.1.8, and it immediately started working again. If you are using Repeater mode, I recommend avoiding the 2.0.1.9 firmware.


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ASUS WL-330gE Wireless Access Point combines 4 wireless functions: Access Point, Ethernet Adapter, Gateway and Universal Repeater, into 1 - providing you with connectivity wherever you are.

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6/29/2011

AirLink101 AWLL6075 Wireless N Mini USB Adapter Review

AirLink101 AWLL6075 Wireless N Mini USB Adapter
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For those of you using Windows or Mac OS X, I have no idea how this thing works. I am writing this for those who may be interested in using it on Linux.
I got this because the price couldn't be beat for the feature set. While USB Wi-Fi adapters tend to be much cheaper than their PCMCIA counterparts, this one has an especially good feature set for the price I paid. And it is not nearly so massive as the others I have seen.
I ordered this based on reviews of a different version of the AirLink101. The numbers following ("AWLL6075") are important in determining compatibility. Turns out the model AWLL3026 works out of the box with modern Linux distributions. However, no driver has been written to support the AWLL6075.
I tried using the supplied drivers with ndis wrapper. I could talk to the device, and it reported finding hotspots, but it never connected. Perhaps others may have more luck with this approach, but I wanted to let other Linux users who were considering this option that this is not yet a simple plug-n-play solution as I had anticipated due to my inadequate research.
I will write again if support gets added to update my experience.

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AirLink101 AWLL6075 Wireless N Mini USB Adapter

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Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster WRT54GS2 - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g - desktop Review

Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster WRT54GS2 - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g - desktop
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Having used Linksys routers for the last 10 years the performance of this wireless router does not live up to past performance. This is not a plug and go router. Although I live in apartment which is only 900 square feet, there is no spot in the apartment which can easily connect to the router.
I turn on my computer, my computer sees the router and then says it cannot connect. I am running on XP and my previous Linksys router accept any of the 5 computers I have in my apartment. The main issue is connecting to the router. Although I loaded the software provided, I constantly have to "repair" the connection to initially connect to the router. Often that does not work! I have to go to the router, unplug it and then plug it in again and then I can connect. I use several different computers and this issue is with every model I have: IBM laptop, Dell desktop, Sony Viao and a new HP laptop.
Once connected, it maintains connection about 85% of the time and you can use a USB thumb drive to port the setting quickly and easily to other computers. It is also small and flat in overall profile.
I would not recommend this device to anyone else. I will probably have to buy another router.

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The Worldwide Web is yours, all around your home. Enjoy surfing, searching, communicating, playing, wherever you want it. The Linksys WRT54GS2 Wireless-G Broadband Router is great for sharing an Internet connection, and connecting all of your computers to each other – without running wires. Wireless-G technology creates a fast wireless connection for several computers at once. The Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router's easy-to-set-up wireless network lets you access your broadband Internet connection to surf the Web and send email – or connect between computers to share music, photos and other files, or print to your printer. All without wires, from all around your home. With the Linksys WRT54G2 Wireless-G Broadband Router theres no trading cables, no waiting for someone else to finish what they’re doing, no being stuck in one place.

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6/28/2011

Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G Review

Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G
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If you're having trouble setting it up, definitely call the 800 number as opposed to going online. I tried with three different people through their website online and none could help. Right before I sent it back I decided to try phone support and it got the expander a reprieve. I've copied some instructions that Y.A. Escalante was kind enough to leave in his review, but corrected and elaborated some of the items based on my experience. I would've given this 4 stars, but I deducted 1 for it not having clear enough instructions with its initial shipping. (Would've saved Linksys some headaches)
Here goes:
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-Hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs.
3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password).
4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration)
5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
Hope this helps some of you...if not call the 800 number on the box and be patient. :)

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Expand the range of your wireless network The Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander is the easy way to increase the effective coverage of your wireless network. Unlike adding a traditional access point to your network to expand wireless coverage, the Wireless-G Range Expander does not need to be connected to the network by a data cable. Just put it within range of your main access point or wireless router, and it bounces the signals out to remote wireless devices. This relay station or repeater approach saves wiring costs and helps to build wireless infrastructure by driving signals into even those distant, reflective corners and hard-to-reach areas where wireless coverage is spotty and cabling is impractical. The Range Expander is perfect to help cover large areas in multi-story homes, warehouse environments, public spaces, wireless Hot Spots, and outdoor venues -- anywhere you need extra coverage for your wireless network.

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NETGEAR DGN2000 Wireless-N Router with Built-in DSL Modem Review

NETGEAR DGN2000 Wireless-N Router with Built-in DSL Modem
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The DGN2000 replaced my old Linksys router, a Speedstream DSL modem and an older Netgear wireless router. I have 9 devices networked together in my home. 5 computers are wired to the router via gigabit and 10/100 switches. The DGN2000 worked fine for these devices. The modem and wired router worked. The problem was with the wireless functionality. After following the wizard to set up the first wireless device, it worked briefly. However, when I tried connecting a second computer, it would lose the connection. The DN2000 would work briefly, but only if 1 computer was connected. If the computer went to sleep, the connection would be lost upon wake-up. Most of the time it switched from Access Point mode to Ad-Hoc mode and my wireless computers could not connect. I spoke with several Netgear tech support agents and they had me try different channels and security settings. The Netgear agent told me to contact my vendor and ask for a replacement. First, I checked Amazon.com's return policy and noticed that the vendor was actually ANTOnline.com. ANTOnline's policy was that they didn't support the product and that I was to deal directly with the manufacturer. I contacted Netgear again and explained the situation, so they agreed to give me an RMA to replace the DGN2000.
The replacement arrived a few days later (after having to pay an expedited shipping charge). The second DGN2000 seemed to work a little better than the first, but it still lost the wireless connection. At least this one worked briefly with 2 computers and an iPod Touch. However, within an hour it would switch to Ad-Hoc mode. Again, after dealing with several tech support reps (including the 2nd tier), they decided to give me another RMA and send a third unit. At least this time, they didn't charge me for shipping.
The third unit arrived - same problem. By this time, I was ready to give up on the DGN2000. It was clear this was a poorly designed product. If 3 are bad, it's highly likely the 4th is going to be bad. I checked Netgear's online forum and found several threads discussing problems with the DGN2000. This one about switching from Access Point to Ad-Hoc was exactly the same problem I was experiencing.
[...]
It's strange that all of Netgear's tech support agents acted like they'd never heard of this problem, when clearly many people were dealing with it.
Anyhow, I just wanted my money back so I could purchase a different product. I contacted ANTOnline and asked for a refund and they refused because more than 30 days had passed since purchasing the original product (it had been something like 33 days). Since many of these days included shipping to and from Netgear, the 30 day policy didn't seem fair. I tried getting a refund from Netgear, but they don't provide refunds and were only willing to send me another poorly designed DGN2000. I tried Amazon.com's A-to-Z Guarantee and they wouldn't help because they decided that ANTOnline's written policy was clear and fair.
So after spending over [...] and much time and hassle, I still didn't have a product that worked for my wireless networked devices.
Finally, after complaining to Netgear, they agreed to replace the DGN2000 with the next step up - DGND3300-100NAS. The DGND3300 is working fine. So at least in the end, Netgear was willing to help me out. However, I would not recommend buying the DGN2000. And for ANTOnline's support and return policy, I won't ever buy something from them again.

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Netgear DGN2000 Wireless-N Router DGN2000-100NAS Routers & Gateways - Wireless

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6/27/2011

150Mbps WIFI USB WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER 802.11 B/G/N Review

150Mbps WIFI USB WIRELESS LAN ADAPTER 802.11 B/G/N
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So I have been using this adapter for just over a week. My router is in the next room, 7 feet away, and while I do have continuous signal, I only get one bar out of 5 the majority of the time. I won't complain for the price, but I would be hesitant in buying this if you were using it at a farther distance from your router. I would try discovering the range it has myself, however I am using a desktop PC and not a laptop. Hope this may help others in their decision.

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For the driver, please install from the CD disk,if it cannot work,please go to http://www.ralinktech.com/support.php?s=1.Choose the correct Chipset RT3072/RT307X

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SMC Barricade N Wireless Broadband Router SMCWBR14S-N4 - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g/n - desktop Review

SMC Barricade N Wireless Broadband Router SMCWBR14S-N4 - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g/n - desktop
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Great little router, I run it in a mixed wired/wireless N environment and use it to share the Internet between two desktops, a laptop, a netbook, two Nintendo DS, one Nintendo DSI, Xbox 360 and a Wii. I bought it to replace the old SMC G router which I had for years (love the brand, so I stuck with them). Not much else to say, the set up was easy, and I haven't had to do anything else since the initial setup - it just works. Forgot to mention - didnt have to install any software, just like with SMC's other router, just logged into the web server menu and it was ready to go. Like I said, its a no brainer.

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The Barricade N 150Mbps Wireless Broadband Router (SMCWBR14S-N4) is the perfect all-in-one networking solution for connecting and sharing your high speed cable/xDSL internet connection. Designed for the home, this platform independent multi-functional router combines a 4-port 10/100 LAN switch, 150Mbps Wireless-N access point, NAT firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) and User friendly web-based management interface in one convenient device.The SMCWBR14S-N4 provides better performance than existing 802.11g technology and is fully backwards compatible with existing 802.11b/g products. It supports the latest WPA and WPA2 wireless encryption standards, which prevent unauthorized access to wireless networks and ensure data is secure. Wireless security can also be set up easily using Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) that enables push button (PBC) or PIN configuration.The integrated NAT firewall with SPI provides protection from hackers and Denial of Service attacks by analyzing individual data packets, to ensure that only authorized packets are allowed access to the network. Using the Access Control feature parents or network administrators can block certain websites, limit web access based on time or dates, and/or block internet access for applications like P2P utilities or games. Finally, configuration of your internet connection and advanced router functions is made simple and straightforward with the EZ Installation Wizard and intuitive web-based management interface.

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6/26/2011

Belkin F5D9230-4 Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router Review

Belkin F5D9230-4 Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router
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The original version of this router was version 1000, based on the same platform as Belkin's F5D8230-4 Pre-N and the Linksys WRT54GX routers using Airgo's v1 technology and a Broadcom engine. It got an excellent review from Tom's Networking guide.
Then Belkin put a whole new circuit bard inside the same case and called it Version 2000. It used Airgo's v2 technology and a Realtek engine, and got roundly criticized on the equipment forums for being an inferior product.
The latest version is 3000, which isn't even based on Airgo technology any more. Now Belkin is using Ralink technology, and it's essentially the same router as the Airlink AR-525W, SparkLAN WRTR-300 or Compusa's store brand MIMO router, any of which can be found in stores for about 25 bucks. The version 3000 technology bears no resemblance to the Airgo version that got such a good review at Tom's. In fact, the router with the Ralink chipset (the Airlink) came in dead last and was the only one to receive a rating of "not recommended" in Tom's roundup.
Of course there's no way to tell in advance which version you'll get, but it's a pretty good bet you'll get the latest one. The only way to tell is to look at the sticker on the bottom of the box.
This practice of changing the internal electronics without changing the model number is a really annoying practice. It's hard enough to do all your research and decide which model to buy, so then to end up with something entirely different from what you thought you were getting is just maddening. Your best bet is to just stay away from this one.

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WIRELESS CABLE/DSL ROUTER G with MIMO

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TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain Wireless USB Adapter Review

TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain Wireless USB Adapter
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Installed and running well since 01-14-11. Here's my take on it:
POSITIVES:
----------------
** It really, really works like mad. **
- It's very cheap cost-wise for the great performance it gives you
- It's small(ish), though it will look big connected to your laptop
- Comes with a 3' USB extension cable which I definitely recommend using. It helps position the device, and keeps it from crowding your laptop or from being destroyed by being knocked out of your PC's front USB port.
- Has a diffused green LED under the white plastic to let you know it's working, instead of the blinding blue LEDs that everyone uses these days. The light turns off when it's not powered (like when you hit Standby on your PC)
- The software is relatively simple to install and use, and allows you to use other products to manage your WiFi instead.
- The current driver, software, and documents come on a mini CD and are all up to date with what's available on TP-Link's web site
- The documentation is good, even though it could use some more detail.
- For those who use Win7, it appears to now be compatible. The software and doc reference it.MINOR NEGATIVES:
----------------
- The TP-LINK Wireless Client Utility is very functional but could be a little better, a little more intuitive. A configuration "wizard" would be a good improvement for manual configs.
- Manual configuration (which you need if your network is securely hidden and requires a pass code) isn't fantastically documented, though you will be able to get it to work with the document, and maybe a little trial and error. If your setup is totally open security-wise (this would be BAD), you will have no problem with the software.
- Even if the driver is installed incorrectly, the client utility may report enough information to make you think it is installed. When in doubt, do a complete removal of the software and drivers and re-install.
- It's a minor thing, but the QSS software that comes with the device is ONLY usable with other TP-Link products. Don't bother installing it unless you have a TP-Link Router/Access Point that has QSS built in.
-------------------
You can stop here unless you want to read my experience with it.
-------------------
A friend of mine needed a WiFi adapter since she moved to a location that wasn't wired, so I recommended this to her based on the great reviews it's received. She successfully and easily installed this device on her work laptop, and was extremely impressed with it's ability to drag a much better signal out of the almost inaccessible 802.11n WiFi router located down stairs, the signal of which is blocked by many walls and turns.
She also needed to install the device on her personal PC. Unfortunately we spent hours over chat trying to get it installed and working, and FINALLY got it done after completely removing the software and drivers that she had installed, and then reinstalling those drivers with my guidance. It was only at this point that she said, "Oh yeah, I kind of passed over that part" where XP asks for confirmation to install an unsigned driver. AHHHHHHH! Well, now it works. :) The signal is not fantastic, but it's 4 times better than it used to be (for her laptop) and is good enough for her PC. It definitely works. So one lesson for you is: Please do yourself a favor, and let your operating system install the driver properly. ;)
The night I helped my friend with her WiFi, I received and installed my own TL-WN722N adapter, to help her through the install process and to replace the D-Link 4300 router I was using as a WiFi receiver (firmware v1.8 has bridging).
After installing this little thing and adjusting the antenna, I got download speeds almost twice as fast as before to the aging Linksys 802.11b-only wifi router downstairs. I then spent some time replacing that Linksys device with the D-Link 4300, turned on Super-G, and got almost 13Mbit down and 1.7Mbit up, which is more than four times what I was getting before on download and upload. The download speed varies between 8Mb-12Mb - it probably hits 12mb because of Super-G infringing on other people's signal space :P - but the upload speed has been really constant at 1.7Mb or so since I installed it, even to the Linksys router. The download speed is almost as good as I can get by plugging in a 75' network cable directly to the router.
So this little thing really rocks!
FYI, DSL Reports has an excellent set of speed reporting tools, as well as info on increasing network equipment and WiFi performance. Check it out! I'd enter a link, but Amazon would probably only delete it.
That's it, another novel for my reviews. I'll update this over time if anything new happens...


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TP-Link TL-WN722N 150Mbps High Gain Wireless USB Adapter

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6/25/2011

CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g (Version 2.0/2.5.3) Review

CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g (Version 2.0/2.5.3)
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I've done quite a bit of research before I purchased this item. I was well aware of its strength and shortcoming so when I managed to put it to work, nothing surprised me.
The unit is built in hard plastic, pretty sturdy, but I would be careful of not dropping it as a breathable pouch may not be a bad idea. The battery is made in Japan, whereas the unit itself is made in Taiwan. The initial setup is easy. If you're technically challenged, you can go with the default setup which should get you up and running in a few minutes. If you acclaim yourself as a techie, play around the setup menu and you can tap into a lot more features. By default, go to: http://192.168.0.1 from your browser after connecting to the device, it opens up a wealth of menus that you can customize to your own liking
During the setup, I would suggestion doing the followings:
1. Firmware upgrade, the process is easy, but you need to have a working wifi USB to grab the firmware.
2. WPA2 personal is a good security protocol to use, but it does slow down the connection a little bit, but not significant
3. I probably should have put this as item 1 but no big deal. Change the setup password for your protection.
If you screw up the configuration, no worries, just like most of the home routers, you can use a needle to poke a reset button, which is inside the unit, next to the battery compartment, and everything will be reset.
That's about it for the setup part, now let's talk about the design.
Good: relatively compact, light weight, and not too hot after hours of usage. It won't burn your hand or breast if you put it in your shirt pocket. The LED status lights give you good idea of the unit's operation state. Believe it or not, it's pretty useful. The charger is pretty small, takes about 3 hours to charge it full from empty, which is not too bad. Cradle Point claims it should last about three hours, and I found it to be reasonably true, if I only connect one device to it. If you connect more, it will shorten the battery life. The cost of the replacement (or spare) battery is less than $50, which is a bit pricey to me. But I will talk about usage tips later. Wireless broadcast range is quite good, but of course you can't compare it with your home wireless router. Yet, I have never had any trouble connecting with maximum signal with a size of my office, which is about 300 square feet. After all, this is mainly for travel companionship, and you shouldn't be too far away from the unit anyway.
Bad: The thing I hate the most, is the way that you have to plug in your USB device, which is on the side of the unit, right next to the charge port. When plugged in, it sticks out from the unit and it's easy to break in my opinion. If you put it in your jacket or shirt pocket, and if you're not carefully enough, you might bend the USB and destroy the USB port. If CradlePoint is reading this, maybe they should re-design the housing, to have some room side, fitting a wireless USB drive in there. This would protect the drive from accidental damage.
User experience: My goodness, I love this thing. I bought my iPad the first day it came out, and I received this unit the night before I got my iPad. Let me tell you, it makes the iPad so much more fun to use. I can use it anywhere I like. Since it fits any brand of wireless USB, I'm not at the mercy of AT&T's crappy data service. I'm using it with my Verizon 760 wireless modem, and it works like a champ! Since this unit can take on 16 continuous connection, I can use it along with my netbook, or my wife can use it with her iPod touch concurrently. No problem at all!
Tips: If you intend to use the unit for an extended period of time, and you can plug it to a wall jack for powering it up, I would take out the battery, so you won't have to charge the battery continuously. CradlePoint claims that the battery won't have any memory effect, which I seriously doubt, but taking out the battery from the unit takes less than 5 seconds, so why not?
Hope you like my review, and if you do, please rate. Thank you for reading.

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The PHS300 Personal Wi-Fi Hotspot is a true plug 'n' play solution that creates a powerful 3G/4G WiMAX Wi-Fi network almost anywhere. Connect all your Wi-Fi enabled devices by simply plugging in your activated USB data modem and turning on the PHS300. It's that easy! No more searching for a hotspot, you are one!

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Linksys by Cisco Wireless G Broadband Router With 2 Phone Ports Review

Linksys by Cisco Wireless G Broadband Router With 2 Phone Ports
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I read the previous review. I'm the second. I've owned many Linksys routers and wireless access points, as well as hubs. This is my favorite so far. It doesn't get released in stores until late summer/early fall 2009. The gentlemen before me wrote about how it's not compatible with Vonage. That's true. BECAUSE it's a VOIP router in itself. I know that it's used by a company called Elevate Comm that launches in April (a month from now). That's how I got it. Great router, great price, easy to use and setup, as well as great range. I use it it my house, which is 12000 square feet, and I get signal everywhere. Which is better than I can say about my netgear routers.

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The Linksys WRP400 Wireless-G Broadband Router with 2 Phone Ports is an impressive and versatile networking solution offering advanced triple-play services prioritization in a single intelligent compact device. Whether it is broadband internet sharing, VoIP service, or enhanced services like multimedia gaming, streaming media, or IPTV, the innovative development of the WRP400 provides users with the Quality of Service (QoS) requirements that must now be implemented to ensure guaranteed service delivery for the latest generation of applications that are becoming more prevalent.

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6/24/2011

1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Rang WiFi Network Adapter - Dongle Review

1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Rang WiFi Network Adapter - Dongle
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The hardware itself works great. However, the installation CD comes with Alfa's own utility, RaUI.exe. Using this utility can cause major problems with your system. Basically, once installed, the utility ties up your system resources. It can use up to 90% of your CPU time constantly. This causes the CPU to overheat and shut your system down (power off) without warning. This can result in lost data in other open applications as well as presenting a serious risk to your CPU overheating and getting fried, which could be an expensive repair.
Also, the CD which comes with it has some serious flaws. You can't exit the installation unless the CD is still in the CD drive you are installing it from. You can't even Ctrl-Alt_Del to access the System Manager and end the task unless the CD is still present.
Furthermore, the Auto-Run function of the installation CD has a fatal error. You can't Auto-Run the CD. It will come up with a Windows error if you try to setup using the screen which is presented from an Auto-Run. You can install the driver ok without problems, but you can't install the utility from the screen which gives you that option. You have to open the CD with explorer and click on the setup to run the setup without getting an error.
If you install the utility on the CD your PC will later crash due to the overheating of the CPU. This problem doesn't appear at first, but only after you restart your computer and the utility RaUI.exe is initiated as part of the start-up. At that point it takes over your system resources and causes the 80%+ overhead on your CPU.
My recommendation is that the hardware itself and it's drivers are very good, but the utility is dangerous. Just install the driver, but NOT the utility. Then use the Windows Wireless Network Wizard to install Windows' own utility. Once the drivers are installed, Window's own built in functions can use the hardware and provide all of it's functionality without the problems inherent in the RaUI.exe utility.
The RaUI.exe utility is more user friendly and easier to setup and use than the Windows' built in wizard, but the serious flaw in how it uses so much of your system resources isn't worth the convenience.
Again, the hardware itself, and it's drivers are very good. But the Alfa utility not only sucks, but poses a serious hazard to your system. Get someone who knows what they are doing to help you and install only the drivers from the provided CD but avoid the utility on the CD and use the Windows Wireless Setup Wizard instead to avoid serious problems which could lead to expensive repairs of your computer.


Click Here to see more reviews about: 1000mW 1W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Rang WiFi Network Adapter - Dongle

This is an 802.11n wireless USB adapter with a maximum output power of 1 watt (that's 1000 mW). This is a single band (2.4 GHz) 1T1R 802.11n adapter with maximum transfer speeds of 150 megabits per second (mbps). This is for one brand new (in retail box) AWUS036NEH wireless adapter with 5 dBi gain antenna. Also included in the retail box is the installation software on CD.The AWUS036NEH hooks up to any computer that has a USB port and one of the compatible operating systems listed above. It allows you to get a long ranges and 802.11n connectivity. It is perfect for netbooks, laptops, and desktops. It features an external RP-SMA connector which is a must have for RVers or boaters that need a high powered USB Wi-Fi receiver to connect to a high gain outdoor antenna they already own or plan to buy.* Compatible with IEEE 802.11n, 802.11b/g/n wireless standards* 2.4GHz frequency band, MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output)* Complies with Universal Serial Bus Rev. 2.0 specifications* High speed transfer TX data rate up to 150 Mbps* Supports WPS by S/W* Supports wireless data encryption with 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2, TKIP, AES* Wide Range coverage* Compliant with FCC Part 15.247 for US, ETS 300 328 for Europe* Works with Windows 2000, XP 32/64, Vista 32/64, Windows 7 32/64.Important Driver Installation:If you get an error while Installing the Drivers press OK, then Exit. Then do the following:Right-click on your CD Drive and select ExploreFor Windows, double-Click on the application file in this folder (the file name atarts with "IS_AP_STA_RT2870......) then follow the installation instructions. For Mac and Linux open their folder and then run the application.Or you can got to the manufactures website, then click on "Support" and on the left side click on "Divers" and download.

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Cisco Linksys Refurbished E1000 Wireless-N Router Review

Cisco Linksys Refurbished E1000 Wireless-N Router
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I can use my Mac notebook pro anywhere in the house.the kindle needs to be a bit closer less than 40' away.
Set- up was OK it only took 3 tries to get it to work. Grace & Peace

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The Cisco - Linksys E1000 Wireless-N Router lets you enjoy the benefits of wireless-N technology in your home. Surf the Internet from any connected computer, access your email from your smart phone, print wirelessly, and stream your stored music to the devices in your home. You can also use the E1000's four Fast Ethernet ports to connect your wired devices.

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6/23/2011

ASUS PCE-N13 - Wireless PCI-Express Adapter - 802.11b/g/n - 2 External Antenna Review

ASUS PCE-N13 - Wireless PCI-Express Adapter - 802.11b/g/n - 2 External Antenna
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There isn't much to say about a wireless adapter except that it works or it doesn't. This one works well. It is fast and the board and antennae seem to be well constructed. I installed it on a system running 64-bit Windows. The Windows driver would not work with it at all and, in the beginning, neither would the ASUS driver. Device manager found the card but the network could not find it. After a bit of googling, I shut down my Kaspersky firewall and reinstalled the ASUS driver. It started and ran perfectly. I reactivated the firewall and it continued to work properly. I'm not a computer guru so I cannot explain why this would be. However, if you have trouble getting the card to work, try disabling your firewall software.

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ASUS PCE-N13 - 802.11 b/g/n Wireless PCI-Express Adapter -PSP Xlink Kai Support: Game with worldwide PSP player over the internet.2-in-1 device for wireless connection sharing: Enable your WLAN adapter to easily turn into a wireless AP with design-in software AP.EZ WPS: Quickly set up a secure wireless connection.Windows 7 support.

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D-Link 4-Port Wireless-G 54Mbps Router Review

D-Link 4-Port Wireless-G 54Mbps Router
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I got this item for "free" as a promotion. Free, it's not, having cost me literally hours of troubleshooting. I have installed the latest firmware, 1.04 A1.
1) Hangs up for minutes at a time, seemingly randomly. You have to power cycle, or wait and it MAY recover.
2) Randomly won't let you log in, keeping you at the login screen. Have to power cycle, or reset to factory settings. In the latter case, you lose all your settings. This bug is reported consistently in forums you can find with a web search.
3) Many features are incompatible with wireless clients that work perfectly with other wireless routers. WEP and WPA would not work with two of my wireless cards. Auto Channel Scan fails in conjunction with WEP. It took a full afternoon of experimentation to discover which features are compatible with each other and with various clients. In the end, I had to use MAC filtering to enable any type of security that would work for all clients.
5) Static (in range) IP addresses fail for every client, while the router provides no way to link MAC addresses to a particular IP. This renders port forwarding useless.
5) Web interface and documentation is unclear and full of errors, from misspellings to inconsistent terminology to factual errors. The overall impression is of sloppy, haphazard engineering.
6) Technical support is provided by very polite folks in India, who will run you through their standard procedure over and over without actually solving the problem.
If you want a router that works, or if your time is worth anything, then don't buy this one.

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Wireless G Router, 4-Port Switch, 802.11g, 54Mbps

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6/22/2011

Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g USB Wireless WiFi Adapter With Original Alfa Screw-On Swivel 9dBi Rubber Antenna and Suction cup Window Mount dock Review

Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g USB Wireless WiFi Adapter With Original Alfa Screw-On Swivel 9dBi Rubber Antenna and Suction cup Window Mount dock
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This is a good little USB network adaptor and works as advertised.
Background: I have a Dell laptop with an internal network card. I travel a lot and use it in hotels and hot spots quite a bit. The signal I was getting on the internal card with its two internal antenna's was weaker then I would like and usually doesn't get a strong enough signal to maintain 54 Mbps speed. I was usually down around 11 Mbps in a hotel room. Sometimes I have had to move to a different room, move to a balcony, or a certain point in the room to get a signal at all. In one hotel room I checked signal right after checking in and I could only get a usable signal near the door holding the computer up near the ceiling. I had to walk around the hotel to find a group of rooms that I thought would work and then coordinate with he front desk on availability and change rooms.
I researched many options, reading reviews, etc. Most other options were more expensive or problematic, including modifying my computer to install an external antenna. I looked at USB cards with the mail plug that plug into the computer without using an extension, pcmcia cards with external antenna's, directional antenna's, etc. Most of the reviews I read were from kids "War Driving" but still shed some light on how well this card works.
What I got: I went with the Alpha because of good reviews I read, and the fact that I can remote locate it using an extension giving more options then one mounted to the computer. The unit looks pretty cheap being plastic. Nothing special. It came with the two antennas. I ordered the two extension cables. One is passive and one is active (active is required for longer extensions).
Functionality/Results: It works well. So far I have not been in a Hotel where I didn't get an 88% or better connection (signal strength) with 85 or 90% link quality or better, and more importantly a link with 54 Mbps speed. I get many more signals too, but that is not what I was looking for in most cases. I have tried it in a dozen or so hotels and played with outside signals a bit. There are a lot of them out there.
The ability to move the antenna 10 to 25 feet away could be useful to get it on a balcony, outside a window, get around a concrete wall, etc. but I haven't had to do that yet with the Alpha. Once in the Bahamas, using the computers internal card, I had to get out on a balcony with a 40 mph wind coming off the ocean that would knock over the laptop if I didn't hold on to it, to get a clear shot to the hotel main building where the router was located. I had to weather the salt spray and either had to hold the computer screen to keep it from swaying so I could see it or hold my wine glass to keep it from tipping over. I needed three hands and it was a tough decision as to which two things to hold. That is when I decided to order this card. I read about folks on sail boats running the Alpha up the mast and getting a signal 4 or 10 miles off shore and putting the unit in a zip-loc bag to keep it out of the elements.
If I had modified my computer for an external antenna, or gotten a pcmcia card with external antenna, I could have run coaxial cable to a remote antenna to get the same position benefits, but the signal losses are large that way and signal cuts in half with every few feet of coax. With this adapter the antenna is run right into the transmitter/receiver and there is no loss, however you still have the ability to remote locate it up high in a room, outside a window, on a balcony, etc. without the loss. You don't get the signal loss from a USB cable, although you do run out of power if run too far. 25 feet with the two supplied cables is plenty for me.
Power: The high power is meaningless and probably a lie. I think they are claiming equivalent radiated power with a good antenna to some poor antenna standard like the antenna's printed on a pcmcia adapter card circuit board or something. Anyway it is not really a 1000mW adapter, but it does work well. The allowable power output is somewhat complicated but is based on radiated power (the combined effect of the transmitter and antenna). Anyway a balance of output power, receiver sensitivity, and selectivity is what is important and this one does a good job. It gets quite warm too only having passive cooling (vents).
Antenna's: Like many folks have reported, the big antenna doesn't seem to work any better for me then the little one. Sometimes it will get a slightly stronger signal and more signals with it, but the link quality (signal to noise ratio) is worse. The little antenna has worked fine in all cases so far and just as well as the big one on comparison.
Software: The software installed easily for me with Windows XP and I have had no problems. The software is between OK to fairly nice. I can still enable my internal card and use it when the signal is strong and I don't want to carry the Alpha. I disable it when using the Alpha.
Works great. Hope it last a long time.
If you are looking for solutions for your home (or work) because of problems with range on your Wifi you might also try one of the homemade paper directional parabolic antenna's that you print off from the internet. They really work and also increase security if positioned properly by directing coverage to within your house and decreasing coverage outside. They work will with this unit too. Requires a router with external antenna(s). You can also put one on the antenna of the Alpha and beam signals between the router and the Alpha. Quite effective. You print out a template from the internet, cutout a couple pieces of paper, cover one with foil or aluminum tape, stick the parabolic template together to the flat sheet to form the shape, and position the unit on the antenna of your router. Just do a search on "DIY windsurfer parabolic WIFI antenna" as Amazon doesn't' allow links. Also watch one of the Vid's on it.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g USB Wireless WiFi Adapter With Original Alfa Screw-On Swivel 9dBi Rubber Antenna and Suction cup Window Mount dock

You asked for STRONGER WiFi and Extended Range and here it is. We have combined this high power Wi-Fi adapters with a powerful +9 dBi 15' 2.4GHz Hi-Gain folding antenna. Estimated range is (depending on environment) 1.2 mile (2km). It is compatible with almost all laptops and desktop, PCs and Macs. This kit also includes two antennas- one mini 5 dBi gain travel antenna, and one high gain 9 dBi antenna, as pictured. It is perfect to travel with and weighing less than 2 ounces and measuring 3.5 x 2.5 inches in size (8.5 x 6.3cm)This has a stunning 1000mw output power. So if you are looking for a device to connect to an outdoor 2.4 GHz antenna, such as on a boat or an RV, this is a perfect solution. Because this is a USB adapter, it works on any computer that has a USB port. this also works with Windows Vista, Linux (kernel 2.6.6 and later) and Macintosh (OS version 10.4). And the drivers for ALL of these operating systems are included on CD-ROM * Wi-Fi Certified* Includes 2 external antennas- a 2 dBi mini antenna, and an original Alfa 9 dBi antenna as pictured * Diagnostic LED indicator* Complies with 802.11g standard for 2.4Ghz Wireless LAN* Contains RP-SMA external antenna jack (2 external antennas is included)* Enterprise-class 64/128 WEP encryption, WPA, WPA-PSK, WPA2, 802.1X support* 54 mbps High-Speed Transfer Rate for 802.11g* High powered adapter- 1000mw output power* USB 2.0 and 1.1 compliant

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