Engenius Wl Acs Eoc-3220 EXT Outdoor 400Mw 54Mbps Extreme 5Dbi Omni Wall Pole Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a great unit at a reasonable price. The competition is much more expensive.
The down side is that setup is a PITA if you are not a network administrator. Once setup though, the units work great. There is very little latency added (ping time round trip).
EnGenius ships with quite nice mounting hardware and POE adapter. You will also need some electricians tape to seal the RJ45 connection (unless you can attach your own RJ45 connector; the supplied gasket ASM isn't large enough to let the RJ45 through) and possibly a null modem DB9 cable assembly if you do like I did, and set the EnGenius in a mode where it won't talk to you anymore. EnGenius is running Linux under the covers, with the null modem cable you can reset to default using a 2nd PC.
My application is an interbuilding wireless link, LOS 350M (about 1100'), where it was not practical to run a wire for broadband access. The first units installed were the internal antenna 3220, which are still in production use working reliably in all weather conditions-- rain, snow, fog. Downtime is not an option as the broadband is work related.
EnGenius could help themselves a lot by having three or four "standard" setups shown on their web site (BTW, I recommend reading the EnGenius website FAQ). I ended up using the one configuration they listed although that is not ideal for my application-- mostly because I ran out of time to try to get the ideal setup working. In the setup used, the bridge end can't work with a router, only a switch, which is acceptable and certainly better than only 1 PC at the far end [the setup is DSL router, NetGear local AP/router, EnGenius 3220 set up as AP+WDS, EnGenius 3220 set up as bridge, NetGear FS105 switch. The ideal setup would have a router not a switch at the far end to support the 4 PCs there.].
The 3220 is pretty darn sensitive too. I can weakly detect (9DBi antenna) several unprotected APs in the distance through substantial tree interference-- I'm sure the AP owners "think" they are invisible because their laptops can't connect to their AP, well that is not the case and they should use WEP or WPA with SSID suppressed. The 3220 can also detect the head end AP buried inside a house (the NetGear AP/router feeding the 3220 at the head end). In some applications you may not need two 3220s to operate, just one, if the source low cost consumer AP can be placed in a window or other spot that provides a decent signal-- the weaker signal though translates to a higher error rate and slower overall communications (the communications is slower due to retrying when a packet is lost or mangled), there isn't any free lunch!
There isn't much competition at at the EnGenius 3220 price point. The units work reliably in all weather conditions and have a nice collection of mounting hardware and POE adapter. The EnGenius 3220 is an excellent solution to linking points if the alternatives are impractical or simply more expensive.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Engenius Wl Acs Eoc-3220 EXT Outdoor 400Mw 54Mbps Extreme 5Dbi Omni Wall Pole

Click here for more information about Engenius Wl Acs Eoc-3220 EXT Outdoor 400Mw 54Mbps Extreme 5Dbi Omni Wall Pole

Read More...

ASUS WL330GE Wireless pocket access point Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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.


Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS WL330GE Wireless pocket access point

Click here for more information about ASUS WL330GE Wireless pocket access point

Read More...

+9dBi 15" 3x WiFi Booster Antenna for Netgear FM114P FVM318 FWG114P MA311 ME101 ME103 WG302 WG311 with RP-SMA Connector Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)+9dB 15" Booster Antenna for "Linksys" with RP-TNC Connector
To solve the mystery of how you can get gain out of what might appear to be a omni-directional whip: This is a collinear antenna which has coils built into it so that it acts like several vertical antennas are stacked on top of one another, each creating more gain as the radiation pattern is squashed down into the shape of a toroid or doughnut so that little power is received or transmitted either directly above or below the antenna and instead concentrated in a band around the center. If the Wi-Fi antenna you want to receive from is elevated above you then you would want this kind of a antenna to be swiveled in such a manner as to put the whip at a 90 degree orientation to the remote station to allow signal reception or transmission off of the sides of the whip where the power is greatest.
Due to the way the receive and transmit pattern is in the shape of a toroid or doughnut this type of antenna can give good gain while at the same time being omni-directional, except above and below the antenna where you don't need to waste the power anyway. If you want a antenna which has much higher gain look for a more directional antenna such as the flat panel antennas, Yagi or a parabolic reflector type of antenna which depending upon the size, can have 20 dB (or more) of gain which is a factor of 100 making a 100 milliwatt or 1/10 of a watt signal seem as powerful as a 10 watt signal, or a 1 watt signal as powerful as 100 watts. If you buy a flat panel Wi-Fi antenna and get one rated for 20 dBi of gain the half power beam width for both receive and transmit will be about 20 degrees. With a 20 dBi gain flat panel directional antenna, if you point it 10 degrees to the left or right from where it should be pointed for maximum signal you will have the equivalent of 17 dB of gain but that apparent gain will quickly drop off the further away the antenna is pointed from the proper direction. Note: It is a coincidence that a 20 dBi gain antenna has a 20 degree wide half power beamwidth, normally gain and half power beamwidth do not correlate to the same numbers except in the case of a 20 dBi gain antenna.
If you want to receive or transmit to two different locations at the same time but want each to have the best signal possible using a single high gain flat panel antenna, you can cut the difference between them sacrificing some of the gain to each one and point the antenna to an area in the middle. As long as the two stations are close enough together to be within a healthy portion of the antennas area of gain this should work out fine. Obviously, you wouldn't expect to be able to use that antenna for two different locations if one was behind you and the other in front but if both are within 30 degrees from you and not too far away a 20 dBi gain antenna could be used by cutting the difference between them. If they are too far separated in azimuth direction from you use a high gain collinear antenna with more power on each end, or perhaps using a lower gain antenna which has a much wider beamwidth or separate antennas for each radio shot. You can also use a splitter designed for 2.4 GHz and combine the receive and transmit from two separate antennas together into one feedline going back to your equipment, if necessary, but there will be a 3+ dB penalty or loss of signal level when doing so but to me this seems like the best solution if you need all the gain you can get from a flat panel or highly directional antenna to each station when using a common or single Wi-Fi transmitter and receiver such as a LinkSys or other wireless router.
Here is a good rule of thumb for line of sight radio shots without buildings or other terrain in between, every time you half the distance you increase the received power from a remote location by six dB, or if you double the distance you lose six more dB of signal level. In areas where there are trees and buildings or hills between each location this rule does not apply as the signal losses can be very great for short distances.


Click Here to see more reviews about: +9dBi 15" 3x WiFi Booster Antenna for Netgear FM114P FVM318 FWG114P MA311 ME101 ME103 WG302 WG311 with RP-SMA Connector

Click here for more information about +9dBi 15" 3x WiFi Booster Antenna for Netgear FM114P FVM318 FWG114P MA311 ME101 ME103 WG302 WG311 with RP-SMA Connector

Read More...

NETGEAR WNHDEB111-100NAS Wireless N Access Point Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I bought this kit to send HD video from my computer to my TV media device. It has adequate bandwidth and worked out of the box, but I do not get a strong signal from the main floor to the basement of my house, a distance of about 25 feet. There are a couple of walls as well as the floor, and the basement ceiling has metal duct work and pipes above the plasterboard, so I am probably lucky to penetrate all that. I used a laptop to indicate wireless signal strength, and spent a couple of hours orienting each device for the best signal. Now I get a level that varies from 50% to 70%, and that works reliably for HD at 720p. I have not been able to send 1080i over the link without momentary stops and starts in the audio and video; however the link never breaks connection and never needs resetting. It seems to just limit the bandwidth as the signal strength goes lower.
I bought a third WNHDE 111 to connect to another computer, and than link has never been interrupted since I installed it over a month ago. It has always worked well. I had previously used a Linksys G router that was interrupted once or twice a day, and it had to be reinstated manually using the "repair" function in the Windows wireless software. It was my wife's computer in the kitchen, so I had to fix it!
I still have the wireless G system up, and it works well around the house with a third computer, a laptop, but it never gave a reliable signal for my wife's computer in the kitchen; and it would not carry the HD video for the TV. I also use that old G router to connect the ethernet from my main computer to the WNHDE 111.
I recommend this device if you don't have too many walls and floors to penetrate. I am a retired electronics engineer, and I assure everyone that the higher the frequency, the poorer the penetration, but the more bandwidth and the more freedom from interference.
Update: After 7 months, I have better results. With some tweaking of the settings (set the Channel Width to 20 MHz, turn off the "Broadcast SSID", and lower Beacon Period to 50 msec) I can now stream 25 Mbps HD video through all the walls. I think the main problem was that the auto 20/40 Channel Width was trying to run at 40 and was not successful, sometimes switching between 20 and 40. When I reduced the channel width, I got an increase in signal strength. I can now stream 1080i HD for hours without any problem.
Jim

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WNHDEB111-100NAS Wireless N Access Point

The NETGEAR HD/Gaming 5 GHz Wireless-N Networking Kit WNHDEB111 enables super-fast file transfers at the highest possible Wireless-N speeds, making it an ideal solution for network gaming and streaming HD videos. By utilizing patented metamaterial antenna technology, the WNHDEB111 offers a speed and range far surpassing the old Wireless-G standard.
Easy Setup The WNHDEB111 kit includes two access point/bridges, preconfigured to securely connect to each other. Setting it up is as easy as connecting one access point to your router/gateway, and connecting the other to your networkable device, such as your XBox, Playstation, Wii, TiVo HD, Slingbox, digital set-top boxes, NETGEAR's Digital Entertainer HD, Apple TV, network attached storage, and more. Setup is easily and securely done with a simple "Push 'N Connect" feature using Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), which eliminates the need to remember or input security password keys. It automatically configures to access point or bridge mode depending on the type of Ethernet enabled device it connects to.
To add another HD Bridge to your HD network, the NETGEAR 5 GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridge is available.
Minimal Interference = Outstanding Performance Most wireless devices today, such as Wi-Fi devices, cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, microwaves, and baby monitors, operate on the 2.4 GHz frequency, thus creating a lot of traffic and interference. The WNHDEB111, however, operates on the 5 GHz band which has up to 23 free channels and avoids the interference that most other devices must contend with.
The WNHDEB111 complies with the latest Wireless-N draft specification for the fastest possible Wireless-N speeds. Automatic Quality of Service (QoS) ensures lag-free gaming and jitter-free HD streaming. It supports wireless "ad-hoc" mode for wireless LAN peer-to-peer gaming and supports multicast point-to-multi-point HD video streaming.
The WNHDEB111 supports WiFi Protected Access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK), and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption and is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box Two 5 GHz Wireless-N HD Access Point/Bridges, two stands, two Ethernet cables, setup CD, two power adapters, and warranty/support information card.

Click here for more information about NETGEAR WNHDEB111-100NAS Wireless N Access Point

Read More...

NETGEAR ME102 - Wireless access point 32 - Ethernet Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I just received my ME102 today, and it was up and running in 5 minutes (not counting the time required to drive the screws [included] to wall-mount the unit near one of my Ethernet switches).
I didn't find the USB-based configuration to be ideal. To be sure, it worked well. But I don't like installing drivers and software on my PC that will be used only once or occasionally, and the rest of the time just adds more junk to the Windows registry and is yet another thing added to program groups. (I have issues with clutter.)
In any case, as others here have mentioned, documentation is sparse indeed. And frankly, if you don't know your TCP/IP network pretty well, and/or don't know the basics of wireless Ethernet concepts, you might well find yourself in over your head. The default configuration is far from one-size-fits-all, and the average home computer user will have trouble changing it -- especially with the somewhat non-intuitive interface to the config software.
All that said, once this baby is set-up and running, it's great. I get terrific range and excellent performance, even with a basement mounted access point.
My only caution: Beware of your 2.4 GHz cordless phones. This would be true of any 802.11b set-up, but some of these cordless phones will chew-up your data stream and spit it out in chunks on the carpet. Here, I have my choice between using the wireless Ethernet, or using a Panasonic 2.4 GHz phone... Any attempts to use both, and the phone wins. (The Panasonic is going in the trash very soon; a Uniden 2.4 GHz model cooperates fine.)

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR ME102 - Wireless access point 32 - Ethernet

Netgear's wireless access point gives mobile users continuous,high-speed 11 Mbps access to corporate network resources, e-mail, and theInternet. It helps you quickly set up a new wireless network office or extendyour existing Ethernet network to remote locations in your building, without thetime or expense of Ethernet cabling. Equipped with a Netgear cable/DSL router,it lets all users on your wireless network share broadband Internet access.Multiple access points may be used to extend the coverage as well as increasethe number of wireless users. The ME102 supports roaming from access point toaccess point within an office and includes 40-bit WEP encryption to ensureprivacy.
Supporting 32 users per access point, the ME102 works with any 10 Mbps Ethernetand any IEEE 802.11b-compliant product. It comes with a five-year limitedwarranty.

Click here for more information about NETGEAR ME102 - Wireless access point 32 - Ethernet

Read More...

Cisco-Linksys WRT55AG Dual-Band Wireless A+G Access Point + Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This product is rushed to the market but not yet ready for prime time.
Issues:
1) If you are using VPN to access your companies network - forget it, this product won't allow you to connect (will not pass IPSec-L2TP or PPTP traffic through)
2) WEP encryption doesn't work - yes, you can enable it but after 3 min you will loose connectivity with you wireless network. With WEP disabled connectivity will stay up.
3) MAC filtering doesn't work also - the router will reset back to default (Disabled) setting as soon as you submit changes to it.
4) Changing Internet Filters setting will reset this router to factory default.
5) Firewall is also not performing well.
6) Tech support is "dancing" and you won't give you any type of answer when they will come up with firmware upgrade - they won't allow you to talk to a supervisor also - USELESS.
On my scale from 1 to 5 this product gets 1.5.
RMA

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cisco-Linksys WRT55AG Dual-Band Wireless A+G Access Point + Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch

Linksys Dual-Band Wireless A+G Broadband Router WRT55AG - Wireless router + 4-port switch - EN, Fast EN, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g

Click here for more information about Cisco-Linksys WRT55AG Dual-Band Wireless A+G Access Point + Cable/DSL Router with 4-Port 10/100 Switch

Read More...

Netopia 3347NWG-006 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I decided to take a chance on a refurbished unit as I've had good luck on other refurbished electronics. This arrived and worked right out of the box. I was lacking the instruction sheet but found plenty of info online, particularly through the BellSouth support page for Netopia gateways. I had a little confusion, thinking that the modem wasn't working correctly, but determined that (Imagine the odds) both my DSL service initially went down and when it finally came back up, my iGoogle page was down. Anyway, turned out not to be the gateway. It works great, is fast,has what appears to be a well-made power adapter, and I like that the lights are larger than the 2Wire and D-Link gateways I've had in the past. Hooking up wireless to my notebook was a no-brainer. I personalized the SSID and turned on NAT but after that it worked well and was fast. I'd have no problems recommending the Netopia 3347NWG-006 and if you can find a good refurbished model from a reputable dealer, go with it and save some bucks!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Netopia 3347NWG-006

Click here for more information about Netopia 3347NWG-006

Read More...

ASUS RT-N13U Wireless-N Router, Access Point, and Repeater Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)For those looking for a cheap wireless N router + Print & FTP Server, this is an excellent buy!
I bought this router specifically with hope that it 'might' be able to do more than what it claims on the box, and it does, to some extent. Read on and you'll find answers to your questions that any other reviews on the web aren't able to tell you.
1. Can a USB hub be used to connect multiple peripherals to the router?
A. Yes, but with certain limitations. I have successfully connected a printer and a hard drive to the router via a usb hub, and both work flawlessly! Here's what you do: plug in the usb hub to the router, then connect the hdd to the usb hub, set up your ftp server on the hdd, then connect the printer to the usb hub, and set up your printer. You will only see the printer show up in the router's main page, but the ftp serve works fine. However, hooking up 2 printers will not work because the print command is directed ip-to-ip (your pc to the router) and pass on to the usb port. When you have a usb hub with multiple printers connected the print command will be pass on to every port on the hub. Sometimes printing will come out from the right printer that you want it to, but sometimes the command will get send to the other printer which may cause your printer to malfunction. I have two printers: a HP inkjet and a Samsung laser. It happened to me when I want to print from the Samsung but the command got sent to the HP, and HP will keep feeding paper and print out an error message on the corner until I force power-down the printer; same for the Samsung when a HP print command was sent to the Samsung it just kept printing errors until the machine overhead and power-off itself.
2. When connected to a HDD, it can only be set up as a FTP server, not a network drive.
What the differences you ask? On a network drive you can stream files directly from it, while an FTP you can only upload/download files but no running directly on the server. But simutenous access from multiple users are possible. That's an advantage over the so called "netowrk shared usb" where only a single user are allowed to use the peripheral at a time.
3. This router has a hardware repeater mode switch, which I consider a big plus. It's the transparent repeater mode, meaning it will receive and broadcast the same SSID of the network you're repeating; as oppose to 'stealth' repeater mode where you can set your own SSID and security for broadcast. Note that the network printer won't work in the repeater mode 'cause the print command will be pass on to the someone else's router (one that you're repeating). The Asus router still maintain its own ip and subset which the network printer belongs to, but it's hidden in the repeater mode. You can manually configure your pc to connect to it and you'll be able to print, but you lose internet. Not sure about FTP serve in repeater mode. Haven't try yet. The router has good range. I can receive Safeway's wifi which is like 300m from my place.
4. The router itself looks good IMO. I like the hidden antenna design.
What else? Msg me if you still have a question regarding the router.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS RT-N13U Wireless-N Router, Access Point, and Repeater

ASUS RT-N13U Wireless-N Router, Access Point, and Repeater

Click here for more information about ASUS RT-N13U Wireless-N Router, Access Point, and Repeater

Read More...

Buffalo Technology AirStation N150 Wireless Router & AP WCR-GN (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been using a powerline adapter to get ethernet to my slingbox and other A/V equipment, but powerline is very sensitive to anything and everything. So I started looking for an affordable wireless bridge. Here it is in the WCR-GN.
To be clear (since the packaging is not) this unit can be used as a standard access point and firewall, or as a bridge to connect to your existing wireless network and give you five ethernet ports in a remote location--a wireless switch. The box leaves you wondering if this unit is compatible with other brands of access points--it is.
I got the unit, plugged it in and configured it for bridging mode, and it connected to my D-Link DIR-625 wireless network with no problems (using 802.11n). It brings me much better and consistent throughput to my A/V equipment than did my four port powerline unit. In bridging mode the "WAN" ethernet port becomes a fifth switch port.
The web management interface is quirky and unrefined, but it gets the job done. When you make changes that cause the unit to reset, the screen usually says it will take about 20s. It really takes 1-2 minutes to settle down and stabilize, so don't get too impatient. The radio seems to have a more limited range than most, but it's acceptable for my purposes. It is a rather small unit, so can fit just about anywhere.
This unit can also act as a simple access point with a no-frills firewall, but I don't intend to use it that way and haven't tested it. What I did test was streaming my slingbox to my desktop while simultaneously watching an HD YouTube video streaming to my BluRay player. Both were running through the Buffalo in opposite directions. Pretty basic stuff, but I had to make sure it performed given the price. Neither had a hiccup, which is again far better than my old setup.
Lastly, in bridging mode it can also act as a wireless repeater to extend your existing wireless signal, or to add more SSIDs. I don't have a need for this and only tested it briefly.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Buffalo Technology AirStation N150 Wireless Router & AP WCR-GN (White)

Get 25% OFF

Click here for more information about Buffalo Technology AirStation N150 Wireless Router & AP WCR-GN (White)

Read More...

Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N150 Wireless Router & AP WHR-HP-GN (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you're not a geek, this router is awesome. It comes with a CD which guides you through installation and secure setup. (The #1 problem with wireless routers is security, and the setup process is the solution.) It supports WPS, which means, you can hold down a button on the router for a few seconds, and then your devices (laptops, many Blu-Ray players) will automatically and securely negotiate connection to the router (no more entering crazy-long passwords).
If you're a geek, Buffalo actively supports DD-WRT (you can download it from their web site). In addition, the specs are great: 32 MB of RAM and 4 MB of flash space.
For more information on why I chose this router, see [...]

Click Here to see more reviews about: Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N150 Wireless Router & AP WHR-HP-GN (White)

Buffalo Technology Wireless-N 150 High Power Router & Access Point WHR-HP-GN (White)

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N150 Wireless Router & AP WHR-HP-GN (White)

Read More...

Buffalo Technology AirStation N300 Wireless Router & AP WHR-G300N (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A rock solid router after firmware is updated to DD-WRT and hence the 4-star. It is basically unusable with the stock firmware, especially with Comcast, where it could not find the DHCP server most of the time.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Buffalo Technology AirStation N300 Wireless Router & AP WHR-G300N (Black)

Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N Router and Access Point WHR-G300N

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about Buffalo Technology AirStation N300 Wireless Router & AP WHR-G300N (Black)

Read More...

Hawking Hi-Gain USB Wireless-300N Access Point/Bridge (White) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)There aren't a lot of wireless bridges on the market. I had tried a DLink DAP1522 and it basically didn't work at all (see my review). This Hawking model had better reviews, so I tried it. Ultimately, it did work, but there are some problems you should be aware of.
The set-up wizard provided on the CD did not work at all, so I went with the web client set up. The process is persnickity (you have to set up a static IP address to connect to the web client etc) but it is at least well explained in the manual. It was a quick set up, and the product appeared to work at first.
After a day I started losing my connection. It turned out that the reason is you MUST set your wireless router to use a single channel, not to change channels automatically. Anytime the router changes channels, the Hawking loses its connection. TO make matters worse, the "site survey" function in the Hawking is buggy - when you try to restablish a connection, your wireless network often doesn't seem to show up at all! THis means you have to do a hard reset of the Hawking device and start all over. And of course every time you want to access the web client you have to reset your IP address etc. It's quite annoying after a while.
The second thing I noticed was that I was only getting a "G" connection despite the fact that I have a 2.4GHz N router (the DLink DIR655). The ONLY way I was able to get the Hawking to connect in N mode was to set the DLink to ONLY function in N mode. Even if I told the Hawking to only use N, when I switched the DLink back to mixed G/N mode (to acommodate legacy devices in my home), the Hawking would revert to G mode! So, I basically have a G Bridge, not an N Bridge....assuming I want to have any N devices on my network. VERY ANNOYING! And enough for me to rate the product only two stars.
The final thing I'd point out is that the bridge gives you very little status information on strength of connection, whether it has successfully connected, etc. It also doesn't say if it is connecting in N or G mode--I had to go to the Dlink to find that out.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Hawking Hi-Gain USB Wireless-300N Access Point/Bridge (White)

Get 8% OFF

Click here for more information about Hawking Hi-Gain USB Wireless-300N Access Point/Bridge (White)

Read More...

Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N300 Gigabit Wireless Router & AP WZR-HP-G300NH (Black) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Pros:
Excellent Range - even with existing Wireless G clients
Gigabit ethernet ports
Network Attached Storage
VPN Endpoint
Excellent web interface with help along the right column
Our house is like a wireless black hole. We have tried multiple Wireless G routers and cannot get a strong signal throughout the house. If the router is in the center of the house, we usually get a 11 mbps connection from our Wireless G clients. If we put the router at one end of the house, we do not get a signal at the other corner. We don't live in a huge house by the way. With this router, we get a full strength signal through the house, regardless of whether it is placed in the center or in one corner. I assume it's due to high gain antennas plus the built-in power amplifier. The range of our Wireless-G network has been extended greatly without even having to upgrade our computers to Wireless-N adapters. Most Wireless-N routers transmit in the 100 mW range (e.g. Linksys WRT610N, D-Link DIR-825). This router transmits above 800 mW, close to the legal limit of 1000 mW. You can look up the transmit power of all routers on the FCC web site. Excellent product!
Update on September 1, 2009: Buffalo has confirmed a bug in the router. It sometimes loses the ability to connect to wireless clients. It seems to happen to me once every 1-2 weeks. I have to reboot the router to correct. They assured me that the first firmware update will correct it. The significant speed and range improvement for me makes it worth dealing with this minor issue.
Also, a positive review from Small Net Builder (formerly Tom's Hardware): [...]
Update on October 29, 2009: Updated firmware (v1.65) is available on the Buffalo Technology website. My router is running it, and so far I have not seen any issues.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N300 Gigabit Wireless Router & AP WZR-HP-G300NH (Black)

Buffalo Technology Nfiniti Wireless-N High Power Router & Access Point WZR-HP-G300NH

Get 50% OFF

Click here for more information about Buffalo Technology AirStation High Power N300 Gigabit Wireless Router & AP WZR-HP-G300NH (Black)

Read More...

ZyXEL WAP3205 Wireless N access point, Ethernet client, and universal repeater Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Once you have it setup it works flawlessy. Problem is setting it up for the first time. Documentation is not user friendly to the non-tech savvy. I'm using it as a wireless bridge / access point with my Sony blue-ray player. I already have a Linksys wireless router using WEP encryption (forced to use this because my XBOX 360 doesn't support WPA). To make it easy for others doing the same thing use the following steps:
1. Change your pc or laptop's ethernet adapter's IP address to 192.168.1.3 To do this on Vista or Windows 7 you open you network sharing center then you open your ethernet LAN adapter settings (or manage network connections in Vista). Select the Internet protocol v4 (IPv4) and go into properties. Manually put in the IP address with subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 and don't worry about the gateway address.
2. Connect your WAP3205 to your pc/laptop with the ethernet cable that is provided. Of course make sure you plugged in the power to it or your going nowhere. Open up your preferred browser (IE, firefox, netscape, etc.) and then type in the address bar 192.168.1.2 and now you will be connected to the WAP3205. Type in the default password of 1234, you are now prompted to change your password to whatever you want it to be.
3. Now that your in the WAP3205 click on Expert Mode. When in this mode on the far left you will see Status and below it Monitor, Configuration and Maintenance. Click on Maintenance and then hit the plus sign in front of Maintenance once you are in. Go to the last option of Sys OP Mode then select Client Mode and hit apply.
4. Go back to the far left and hit configuration then go to Wireless LAN. You will see tabs for Profile, Site Survey and WPS. Hit the Profile tab and then hit the Add button. Type in your network name / SSID and then select your security drop down box. Select WEP if you have a setup like me with the XBOX 360 or if you don't care about security select the no security option. Type in your passphrase that you use for your router's security or the actual 128 bit security code (or 64 bit if that is what you use) and hit apply. Then select your newly created profile and hit the activate button. If it's configured correctly you will get a green check. Now your done on this end.
5. Disconnect your WAP3205 from your pc/laptop and change your pc or laptop's ethernet adapter settings back to whatever it was before.
6. Go to your blue-ray player and disconnect the power cord for about a minute or more. Connect the WAP3205 to the blue-ray player with the ethernet connection and power your blue-ray player back on. The blue-ray player will automatically pick up the network settings from the WAP3205 and you will be done.
Hope this is helpful and if you don't have an XBOX 360 or if you use WPA for security the setup should be easier.
So far so good with the Zyxel WAP3205...I had used the Linksys WET610N (2 separate units) and they both failed. The first one worked a couple of days before the wireless stopped working and the second one's wireless failed right out of the box. The WET610N's are way easier to configure but they are too expensive and for me totally unrealiable. The WAP3205 is a steal and worth the effort when you consider the rock solid connection I have now, besides it was less than half the price of the Linksys. It's not as nice looking as the Linksys that's for sure but the main thing is it works as described.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ZyXEL WAP3205 Wireless N access point, Ethernet client, and universal repeater

Get 27% OFF

Click here for more information about ZyXEL WAP3205 Wireless N access point, Ethernet client, and universal repeater

Read More...

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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g (Version 2.0/2.5.3)

Get 20% OFF

Click here for more information about CradlePoint PHS300 Personal Hotspot - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g (Version 2.0/2.5.3)

Read More...

Netgear DGN2200 Refurbished Wireless-N N300 Router with Built-In DSL Modem (DGN2200-100NAR) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was sold this unit a local retailer as my ATT gateway broke. Had to call the help line to get the thing set up. Helpline very helpful and I was up and running in ... days. Apparently, you have to reset every wireless device you have in the house even though you keep your same wireless codes. But the unit worked absolutely great for a few weeks. Then we noticed it getting hot. To hot to hold in your hand. Once that happens, the network performance drops like a rock. I ran network tests and it showed the network access dropping from 5.0Mb to 0.5Mb. The only way to fix it temporarily is to unplug it and let it cool. After an hour, the problem is back. I checked the forums and the problems I experienced are very similar to the DGN2000 posted on Netgears forums.
While it is great when it works, I can not recommend this product.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Netgear DGN2200 Refurbished Wireless-N N300 Router with Built-In DSL Modem (DGN2200-100NAR)

Get 67% OFF

Click here for more information about Netgear DGN2200 Refurbished Wireless-N N300 Router with Built-In DSL Modem (DGN2200-100NAR)

Read More...

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

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)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.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR DGN2000 Wireless-N Router with Built-in DSL Modem

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

Get 31% OFF

Click here for more information about NETGEAR DGN2000 Wireless-N Router with Built-in DSL Modem

Read More...