Surfin' on the deck
Written: Dec 21 '01
|
Product Rating:
|
|
| Ease of Installation: |
 |
|
| Ease of Use: |
 |
|
|
Pros: Great reception, best combination of features available, supports wireless, USB, ethernet and HomePNA
Cons: Awkward setup, slim documentation
The Bottom Line: Can't spend the $$$$ to have your house wired with CAT5, or just have to have the coolest stuff available, GET THE 2WIRE.
|
|
|
| coloradokaren's Full Review: 2wire HomePortal 100W (1000-400013-000) Gateway |
Got your broadband working? Wish you could leave your office in the bowels of your house? Heard it was going to be sunny, but you've watching a couple ebay auctions?
I'M WRITING THIS FROM MY BACK DECK!! LOOK MA, NO WIRES!
Here's my hardware config (and it's not the 'norm'):
HP Omnibook 6000 (was in the basement)
Sprint Broadband (separate install in the basement)
NetGear gateway router and hub, networked to an HP G95 all-in-one, a Powerbook and a homemade 200mhz PC, all upstairs
2Wire 100W
2 Orinoco Silver wireless ethernet cards
What's interesting about this config is that I'm using the 2Wire as a gateway to my network. There's no diagram in the documentation for this setup, but it's working like a charm!
BIG TIP: do NOT install the 2Wire software until you get the wireless cards (or USB or ethernet or HomePNA) adaptors working FIRST. I had to download updated drivers and client software for the Orinoco's, and do some setup before I (re)installed the 2Wire software. Also, the 2Wire setup program NEVER found my connection. And, plan on relying on the 2Wire's internal DHCP server... anything else failed miserably.
Of course, it might have helped if I'd actually READ the client setup manual before trying it on my own. I'm a software engineer. 'Nuff said. RTM!! It's only a couple pages worth of information, but it would have saved me a good hour of wasted time if I'd done that first.
So, here I am on my back deck -- okay, it's a bit chilly in Colorado in December, but I'M SURFING ON MY BACK DECK.
RECEPTION:
Like I said, the 2Wire is in my basement office. The door's closed, and it's working great EVERYWHERE in the house. Even the 2nd story on the other side of the house, outside, in the garage... you get the picture.
SPEED:
Seems to stay between 6 and 9 mbps... about the same as my wired LAN!
Got a Mac?
NO PROBLEM! The Orinoco Silver works great on the powerbook too... and the setup was MUCH easier than my PC.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 350.00
Driver Availability: Windows, Linux, and Mac
|
|
|
|
Epinions.com ID:
coloradokaren
|
|
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.