Easy Intro to Wireless Networking
Written: May 04 '02 (Updated May 08 '02)
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Pros: Easy to setup, web interface to change settings, wireless!
Cons: Need to update firmware in order to get it to run reliably
The Bottom Line: Great introduction to wireless networking and the 4 port switch allows you to connect up to 256 users. Must upgrade firmware!!! Specified operating distances cut in a third by walls.
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| chefbeldar's Full Review: Linksys (BEFW11S4) 802.11b Wireless Access Point |
The Linksys BEFW11S4 is a wireless cable/DSL router with a 4 port switch. Basically this means you can connect a cable modem or dsl modem to it so that you can share it on a network of computers. What drove me to buy this particular model was the wireless aspect of it. It supports Wi-Fi and 80211b a 2.4 GHz-Compliant equipment spectrum. Beware this means 2.4 GHz phones and microwaves may interfere with the wireless signal. On the box it says the range is 91m (indoors) and up to 457m (outdoors). It also has 64-Bit WEP encryption, supports IPSec Pass-Try and PPTP, acts as a DCHP server, free 24 hours 7 day a week free technical support for North America only and a 1 year limited warranty.
Upon purchase I took it home to connect to a Motorola Cable Modem and it worked perfectly. However getting a SMC wireless card to work in my laptop was a struggle. Once I had found the correct drivers, the card saw the access point and everything was a go. Since the cable modem was in my Uncle's house I wanted to see if my laptop would work in my house right next door. About 20m from the access point it was down to 1 bar on the signal indicator. Hardly the 91m specification on the box! Even in my Uncle's house the range was only good for about a 30m distance and when I took my laptop downstairs, no signal about 35m from the access point!
I took the Linksys to school and I live in a house on the second floor. Again it was easy to hook up to a SB100 SURFboard cable modem to it. I started noticing that after a couple of hours or so I would have to restart the access point because my laptop although showing a strong connection would cease to receive packets from the access point. I had put all my MP3's on my laptop and when i tried to stream then to my desktop after a couple songs or so it would stop because the laptop would stop sending packets. Only after I upgraded the firmware downloaded from Linksys sight did it fix this problem and I no longer need to constantly reset the access point. I have learned walls and other objects greatly decrease the signal of the access point so its range indoors is about 20-30m with a decent amount of walls. I have found that you may upgrade the antenna's on the Linksys from other websites and newsgroups, however I have not tried it nor do I know if this voids the warranty. I really found it easy to use the web setup of the Linksys and it is easy to setup WEP encryption too.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 170.00
Driver Availability: Windows and Linux
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Epinions.com ID:
chefbeldar
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Reviews written: 5
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