Does what it claims...I guess
Written: Sep 26 '09 (Updated Oct 11 '09)
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Pros: 4 port switch built in, wireless N, dual N, A, G, B support.
Cons: Only one indicator light
The Bottom Line: This unit makes four wired devices wireless. Software only works on xp 32 bit. Needs better indicator lights and tougher case.
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| suemccartin's Full Review: Buffalo Technology Buffalo Nfiniti Wireless-N Dual... |
I got this to replace a Linksys gaming adapter that failed (apparently) after a couple years of use (and of course out of warranty). That unit was a big fat PITA to setup but it did work very well once it was going, I was hoping this unit would be more friendly and be just as reliable.
This device is intended to convert ethernet wired devices to wireless. The old Linksys had a single port on it so in addition to the device I had to add a four port switch with it to cover both my bedroom media server and my xbox 360. The Buffalo unit has four plugs on the back so no switch is needed with this thing.
What is in the box?
The device
ac adapter (nice because the power cord is separate so you can add a longer one, standard two pin connector that is used in tons of devices, comes with a rather short one but the plug to the converter has a very long cord on it so that is not a big deal)
Ethernet cable (flat, possibly 6 foot)
setup disk
setup guide
Setup:
First problem I had is that the Buffalo software will not run on xp64bit (aka server 2003, which is what it is built upon) so I had to take the software to the media server machine that is still running xp 32 bit professional. When it works properly it's easy to use and seems to work well, it scans available networks and you choose what you want it reboots the adapter and away you go.
Install software and setup the converter:
connect the converter to ac power and the ethernet cables for your devices.
Startup install software
Set the adapter to the same range as your router (i.e. if your router is located at 192.168.1.1 then your converter needs to be set at 192.168.1...... the last digit after the one depends upon where your router assigns ip addresses... so conceivably you can set the converter to 192.168.1.2 or higher as long as it is in the range of the addresses assigned by your router. If you don't have the next to the last digit the same as your router you'll have issues with it working (i.e. if you router uses 192.168.1.1 and you set the converter to 192.168.0.2 it will not work because it's different--yeah makes my head spin too).
scan for networks (if you're interested in testing settings you can experiment with frequencies and channels in your router setup to see what gives the best reception where you'll be using your device. Even though my router supports wireless N dual band for whatever reason this unit cannot pick up the signal where it is. I've just bought a new router, perhaps that will fix this issue, for now it's running in wireless G mode as that's the strongest signal from my router. There is a setting in the converter to "prefer" A over G or G over A settings; didn't see it make much difference but that's just me.
Plug in all your devices and test em out, my xbox 360 works fine (and that one is known to be picky as hell).
What standards does this unit support:
Wireless A
Wireless N
Wireless N Dual band (5 ghz and 2.4 ghz)
Wireless G
Wireless B
Security:
I don't use any security on my access point because I have some older devices that don't support it. If you've played with this stuff before you know that often if the stuff isn't all the same manufacturer the security junk doesn't work well. Someone has to be really close to war drive off you, currently my signal doesn't even go out to the street, I'm really not worried about it all. On the linksys the security never did work on that and they have never released a fixed firmware for it either.
Warranty: 2 years (better than linksys one year that's for sure)
What I think of it?
With my netgear WNDR3300 dual band N router, I cannot connect at 5 ghz either to a dual band N or wireless A network with this device. If I set to 130 mbps in the router the converter can't get any signal at all. If I set to 300 mbps it works a little but only gets a max of 5% signal (my house would be called a bad interference situation. It's a 50's house with plaster and probably rebar in the walls, the kitchen and the bathroom (metal pipes both spots), are between the acces point and my bedroom machines connected to the converter. There is a little switch on the side of the unit, no explanation of what it's for in the quick setup guide (but it's in the manual) 1x=20ghz (crowded signal areas) and 2x=40 ghz (not so crowded signal areas) playing with it doesn't seem to change anything at least in my situation.
Supposedly if you have a buffalo router/access point it all auto setups for you with the push of a button; I don't so had to do it the hard way. I just bought a trendnet simultaneous wireless N dual band (the 5ghz runs constantly not just switching mode), should be here in a few days; since it has external instead of internal antennas it's my hope it will give better signal so I can use the full 5ghz capabilities in my bedroom. The Buffalo Convert unit just has a "chintzy" feel because it's all plastic, if they'd put a nicer heavier plastic case on it (like the linksys has) it wouldn't come off as so "cheap."
The converter has a very sparse selection of settings available in the setup, they took "keep it simple stupid" to a new height here. The linksys has a much more comprehensive setup (but is also a bigger PITA to setup too). Another annoying aspect of the unit is that it doesn't have real status lights on it like the Linksys does; at least not really. The only status light on the buffalo converter is the power light that blinks when connected to the router signal; they need to fix that if you ask me. This is apparently a pretty new product, it's my hope that future firmware tweaks will fix some of the issues I've had with N network range etc. I've tried a couple dual N products like this, I'd really like to know why none of them seem to give you the option of connecting to good old wireless A at 54 bps. I know 5 ghz should have much better coverage in my house, at one time I had a trendnet wireless A unit in here and I got excellent speeds and coverage all the way to the end of my driveway...so why is that option never available in these? I know the A selection works because I have an older pcmcia tri band card that can easily connect full speed A on my laptop. Kinda aggravating........ Another annoyance I've found is that the "web setup" doesn't seem to work on this unit, I can't get it setup with the software...that might be ok for now but if I convert my bedroom media server to a 64 bit OS that's going to be an issue in the future...it should be accessible from any web browser but that doesn't seem to work.
Do I think it was worth $85.00? Well...if you consider that the pc would need a $75.00 access card and the xbox 360 microsoft product (3 standards) is at least $85.00 by itself, I guess you can say this is a bargain and has space for two more devices besides. More here when I change out the router, I'm really hoping this will fix the problem with A or dual/band N network access in my room, kinda silly to run In wireless G when my router can do better. I'll most likely be changing my room to the one that doesn't have the kitchen and the bathroom in the way, hopefully that will improve my reception a great deal (more on that later).
update: got the new trendnet router, so far no better N dual band reception, going to look into some better antennas, I also want to move my room to the other one in the house that will not be between the kitchen and the bathroom that will probably be what I end up doing for the most part. The old A standard was much stronger for whatever reason, perhaps it has to do with the bps that was 54bps on just A but 300bps on dual N. Going to go back to possibly troubleshooting the linksys gaming adapter because it seems to do a better job of picking up the N network (probably a better antenna). After a bit more fiddling with the new router I am now supposedly connecting at 300 mbps on the G 2.4 ghz wireless network, it does feel fairly snappy on the bedroom computer as far as access goes haven't yet tried my favorite game city of heros over the wireless, it's a fairly graphics intensive game but may not be quite as "access intensive" as some of the newer games with more intense graphics.
Last but not least, I haven't even tried setting up security, most often this is the most troublesome part of running different cards/adapters not all made by the same company. I've got older pdas that cannot handle security so I don't use it and generally since it doesn't extend much past my garage anyway someone would have a hard time wardriving on me. I do apparently have one neighbor with a apple laptop or something that I've occasionally seen connected to my router but if they just do it occasionally and aren't sucking my bandwidth to the point I can't play my game I could care less.
Next challenge is getting my camera going reliably (need to catch the nosey neighbor messing around in my yard when I'm not home and her pet code enforcer going places on my lot where he isn't supposed to be according to his own office). More later.
update: I had lost my home network quite awhile agao, just one day my machines could no longer see each other. Don't know if it was this device or the combination with the new router but suddenly my machines can see each other both directions...yeah. I sort of suspect that NAT being on in the router may have something to do with the now working network. I so far have not had issues with my xbox 360 which is supposedly somewhat sensitive if NAT is turned on in your firewall settings. Still working on some better antennas for my router to improve N but G apparently is full mimo speed 300mbps and seems pretty peppy for the moment so not worrying about it a great deal. If I can't get my ip camera going wirelessly on its own I may end up running a cable from outside the window into this gadget. More later.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 85.00
Driver Availability: Other
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Epinions.com ID:
suemccartin
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Location: Florida, USA
Reviews written: 292
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About Me:
Been building computers for 10+ years. I work to support my computer habit.
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