kengland4's Full Review: ZyXEL XtremeMIMO M-302 802.11g/b Wireless Adapter
I acquired this little number from http://www.woot.com, after reading a synopsis. It promised greater range, 802.11b, g, and MIMO technology (multiple-input, multiple-output). It has WPA and 64/128-bit WEP security, and a removable 5dbi external antenna. It operates at up to 108 Mbps with compatible hardware. It's also a slim unit, easily fitting between a high-end Soundblaster card and a Geforce 7300LE PCI-Express graphics card.
The documentation is minimal, though there is a more complete version in a pdf file on the install disc, as well as an Adobe Acrobat reader--it is enough, though, as the operation is almost "hands-free."
The system requirements are quite low--a Pentium 2 300 Mhz or faster processor, a free 32-bit PCI slot, 32 MB Ram (64 recommended), 20 MB hard drive space, and a CD drive.
I was a little disappointed to find that this 32-bit PCI card came in a sturdy enough plastic wrap, but sans an anti-static covering, so it was with a modicum of trepidation that I slapped it into my 1.6 Ghz Athlon Duron rig. Right after that, however, I read in the manual where it said to FIRST install the software, THEN shut it down and install the card. Chagrined, I popped it right out, before even connecting the pc or powering it, fired up the beast, and proceeded with the installation. But all was not well...
I received an error message during the install, telling me that the "MFC application" has experienced a problem, and needs to close. Even after giving an acknowledging click, the installation "successfully completed." So I went ahead and installed the card.
Physical installation of the card is straightforward, and the hardest part (of both egress and "depress") is keeping it steady while threading the antenna through the pass-through PCI opening, careful not to touch other sensitive components. The last touch is screwing on the extra antenna after the card is installed.
I turned the pc back on and, even though the controller applet started up, I didn't get any wireless signal. The indicator lights on the card didn't operate, either. I uninstalled the application, reinstalled it, and reseated the card, but ended up with the exact same results--an error message, and an apparently dead card.
The manual said to try it in a different computer, so I plopped it in my 2.2 Ghz AMD 64 3400+ "Attaboy," being careful to first install the software, which didn't give me any error messages. Right upon starting up Windows (XP Professional, in both cases), an animated wireless icon INSTANTLY appeared in my system tray, and hovering my cursor over it indicated that I was connected to an unsecured network at 54 Mbps at "excellent" strength, and -34 dB--2 other, secured networks, were also visible. Using an Airlink USB wireless-G adapter (see my review here-- http://www1.epinions.com/Airlink_Wireless_G_Ultra_Slim_802_11g_USB_2_0_Adapter_658729080218_3 )from the same location, I was not able to acquire anything over 11 Mbps consistently, and not even with my own Airlink wireless router, about 2 feet away.
Web browsing speed has been comparable to my wired Verizon DSL (100 Mbps), with just a tick or two off, by my seat-of-the-pants observation--very impressive. Switching back-and-forth between the two, the speed difference is almost undetectable in normal use.
My experience has been consistent with reviews I've read--excellent functionality and literal "plug-and-play." Fast software installation, and the glitch with the first computer is likely due to the problem-plagued XP Pro installation that I have somehow kept going for about 5 years, without any appreciable maintenance. It appears that the litmus test for whether the card will work is if the driver will install without generating an error. It is worth noting that I also tried to download and install an updated driver from their website, but the same thing happened. And even though the device had appeared in my device manager, as "working correctly," after trying to reinstall and reseat the objects, it disappeared from there, too. A fresh reinstall of Windows XP should enable my older, slower computer to use this device, as well, or maybe even trying a different PCI slot.
The clean, almost transparent, applet has the usual functions--showing available wireless networks, configuration options, including for security, and, curiously, a grayed-out box for allowing "Windows (to) manage this wireless adapter." Opening network connections generates a message that Windows "cannot manage this wireless connection." This could be a good thing, because it makes things simpler.
8x Ultimate Speed and Range Wireless PCI Adapter with MIMO Technology, Fully compliant with IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g, Removable antenna for flexi...More at eCOST.com
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