Linksys-Cisco WIRELESS G EXTERIOR ACCESS ( WAP54GPE ) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have installed 2 of these and both have the same bad performance issues. I have to reboot them several times a day because the device loses its connection between it's own wireless interface and it's own wired interface. If your computer connects via the wireless, you will loose access to anything past the device. You can not even ping the device's own IP address. If yoiu reboot it, then it works for a while. I did a little more research and found out that this is a common problem. I am now trying to return them.

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D-Link DWL-2100AP SNMP AES 802.11g 108Mbps Wireless Access Point Review

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(More customer reviews)Let me just say I use these where I work for our entire corporate network. They come with a 3 year warranty last I checked and are good quality for the most part. I see quite a few complains listed here but my thoughts are as follows:
I have purchased about 40 of these access points and have only had to RMA 5 of them because I use them in "client access mode." For some reason they seem to just quit functioning correctly after a while. Most of you will use "access point mode" so nothing to worry about. I have had most in access point mode and they've been running 2.5 years + non stop with no issues.
Also, go to D-Links website and download the latest firmware revision of 2.10 if the router doesn't already have it. You can configure the access point via a web browser or you can download D-Link's Airplus Extreme AP Manager off their site too. For ease of use stick with the web browser since it doesn't require the software although for simple configuration the AP Manager is preferred especially if your doing more than one.
Lastly, these access point used in client mode can (for those not familiar) be used as an "external" wireless card. What's the benefit to this? Instead of having a performance killing PCI card these are better and more stable in my professional opinion. We had issues with D-Link and Orinico PCI cards locking computers up. Some conflicts with certain Southbridge motherboard chipsets. Long story...
Also, I do use these in Point to Point and repeater modes and as long as your running the latest firmware revision you should have no problems. Hope this review helps at least one person.

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Cisco-Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G Review

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(More customer reviews)If you're having trouble setting it up, definitely call the 800 number as opposed to going online. I tried with three different people through their website online and none could help. Right before I sent it back I decided to try phone support and it got the expander a reprieve. I've copied some instructions that Y.A. Escalante was kind enough to leave in his review, but corrected and elaborated some of the items based on my experience. I would've given this 4 stars, but I deducted 1 for it not having clear enough instructions with its initial shipping. (Would've saved Linksys some headaches)
Here goes:
1-Disable WEP on your Router or AP
2-Hold the auto-configuration button for 30 seconds(if everything goes well both lights on the expander will turn blue) and unplug while still holding button. Plug back in after 10-15 secs.
3-open your Internet explorer browser and type 192.168.1.240 (default ip of expander), a window will pop up. leave the user name blank and put admin as a password (this is default password).
4-make sure that the default gateway and subnet mask settings are identical with your Router or AP,change password on the expander if desired & save settings. (all settings should be correct due to auto configuration)
5-Enable WEP on the expander, once again remember use same settings as in your Router or AP, save settings again.
6-Go to your Router or Ap settings and enable WEP. Bang you're DONE. Enjoy
Hope this helps some of you...if not call the 800 number on the box and be patient. :)

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Expand the range of your wireless network The Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander is the easy way to increase the effective coverage of your wireless network. Unlike adding a traditional access point to your network to expand wireless coverage, the Wireless-G Range Expander does not need to be connected to the network by a data cable. Just put it within range of your main access point or wireless router, and it bounces the signals out to remote wireless devices. This relay station or repeater approach saves wiring costs and helps to build wireless infrastructure by driving signals into even those distant, reflective corners and hard-to-reach areas where wireless coverage is spotty and cabling is impractical. The Range Expander is perfect to help cover large areas in multi-story homes, warehouse environments, public spaces, wireless Hot Spots, and outdoor venues -- anywhere you need extra coverage for your wireless network.

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

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(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.

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ERB9250 11N 300MB 11N Range Extender Removable Antenna 1 10/100 Review

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(More customer reviews)EnGenius ERB 9250 Range Expander
I feel it is necessary to give my review on the EnGenius ERB9250 2.4 GHZ 300 Mbps Wireless N Range Extender to help others like myself with bad wireless connections. 03-15-2011-update My Linksys WRT600N router blew the 2.4 Ghz circuit (5-6 years old), the 5.0 Ghz remained, but this is the signal that doesn't penetrate walls. I now have a new EnGenius ESR 9855G Wireless N, 2.4 Ghtz-only router. This is working fine. The remaining content is based on my Linksys WRT 600N wireless router. I have used in the past a Linksys WRE54G - G Range Expander b/g with a with a Linksys WRT54G router to the same location. I am currently running 300Mbps with an excellent signal. In the past my Linksys WRE 54 G range expander had a maximum 54 Mbps with a fair to poor signal strength, used in combination with the WRT600N router and a HP premium "N" adapter. This old setup ran typically 2-20 Mbps with a fair to poor signal.
I am technical average, below average or novice when it comes to wireless networking. After reading someone's comment maybe I'm an expert and just doesn't know it. I have spent hours enhancing locations, changing configurations, and praying for a decent signal. I have by pure accident discovered solutions to problems that no one ever addresses. I've come to the conclusion that the advanced techs out there work for the manufactures sales department and really don't understand wireless systems and their wireless routers. Very seldom can you actually talk with someone. If you do get a hold of someone, they seem to know a lot less than me, which is frightening.
I have a home office in a separate building from my home. The nearest exterior stucco wall to exterior stucco wall is 17 feet. I have my WRT600N (now ESR 9855G) wireless router in my family room which is a straight 49 feet from my EnGenius ERB9250 Range Expander in my office. The Range Expander is 7 feet from my computer. The signal is going through 3 walls with windows.
I am writing to help people like myself.
Number 1 -Important Things That All Web Sites Stress -you can just ignore. You REALLY DO NOT need to pay attention to: 1) line of sight (you shouldn't have obstacles) between the router and the range expander. They must be living in a tent, but I really don't know anyone that is so lucky as to not have obstacles i their way. DUMB LESSONS are important lessons or information I have learned creating a decent wireless network and is probably more information than what you need. DUMB MISTAKES are mistakes I made, but because of frustrations, and trying to think logically when I am tired and frustrated; these mistakes have eaten a tremendous amount of my time and were quite easy to fix.
Dumb Lesson #1 the 2.4 GHz setting is to broadcast all Wireless N, Wireless G, and Wireless B systems all at the same time on all this same frequency. REMEMBER THIS RANGE EXPANDER (WRT600N) IS USING ONLY THE 2.4GHz part of the Wireless Router, not the 5.0GHz. My new router only broadcasts in 2.4 GHz. I originally thought that 5.0 Ghz was only N systems, and 2.4 Ghz was only B or G systems, wrong. 2.4 can be for all three. A, B, G, and N are just standards. N is the most recent allowing higher transfer speeds and more unused frequencies. The frequencies are by far the most misunderstood.
Dumb lesson # 2, Misinformation is very prevalent even from known authorities. Just remember, this is part of the problem we all deal with and affects our judgment, when we try to make improvements to our wireless networks. The higher the frequency the more likely it will penetrate walls. This is the complete opposite from what all the wireless geeks say. 5.0 GHz will do better than 2.4GHz going through walls. This is straight from my engineer father-in law who helped put the lander on the moon. So ignore what is being said by so called experts, I am a wireless novice with real scientific information. 5.0 GHZ has less distortion from other electronic products in your home. Therefore it has a clearer less obstructed and distorted signal from other household devices. Items that can overlap the 2.4 GHz are: wireless telephones, remote controls, wireless game controls, microwaves, and many more. Ignore this concern. Using a wireless G router, my 2.4 GHz cordless phone blocked all wireless signals. I bought a new DECT 6.0 phone. No more problems. WHY 5.0 Ghz APPEEARS TO BE WORSE is that 5.0 Ghz takes an extremely large amount of power to go the same distance as 2.4GHz, which the best consumer wireless routers don't have. The router and adapters signals are really going around walls and through windows to best of their abilities. My need has been getting my wireless signal to a far distance with a decent signal and decent speed. The 2.4 GHz is the only way to go with the "N" standard setting allowing the faster transfer rates up to 300 Mbps and a much longer distance with a range expander. Maybe someday 5.0 Ghz wireless routers with be available with more power, but don't count on it with all the energy efficiency requirements.
For the WRT 600 N wireless router:
A) Get access to your router through the IP address using your web browser at 192.168.1.1, click on the "Wireless" button next to "Set Up" - Basic Wireless settings the 5.0 GHz setting the 3 bottom categories for Radio Band, Wide Channel, Standard channel set all of them to AUTO. The Basic Settings for the bottom 2.4 GHz are Standard 20 MHz, Auto, and Auto. Under the 5.0 GHz -Wireless Mode setting, set it to Wireless N, Network Name SSID to something similar to your original network you have chosen, such as Digital add underscore media so you know what name you are looking for "Digital_media" and your regular Network to "Digital".
B) Under 2.4 GHz set the Wireless Mode to "Mixed." "Mixed" allows everyone in your network to use your Wireless Network no matter what kind of adapter they have (a, b, g, and n) for their computer. This is probably the biggest mistake and most misunderstood setting.
Dumb lesson # 3, I learned that the Dual Wireless Adapters will LOOK FOR MORE THAN ONE NETWORK AT THE SAME TIME, hence the name DUAL.
C) You need to set up your wireless adapters that are dual G & N adapters on each computer to do just that, by going to Control Panel, "Network" or "Network and the Internet", you need to get into the network adapter setting. It is very easy in Windows XP and Windows 7, which is what I use. The web also has good details on doing this.
D) If you have a Wireless Router N router always use security at least WPA2-Personal and give each of your network users the password, set the encryption at "AES". It is easiest to use the same password for 5.0 GHz as well as 2.4GHz. Remember old "B and A" standard adapters don't allow encryption. If you are using Older Network Adapters in your network of computers you can't have a WEP or WPA security password. The old computers and adapters don't allow encryptions and won't be able to connect to you network. My new ESR 9855G router allows up to 4 accounts using the same setup and guest users. I enable an additional account with a simple password for my visiting clients and friends and then uncheck the additional account box when they leave so it doesn't disrupt the 4 users and 2 businesses at my home.
CONTINUEING
Dumb lesson #4, The real reason the N standard is important is the transfer rates and MIMO. MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) refers to the ability of 802.11n and similar technologies to coordinate multiple simultaneous radio signals. MIMO increases both the range and throughput of a wireless network.
Dumb Lesson # 5, My wife would come to visit in my home office (separate building) in the late morning to see how my day was going. When she left my wireless signal disappeared. I was beginning to think she was really from Venus. This went on for 2 months and had me totally baffled. Solution - when she came to visit me in the morning I had my sliding glass door closed to keep the heat in the office. In the late morning after warming up outside, she left my office by opening the sliding glass door and closing the screen door behind her and saying, "enjoy the nice weather outside." My wire screen door was blocking my signal. I went down to the hardware store and replaced my screen with a heavy duty pet screen material made of some tough durable synthetic rubber/fiberglass material and I had my solution and signal back. I also replaced 2 other screen doors in my house, because of this issue. The signal strength did improve significantly.
DUMB MISTAKES WHEN TIRED AND SETTING UP THIS WIRELESS RANGE EXTENDER
Dumb mistake #1, I tried to setup my Wireless ERB9250 Range Expander using the "Manual Configuration," I plugged the LAN connection into the back of the wireless router for a network connection. Then I tried to go to the ISP 192.168.1.2. Wrong you must plug it into the wired LAN connection in the back of your computer's wired LAN connection. I had to reread the booklet. The online booklet doesn't specify this.
Dumb mistake #2, When I resolved my dumb mistake #1, and plugged it into the LAN connection, I went to ISP 192.168.2 and it wouldn't connect. It just said Windows Internet Explorer connection is not available. After scratching my head a few minutes, it dawned on me that I had to connect to the wired LAN (Local Area Network), not the wireless LAN. So I disabled the wireless adapter and allowed the computer to connect to LAN with ISP 192.168.1.2 and then followed the directions in the booklet. Note: it may be easier to print out the setup booklet online at EnGenius web site than to read the small size 6 font in the booklet, especially at night (see the missing note on the...Read more›

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Cisco-Linksys WRE54G Wireless-G Range Expander - REFURBISHED Review

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(More customer reviews)There was a lot of information out there about this product but I decided for $25 (Refurbished) I'd try it. Plugged it in, hit the "auto" button and away it went. It boosted the signal in an outbuilding from "Low" to "Excellent" and seems to be working just fine. I ignored the directions and the CD that came with it and didn't do any of the techno stuff like configuring the Host name, etc, etc. It just worked!

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D Link AirPlus DWL-900AP+ Wireless 22MBPS Access Point Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought another one of these to repeat my existing 900AP+'s signal to extend the range of my wireless network. It works great since I set it all up 2 weeks ago. I am not able to go all the way out to my backyard by the pool and still have Internet access on my laptop. This is very convenient when swimming or just laying and you get the urge to look something up on the Internet, but usually you don't because the PC is so far away. Not anymore. I am now able to bring my laptop out with me and maybe watch a DVD outside while I BBQ or just drink with my friends.
The repeater function looks like it only repeats other D-Link products. It also brings the speeds down to 11Mbps when you are connected to the network via the repeater. If you can get a signal with the main AP, then you are able to maintain your 22Mbps speeds.
Everything else about this AP has worked great for me as well and I'd highly recommend it.

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The D-Link AirPlus DWL-900AP+ can be configured to perform in any one of four modes--as a wireless access point, as a point-to-point bridge with another access point, as a point-to-multipoint wireless bridge, or as a wireless client. It also includes an embedded DHCP server that, once enabled, will automatically assign IP addresses to wireless clients. It also eliminates the need for a separate DHCP server on the network. This unique feature is ideal for quickly creating a wireless local area network in offices or other workplaces, or a temporary network at trade shows or other events.
The DWL-900AP+ also features 256-bit WEP encryption for a higher level of security for your data and wireless communications.
The DWL-900AP+ is fully compatible with the IEEE 802.11b standard, making it interoperable with all existing 802.11b-compliant devices. But unlike standard 802.11b access points, its data transfer rate can be up to 20 percent faster. When your wireless network is comprised of other D-Link AirPlus products, such as the DWL-520+ wireless PCI adapter, the DWL-650+ wireless CardBus adapter, and the DI-614+ wireless router--transfer rates can be as high as 22 Mbps.

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+9dB "Linksys" 15" Booster Antenna (Pair) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have always purchased genuine Linksys high-gain antennas in the past, for my Linksys wireless routers and access points, but I recently had the opportunity to try these 15" +9dB booster antennas provided by WiFi World, and I couldn't be happier with the results. These antennas, which are sold as a pair, have a standard TNC connector (female type), and connects easily to the Linksys WAP11 and WAP54G wireless access points. However, the newer revisions of the WRT54G and WRT54GS wireless routers no longer have user replaceable antennas, so you should check the back of your router before purchasing ANY antennas for these models.
As with any Omni-directional antenna, this +9dB model boosts signal strength on a horizontal plane. The do not offer much signal boost between floors of your home or office building. I think many people that purchase high gain antennas expect they will be able to add them to provide signal enhancement for multiple levels of a building. Although some amount of signal boost may reach a floor above or below your router, it is the strength across the same level of the building (or extending outside the building) that gets the biggest increase. I have a Linksys WRT54G wireless router on the lower level of my home, which does not have removable antennas. To achieve a better Wi-Fi signal to the upper level of my home I installed a Linksys WAP54G wireless access point and configured it as a repeater. This provided fairly good coverage in my home, but as I use a number of wireless network security cameras throughout my house I noticed some video and audio stuttering in the far corners, where the Wi-Fi signal was at its weakest. So I installed this set of +9dB booster antennas and within a couple of minutes I had my wireless access point powered up and blasting a stronger signal both inside and outside my home. All of my security cameras now stream flawless video at 30 fps, and there are no more audio dropouts. I also get coverage for my laptop computer much farther away from the house (in the yard) than I used to.
Although not everyone may receive the same excellent results with these antennas that I have, I honestly believe they are a quality product that performs as advertised. Linksys certainly produces excellent quality high-gain antennas as well, but at less than half the cost these +9dB antennas give me just as good, if not better, results than I previously received with the premium priced Linksys antennas. Just remember, vertical boost will not be strong with this type of antenna, and placement of the router and positioning of the antennas does make a big difference in signal strength at any given distance. If you need to "focus" your signal to another floor or between buildings then you may need to look at a directional style antenna rather than this Omni-directional model. I am giving these +9dB 15" antennas 5-stars, because they exceeded my expectations and were substantially cheaper than the recommended Linksys brand. I highly recommend them to anyone looking to increase horizontal signal strength at a very reasonable price. =o)

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Belkin F5D7132 Wireless-G Universal Range Extender Review

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(More customer reviews)I have shared the same experience as the most helpful reviews here: this is a pain to install when you want to configure this Extender to be secure (so strangers can't mooch off of your internet or worse). On the other hand, once you have it set up, it works like a charm.
It's possible, but prepare to burn an hour or three. I would like to add some instructional steps, which are a variation of the very helpful ones already present here on Amazon.
Dummies Guide on How to set up the Extender with security turned on:
1. Completely ignore the instruction sheet that comes with the product. At first, I tried following it stubbornly despite reading these Amazon reviews, and I found that it is an embarrassment. Shame on you Belkin, for giving us so much unnecessary grief.
2. Find a computer in your home to use for this setup. Any computer (that isn't Vista) will do.
3. If this computer happens to be plugged into your router (I'm not talking about not the Extender), unplug it from the router. If this computer happens to have a wireless connection, disable the wireless connection.
4. Plug in the power cord for the Extender into the wall, then connect an ethernet cord (looks like a fat telephone cord) into the back of the Extender, then stick the other end into your computer. The "LAN" light will now light up. Just in case you're concerned, you can ignore the red "search" light that may blink.
5. Install the "Belkin Range Extender Utility" onto this computer. The installation CD will place a program in your Start->Programs menu once you run the install.
6. Go to start->settings->network connections. At this point the only enabled network connection should be Local Area Network (or Local Connection... the name may differ slightly for you). If anything else is enabled, disable it. Right click Local Area Network and select Properties. You're now looking for a new window to pop up that lists a bunch of internet-sounding words like Network or QoS. Look for the item called Internet Protocol (TCP/IP). Double click that.
7. Select manual IP, and enter 192.168.2.100
8. The subnet mask will get filled out automatically. Ignore the gateway. Hit OK, you're finished.
9. Start up the Belkin utility, and hit "refresh" if nothing shows up on the list of detected Extenders. If you're lucky, you will see the Extender show up, and you can now click "Web Management".
10. If no items show up on the Belkin Utility's list, or an item does show up but the "web management" icon is unclickable, then repeat steps 6-9 but enter the IP address 192.168.1.100 instead. Then the Extender should show up.
11. Finally, once you are able to click "Web Management", it will bring you to a webpage that is very much like a Router setup page. The details of what you need to do here can be found in instructional docs on the web elsewhere. The basic idea is that you want to copy pretty much everything over to be identical to what your router settings are. The only exception is possibly the SSID of the Belkin Extender. Depending on your preference, you may want to choose a different name for it just so you can confirm that its really working later on.
12. Save those settings (there's a systems tab at the bottom of the web management panel that allows you to save the settings into a file as a backup).
13. Unplug the Extender from the computer, unplug the power for the Extender, and move the extender to wherever you want. Plug the power back in.
14. Go back to steps 6-9. Remove the manual IP configuration for your Local Area Connection, and revert the panels back to the way they were (which is probably "automatically obtain ip address"). Hit OK. Enable all your network connections if you disabled them in step 6.
15. You should now be able to use your wireless connection to see the Extender under its fresh new SSID. Enjoy.
A version of the above for those that are network-saavy:
1. Disconnect all wireless from your computer, then connect your computer directly to the Extender as if it were a router. Power up the Extender.
2. Manually specify your computer's IP address to be 192.168.2.xxx with subnet mask 255.255.255.0. Yes, I know this step is weird. I'll explain the reason for it in step#4.
3. Install the Belkin Network utility. Its a simple executable. Start it up. It's purpose is to scan for the Extender, provided that your Extender is directly wired to your computer (which we did in step 1).
4. You should see your Extender show up in the utility. If the Extender does not show up or the "Web Management" button is greyed out, this is because your computer and the Belkin Extender are on different subnets. The Belkin Extender is usually shipped from the warehouse hardwired to the IP Address 192.168.2.254. What??? When you plug your computer into the Extender, you need to hardwire your computer to be on the same subnet so the stupid utility will work. Hence, since the factory setting for the Extender is 192.168.2.254, hardwiring your computer's IP to 192.168.2.100 will get the utility to connect to the Extender. However, if for some awful reason your Extender is hardwired to some other IP Address (which is configurable once you get to step#5), you need to change your computer's IP Address to have a value that matches the Extender's new subnet. In other words, if the Extender IP somehow changes to 192.168.5.254, you should change your computer IP address to 192.168.5.100
5. Once you click "Web Management" you can configure the Extender via a browser window. Replicate your router's settings here (they all need to match the original router's, with the exception of the Extender's SSID).
6. Hit Save, then unplug the Extender's power cord and ethernet, and then move it to wherever you would like. Power it up again.
7. Remove your computer's manual IP address. You're now officially done.
*As a note, I had occasional connection problems when I had my Belkin router & extender encryption set to WPA-PSK. I just switched my encryption to WEP and now it is fine. Not everyone has this problem.
Up this review, if you found it useful. I want to see other people spared from the excessive pain the rest of us have already experienced!

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SHARES DATA & PERIPHERALS AS WELL AS A SINGLE INTERNET ACCOUNT AMONG ALL COMPUTERS CONNECTS TO THE NETWORK SWITCH & JOINS WIRELESS-EQUIPPED PCS TO A WIRED ACCESS POINT NETWORK INCREASES THE COVERAGE OF EXISTING WIRELESS NETWORK OF UP TO 1500 FT STANDARD 802.11G54 MB RAMLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY

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EnGenius EOC-2610 - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased a pair of the EnGenius EOC-2610's in order to wirelessly connect two buildings on our farm separated by 500 meters so both buildings could use the the same DSL access to the internet. The first unit installed easily as a workable "access point" to the LAN containing the DSL/router despite very poor documentation of how to do it and no schematics. This worked for two days and then the devices's electronics failed before I even had a chance to set up the 2nd unit of the pair for a stronger signal in the second building. I ended up replacing the first unit with the second as a simple "access point" in the main building so at least I could communicate with the second building's wireless enabled laptop.
I sent a detailed concise email to EnGenius explaining my troubles in simple non-accusatory language. They never responded. The device could not be returned to the vendor without the approval of Engenius so I never was able to get my money back before the 30 day grace period expired.
In summary my device failure rate was 50% in the first two days of operation, the instructions for a motivated non-network engineer are inadequate, and the support was nonexistent. I myself would not buy from EnGenius again.

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Intel WSAP5000AM Pro/Wireless 5000 LAN Access Point Review

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(More customer reviews)Given that the range of 802.11a is not that great this Access Point can not be hidden away in a closest. This Access Point has a fan. The fan is very loud and annoying. The Access Point does look good. I think they were going for form over function. Much of the Access Point is hollow so that allows the fan to resonate. The thing is like a big speaker.

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Give your wireless LAN users networking throughput up to 54 Mbps - to work with bandwidth-intensive applications and streaming media, while simultaneously supporting existing wireless users up to 11 Mbps. Intel introduces the Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Dual Access Point, a fully integrated, dual-mode, wireless LAN access point that gives you flexibility and increased network capacity through simultaneous support of two wireless standards: 802.11a and 802.11b. Operating in the clean 5 GHz spectrum with eight non-overlapping channels, you can install up to eight dual access points in a location to provide up to 432 Mbps network capacity in a single area.The Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Dual Access Point uses a software-configurable antenna, provides support for IEEE 802.3af Power over Ethernet (PoE) and includes a security lock. The access point is designed for placement on a table, or for mounting on a wall or the ceiling, giving users optimal networking performance at distances up to 91.5 m. The Intel PRO/Wireless 5000 LAN Dual Access Point increases your Return on Investment (ROI), with investment protection of your current wireless LAN users and lower cost per Mbps for new users, while increasing user productivity and access to data through higher access rates.

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Hawking HWREN1 Hi-Gain Wireless-300N Range Extender Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I was skeptical about this product due a lack of reviews on the net but decided to take the plunge...
My wireless network consists of a Belkin Wireless N Router (F5D8233-4)using WPA,WPA2 w/ TKIP+AES security and the Hawking range extender has no problem communicating with it.
I chose to forgo the setup CD and went directly to the web interface to set things up. The interface is simple and pretty self explanatory. Out of the box the ip is 192.168.1.240. Login is: admin, pw:1234
Initially I was getting intermittent and/or limited connectivity when trying to connect to the internet; this is usually due to the security/encryption settings so make sure to enter your info carefully to match your parent router exactly. To remedy this here's what apparently worked for me (my security settings were matched up)
-Updated the firmware. Mine came shipped with ver. 1.10 There is a new one out 1.13 that you can find on the Hawking Technology website.
-In the "Advanced Wireless setup" I unchecked the WMM option...possible conflict with parent router?
-Set CTS protect to auto (as suggested in manual)
-Unplug the power for 10 seconds and plug back in.
After that I was all connected!
The am VERY impressed with how much my overall network range has increased, especially considering the 5 or so walls this it has to go through...where there used to be no signal, I have full bars and an excellent signal. In contrast, the belkin g range extender it's replacing did little to improve my range. On a plus note is that you can upgrade the antennas if needed.
Primary use is for my Direct TV HR-21 for VOD. As far as I know there are few marketed "N" options available to do the job...two are:
-Linksys WGA600N- Wireless bridge that reportedly works very well.
-D-Link DAP-1522- includes 4 LAN slots. (I was concerned w/ compatibility issues with my router)
I chose the Hawking because it advertises to work with "any" AP or router and for roughly the same $$ of the Linksys, I can extend the range of my signal too. If I need another LAN port I'll just buy a cheap 10/100 switch.
I can't give it 5 stars because I have no long-term experience with the product.
In short, if you're looking for a "N" WURE solution for your network, give it a try. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
UPDATE 1/15/10...
Well it has been over a year and I am still thoroughly satisfied with this product and has performed flawlessly for me. Over this time I have swapped out my parent router for a D-Link 655 and have added a 10/100 switch to the Hawking to also connect a new PS3 Slim. I am still running the same firmware since I have not had any issues with it; going with the philosophy of, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." I'm considering picking up another one when the price is right to further extend my network. On a side note, my apologies for not addressing questions over the year; I didn't select to receive notifications for comments on my review.

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Mini Wireless 3 in 1 Router, Access Point, and Wireless Bridge-WiFi IEEE 802.11n Router, WiFi AP and Bridge Repeater-Power Saving MiFi Firewall Router with Green AP Technology Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This is a cute little unit -- footprint is only about 3.5" x 2.25" -- which appears to function as advertised, but the software and documentation leave much to be desired. The unit has a switch on the back that puts it into (R)outer mode, (A)ccess point mode, and (W)ireless repeater/bridge mode. It also has two Ethernet jacks on the back, one for the WAN and one for the LAN, though you don't need to use either (depending on the mode). The unit is set up using an Ethernet cable (plugged into the LAN port) and a computer with an internet browser.
If you are a basic user and can work with all the default settings, it might just work fine for you -- but I haven't tested the unit this way.
I use a non-broadcasted SSID, encryption, and never use the default IP addresses assigned to routers. So it took a lot of time fiddling and struggling with the software to get everything set up the way I like it.
Pros:
- very compact unit, nice design
- very compact power supply; can run power off a USB 2.0 cable too
- works in multiple modes
- supports 802.11b, g, n
- inexpensive
Cons:
- documentation is minimal (Quick setup guide) with no additional documentation available from the Sapido website
- when you switch modes using the hardware switch, the unit reverts back to default settings. It would have been nice if it saved different settings for each mode. However you can manually save the configuration settings to your hard drive, and reupload them later, if needed.
- software is very slow -- takes 25 seconds or longer to save most changes
- tricky to change the unit's IP address, and when you succeed, you need to wait about 2 min before you can access the unit's software again (hint: on the IP Config/LAN page, put the unit in "Server" mode in order to change the IP address, save the changes, then put it back into "Client" mode. Do not use "Disable" mode since it seems to disable the ability to use the unit's software altogether.)
- once the unit is operating as a Wireless repeater or bridge, you can no longer access the unit's software so you can't make any further changes (unless you reset the unit and lose all your settings). Hopefully this isn't the case in the (R) and (A) modes.
- I have my unit set up as a wireless repeater, and Internet access seems fast enough (I have full 54 mbps in 802.11g mode), but access to my server is much slower than when I'm hooked up wirelessly to my wireless router. I don't know if this is a problem with all wireless repeaters, or some other issue that can be debugged.
Overall, it took me longer than usual to set this little unit up, particularly due to the long "save" cycles, but now that it's up and running it seems to work ok.


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Hawking HWREG1 Wireless G Range Extender Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this Hawking HWREG1 repeater after a miserable experience with the Linksys repeater. The Hawking unit works perfectly and was very easy to configure. It truly was a 10 minute deal from start to finish. It is extending my Linksys WRT54G wireless network using WPA encryption. You assign the Hawking unit a second SSID (I called mine EXTEND) and then your computer will connect to what it "thinks" is a second wireless network, but everything continues to operate as if you are still on the same network.
I placed this unit on a table that is about half way between the original router and the room with low signal. It is small, and you can easily locate it in an out of the way area. When I use my laptop in the far corner of my house, the original linksys network is still visible as it always was, with a very low signal level. But the EXTEND network has a strong signal, and I just connect to it.
Once connected, you are assigned an IP address from the ORIGINAL Linksys router, and you can ping and communicate with all other devices on your network, even if they are connected to the original network instead of the repeater. So everything continues to work and operate like one network, including shared folders on other computers, printers, etc. I am 100% satisfied with this repeater.
Linksys repeater comparison:
The problem I had with the Linksys WAP54G in repeater mode is that it simply does not work with WPA encryption. It only works with WEP encryption, or no encryption at all. Note that the Linksys website and documents claim that the repeater is compatible with WPA. I can assure you that as of September 2006, up to version 3.04 firmware, the WAP54G access point/repeater does NOT work with WPA encryption. After spending 30 days emailing Linksys tech support back and forth, you will finally be escalated to an engineer that will admit that it doesn't yet work correctly with WPA, but they hope to have it fixed soon! They even sent me some beta firmware, but it did not work with WPA either. Don't waste your time with Linksys, get this HWREG1 Hawking instead. It is easier to configure than Linksys, and works with WPA. Highly recommended.


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D-Link DAP-1360 Wireless N Range Extender Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)It came in the mail yesterday and I had it up and running in about 15 mins. So installation gets 5 stars. And it definitely works as an extender as I am now getting full signal strength upstairs in my bedroom while the router is in the far corner of the basement. All appeared to be good until I started to do more than surf the internet. I couldn't hold a connection to my company's VPN and I kept losing connection when I tried to download podcasts to itunes. I unplugged it and I haven't seen the problem since, so it has to be the extender causing the issue. It not only causes a problem with my laptop upstairs, but any computer on the network. The D-Link forum has several complaints with the same issue, but D-link has yet to respond to these complaints. The closest I saw to a recommended fix was in their Knowledgebase - they recommended changing the "Preamble" setting to "short" (default is "long") for busy networks or for downloading large files. I will try this when I get home tonight and see if this corrects the issue.
UPDATE: 5/26/2010 - I switched the Preamble to "short" and that did nothing to solve my problem. Back to the ol' drawing board! Next stop, tech support. Ugh!
UPDATE: 6/3/2010 - I emailed customer support a week ago and have heard nothing. Also, they have failed to respond to their own customer forum regarding this same issue. Lame, very lame. They leave me no option but to return this item.

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Linksys Wireless-G Range Expander WRE54G - Repeater - external Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This thing cannot stay sync'd with the base access point period. It works just well enough that you don't chuck it, but it is not usable in any sense of the word.

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NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router Wall Pg Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I use a wireless router in the house with great success. However, the range is pretty weak or my house is too big, and I am pretty sure it's not the latter. As a result, I researched a variety of solutions, none of which seemed too appealing to implement (bridges, wireless range extenders, new RF antenna, etc). It just all seemed too complicated, and I consider myself pretty tech savvy.
Fortunately, I was reading through some tech reviews and stumbled upon the Netgear Wireless wall-plugged router kit. It seemed like it was pretty simple to setup and easy to use. Well, I can report that it is exactly that.
There is no software to install at all. You simply plug in the ethernet cable from the cable modem in one room into the Netgear plug and then plug that into the wall. Check that all three green lights are lit and you are good to go.
The next step is to take the second half of the Netgear plug into the desired room in the house and plug it into an electric socket. When its three lights are lit, you have a connection and are good to go in there. My laptop computer picked up wireless signal immediately and I was surfing the web in no time flat. Basically, it was flawless.
So, WHY am I am only giving it four stars? Two reasons:
First, the wireless range of the Netgear plug is pretty weak. It definitely doesn't have the power of my main wireless modem. Then again, it doesn't have an antenna AND it still works, so it's no big deal; it's just not perfect.
Second, the Netgear plugs need to be plugged in somewhat near each other to function correctly and get the Homelink green light to turn green. When the Netgear plugs were plugged in on opposite ends of the house (what I was hoping for to maximize range), it did not achieve a homelink connection. However, when I moved the plugs to outlets that were closer together (but still outside my wireless routers range), it DID work. So, partial credit again here. While I cna't explain why it did not work, perhaps the electrical homelink signal degrades the farther the outlets are apart.
Anyway, everything is working pretty smoothly now and I am excited that I can get a signal in another area of the house that was not covered by internet previously.

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The NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender includes everything you need to provide wireless access to an existing network using only power outlets. You can now extend an internet connection to even the farthest reaches of your home without a tangled mess of cables.
Elegant Design and Simple to Install The WGXB102 is a kit that comes with two devices, the Wireless Range Extender (WGX102) and the Powerline Network Bridge (XE102).
The WGX102 is a small silver-colored box with rounded edges that has no wires or ports of any sort. Installation is truly plug and play: simply plug the device into the outlet and you have a wireless network originating from that spot.
The XE102 is a similarly shaped box that connects from an existing wired or wireless router to the power line. It then sends a network connection between connected NETGEAR Powerline devices. In addition to the included WGX102, other compatible devices include NETGEAR's XE104, XE103, XEPS103, and XE102, all sold separately.
Fast and Secure The WGX102 complies with both the Homeplug 1.0 and 802.11g wireless standards for compatibility with a wide range of devices. Since 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, you don't have to worry about your older devices that might not yet support the newer standard. The WGX102 supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption as well as WPA so you can be sure your data is safe from prying eyes. Additionally, it has VPN (IP-Sec and PPTP) passthrough, as well as the option to turn Wireless SSID broadcast on and off.
The NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender is backed by a 2-year warranty.
What's in the Box WGX102 wireless range extender, XE102 Powerline network bridge, ethernet cable, two setup CDs, installation guide, and warranty/support information card.

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