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Linksys BEFW11P1 EtherFast Wireless Access Point + Cable/DSL Router with PrintServer

Linksys BEFW11P1 EtherFast Wireless Access Point + Cable/DSL Router with PrintServer

List Price: $399.99
Your Price: $191.95
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 1 stars
Summary: What a peice of crap!
Review: ... Not only does this product lock up every 30 minutes, but the wireless range is about 30 feet in my small house. Linksys phone support was worthless and offered no help. Trust me, avoid this product like the plauge. ......

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Perfect Wireless Home Networking Solution
Review: After careful review of various options to wirelessly network 2 laptops and a PC in my home, I decided on the Linksys Wireless DSL/Cable Router w/ Print Server (BEFW11P1) and two Wireless PC Cards (WPC11). This network was SO easy to install and works like a charm with our Cable modem. All of us can quickly share files and work on-line at the same time. It's a great and affordable solution and I was surprised at how easy the setup was. I can definitely recommend this system to anyone.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Print Server Does Not Work
Review: After serveral calls to Linksys tech support which is horrible, I found the print server does not work with Windows XP. I'am returning it

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Don't bother with the Print server version
Review: After weeks of planning my home network and researching products, I went with the Linksys BEFW11P1--partly because of the integrated print server.
As far as the router part goes, I was able to set up my network (and I'm a completely self taught computer person)in 3-4 hours, although my total time on phone tech support was probably 1 hour (talk time) and 40 minutes (hold time)--at least it's an 800 number. The first 55 minutes was spent unsuccessfully trying to configure my DSL ISP and the router. The last 5 minutes was during a second phone call when a diff tech support guy solved the problem immediately. The network was ready.
While trying to install the printer, the screws for the parallel port came out and the port fell into the box. 25 minutes later, I finally got the screws back in and thought, "I'll deal with it tomorrow". Went to goof around on the computer, found out how to just share the printers through the Microsoft software, and now have TWO shared printers without having to use the print server at all (which only provides for one printer).
BOTTOM LINE _ this wireless router is great for setting up a network, but save your extra cash and get the model without a print server.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: limited resuls
Review: customer support was non-existent. product stopped working if large file was printed or multiple small print jobs were executed. experienced similar issues with the data transfer. had to reset by unplugging several time a week.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Unusable, notably with XP
Review: Don't buy this product. I have Windows XP and I need to reset it about every hour, sometimes even every 10 minutes, because the wireless link will crash continually. Also, I never could use the print server, which only works for simple printers and not e.g. HP OfficeJet systems. In retrospect, I'd rather have had a router with more ethernet ports (this one has only one). It's never really been stable, but since I got XP it is hopeless (even if I do *not* let XP manage my 802.11, which also appears buggy)

Update - I decided to get the MR814 from Netgear. Should have done so months ago. All problems gone, much better signal, more ethernet ports and it looks better as a bonus.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: The BEFW11P1
Review: Extremely poor quality - locks up every two hours. The product
should be withdrawn and re-engineered.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Poor range, don't use the manual
Review: I am surprised about the good rating this product received. It has given me quite a headache for some time. Configuration is not as easy as it could be and only works if you ignore the manual, which is about as confusing as can be. You must make sure to set the DNS server right for it to work, and that's not explained, you may also have to set up passwords and logons for your internet provider. The range (stinks). I barely get 20 feet and one wall. Indeed, I had one card that had poor transmission over 5 feet without a wall involved. What did Linksys's tech guys say to that (after a 17 minute hold time)? "Bad luck, if it works at all, it's not our responsibility. Do you get transmission directly next to the machine? If so, the unit works" We'll so much for excellent tech support.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Reliable, fast, works great!
Review: I bought the unit because I run a laptop-only network at home, and did not have a desktop unit to use as a printserver. I had never set up a router OR a wireless network before. Even so, it only took about an hour to read the manual and set up 2 laptops, a DSL connection, and an NEC laser printer, all with 128-bit encryption. I'm running W2K on one laptop, W98 on the other. The only glitch in the setup was that the web-based setup program asks for a username and password which is NOT given in the manual (HINT: try "admin" and "admin" -- change this after setup so that your neighbor doesn't alter your settings).

Since I'd heard bad things about the Linksys PCMCIA cards, I purchased 2 Orinoco Gold cards instead. I'm extremely satisfied with this combination. It is truly a "set-and-forget" device. I have had no problems with printing and websurfing from both laptops at once. The speed is excellent. The printserver is rock stable. It even reacts appropriately to out-of-paper errors, and resumes correctly when the paper is replaced. The range is limited, but I'm working in a noisy environment (New York City). Moving the 2.4 GHz cordless phone to the other side of the room helped.

I've seen a lot of lousy reviews of this device, but I've been completely happy with mine. (Once I figured out the setup password).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Very pleased
Review: I bought this product and felt that it is worth every penny. I love it. I loved it so much I wrote a detailed review of it on MacVillage.net (http://macvillage.net/news/articles/99711629656435.shtml) It's cross platform for the most part making it a tremendous product. If they would get Mac Printing support it would be even better.


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