Rating: Summary: Quick and Easy Review: I ordered this with some apprehension given some of the comments from others. I set up the unit in my office and the installation went quickly and without problems. The primary reason for doing this is that I was running DSL off a phone line in my home office and I have another computer in my study on the other side of the house where we do our personal stuff. There were all kinds of engineering issues with running an extension off the business line into the study, so I thought wireless would be a good alternative. Installed the D-Link USB wireless unit and it cranked right up. Separation of about 75' going through two exterior walls and two interior walls and getting fast speeds. I am sure that specific installation sites may create problems, but mine went with no hassles and everything was up and running within 30 minutes. While I use computers in my work, I am by no means a gearhead. The quick guide was fine for me; although I have to admit being lost in the user manual regarding some of the more advanced functions.
Rating: Summary: A failed experiment Review: Despite 10 hours of work, I was unable to get this unit to work.I followed all of the advice that other reviewers posted - upgraded the driver/firmware, rebooted the router/system, etc. Nothing. I have a laptop that connects to a wireless network at my office and its WAN monitor utility showed an erratic signal strength coming from the DI-713P. I was never able to get the D-link DWA-500 card to receive anything at all, even when I moved the host computer right next to the router. Eventually, the unit started failing when it attempted to get a DHCP address from the cable company. Rebooting and other voodoo practices had no effect - I was now totally off the network! I think I'm going to bite the bullet and start routing wires in my wall so I can get a reliable connection to my machine upstairs. I don't think this router is ready for prime time.
Rating: Summary: As advertised . . . Review: I installed and configured the DI-713P in a home-built AMD 1.1GHz running WinXP Pro in less than 30 minutes. It took a bit longer to connect to the DWL-650 wireless card in a Fujitsu laptop/Win98 unit, but only because I didn't read the manual and changed a default setting that didn't need changing! I didn't try the printer port but instead use WinXP to share a USB printer connected to the desktop unit. The only downside . . . I had to move the 713P to several different locations before I was confident of getting a consistent connection to the laptop. On the other hand, the the 713P is one floor and three walls away from the laptop . . . I was frankly surprised that I was able to get a reliable connection!
Rating: Summary: 2 weeks working, then dead Review: Same problem as other people here have stated. Worked some what for the first two weeks, though my connection to one of my computers constantly dropped off. Now the unit is locked up and doesnt function at all. Customer support? LOL - Documentation lacking... Buy at your own risk
Rating: Summary: D-Link DI713-P Review: A great product for novices and advanced users! Make sure you read the manual carefully before diving in (I know, I know, you just want to dive in!) but it will save you a lot of time in the long run. I use 2 PCs, 1 with a Orinoco wireless card & bought a range extender antenna for it and the resulting increase in range is fantastic. Make sure you use your WEP encription for extra security and for you DHCP users, set your "renew IP forever" to "yes". I have had no problems with firmware. I would definitely purchase this product again.
Rating: Summary: Worked as advertised Review: Worked right out of the box in about 5 minutes. Worked flawlessly with the D-Link 650. Did not have the problems others report above.
Rating: Summary: works fine, tech. support fast, new firmware better Review: I bought two, both work fine. Just to see what was new, I downloaded the newest firmware. I could not find it on the website, but the tech support guy sent it to me 5 minutes after I E-mailed them. Firmware install is a breeze. I use a cisco aironet pc-card and it works fine. Be aware that this box is designed to do NAT only - it does not work as a transparent bridge like some other WAPs. This is perfect for home ADSL or cable internet access, and also works great on a corporate LAN. Supports MAC authentication as well. It uses a 12 volt 1 amp power supply which you can pick up at any electronics store, in case you don't have access to 110 volt power. :-)
Rating: Summary: I had to send my first on eback - second one fine Review: I had problems with the first unit. Finally sent it back and 1 1/2 months after I recieved the original I had my wireless network up and running. I will tell you this, if you are lucky enough to get one that works - it is easy to set up and works very well and reliably (sp?). Anyway I even use my notebook with a Linksys PCMCIA card and have no prblems at all. I can use the computer at the other end of my house outside on my deck and still have a 60% signal (which allows seemingly for full speed). Never lose connections or anything. I think it was worth the wait. Might be better to get it from a store where you can physically take it back and recieve one the same day.
Rating: Summary: Weak Support. Received Defective Product Review: Customer service was generally not helpful. For one thing, they do not seem to have a checklist or any kind of strong customer database to systematically walk you through steps to solve your problem. Dlink customer service also seemed to have several trainees when I called, and supervisors seemed unwilling to step in more quickly when these trainees floundered. The representatives often gave oversimplistic answers: "buy a crossover cable" or "we don't support that operating system" without explaining why or making any kind of suggestions. Too often, you are left feeling that you are trying to figure out the equipment on your own. Additionally, after several calls, customer service found that I had received a defective item. If you are completely new to networking/home networks like I am, such customer support makes this a weak solution for the home user.
Rating: Summary: Useful and works Review: After connecting it, the web-based setup was fairly easy. Unlike a previous reviewer, I have no problem with my Cisco/Aironet card on my laptop. It worked without WEP without any problems. Setting up the 128bit WEP and renaming the SSID was a bit more trouble, but probably more because of not reading the manual first. Performance and reach is great. VPN connections work out of the box and gaming over the LAN works without a hitch. Reasons for only 4 out of 5: the manual could be a bit better and the need to download newer firmware. As an aside, Windows XP's wireless LAN tools are very user-friendly. Setting your PC up is a breeze.
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