Rating: Summary: Beautiful Review: I'm connecting to the BEFW11S4 wireless router with this card on a PC with windows 98 and one with windows xp, and they both work great. Setup was very easy, taking only a matter of minutes, and from 200 feet away, I get a signal strength of at least 80 percent, which is more than fast enough for my 3mb Adelphia cable internet connection. This card even supports WEP encryption to keep your network completely safe from hackers. I definately recommend this card to anyone interested in wireless networking.
Rating: Summary: Works great. Easy Setup. Great way to get into Wi-Fi Review: From the time I opened the box of the companion wireless access point and router, to the time I was up and running with a fast connection was about two hours. It would have been a half hour had I not run into a snag. After getting the two cards to communicate, which was simple, I was unable to get more than a trickle of information through--in other words I was slower than dial-up ... way slower. Because someone posted a review here (thank you whoever you are), I downloaded a firmware upgrade and new drivers, installed them an I'm good to go. Even though my signal strength is listed by the software as poor, I get a reliable 11Mbps, which is simply fantastic. While I'd really like to not have installed the firmware upgrade, I'd still recommend this product and the companion Wireless access point and router.
Rating: Summary: Seriously flawed with Win98 Review: Having successfully set up another machine with a PC card/PCI adapter a couple of weeks ago, I thought I'd try the new desktop version on a second machine. Out of the box, the card was a failure. While I could address the card, and the signal indicator said I had an "excellent" link, I couldn't move any reasonably sized data through the card (e.g., web pages took 6 minutes to load). Reviewing the Linksys web site pointed me toward a driver and firmware upgrade, but how are you supposed to download a 6mb file without a functioning broadband link? I returned it and bought another PC card/PCI adapter combo, and I'm running fine.Bottom line: if you don't have a lot of time to mess around with tuning the card, be very careful before purchasing if you're installing with Windows 98.
Rating: Summary: Improved! Review: I upgraded from the PCI card / PCMCIA card combination and my preformance more than doubled! I'm using Windows XP Professional and the installation took all of 10 minutes. I'd buy another one without hesitation.
Rating: Summary: Firmware upgrade is a must !! Review: I brought my Linksys WMP11 on 5/5/02 and installed on a 4 year old computer running Windows 98 on 166 MHz and 96 Mb on board. At first it does not work. But after upgrading the firmware, it works perfect. The procedure is to run the firmware upgrade software, then remove the card and put it back again. The computer will flash the card at this point and afterwards I got very fast and stable connection.
Rating: Summary: Make sure you use the the right installation software. Review: I bought a Instant Wireless(tm) Wireless PCI card Model No.: WMP11 at Staples. When installing the software MAKE SURE you use the folder whos name matches your operating system. If you can't find the right folder on your CD, call technical support and try downloading it from their Website(i.e. if you're running Windows XP, DON'T use the Windows ME or Windows NT folders). Following this advice will save you hours of frustration. Apart from that I'm quite pleased with the product. The technical support is good and the throughput is excellent. When playing online I often have the lowest ping and am often first to show up. If the installation CD included Windows XP support then I might give it a 5 star rating.
Rating: Summary: Does Not Work Review: I purchased this card and the WAP11 Wireless Access Point to connect my ethernet network with a machine I placed upstairs in my home. Even at no more than 40ft from the A.P. the card could not connect (supposedly works up to 300ft indoors). When I called Linksys, the rep told me that the card does not work well when it is between the computer and a wall, and may not work well near the computer's power supply. (That defeats the purpose of having a PCI card.) I decided to return the card and A.P. I purchased Home Phone Line Netwoking equipment and it works fine.
Rating: Summary: 50-75 feet max range Review: This product is an adaptation of the popular Linksys instant wireless network card for laptops. Laptops are subject to greater flexibility of positioning than PC's. I pushed this product to the max. In a large mid tower case, on the floor, in an armoir, facing away from the access point, through several walls,closets, bookcases,appliances and about 100 feet away from the access point, I got a signal strength of about 0-6% at best. When I moved the PC to the living room, 50 feet away,no armoir, still on the floor,oriented towards the WAP11 I got 70% and a good Internet connection. So I returned the WMP11 for a WUSB11 usb adapter. It is easier to install, requires no power cord. It can be elevated to the ceiling if you wish, while leaving the PC "in the armoir where it belongs"-wife talking. I set it on top and got a 26-40% reading -enough to go! So I would only recommend this card for PC's at desktop level less than 80-90 feet away from the source.
Rating: Summary: Horrible throughput Review: Tech support (reached after 50 minutes on hold) told me to upgrade the firmware when I was getting almost no throughput. Tried it--didn't work (even after physically removing the PCI card). Firmware wouldn't update correctly. Second call to tech support (30 minutes on hold) said the firmware upgrade was only for WinXP (I'm using Win98SE). Finally sent the card back.
Rating: Summary: Don't even think about ... Review: ... using this with the WAP11 access point WITHOUT upgrading the firmware first (on both of them!). Unless of course you would like a wild ride through hell during installation. Linksys support for their wireless products is near non-existent. I was on hold for more than 3 hours and then I gave up (good thing I have headset phone!). I tried again the next day waited on hold for 1 hour and then gave up. I was about to return the WAP11 and WMP11, when I decided to upgrade the firmware on the WMP11 (I had already upgraded the firmware on the WAP11). After hours and hours of frustration, and finally, the firmware upgrade, it worked! I have the WAP11 in my basement and my computer with the WMP11 on the main floor, I get 73% signal strength and link quality.
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