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Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster

Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster

List Price: $146.00
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simple, effective, cheap.
Review: I was able to install it in 5 minutes. Most of that was looking for a pair of pliers (which it turned out I didn't need anyhow).

Prior to installation I couldn't even get signal out of the room the wireless access point was installed in. I live in an older house with plaster on metal lathe with old metal shielded cable grounding to the lathe.

Now I can get a signal in the south end of my basement even with the access point on the north end of the third floor of my house.

I couldn't be happier. About the only thing I'd say to be careful of would be to take the proper security measures if you'll be broadcasting a signal outside of your home.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works As Advertised
Review: I purchased the WSB24 to extend the range of my BEFW11S4 to cover my entire house. The house is approximately 3000 sq ft and the Linksys WAP is located at one end. The WSB24 worked as advertised and extended my reception an additional 30 ft or so and enable end-to-end mobility. For the money, it was well worth the investment.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simple - easy - effective
Review: This product could not be easier to install. No CD to spin. No complex manuals - just a power "brick", 2 cables, and the booster. Linksys has a nice package if you need a little more signal.
I did a preliminary survey using my notebook computer with an Orinoco Silver card and Toshiba e740. The notebook usually runs about 3-5db higher gain for any given distance from the router than the PDA, which is normal given the available power to the 802.11b chip and antenna size.
After installing the WSB24 booster, I noted a 5-9db gain throughout the house and down the street on both the notebook and PDA. My goal was to get a solid signal "footprint" covering my entire house, yard, garage. The WSB24 achieved this admirably. I believe Linksys claims a 10-15db gain, but I noted approximately half that. Given that almost all the advertising for WiFi seems to double or treble the true available distance, this doesn't alarm or bother me. At distances and locations where I previously got 1 or 5 mb connection I now have a solid 11mb.
The bottom line: 5 minute install, no problems, definite gain in signal strength, reasonable price.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent Product
Review: One room in my home has staggered cement walls (and it's not cellblock A) and unfortunately the signal from my BEFW11S4 does not make it into the room. With the WSB24 (just made available recently) I now have full coverage in this room as well as coverage outside further than I imagined. All-in-all a very nice product.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simple - easy - effective
Review: This product could not be easier to install. No CD to spin. No complex manuals - just a power "brick", 2 cables, and the booster. Linksys has a nice package if you need a little more signal.
I did a preliminary survey using my notebook computer with an Orinoco Silver card and Toshiba e740. The notebook usually runs about 3-5db higher gain for any given distance from the router than the PDA, which is normal given the available power to the 802.11b chip and antenna size.
After installing the WSB24 booster, I noted a 5-9db gain throughout the house and down the street on both the notebook and PDA. My goal was to get a solid signal "footprint" covering my entire house, yard, garage. The WSB24 achieved this admirably. I believe Linksys claims a 10-15db gain, but I noted approximately half that. Given that almost all the advertising for WiFi seems to double or treble the true available distance, this doesn't alarm or bother me. At distances and locations where I previously got 1 or 5 mb connection I now have a solid 11mb.
The bottom line: 5 minute install, no problems, definite gain in signal strength, reasonable price.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works with WRT54G
Review: I've had the WSB24 signal booster in storage since I switched from a Linksys wireless 802.11B router to an 802.11 B/G router, the WRT54G to be specific. However, I decided to give the signal booster a try with my B/G router. It is very easy to set up, just unscrew the antennas from the back of of the router. Screw the wires from the signal booster onto the router in the place of the antennas you just removed. Then plug the power adaptor in and Bobs your uncle (you're done, that is).

My signal strength went up 2-3 bars in the "dead" spots in our house and now goes to the farthest corner of our 2 story house with all signal strength "bars" lit up.

So even thought the WSB24 is not designed to work with an 802.11 G router, it does work fine with the Linksys WRT54G. Note that this booster has been pulled from the market by Linksys. If you want one, you will have to buy a used one. But you can't have mine.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This Product Is Clearly Garbage
Review: I've been a longstanding Linksys customer. Linksys has clearly manufactured a garbage product in that this device is NOT compatible with the devices it states as compatible. As stated in other reviews here, you have to have specific releases of the Wireless Router in order for it to work.

I ordered this device and went home on lunch to hook it up. When doing so my wireless signal went to zero. I disconnected and reconnected it twice thinking I must have done something wrong. Lo, after calling their technical support and verifying my information, this product is not compatible. Shame on Linksys.

If I could I would give this product zero stars as Linksys has made no effort to state the limited compatibility. The phone rep cheerfully told me to "Take it back to the store." Nice strategy, Linksys.

Hello Dlink!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Sailing steady and fast
Review: I hooked up the booster on top of the router just as advertised. The 1/2 inch thick ends of the 2 antennas from the router had to be pulled off with plyers so the thinner and shorter remaining antenna would fit the booster. That was not in the instructions and should not have been needed anyway since I just bought the router two weeks earlier from this site. The design is defective. Anyway, I pulled off the thick ends in about tens seconds and tossed them out, after realizing what had to be done. I then went to my pocket pc, loaded the flash card in place, walked away through a few walls and rooms to see the difference. The connection was marginal or out of range as usual for about one minute. Then bing bang, I was flying as if I was on top of the router. What a kick! Worth $82 if you cannot put your router in a more central place in the home to have great service all over.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Deceptive compatibility
Review: I have a BEFW11S4v4 linksys router/AP. My roommate's connection to the AP was aweful, signing on and off every 5 seconds with the signal strength jumping from 5% to 90%. This was the reason for me buying the WSB24, to see if I could fix this (turns out it was his wireless card that wasn't compatible with my AP; had no trouble connecting to the neighbors unencrypted AP and staying connected). Come to find out from Linksys (great support) the WSB24 isn't compatible with the v4 version of the AP. Could be that the WSB24 product and packaging was released before the v4 of the AP, but how many unsuspecting people are going with this exact setup and it not working for them? I did check the signal strengh before and after on both roommates computers & using a laptop throughout the apartment and building. From what I saw there was an almost unnoticable increase in performance. Turns out I was right. I give it a 3 only because I dont know how it would perform on a compatible AP.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: WSB24
Review: Recently installed Linksys router and cannot get signal @ 34 feet away from AP. Bought booster and the signal barely improved!

How can Linksys get away with this? I have a $30 cordless phone that has better reception than my $300+ wireless system!


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