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Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: Before buying this product I did a very thorough research, and it turned out that the 2623 had the best and most features in its class. What the reviews do not tell you though, is how the product performs in a variety of environments and for a prolonged time. And here is where the disappointment kicks in.Setting up the router was very simple. My configuration is a Thinkpad T21/Win 2000/Cisco Wireless 340. The router performed decently for about 1 week. I had two problems: i) download rate was 1/2 than wireline, even if I was physically next to the router (100% signal strenght, 87% signal quality); ii) the connection was dropped by the router every 30mins. I am giving to i) the benefit of the doubt and blaming current technology, altough I am experiencing much higher rates with this card at work. About ii), even if I changed the time-out parameter for admin log-off in the router set-up, the problem persists, although the drop-offs are now rarer. The real problems started after a week or so of intense use. The wireless connection does not work any more. I have checked the settings, downloaded the newest router and cisco card firmware, and tested the card in the workplace LAN. I am very confident that the card is not the problem. I called Speedstream's phone support a few times, and, although the waiting time was always less than 5 minutes, the representatives were always clueless and offered advice I could find on the manual. The speedstream "knowledge base" on the corporate web site is laughable: its advice is either out of date, or missing. I will try for another week, after which I will return the product. Based on this experience, I learned something on this class of products; i.e., peripherals such as hard drives, burners, modems etc. The price is not the issue. The issue is how gracefully performance degrades, and how easy it is to maintain the system using on-line support, phone support, and manuals. Of course I knew this, but hadn't really experienced it so far. Antoher advice: trust the users' opinions you can find on Amazon, as well as other feedback sites and newsgroups, more than the reviews. They offer a much more accurate picture than datasheet-based reviews, and are usually more honest. A success rate of less than 90% should ring a warning bell. I am sorry I didn't hear it.
Rating: 
Summary: Works once the BIOS is upgraded
Review: Great product. Easy, web based setup.
The range is decent, but i wish this unit had detachable/replaceable antennas so i could add a high gain antenna to the unit.
Rating: 
Summary: Easy Setup, decent range, no detachable antenna
Review: Great product. Easy, web based setup.
The range is decent, but i wish this unit had detachable/replaceable antennas so i could add a high gain antenna to the unit.
Rating:
Summary: Un-Expected Result!
Review: I bought this cable router along with a Siemens wireless PCMCIA card to network my PC and laptop. I was quite impressed with this product for its ease of installation. The strength of the wireless signal is quite good and reliable. Initially, I ran into setup problems because the encription on the router and the wireless card were different. The printed instructions that come with the package are insufficient but the instructions included in the CD are very detailed. Another excellent feature of this router is that it allows you to add a printer to the network. The setup is actually quite simple and the printer can be shared and accessed wirelessly from the laptop.
Rating:
Summary: Siemens Wireless DSL/Cable Router (SS2623)
Review: I bought this cable router along with a Siemens wireless PCMCIA card to network my PC and laptop. I was quite impressed with this product for its ease of installation. The strength of the wireless signal is quite good and reliable. Initially, I ran into setup problems because the encription on the router and the wireless card were different. The printed instructions that come with the package are insufficient but the instructions included in the CD are very detailed. Another excellent feature of this router is that it allows you to add a printer to the network. The setup is actually quite simple and the printer can be shared and accessed wirelessly from the laptop.
Rating:
Summary: Un-Expected Result!
Review: I just buy that product, as I thought siemens have name in the Broadband technology, but after installing it, i get very unexpected result. I used netgear wireless card, install it very easily, but after working sometime, it stop responding. first I thought that there is problem in network card, i remove the drivers re-install it, reboot my laptop, but didnt work, i place my laptop adjacent to the siemens AP but no use. Then i reboot the AP and wow, its worked, but after some time ,it again stop responnding. the next thing i did i return it back, now looking for something else!
Rating: 
Summary: excellent product even a hardware novice can install
Review: I wanted to be able to use a laptop with the residential highspeed cable internet we already have installed on our desk top PC. I looked at information on several different brands of wireless router and decided to try the Siemens products, as they seemed to be good buys. I am not very knowledgeable about computer hardware but the installation of the router and the related PC card was not difficult. I also wanted to be able to use a printer connected to the desktop computer. I was able to set that up as well. I did contact a customer service rep at Siemens to walk me through a configuration problem. She answered the phone quickly and solved my problems immediately. Try it, you'll like it!
Rating:
Summary: Works once the BIOS is upgraded
Review: Initially, this appears to be an interesting device: four port hub, a networked printer port, wireless access and firewall/router. It could theoretically substitute for my three separate Linksys devices. I've been using the Siemens/Efficient Networks SpeedStream 2623 for approximately a year with an Intel Anypoint wireless card. The results are somewhat mixed: Prior to the most recent flash BIOS update, wireless connections the router would frequently and randomly lock up. This was not a factor of distance, and resetting the computer/wireless card would not always fix the problem. I have not had these problems since the most recent flash. My experience with technical support isn't very positive, but seems relatively typical of the industry. They clearly go by a checklist and endeavor to trying to find point blame it on some other component of the network. Ultimately I was able to find an obscure technical note on their web site that described the same problem. I could never get the printing functionality to work from Windows 2000. (9x wasn't a problem, however.) I stopped trying when I realized my particular printer model (HP970) has both serial and USB connectors which I connect into each machine. Range varies -- usually I can work on the front or back porch, or anywhere within the house EXCEPT the kitchen -- a running microwave will kill the connection. Speed definitely drops off with distances or obstacles. With medium/40-bit encryption enabled, 25' and three walls away, I get about 140kbps. Although I'm happy now, it shouldn't take nine months to work the bugs out of the system. I don't have comparables to ascertain how much wireless networking is overhyped, but feel this sort of box should be relatively easy for a moderately technical user to set up.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T DO IT!
Review: Setup was simple. Range was good. That's where it ends. I bought this thing because CNET gave it their prestigious "Editor's Choice" award. I'll never make that mistake again. Go ahead and read personal reviews there after this and you will see that I'm not alone. DO NOT BUY THIS ROUTER. It kept randomly dropping the connection, requiring a reboot to get it working again. It gets really old rebooting the router 5 times per day, trust me. Tech support will blame everything except the router. Don't bother calling them. This is a very common problem with this router. The guys at COMP USA said that they have had a lot of them returned for the same reason. Don't waste any more time. Go buy the Netgear wireless router, and cards for that matter (especially if you're running Win XP). My system is working flawlessly now. I couldn't be happier.
Rating:
Summary: DON'T DO IT!
Review: Setup was simple. Range was good. That's where it ends. I bought this thing because CNET gave it their prestigious "Editor's Choice" award. I'll never make that mistake again. Go ahead and read personal reviews there after this and you will see that I'm not alone. DO NOT BUY THIS ROUTER. It kept randomly dropping the connection, requiring a reboot to get it working again. It gets really old rebooting the router 5 times per day, trust me. Tech support will blame everything except the router. Don't bother calling them. This is a very common problem with this router. The guys at COMP USA said that they have had a lot of them returned for the same reason. Don't waste any more time. Go buy the Netgear wireless router, and cards for that matter (especially if you're running Win XP). My system is working flawlessly now. I couldn't be happier.
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