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Linksys WMA11B Wireless Digital Media Adapter

Linksys WMA11B Wireless Digital Media Adapter

List Price: $164.99
Your Price: $109.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great, but shaky to get there
Review: Reading the reviews, it all seems to depend on which version you get. I have the latest driver, 1.06 (I think) which doesn't have any of the problems associated with display.

The problem is connection, there it's a little shaky. I'm running on a laptop under W2K, using an Ad-Hoc network to a non-LinkSys card. Most of my music is stored on a portable hard-drive that is most of the time not connected. The problems I've found are:-

1) You cannot go into Standby, a little message says that the host program can't do this. So I have to completely shut-down to turn off.
2) Every re-boot the host program then spends 10 minutes catalogue my files on the portable.
3) Over 110Mb of thumbnails are secretly created for my 1.77Gb of pictures. This is still a significant amount of space.
4) I am prevented from removing my portable hard-drive while it contains media files associated with the host. So I have to de-catalogue each time I unplug it and re-catalogue when I plug it in. All takes time.
5) So far I have been unable to get a WEP connection to work.

Connection is a bit of a gamble really. I generally get frustrated at the 'Waiting for Host' message. Waiting for what? The TV doesn't tell me, the host doesn't say anything, so I have to wait. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

Once connected though everything is perfect. I often stream all daylong without any clitches. It is reliable.

All in all, if you're tolerant and don't mind a few workarounds, then this is a step into the new media world. I have devised scripts to shut-down the host service when not in use, that way allowing me to standby. And with that I am content with this product.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Product for the Price!
Review: This adapter is awesome if you want to avoid the hassles of hooking up a PC or laptop to your stereo or continuosly burning CDs. Basically it allows you to play music (through TV or Stereo) and show pictures on your television. It does require the TV for use, but you don't have to have the TV on once you get the music running. For the price, its a steal. Just remember, if you are using a linksys router, there is no need to have your firewall software activated on your computer--otherwise the computer will not commmicate with it.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Lacking flexibility - Requires using the TV to operate
Review: I bought this thinking that Linksys was a smart and nimble network equipment vendor for consumers - Oops was I wrong! I have no idea why the 'Ready' light continues to flash, nor why the Adapter Utility application doesn't allow control of the device without standing in front of the TV to select playlist, music, etc. Installation however wasn't much of a problem and the device was able to locate the wireless network (also Linksys based).

Bottom line: You must have a TV connected into the adapter for user access and operation :-( .

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Sooo limited!! Poor design!
Review: You're joking right? Only displays about 15 characters of a song and that's all! Can't show ID3 info like genre, year, artist, etc?! Can't check out a song (like if the title is too long) BEFORE playing it?! NO, 0, ZILCH customization such as font size, playlist order, song order, display artist before title or vice versa, etc.

I have to install .NET 1.0...WHY?!?! What does that have to do with transmitting an mp3 over the airwaves just like my router transmits files over the airwaves?

YUCK YUCK YUCK! What year is it? 2004? MP3 players, software, and home devices have been out for years and Linksys (who I love for other products) can't get it right?!

No firmware OR driver updates since Sept 2003. Again, what year is it now?!

Tech support DOES NOT answer phone OR email...again, I usually love Linksys for other networking products but this plain stinks. $175 (or even $50) is a complete waste of money and time.

This is being returned faster than Britney Spears can get divorced! Seriously!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: No support from Linksys
Review: Purchased this item for christmas and had problems with the auto install right out of the box. Attempted to contact Linksys by e-mail and phone without success. My network is very basic and the problem appeared to be software related between XP and this unit. The user manual is poorly done and linksys support was non-existent... wouldn't waste your time with this product.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor Performance, Horrible User Interface
Review: The Linksys WMA-11b should never have been put on the market. It's design and performance suggest an early prototype, 'proof of concept' rather than a polished commercial product.

The on-screen user interface is fair. It's easy to use but it's not flexible. For example, to find the 400th artist, you have to 'page-down' endlessly through the artists listed alphabetically above the one you want.

Worse, it occassionally issues the helpful message, "error" on startup and then fails to work. Re-installing the software fixes it but that's ridiculous.

There are no on-device or even software controls, so you are 100% dependent on their flimsy remote control.

Wait for version two (or three, or four...) before considering the Linksys. Eventually, they'll get it right. Hopefully. If they do, I hopt they don't leave us Ginea Pigs without an inexpensive upgrade.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great idea - Poor execution.
Review: The product workd mostly as advertised; install software on host PC, install WMA11B adapter, configure and you're up and running.

The problems came for me when trying to add music. My "My Music" directory could not be added, using the utility to do so resulted in an error. Sub directories of my music could also not be added. LinkSys tech support suggested moving all my files in to a directory that I could see; not practical, but so be it.

Then I added new music to my collection, in the directory the device could see. Of the 20 files added, it only saw 5.

So I have a device that will not see the music I have, and will see only some of the music I add.

LinkSys tech support tells me there's nothing that can be done about this... Too bad. I am returning this product.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Product. Really Good Job!
Review: I had a bit of a problem with my wireless install, but it was my fault. After that I've had no issues. The system is with my stereo/TV about 40 feet from my WAP, and the signal strength is 90%. It's a great device, and it let me retire my 200 CD disc changer with something much easier to navigate.

My only complaint is the response time of the remote control commands, and the lettering on the remote is too small for my 40-something eyes.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: This is a TOY!!!
Review: I was able to get the Media Adapter to "sync up" or find the application on my host computer MAYBE 1 out of 50 attempts. Otherwise it wouldl just stall and say "Waiting for Host" on the TV, even with signal strengths of 90%. When I did get it to work, it bogged the router/access point down so much that my router could not maintain the WAN connection to the Internet and my PC (also connected wireless) could not connect to the access/point router. My network is entirely Linksys so their tech support had no excuses and no answers for me other than return it to the store. This is one technology I was very anxious for but appears will have to wait a while on.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Product, Setup Could Be A Bit Easier Though
Review: This product does exactly what it says. I was able to get it up and running in wireless mode in about 15 minutes - it was a bit tricky, but for me all of the networking issues are a bit tricky.

The wireless does a fine job and I do not notice any slowness at all!

I am very satisfied!

By the way, Amazon.com had the best price by far!


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