Rating: 
Summary: Great for home
Review: This is a great unit for the all around solution to a wireless, hub, and firewall requirement. Great interface to the firewall. 5 minute setup...no kidding. I have not tried it with DSL but works fabulously with Cable modems. This is a must have. This unit even has a DMZ, IP forwarding, and even a DHCP server built in. This is a GREAT piece of equipment.
Rating: 
Summary: No Service After Warranty Period
Review: After One year of use, this router quit working. I spent hours trying to repair this item. I decided to purchase another one so my network would continue to work while I sent this one in for repair. After purchasing the new one (which works fine) I was informed from Linksys support that they do not offer a repair service for this product. I'm now a proud owner of a [$$$] paper weight.
Rating: 
Summary: Security annoying; great if no WEP or continuous uptime
Review: When I first got this router, I was very pleased by its ease of use. It simply worked out of box, with no configuration necessary. Transfer rates were very fast, making my DSL the bottleneck, and reception was clear throughout my 30' apartment in an urban area.Then I figured I'd better enable encryption. Using the router's simple web interface, I configured WEP keys for the router & my wireless card. It's got no 'Off' switch, so I just unplugged it when I was done online, for security reasons, and also since I've got a limited number of electrical outlets. Unfortunately this seems to reset the router's configuration to the factory defaults. So anytime I want to use the router securely, I've got to:
1) disable WEP on my wireless card
2) re-acquire a DHCP address
3) regenerate WEP keys with the router's web interface
4) enable WEP on my wireless card with generated key
5) re-acquire DHCP You may imagine this makes security prohibitively inconvenient. So I'd recommend it only if you are planning for continuous uptime or live in an area where you don't have to worry about others intercepting your wireless transmissions. Or maybe if you'd find it an enriching challenge to script the sequence above.
Rating:
Summary: Home Networking Bliss
Review: There already is a wealth of techy reviews on this Router and Wireless Acces Port. I'm going to focus briefly on why I think this product is the best. 1) The software onboard the router is easy to configure, simple to use and solid (*never* has it gone down). 2) The Wireless strength is pretty good (I use an ORiNOCO silver card with my laptop). I never lose signal in my apartment nor is it ever weak. 3) LinkSys provides great documentation not only for the router but for Firmware updates that you'll need to get from their site. Some reviews here have commented on how impossible they are to reach by phone, but I followed the manual step by step and had no problems. 4) The router provides security for wireless traffic as well as MAC authentication (you can key it only to accept your card) if you want your neighbors not to be able to tap in. 5) The software logs in to your ISP for you and holds the connection alive, so you don't have to install any dialer, login, or PPPoE (PoET) software which tends to crash my machines. Overall, this router is an excellent purchase at a great price.
Rating:
Summary: the best wireless router yet!
Review: we had tried to network our computers before; with a dial-up wired network, and a different wireless solution - no sucess.the dial up network didn't work, period. i could never get online, at all. we tried a different wireless router for our cable modem, i forget the name; it didn't transmit the signal well enough. we then tried yet another wireless router(an SMC, i think), and one less computer to link. it would work for maybe 10 to 30 minutes, then quit. we'd have to unplug and replug it 3 or 4 times a day- really agitating. then we got this linksys. after that, we never have had to do that. Plus, it gives a 30% better broadcasting signal, which gives a faster speed.this model will recognize even the slowest cable connection, and broadcast it unhindered. A must for wireless networking.
Rating: 
Summary: stopped working little after a year
Review: Most of Linksys' competitors have warranties from 3-5 years whereas Linksys only offers 1-year warranty. My router simply decided to stop sending wireless signals a little over a year after I bought it. Very disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: Happy customer
Review: I initially had problems getting the unit running, but a friend told me about a software update, which I got at the Linksys website. After that everything worked fine. I had two computers hooked up through cables and two notebooks, no problems. It works so well that I am not aware of it anymore.
Rating:
Summary: Out of the box bliss...read below for how
Review: I purchased the Linksys router (V2) along with the WPC11 card (V3) just last week, and am pleased to report that both are running exceptionally well, especially considering that I live in NYC. Many negative reviews have been posted about this suite of products, and perhaps some are valid, but most are backlash from earlier versions of each component working (or not) with each other. Linksys seems to operate on the belief that getting a product out into the marketplace with a few kinks is better than getting it out there perfectly (and therefore with a significant time delay to market), and I respect that rationale (think of how many service pack updates you've had to do with any of your Windows operating systems over the years! ) Below describes my experience thus far with this suite of products; your experience will likely be different if you have a different OS, have lots of 2.4GHz phones in your house, your house is make mostly of steel, etc. But we'll get to that.... BACKGROUND:
Those of you who are looking to get into the wonderful world of wireless networking should freshen up on the good, the bad, and the ugly of what the 802.11 standards are. A good resource is 80211-planet. This site has several articles (search for "Jim Geier" or "Minimizing 802.11 Interference Issues") to help explain why you can potentially expect interference depending on the location and conditions around either your router or your network card. Bottom line = there are many variables that can affect performance of any 802.11 product, but you won't know unless you dive in and give it a go. INSTALLATION:
I'm running a Thinkpad T21 laptop with W2K, and have RoadRunner for cable modem service (Toshiba modem). I popped open the box for the Linksys router, briefly skimmed through the long booklet directions, and then carefully followed each step of the 1-pager quick-installation instructions. The router connected to the cable modem without a hitch (note that RoadRunner uses DHCP...what's DHCP you ask? Go to webopedia and do a search on DHCP for details). Please note that I used all of the default settings. Time to connect cable modem to router and router to laptop = 11 minutes. I then popped open the box for the network card, and again followed the directions line-by-line on the quick instruction sheet that came supplied with the card. Once again, I used all of the default settings, and lo and behold, the card began communicating with the router without a hitch. Time to connect the card to the laptop and the now 'networked' laptop to the router = 7 minutes (including software installation). PERFORMANCE:
I live in a duplex in lower Manhattan, and so at first I was skeptical in light of the reviews I had read before about performance relative to distance from the router, etc. However, I am able to move anywhere on either floor and get a consistently good signal (the router is upstairs and I'm writing this downstairs, whilst streaming music...no lags). I have downloaded hundreds of MBs worth of data thus far without any problems, streamed music and videos, emailed, surfed the web, uploaded files, etc. I've connected another wired computer to the router and it connected without a hitch (again, make sure you're familiar with DHCP...makes things a lot easier). The signal did fade to a whisper when I went outside, but I'm not entirely surprised, given that the router was 3 floors away, and trying to communicate through several walls of brick, wood, and steel. I'll probably toy with the position of the router in the house to see if I can boost my response outside. I haven't tried a network game yet, but then again, I'm not using the laptop for that purpose. I also haven't attempted to update the firmware of the card (as it prompts me ever so often to do) yet, as it is working now. Instead, I have placed an email to Linksys for their recommendation, and will post an update to this review when I have an answer. RECOMMENDATIONS:
If you're ready for the wireless world, the Linksys set of products work very well, especially now that they (and Amazon) ship the latest version of each. Some helpful tips:
- Don't install the router next to a 2.4GHz phone or a microwave
- Placement and positioning of the router and antenna are key. Just as Rome wasn't built in a day, getting your wireless network up and running smoothly may take a bit of fine-tuning.
- If you find unbearable interference, change the channels. Just like on your portable phone, you can potentially see dramatic improvement.
- Make sure you have an extra CAT5 cable around for the installation. You'll need one to connect your DSL/cable modem to the router and then another to initially connect the router to your computer.
- Tinkering can get you into trouble! If you don't know what a configuration is, then don't tinker with it...a classic way to burn your fingers on the hot stove of curiosity.
- READ THE DIRECTIONS! Following each step slowly but surely in the short-run can significantly reduce your headaches in the long-run. If you've done your research, you should know by now that no 802.11 product is a panacea for every possible wireless situation. It simply may not work for your home or office, given the variables in play. But like the intrepid explorers who found the new world, you too can find happiness--and new working freedom--with a wireless network....
Rating:
Summary: Nice product. VERY BAD support.
Review: I've been using the Linksys BEFW11S4 for about 8 months now. Overall, it's not a bad product. I find the range to be a bit limited -- I get thoroughput of about 2 Mbps throughout most of my house. The real problem I have with this product, though, is the support. About three weeks ago, the router simply stopped working. I called tech support and was on hold for about 45 minutes before I got through to someone. The technician then spent about 20 minutes on the phone with me confirming that the unit was actually dead (Hey, it's got no lights, I'm telling you IT'S DEAD). After that, he said he'd refer my case to someone who would contact me within 24-48 hours with an RMA number to get a replacement. I wait 3 days, and no one contacts me. I then start the whole process over. Second time around, I wait about 24 hours and then just went out and bought a new one. In retrospect, I should have bought one from a different company -- but it didn't occur to me at the time. It's now 2 weeks later, and I'm still waiting for their RMA department to contact me.
Rating:
Summary: Easy, Easy, Easy
Review: Before purchasing this item I read earlier reviews and, frankly, was a little concerned about how easy it would be to install. Well . . . it was easy, easy, easy. Had it up and running in 15 minutes. Followed the directions to a "T." Didn't need any tech support. I think the problem with the earlier purchasers (aside from, perhaps, not having Ver. 2) was that they made it difficult for themselves. They over-thought the installation. I have no networking experience whatsoever, and yet it was a breeze. Excellent product, easy installation.
| 
