Features:
- Connects desktop or laptop computers to your wireless network
- High-speed transfer rate of up to 11 Mbps
- Operating range of up to 300 feet indoors and 1,500 feet outdoors
- Compatible with Windows 98 SE, Me, and 2000
- Easy plug-and-play installation
Description:
If good things come in small packages, the WUSB11 from Linksys makes a great addition to a wireless network. Measuring about the size of a deck of cards and weighing just shy of three ounces, this little device fits nearly anywhere and is easily stowed in a notebook computer case. Simple USB connectivity makes it compatible with any modern PC, and also makes it easy to swap from one computer to another. Provided you already have a wireless router or Internet gateway set up, installing the WUSB11 is a snap. We plugged it into a USB port on a test PC, executed the installation program on the included PC, and once the system rebooted we were connected to the network without being tethered to any wires. The unit draws its power directly from the USB port, leaving users with one less cord to lug around and one less device to plug into a wall outlet. We tested the device on a PC located 40 feet laterally and one floor above the wireless router and didn't even need to extend the tiny antenna to get good reception. Should you need to use the antenna, it extends at either 90 degrees or 180 degrees, meaning it will work whether the unit is sitting flat on a desk or mounted vertically on a wall using the included Velcro strips. Performance was impressive. As an 802.11b product the WUSB11 supports a maximum speed of 11 Mbps and real-world speeds hovered around that mark in our tests. The signal was strong and consistent, making it great for gaming or transferring large files without worrying about a disconnect halfway through. There are only two indicator lights on the unit itself that tell you it's working--a power light and another light that blinks when data is transmitting--but the included software tools allow for a much more detailed picture. Using these utilities we were able to keep an eye on the signal strength (it never dipped below 95 percent), configure the built-in encryption settings, and perform other security and monitoring tasks. The device is designed to fall back to lower speeds instead of cutting off transmissions completely when it reaches the limits of its range or experiences signal problems. In a normal-size home you should have no trouble maintaining the 11 Mbps signal, but if you wander outdoors with a notebook or are plagued by signal interference, overall transmission speed can step down to 5.5 Mbps, 2 Mbps, or even 1 Mbps depending on conditions. Even at the lowest speed the device is fast enough for speedy Internet browsing (most users won't see any slowdown at all in that area, even for downloads), although transferring files across the network is painfully slow at the lower speeds. No matter what, if you plan mainly to transfer large files over your network you'll probably want the extra speed 802.11a or 802.11g devices offer. Of course, you'll also have to absorb the extra cost associated with those products. The WUSB11 is a fantastic 802.11b device for the money, working perfectly straight out of the box, and its low weight and small size make it a viable alternative to a PCMCIA wireless network card for notebook users. Just make sure the computer you want to connect it to doesn't use Windows 95 or NT, as the unit is incompatible with those two operating systems. --T. Byrl Baker Pros: - Simple installation and configuration
- Mounts either horizontally or vertically
- Included software provides useful details without overwhelming users with minutia
Cons: - So light that the weight of the USB cord can pull it off a desk
- Maximum 11 Mbps transmission speed may be too slow for some users
| 
