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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: 3 stars
Summary: Product works but beware...
Review: I bought this before reading these reviews. Hopefully this will save someone else some grief. This product was designed for the original Linksys BEFW11S4 router. Starting with the V3 model they changed the antennas. I have a V3 and the antennas will not fit on the WSB24 signal booster. I know there is now a V4 of the router out, but I don't know if the antennas have changed. Look at the underside of the router where the serial number is. Nearby is the model number that includes the version.

I found a company that makes replacement antennas for Linksys routers, and bought a pair that work with the WSB24. I gave this product 3 stars because it is not being marketed properly. There needs to be a warning that this product does not work out of the box with all models of the BEFW11S4.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Required addition to your Wireless Router Connection!
Review: This is a required addition to your wireless router system. It seems to boost my signal between 33 and 50 percent, and all I had to do was hook it up. And speaking of hooking it up, it could not be ANY simpler.

Getting the WSB24 up and running is simplicity itself... if you have either a Linksys WAP11 Access Point or BEFW11S4 Wireless Router. All you need to do is:

· Plug the 5V "wall wart" power supply into a wall outlet and the jack on the back of the WSB24;

· Move the antennas from the WAP11 or BEFW11S4 to the WSB24;

· Connect the two supplied jumper cables from the RP-SMA connectors on the WSB24 to the antenna connectors on the AP or wireless router that you're boosting.

That's it... nothing to configure, and no software or drivers to install.

You can use the WSB24 with any wireless LAN product that operates in the 2.4GHz band. This would include 802.11b, "enhanced" 802.11b, and 802.11g (both draft and final) products. You can't use it with 802.11a or any dual-band 2.4/ 5GHz products because the circuitry won't handle the higher frequency.

All you need to do to use it with non-Linksys products is get a jumper cable for each of the antennas that your AP/ wireless router has. The cables should be no longer than you need, since the longer the cable, the more signal you lose. The ones that come with the WSB24 are about 6.625 in. (17cm) from connector end to connector end.

Your special cables will need RP-SMA Male connectors on one end to mate with the connectors on the WSB24. The other cable end will need a connector to mate with the product to which you're connecting the WSB24.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Double-confirmed WSB24 won't work on new Routers!
Review: Referring to the comments by Chris S Hughes from San Diego on "Doesn't Work with the new Routers, August 5, 2003"

I emailed to Sales of Linksys asking if WSB24 can work on Version 3 of BERW11S4. The reply is as follows:
"The new Router has a very strong antennas which do not require the Signal Booster."

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Increased Signal Quality
Review: I am using a BEFW11S4 to support 3 machines around my house. On the furthermost workstation equipped with a WMP11 signal quality was 20-40% varied a little with other electronics use in the house. This workstation is one floor above and 70 linear feet from the base unit. After installation of the WSB24 it increased quality up to 75-90% capability. With my laptop using a WPC11 card it can now be used throughout the house with good-very good signal quality.

Problems with my house was construction. 2x6 construction with 3/4 inch drywall is a little hard for the signal to punch thru. This doesn't really extend range too much maybe 25 yds but it does give better signal strength for the area already covered.

Thought about daisy chaining another WSB24 to the one I have to see if that helps too...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Not true about 54G
Review: First, who ever posted that it works with 54G is wrong. In fact they've little sleeves on the 54G antenna to prevent you from installing the antennas on the booster. You can remove the sleeves but once you connect it will not work. Your incorrect information wasted a bunch of my time.

I do not know if it'll work with b networks or make any difference. I just wanted folks to know that it is not and is not intended to work with 54G equipment.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Doesn't Work with the new Routers
Review: Wasted my time. The booster only works with version 2 of the BEFW11S4, not the v 3.2 that is out now. It doesn't say this anywhere. I had to call their tech support to find this out. So if you go down to the store and buy both, they will not work together. You have to have an old model.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Covers all house
Review: Before I purchased this device, signal strength for my laptop shifted between Low-Very Low-No Signal. After installing this device, signal strength shifted between Very Good-Good-Low. I can also get signal from anywhere inside the house, and out on the back porch. I highly recommend this product.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Garbage, pure garbage.
Review: I purchased one of these units to punch up the signal throughout my house and it had the opposite effect. With the "booster" powered on, my wireless signal dropped to less than 10% even three feet from the access point! When it was removed the signal returned to 100%. All of these positive reviews must be Linksys employees or the Linksys quality control is going downhill fast. Avoid this thing at all costs unless you want total frustration. If I could give it zero stars, I'd do that.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Useless....
Review: Parts of my house only receive a 20% signal strength. I was so excited to see a product that might actually make surfing throughout the house more enjoyable.

The product was incredibly easy to insall, however it made mininal difference on my signal strength. It was still in the 20% range.

I use both a Linksys router and a Linksys 802.11 card for my laptop.

Also, the tollfree # for technical support had been disconnected. Very frustrating.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Linksys Wireless Signal Booster Doesn't Work
Review: My linksys wireless signal booster simply does not work. When I tested it (repeatedly) I observed 18 - 20% signal strength without the unit and a range of 17-24% at the same test point using the same test instrument with the unit installed and powered-up. These results cannot be said to be any change at all from a scientifically sound standpoint. I will be returning my unit ASAP. I am a proponent of linksys products despite their "pricyness" but this unit simply does not work. The only pro I can relay is that it is very simple to uninstall for return to the place of purchase.
I did see where someone said the unit was pulled from the market on June 18. The product is not listed on linksys.com.


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