PPROKTE - Visonic Powermax Pro Advanced Home Security System Review

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(More customer reviews)The Powermax Pro is an excellent DIY home security system. The one I purchased had the built-in cellular (GSM), Powerlink and X-10. It's not incredibly intuitive to configure at the panel, but once you get the feel for where everything is in the menu it's really pretty simple. The package didn't include a 21 dollar two-way powerline interface or the .83 cent RJ11 data connector cable for it, which was disappointing. I'll have more information on that below. I purchased the Powerlink Pro from an Amazon vendor, but made the vast majority of the other purchases through home security store (google for link). They are pretty knowledgeable about the product and all its accessories and knew about the powerline X-10 interface required cable.
About the integral GSM module:
The GSM module is definitely useful as it serves as a good back up caller in case a burglar were to cut your land line prior to breaking in. The GSM module works with a GSM SIM card that you need to purchase from T-Mobile or AT&T. I found that I get bad T-mobile reception so I'm probably going to get a go phone AT&T SIM card because my AT&T signal is 5 bars in my house. Make sure you get the pay as you go SIM card. They start you out with 40-60 minutes and those expire in 90 days, so you'll need to refill the minutes. They explain how to do that so no worries there. Use you land line if possible when yor setting up initially so you dont burn all your GSM minutes you have inthe SIM card you purchased. Each call it makes via GSM is a minimum of one minute so have it as back. I was not able to do this because I have DSL and there is a special DSL filter you need as well as a special wiring situation so the alarm system can make phone calls over the land line. If you don' have DSL I think you basically just follow the basic directions.
About the integral Powerlink Module:
after you hook up the unit to you home network you can access it at [...]
as in my case since I have DSL modem/router and an additional Neatgear LAN router. You can log in with the default Admin credentials per the directions in the Powerlink CD tutorial. Once you're in there you can turn lights off and on or program that when alarms comes on or off, etc. You can't schedule lights to turn on. I have an entirely separate X-10 system for automating the lights. You can also see your camera and even control it if you get the CAM3200 - Visonic CAM3200 Wireless Pan/Tilt Network Camera.
About the integral X-10 Module:
The most important thing to note it that it doesn't work out of the box because they don't include the X-10 Powerline Interface (PSC05) or required x-10 data RJ11 cable (15FT Data (Straight) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable). A regular phone cable WILL NOT WORK...it's not the same thing. Also, there is a jumper inside the panel near the X-10, RJ11 plug that is set to single-way, but since you will want two-way x-10 communication this needs to be set to the two-way jumper setting. 2.) Dollar and items breakdown
1x $480.00 for the PPROKTE - Visonic Powermax Pro Advanced Home Security System w/ built in Powerlink and GSM module. This came with the one key fob, two proximity swipers, a door/window sensor, and one pet-friendly motion sensor.
2x $68.40 Visonic MCT-425 Supervised Wireless Smoke Detector
1x $20.49 PSC05 Two-way X-10 Powerline interface -- [...]1x $0.83 15FT Data (Straight) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable - you need this for connecting the PSC05 to your X-10 module in PowerMax Pro
1x $294.35 CAM3200 - Visonic CAM3200 Wireless Pan/Tilt Network Camera
1x $110.00 Visonic MCS-720 Two Way Wireless Indoor Siren Built-in White Strobe Light
1x $2.50 RJ31X RJ31X - JACK AND CORD
1x $24.00 GSMANTENNA - Visonic External GSM Antenna
3x $102.00 Visonic MCT-501 Visonic Wireless Glass Break Detector
2x $52.00 Visonic MCT-237 6 Button Miniature Wireless Two Way Keyfob
1x $149.75 Visonic MKP-150 Two Way Wireless Keypad with Voice
1x $20.00 T-Mobile GSM SIM card -- probably will go with AT&T go phone SIM for better reception in my area
Approximately (1170.00 + 480.00 = $1650 ) and my time of 30 hours is what I have in it. Since I'm monitoring it myself, as opposed to using a monitoring station, I have no monthly charges or contracts with a security provider. They do offer a $9.99 per month monitoring solution that I may look into, but I wanted to get it all set up and fine-tuned prior to doing that. Right now the only recurring charge I'll have is the minute refills on the GSM SIM card from T-Mobile which is only 10 bucks every 90 days.
Useful Research (Google the text right before the "-")
Above all read the manuals first. There are things the manual doesn't tell you and for that the following research will help.
1.) diysecurityforum - There is an assortment of info for you here
2.) visonic - this is the vendor home page
3.) Port Fowarding - you'll need to bone up on port forwarding if you want to remotely monitor with Powerlink interface The port forwarding method and configuration you use will depending upon the brand of router(s) you have and if you have two or a single home-router situation.
4.) PSC05 - This item is needed to make the x-10 stuff work.
5.) RJ11 (6P4C) Phone Cable - this is the special data cable need to connect the PSC05
6.) X-10 - Google this to find out about X-10 in general and the modules you can get to control lamps
7.) SIM Card - Google this to learn about SIM cards. Warning many SIM cards only work in an actual phone. The GSM module Panel behaves as if it is an unlocked GSM-based phone. Make the SIM you buy is supported by a Vendor with strong signal in your area. The T-mobile SIM was cheap but the reception is poor in my area so an AT&T SIM card is more appropriate for me.
In summary, Getting the full deal all working is no simple task, but you can definitely do it. I work in IT, and I'm an X-10, AV and home networking expert. For that reason it was a relatively simple and quick set up for me. I didn't need phone tech support but I suspect most of you will. That said buy from home security store or another seller that offers support after you buy. You'll spend more for the Powermax Pro ($530.00+) from these vendors, but that is because they will give you good technical support. The $480 I paid was from a vendor that has no support, so expect to pay more. Finally, there are $299.99 versions of this that do not come with the integrated GSM, X-10, or Power link. Without all that jazz you lose features, but basic monitoring of your doors, windows, plus some motion detection, and a 10 dollar per month monitoring contract may be all you require. You can add the GSM, PowerLink and X-10 later as separately powered units, but my rationale for buying the integrated version was an easy consolidation of install of all features offered.
I hope this helps and good luck.


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Netgear WGU624 Double 108 Mbps Wireless A+G Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I am a very experienced information technology professional. I wanted to upgrade my old SMC 7004 since my 13 year old decided to step on it and break off one of the antenna stalks. I went for this beauty because of specs and looks.
I downloaded the latest firmware (.11) and flashed it before doing anything else.
I did not have any problem configuring it since the browser interface is pretty straight forward. I have PPPoE with Verizon DSL and use 64 bit WEP since I don't want to have to configure all my wireless bridges around the house. I had it up and running in less than 5 minutes and I had Internet connectivity as well as brand new DHCP leases on every laptop and over every wireless bridge except for one laptop still running an old SMC2635W PCMCIA 11b card. The throughput was pretty decent for the 11b/g side and phenomenal on the 11a side. It gave a very strong signal on my back porch, way better than the 7004.
This euphoria lasted about 20 minutes. Since then, it has decided to drop connection to the Internet, drop DHCP, drop connectivity and behave in a very erratic manner.
I have been resetting it at least once every few hours for the last three days. I am getting so frustrated that I want to open the window and chuck it out.
Needless to say It is going back today.
Shame on you Netgear.

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NETGEAR Double 108 Mbps Wireless Firewall Router (WGU624) delivers two simultaneous 108 Mbps networks to ensure the highest speeds and the best quality of service. In addition to the 108 Mbps 802.11 b/g network, users can access a "Fast Lane" - the 802.11a network. The "Fast lane" is ideal for the most demanding of applications including high quality video streaming and serious home office use. With new XR technology, the Double 108 delivers unparalleled range - over 400 feet indoors. It uses Super A+G technology to provide two parallel 108 Mbps networks at the same time. The first network - the 802.11g network is based on the most commonly used standard and is fully backward compatible with 802.11b devices. It's lightning fast 108 Mbps is ideal for web surfing, email, and downloads. The second network - the 802.11a "Fast Lane" delivers a speed and quality that is required by the most demanding applications such as video streaming - where even the slightest hiccup produces an unpleasant user experience. The Double 108 is tested and validated to work with Microsoft Media Center Extenders and Xbox game consoles.

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Linksys SM01 Wall Mount and Stacking Bracket (package of one Bracket) Review

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(More customer reviews)Had no problems for the most part with these brackets. Some reviewers were concerned about the brackets not fitting some linksys swithces and routers. This is true for the small ones like the EXXS88W 8-port switch. For those you have to use the little notches built into the bracket, which are not that deep and if your wall mounting the switch could fall off. For the larger Linksys routers like the WRT54G it works perfectly.

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Linksys SM01 Stacking/Wall Mount Bracket 10 Pack.

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Netgear WGR101 Cable/DSL Wireless Travel Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I applaud Netgear for being first to market with this device (the only other I know of is the Apple Airport Express), designed for geeky business travellers. There've been many times when I've been in a hotel with wired Internet access but wanted to use my laptop across the room in bed, or in a conference room with one wired network drop and a handful of people who wanted to use it. Travelling with a 30-foot cable and/or a multi-port switch is no fun. This device is light and tiny, has a modest-sized power adapter, and even comes with a short cable for connecting to a wired port and a zippered carrying case for all of that plus your pc-card NIC.
If you're not concerned with security and have your wireless NIC set to do DHCP basically all you do is plug it in and you're all set. Configuring the device is kind of a pain though: you can only connect to it wirelessly, so if you forget the SSID after setting it not to broadcast, or forget the WEP key, you have to use the reset button and start over (make sure you hold it down a good 10 seconds, just pressing it once quickly doesn't work).
It doesn't act quite like a typical router despite some product literature I've read: on a hotel network it doesn't provide firewall or NAT security--keep in mind if the hotel assigns you a public IP you're bare naked on the Internet.
Although the physical switch on the unit that puts it in config or single-/multi-user mode is a neat idea for security, it gave me a lot of problems having to reassociate or power cycle the device after changing settings. Given that in its default state it's a pass-through device like a bridge and has no IP address, there may not be a significantly better way though.
I had little to no luck using this device with my home router or cable modem, but on a hotel wired access point it was seamless including VPN connectivity (unlike my Netgear MR814 at home). Range is very good even through walls and floors/ceilings. I got mine for about half price after rebates which, I think, just barely makes it worth it. If you like to have the latest gadget, and especially if you travel, this is less of a pain and certainly niftier than carrying around a 30-foot cable and/or hub.

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Have you ever felt like using a wired Ethernet connection in your hotel room was not much fun?Was the desk or chair uncomfortable, and sitting on the bed or soft chair preferable while accessing the Internet wirelessly?Have you ever wished to have convenient wireless access for a group of people in a conference room?NETGEAR has the perfect solution for your wireless Internet access needs away from home.The WGR101 54 Mbps Wireless Travel Router is as small as a deck of cards, yet provides 54 Mbps wireless Internet access as well as routing functionality and security.Use an external switch to select configuration, or to enable either single or multi-user access.A convenient carrying case is included in which to carry the traveler's router along with other essentials.

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Cisco-Linksys WRV54G Wireless-G VPN Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this item from Amazon even though the reviews I read were less than stellar. I just assumed most of the problems were user configuration errors. After all.... it is easy to mess up a VPN configuration, especially if you are using Windows IPSEC policies because the UI for setting that up can be a little misleading.
However after setting it up in my home lab I discovered that... it just didn't work as a VPN device. I connect with a VPN client called SSH Sentinel (it is a little dated but works on every other VPN I have used). I could get a connection fine but it refused to route traffic inside the LAN at all. Even setting up the route recommended by Linksys it still would not work.
So I decided not to give up yet and searched out Google groups for people who have solved this issue and I found... no one. Everyone complained at the constant problems with each firmware release and the inability to VPN into the router properly. I was surprised because quite frankly all the other linksys hardware I have work great. I rarely have any problems with their print server, kvm switches and other routers... why in the world would Linksys drop the ball on this product.
Well it seems this particular router is different than any of Linksys's other routers because it is running an embedded version of Linux. It would seem that Linksys and this Linux vendor are having some big difficulties getting this thing to work and perhaps it got pushed out the door too soon.
Well I went out and bought a cheaper BEFVP41 VPN router from Linksys (it is not wireless but I had a spare WAP-G) and I was able to get a VPN connection the first time.
So.. if you buy this router to VPN into your home network you will have some serious problems. I also had some flaky wireless problems with it but I must admit... after reading all the problems with this model I put the thing back in the box and bought something else that works...
I hope this isn't the end of Linksys putting out good products and being responsive to their clients...

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Belkin F5D9230-4 Wireless-G Plus MIMO Router Review

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(More customer reviews)The original version of this router was version 1000, based on the same platform as Belkin's F5D8230-4 Pre-N and the Linksys WRT54GX routers using Airgo's v1 technology and a Broadcom engine. It got an excellent review from Tom's Networking guide.
Then Belkin put a whole new circuit bard inside the same case and called it Version 2000. It used Airgo's v2 technology and a Realtek engine, and got roundly criticized on the equipment forums for being an inferior product.
The latest version is 3000, which isn't even based on Airgo technology any more. Now Belkin is using Ralink technology, and it's essentially the same router as the Airlink AR-525W, SparkLAN WRTR-300 or Compusa's store brand MIMO router, any of which can be found in stores for about 25 bucks. The version 3000 technology bears no resemblance to the Airgo version that got such a good review at Tom's. In fact, the router with the Ralink chipset (the Airlink) came in dead last and was the only one to receive a rating of "not recommended" in Tom's roundup.
Of course there's no way to tell in advance which version you'll get, but it's a pretty good bet you'll get the latest one. The only way to tell is to look at the sticker on the bottom of the box.
This practice of changing the internal electronics without changing the model number is a really annoying practice. It's hard enough to do all your research and decide which model to buy, so then to end up with something entirely different from what you thought you were getting is just maddening. Your best bet is to just stay away from this one.

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NETGEAR FWG114P ProSafe 802.11g Wireless VPN Firewall 4-Port 10/100 Switch with USB Server Review

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(More customer reviews)I've applied the new flash upgrade, and performance is still quite good. Most of my comments from January still apply. Setup is quick, Citrix & terminal services work without modification, and I can connect to my main office via Cisco VPN client. Games are still working too.
As with most vendors, I suspect you'll have better compatibility if you use a Netgear WiFi NIC with this unit. I can get it to work with a Cisco Aironet NIC, but I cannot get WPA encryption to work. WEP (for what it's worth) works, but I'll probably have to spring for the corresponding Netgear NIC if I want to move to WPA.
The print server took a hit with the flash upgrade, however. Now it will only work as long as the PCs using it never reboot. If they do, you lose the connection to the print server until the firewall is rebooted. Tech support has been, um, less than helpful in resolving the issue. For that reason, my rating still stands at 4 stars. I strongly recommend you check the printer compatibility list on Netgear's site before you count on this as a print server.
A couple of other notes:
- The firewall is solid. I'm a networking guy, and I've tried to hack my way in a couple of times. Nothing's perfect, but this is a good solution in the home or very small business market. The worst I've been able to do against this unit is a denial of service, which disabled the Internet connection to my home network until I rebooted the unit.
- If you plan to use MSN Messenger 6.2 and/or Windows XP's Remote Assistance, you'll need to enable UPnP on this unit, which is a bit annoying, but more of a Microsoft issue.
- The e-mail logging is VASTLY improved over that of the previous flash. My logs are much more manageable, and the number of false-positive security alert messages is minimal.
- You can now create up to two remote access VPN tunnels with the new flash. I tried it and it works, although as a home user I can't imagine ever needing that feature. Difficult to set up, though, so unless you have a solid understanding of IPSEC VPN protocols, good luck.
Still, I believe this is a good unit for a home office. For me, combining the functions of print server, wireless access point, and hardware firewall into a single device make it worth the price.

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TRENDnet 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router TEW-633GR (Piano Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Final verdict on the Trendnet TEW-633GR and its routing problem. (See Final Update below for the end results.)
Summary: When I connect my systems (Red Hat, Windows, Palm OS, OS/2 (Warp/Server)), PS2, etc to the Internet using this router, I'm unable to reach various Internet addresses. Doing a trace route finds the packets go so far and then get "Destination Network Unreachable."
NOTE: This also occurs from the router's administration page's ping page not just from various machines on the network.
The problem does NOT occur under two circumstances.
1) I connect a system directly to my Comcast cable modem.
2) I use my Linksys router (WRT54G or WRT600N).
Hook the Trendnet back up and the problem returns 100% of the time.
After calling Trendnet support, I began to become hopeful in finding a solution. Level one sent me almost immediately to level two, who called me back and worked through various possibilities. Follow-up phone calls from level two, though, required I contact them.
During the last session level two agreed something "interesting" was going on for two reasons.
1) They were unable to ping to these sites from their location using DSL. Their trace routes failed at the same point.
2) They connected into my router and verified mine failed by using the ping feature under Administration.
NOTE: I'm avoiding using the term web site, as I use various Internet protocols into these sites (e.g. sftp, ssh, smtp, dns, imcp, and yes http).
They gave me a choice to send them the unit or send it back to Amazon.com for a refund. I decided this unit is still my first choice as a replacement for the Linksys. Getting a RMA number, I send the unit back. This is where we are today. Trendnet has the unit (USPS tracking) but has yet to contact me.
The TEW-633GR works great otherwise and the gigabit wired interfaces do improve system to system speed for various protocols (e.g. ftp, sftp, large http requests, etc.).
Can I recommend it to you? If the Internet addresses you try to reach doesn't hit this routing issue the answer is yes! But I'm not sure what Internet addresses have problems with this router. You might go a lifetime without hitting this problem or one day you need to connect to your new employer's site and can't. Fortunately, Trendnet does seem interested in solving this issue.
I'll update this review as I get more information. The verdict is still out and hopefully this router will get a five by five rating and be with me for a very long time.
Final update:
According to the router's developers the problem is with the ATHEROS chip set they use.
I'm using Comcast and tried both a RCA and Motorola modem. We also tried DOCSIS 1.1 and 2.0 before I ended up returning the router. Trendnet said they are ** NOT ** going to fix the issue for a couple of reasons.
(1) They don't have cable access at their headquarters. They have T-1 and DSL.
(2) They don't believe cable users are a large percentage of their business.
(3) We agreed not all cable users will see this issue. Yet, those who do will be out of luck, period.
I'm now using a Linksys WRT600N with a Broadband chipset with no routing issues. I returned the Trendnet TEW-633GR to Amazon.com because of this design / software defect (per Trendnet assessment).

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The 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Gaming Router incorporates the latest wireless and Gigabit networking technology to increase speed, range, security and reliability. The router provides unsurpassed gaming and network experience and performance. Advanced antenna and 802.11 N technology increases wireless data range and coverage. Enjoy lag-free gaming and file transfers on your wired Gigabit computers via the built-in Gigabit switch.This router features a powerful firewall and advanced wireless encryption for secured transmissions. Quality of Service (QoS) prioritization provides a seamless gaming and multimedia streaming experience. Increased speed, throughput and range make it the perfect solution to fulfill your gaming needs.

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Belkin N1 Wireless Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I had this router for a while now (longer than I could return it for a refund). Very often I cannot connect to web sites that I frequently use. Eventually I did some research and found that this router has a fatal defect - its DNS cache will get corrupted over time. The latest firmware from Belkin does not fix it.
When I initially had problem accessing web sites, I naturally assumed that the web sites could be down or my ISP could have problems. One day when I tried to VPN into my office the VPN could not be connected. I tried to ping my office VPN server and the IP address returned was different from the actual IP. My VPN server was on xx.xx.xx.84 but the PING request indicated xx.xx.xx.4. I then used NSLOOKUP to check various DNS servers, and pin-pionted the error to the Belkin router's DNS cache.
The DHCP server in the Belkin router automatically sets the DNS server address to be those provided by my ISP plus the Belkin's own IP address 192.168.2.1. There is no way to get rid of it. If there is a way to only use my ISP's DNS server the problem could be worked around. Belkin does not provide this option.
The DNS cache corruption problem will cause a lot of mysterious connection problems. If you are not familar with TCP/IP networking technology there is no way to find out what goes wrong. Shame on Belkin to release a product with such a critical defect.

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Connecting the Belkin N1 Wireless Router to your cable or DSL modem lets you share your broadband Internet account with all your networked computers. Now you can exchange documents, share resources, and distribute large video and music files throughout your network within a greater range, at faster speeds. N1 offers the easiest setup ever, and our built-in Network Status Display lets you see your connections working.

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Socket Communications CS0400-479 Bluetooth Cordless Serial Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Firstly this wireless serial adapter is much slicker than IOGEAR's. And for the price it should be. This unit has no dip switches and is slightly more compact.
As with IOGEAR's wireless serial adapter, this device should be DCE and not DTE. Take a look around at serial devices. They are DTE. So why make a product that will require the use of a clumsy and bulky null-modem cable 95% of the time? In my case 100% of the time.
WARNING!!! This device does not support low speed serial such as 9600 baud. This is a must for my purposes as I was hoping to use this to configure networking elements such as routers, switches, firewalls, et el. 99% of which have a default console setting of 9600 baud.
Also I would have liked to see a fully self contained unit. Meaning no need for an AC adapter. Yes, this unit MUST be plugged into an AC outlet to function! The necessity of an AC adapter completely negates any claim of "cleans up cable clutter". Also I foresee instances where AC power will be hard to obtain (e.g. only DC power available).
I put some thought into this last night and it would have been ideal for this adapter to have a small rechargeable lithium ion battery built in for short term use. For long term use this device would have two options 1. USB and 2. AC. USB power cable and AC power adapter would connect to the same power input on the device and would also facilitate battery recharging.
As it stands this device is neither convenient or useful. It is far more cumbersome to use than simply plugging in a console cable.


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NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)This USB adapter will cause your sound card to stutter in a horrible manner. Many users on the netgear forum are reporting this issue and NETGEAR is not fixing this problem.
This is not a problem with XP/Vista IRQ conflicts (I went through the process of verifying this myself, which requires me to re-install XP to get my hyper threading support back). This is 100% a NETGEAR issue.

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The NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter makes it simple for you to provide the highest speed wireless internet access to your computer, whether it is a desktop or notebook, letting you surf the web, check email, stream music, make internet phone calls, and get a leg up on opponents when playing online games.
Easy to Carry, Easier to Setup Small and easy to pack in a bag, the WN121T is an elegantly designed thin white box with rounded corners that stands upright on your desk and has built-in storage for the USB cable. The adapter supports Windows Vista and is also compatible with Windows XP and 2000 SP4. The WN111 features a USB 2.0 connection for wide compatibility and high speeds, and setup is as simple as installing the included software and plugging the USB connector into an available port.
Fast, Backwards Compatible, and Secure The NETGEAR WN121T uses the Wireless-N protocol (based on 802.11n draft) for speeds up to 300 Mbps and a range ten times that of 802.11g adapters when paired with a NETGEAR Wireless-N Router. With this much speed and bandwidth, you can easily download large files, place Internet phone calls, download MP3s, stream video, and play online games -- all at the same time, without hiccups, and from farther away. You'll notice the difference immediately.
The WN121T is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless networks so you'll be able to connect to any hotspot, and it improves network performance up to 50 percent when used with the older 802.11b/g networks.
You can feel secure about your information as the adapter supports Wi-Fi protected access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK) and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for IEEE 082.11b and IEEE 802.11g. The included software makes managing different WEP passwords a breeze as you can set up different profiles for each location you frequent, saving yourself the trouble of having to type in encryption keys each time you connect to a hotspot you've already used.
The NETGEAR WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box WN121T RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter, installation guide, setup CD, warranty/support information card.

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Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX4 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400 Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I have had Linksys routers for years and have absolutely no trouble with them. With my cable broadband access I was using the latest Wireless-G router (WRT54GS) with an added Linksys speedbooster and getting EXCELLENT coverage throughout my home. All was happy. All was well.
Then came Verizon Fios. No doubt, Verizon Fios broadband is far superior to cable. The problem? They gave me a D-Link 624 wireless router. The range on this puppy was pitiful compared to my previous Linksys setup. Had I known this beforehand, I wouldn't have given away my WRT54GS Linksys-G router and speedbooster to my brother. But I did -- and I was stuck with the lousy D-Link that provided poor coverage throughout my home.
I needed something powerful that would provide the same strength and coverage (or better) of the Linksys WRT54GS plus the added speedbooster.
I read all the reviews of the WRT54GX4 SRS400 router. The reviews were mostly mixed as to how well this router actually worked. The main concern was that this was new technology, possibly rushed to market, and that there would probably be kinks involved. There was another issue with an AMAZON.COM reviewer that said he could not set up his wireless print server with this modem. Having a Linksys wireless-G print server (WPS54GU2) myself, I was concerned.
I decided to gamble $119 and bought this router.
First surprise! Right out of the box I had it running in under 10 minutes. A supplied CD walks you through each step with diagrams of how to hook up the router, followed by a step-by-step configuring tool that enables you to enter all the necessary settings. Mind you, I'm a little above a novice in setting these routers up simply because I know the settings that are required. Novices may have a bit of a learning curve, but I can't see it being any more difficult than setting up any other similar sort of router.
In short, the supplied CD does a great job of guiding you through hookup and configuring your settings. In 10 minutes, my Internet connection was up and running.
Now here's the amazing part....
This router does EXACTLY what it claims to do. My wireless signal DOUBLED in strength. I have a large multi-level home. In the farthest reaches of my home, signal strength went from 2 bars (LOW) to 4 bars (VERY GOOD) - just 1 bar below EXCELLENT. I can even take my laptop out on the deck and receive signal.
Hooking up the wireless print server (WPS54GU2) was a bit of a hassle. It always is, as it is the worst configurable product Linksys has ever put out. I did call Customer Service and with the help of an Indian woman who's English was barely understandable, I was finally able to get the wireless print server working.
So, there should be absolutely no fear that the WRT54GX4 router is not compatable with a Linksys print server.
Make no mistake about it -- this router is very powerful. The signal strength doubled over a standard Wireless-G router.
Now I am going to tell you something very interesting....
My laptop has a built-in 802.11B card. I'm not even using 802.11G technology on my laptop nor the recommended WPC54GX4 notebook adapter with SRS technology built-in.
So, if I am getting such an incredible improvement in signal with an older "B" technology, you can imagine how much better your results will be with the new technology.
I am extremely happy with this router. Hopefully, you will be too!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Cisco-Linksys WRT54GX4 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400

The next generation of wireless technology has arrived, with the Linksys WRT54GX4 Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400 leading the way. Although it's technically considered a router, the Linksys WRT54GX4 is much more than that. Based on "multiple in, multiple out," or MIMO, technology that effectively doubles the data rate, this is actually three high-performance devices in one. First, there's the Wireless Access Point, which lets you connect to the network, as the name suggests, without wires. Then there's the built-in four-port full-duplex 10/100 Switch to connect your wired Ethernet devices together. Finally, there's the actual router that ties it all together and lets your whole network share a high-speed cable or DSL Internet connection. With the Linksys WRT54GX4, the days of stacking boxes connected by a confusion of tangled wires are thankfully over. SRX: The Future of Wireless Networks Is Here The Linksys WRT54GX4, like all of Linksys's SRX400 products, is based on MIMO technology, a key component in the upcoming Wireless-N standard (802.11n). By overlaying the signals of two Wireless-G compatible radios, MIMO has the capacity to double data transfer rates. In fact, the maximum wireless data transfer rates of the SRX400 actually exceed the capabilities of the traditional wired Ethernet 10/100 data ports that are in place on most computer networks. It's that fast. And by using the network's signal reflections that usually hinder performance in typical wireless products to increase range and reduce "dead spots" in the wireless network, SRX400 effectively increases the coverage area of the network by up to three times that of Wireless-G. In short, not only do you significantly increase your data transfer speed with Linksys WRT54GX4, but you can vastly increase the distance you can send our signal as well. Of course, you don't want to transmit sensitive information without making certain the network is secure. To help protect data and privacy, the Linksys WRT54GX4 can encode all wireless transmissions with industrial-strength WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) encryption. It can serve as a network DHCP server, supports VPN pass-through, and has a powerful SPI (Stateful Packet Inspection) firewall to protect against intruders and most known Internet attacks. Enabling these security features on the router is easy with the Linksys Web browser-based configuration utility. And when your computers are equipped with the Linksys WPC54GX4 Wireless-G PC Card, you will see unparalleled throughput, significantly reduced dead spots, and a dramatically increased wireless range compared to traditional Wireless-G networks. Does this mean that you'll need to convert all of your wireless equipment to SRX400? Not by a long shot. While SRX400 works optimally with other SRX400-enabled devices, it works just fine with standard Wireless-G and -B equipment. In fact, the Linksys WRT54GX4 router has a "good neighbor" policy that ensures that it is always checking for other wireless devices in the area before gobbling up the radio band. While it can dynamically enable a double-speed mode for SRX400 devices, it's designed to seamlessly operate with other 802.11 certified wireless devices at their respective fastest available speeds. And best of all, it enhances the performance of non-SRX devices by allowing them to connect at further distances than standard Wireless-G routers do. But when both ends of the wireless link are SRX400, the router can increase the throughput even more by using twice as much radio band, yielding speeds up to 10 times as fast as standard Wireless-G. The bottom line is that with the Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router with SRX400 at the center of your home or office network, you can share a high-speed Internet connection, files, printers, and multiplayer games at speeds faster than those of 10/100 wired networks, but without all the hassles of wires or inefficient wireless connectivity. What's in the Box Wireless-G broadband router, setup CD-ROM with Symantec Internet Security, user's guide on CD-ROM, power adapter, Ethernet network cable, and registration card.

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Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g Base Station Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I am using this router and running 2 laptops and a desktop with it. Set-up was fairly easy (I did some manual configurations)and, since I am not using Microsoft wireless adapters, I had to manually configure the computers. I am running an 4 yr old IBM Thinkpad with a Netgear MA111 adapter and also a Dell 3800 laptop (about 2 or 3 yrs old) with the same adapter (802.11b). No problems at all once I configured the WEP security keys,etc. The desktop is an H-P running Windows 98SE, also no problems. When my daughter was here with her new Dell with a 802.11G card, she seemed to have even faster connections.
The farthest I have taken the laptops is out on my deck which is 2 or 3 walls and maybe 50 feet from the router. I have the router conncected to my Comcast cable modem and am surfing the net usually at 1.2-1.7 meg per sec. I would recommend this as a simple, effective way to set up wi-fi at home.

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ASUS WL-520GU Wireless Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)This router router can do a lot more if you replace the original firmware with DD-WRT, Tomato or OpenWRT:
VPN, OpenVPN, NAS, BitTorrent, radio output power control, Wireless Print server, etc. It is possible to use a USB hub to connect several devices including printers.
Possibilities are endless.

Click Here to see more reviews about: ASUS WL-520GU Wireless Router

ASUS WL-520gU - EZ Wireless Router with All-in-One Printer Server: All-in-One Printer Server: Wirelessly and simultaneously share printing and scanning functions for multiple users; Auto-detection and New EZ UI (Easy User Interface): delivers the easiest and fastest way to setup your router; EZ QoS - Powerful and easily-operated BOD (Bandwidth On Demand) streamlines your Gaming/Audio/Video experience.

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Linksys Wireless-G Broadband Router WRT54G - Wireless router - 4-port switch - 802.11b/g - desktop Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)Works well as promised. Easy setup for intermediate users and above.
Timed the upgrade with upgrade to vista and have found it works well. I Did not flash the firmware no need for my application. Oh minor inconveince older 2.4ghz phone interupts signal.

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NEW BELKIN F5D8235-4 WIRELESS ROUTER N+ (COMPUTER CABLES/ADAPTERS) Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I ama pc geek from hell. I ahve built my own pc's for over 10 years and been through a lot of them. I have used 20 types of monitors, mouses, keyboards and routers. I have used the msot expensive routers on the planet and I can tell you, not one single one compares to this one. tech support was awesome when I needed it years ago and now it is so easy to set up you do not need help. but if you do they are they 24/7.
I have several pcs on one network and this router is the bad boys of them all. The price is what makes this the ultimate cream puff on top of that.... It should be the most expensive compared to the others I have returned and I have tried them all.
Thank you Belkin!
Keep them coming!


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NETGEAR WGT624NA Wireless G Firewall Router Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)A month ago I bought the Netgear WGT624 Version 2 wireless "Super G" router, on the basis that it was affordable and that Netgear had always given me good service. Having professionally installed networks in the past, I have always been happy with Netgear's commercial products and was expecting this one to be the same quality. The router was super easy to install and set up, their setup wizard was great, and when it worked, the router was blazing fast. I only got to use the cable connections, never got time to setup a wireless connection. As other reviewers have said, it was setup and running within five minutes of plugging it in.
***CAVEAT*** - It worked GREAT for two days, then began to randomly drop the LAN connections, resulting in the dreaded "Network Cable Unplugged" message (search for "netgear wgt624 network cable unplugged" or search Netgear's forums for pages of similar complaints with no resolutions). This got worse, beginning at a few times per day, finally getting down to every few minutes - it now only worked a few times per day! After a week of swapping NIC's, cables, and confirming settings, I finally broke down and e-mailed Netgear tech support - who was kind enough to reply after two days with the same things I had already tried (confirm settings, hardware reset, update firmware, etc.), and a request for more detailed system info if the problem persisted. Even with the most current firmware release, it would not work reliably - so I sent them back every detail they had requested but got no response after a week.
When I finally called them, I got their tech support department in India who confirmed that I was eligible for free tech support (they only offer it for 90 days from purchase, then you have to pay) and then began to go over the e-mails we'd swapped. After 10 minutes with no luck, he suggested that I try the Beta version of the firmware release, AND that this beta version would void my Netgear warranty. After making this suggestion, he said goodbye and hung up in the middle of the conversation. When I immediately called back to India, I got a different tech and was told that I was already out of the 90 day free tech support period (I bought the router a month ago mind you) and that I would have to pay for any support or to get the router replaced under the warranty. After some argument, he finally agreed to help me, but found that the router was indeed defective - and pointed out that there is a known problem with these particular models and he could not guarantee that a replacement would work any better.
In order to get the router replaced under the warranty, I would have had to fax or mail my receipt to India (not a toll free #), and wait a week for them to confirm that my Router was within the warranty. After this was done, I would have to call them back and PAY for the "Extended Tech Support," since their computer showed that my router was out of the 90 day free support period (again, it was only a month old). If this return call to tech support proved that my router was defective, I would then get an RMA and have to either ship the defective router to India at my expense and wait three weeks for them to ship a refurbished replacement unit back, or pay them $30 to have a replacement shipped to me first, then ship the defective unit back to them at my expense.
***SOLUTION*** - I returned the router and bought another brand. In searching the Internet, I found that the equivalent D-Link model (the DI-624) has strikingly similar problems so I bought a Linksys and have been happy thus far. I agree with the reviews that the Linksys is not quite as foolproof to set up, but it's worked great for two days now. We'll see.

Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR WGT624NA Wireless G Firewall Router

Wireless networking is constantly evolving, and the need for increasingly faster speeds and greater range is not only sought after, but expected. If better wireless speed and range with consistent wireless connections is what you're looking for, then NETGEAR has you covered with the WGT624 Super-G Wireless Router. With this handy device you'll have no more dropped connections, and you can kiss dead spots goodbye.
This compact, stylish router provides a simple and secure way to share your high-speed Internet connection. The WGT624 has a 4-port switch, and delivers twice the speed and four times the coverage of the standard Wireless-G protocol. And to achieve maximum performance, NETGEAR suggests using Super-G wireless adapters, such as the Super-G Wireless PC Card, Super-G Wireless PCI Adapter, or the Super-G Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter.
If security is a concern, you can rest easy knowing that your network is being powered by this router. Designed to be configurable for private networks or public hotspots, the WGT624 features double Firewall protection to defend your computer from external hacker attacks. And with Touchless Wi-Fi Security, this device makes securing your network a breeze.
The routing protocols for the WGT624 are both static and dynamic routing. This device works with most Internet gaming and instant messaging applications, and other applications that support Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for automatic Internet access. Other functions include:
Automatic ISP detection
Exposed Host (DMZ)
MAC address authentication
Time-based usage controls
"Trusted User" controls
URL content filtering
Logs and e-mail alerts of Internet
Wireless Access Control
Wi-Fi Protected access (WPA)
Pre-shared Key remote management
Setup is made quick and easy with the Smart Wizard install software. System requirements include a broadband (cable or DSL) Internet Service and a modem with an Ethernet connection; 2.4 GHz wireless adapter or Ethernet adapter and cable for each computer; Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95, or other operating systems running a TCP/IP network; and Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher, Netscape 4.7 or higher, or Firefox 1.0 or higher, and Safari for Mac. Microsoft Vista Beta drivers are available at www.netgear.com/vista.
What's in the Box NETGEAR WGT624 Super-G Wireless Router, setup CD, power adapter, Ethernet cable, vertical stand, setup guide, and warranty/support information card.

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