Cisco-Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router
by Linksys
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List Price: Our Price: $16.45 You Save: $53.54 (76%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router
Customer Review: Easy to setup, you should flash it right away
Summary: 5 Stars
My previous 802.11b router finally failed after 4 years of constant use, and I was dreading buying a replacement. I hadn't been keeping pace with the drastic drop in price for 802.11b devices! Talk about a pleasant surprise. I figured that since my wireless PC Card investment is still in (b) technology, and this router was so cheap, I'd stick with 802.11b and give the BEFW11S4 a shot.
I did notice as soon as I connected to the admin interface for the router that it was running an old version of the Linksys OS. I suspect that all of the 802.11b routers you'd find today will have been sitting on a shelf for quite some time... So I wasn't bothered by a quick visit to the Linksys web site where I pulled down the current firmware (under 400kb), and updated the router with it (under 2min process from start to finish).
It runs great. I get at least 30% higher throughput than my previous router (I think it's tied to having a faster processor in the router itself) when it's under load - like when I have two wireless clients downloading large files from the internet at the same time.
It's range is also better than my older unit. I now get reliable links (through two walls and a floor) at about 75' from the router. My older device range was about 50' - and I used to get dropped connections from time to time. I haven't gotten a dropped connection once in the month that I've been using the BEFW11S4.
Customer Review: A breeze to setup
Summary: 5 Stars
My family bought this Linksys wireless access point/router two weeks ago after getting a cable connection installed in our home. After reading reviews from disappointed customers saying that the setup was near impossible, I was very surprised that it took me, a fifteen year old, less than 15 minutes to get it up and running. My dad's computer is a Winbook PC running Windows 2000, and it's hooked up to the router via an ethernet cable. My Macintosh PowerBook, running OS X, is wireless using an Apple AirPort card.
All I had to do was install the Install Disk on my Dad's computer, and he was online. For my computer, all I had to do was turn the Apple AirPort card on and my computer was online.
The wireless capabilities of this router are amazing; I can take the computer to the corner of my large backyard and still have a signal. The only problem I've had thus far is that occasionally my instant messages get backed up when I'm using AOL Instant Messenger, and I won't receive an instant message for a while after a friend has sent it.
Other than that, this router has been a great investment. I am curious though as to why it's not advertised anywhere that Linksys systems are compatible with Macs using AirPort cards, because I've been able to use my computer in my own Linksys home wireless network, as well as at my friend's house, who has a Linksys wireless network running through her house.
Customer Review: Great for home networking!
Summary: 5 Stars
I do this sort of stuff for a living, so I may take some of my knowledge for granted when setting this up -- but I thought this was FREAKIN EASY.I understand some people complain about the range of the product, but realistically, unless you have an enourmous house then you are going to be satisfied. I personally have an apartment, so the range is more than sufficient. I, my roommate, and my geeky friends that come over with their wireless equipped laptops never have any bandwidth problems whatsoever.
Unless you use the LAN frequently (local area network...not the internet), then you probably won't see a degradation of performance over traditional wired networks -- you'll be limited by your cable or DSL connection instead. There are still ethernet ports for those people that want wireless and wired from the same router.
This has a PPPoE client built-in, so if you have to "dial-up" to access your DSL (i.e. verizon, earthlink, etc.), then you can configure the router to do it for you -- and reconnect automatically if you are booted. It's MUCH better than the WinPoet software that your ISP will have you install and crash your computer and have you booted off frequently.
No problems 3d gaming online.
Note: people, please setup WEP encryption to access the network. It's really easy and that way people (neighbors, drive-by hackers) can't consume your bandwidth and steal/change your files.
Customer Review: Works Great - IF - you known how to set up a network.
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a small business computer consultant, and have installed a dozen of the Linksys routers. Other reviewers seem to be entirely frustrated or perfectly happy. The truth is, you may need to know some networking skills to set it up the wireless option (the hard-wired linksys router is much easier). Here is a trick that you may need to do, if you run into problems. If you have set up your wireless router, and find it only works with computers attached by networking cable, but not wireless, and the little red light on the wireless card is on, go into (on the computer with the wireless network card) Control Panel, Network, highlight the Wireless Access Card, go to Properties, Advanced, and check the network type, and try changing it from peer to peer (used with no central router) to ad-hoc (used with a central router - what you just bought). Then, turn off everything you can, from the cable modem, to the linksys router, the computer, etc, wait a minute, then power them back on. Test, and if you still have problems, power down again and power back up in different orders.
If this fails, you may need to hire a network consultant; they will likely charge you around 150-250 dollars for setting up 1 to 2 copmputers. Before you hire them, you may wish to ask them how many wireless routers have they installed, what brand, success rate, etc., and consider getting an estimate.
Good luck!
Customer Review: Three computers, 30 minutes, and it was working
Summary: 5 Stars
After reading some reviews, I was little hesitant to go with this or any other wireless router. But after narrowing down my choices and finding this one on-sale and with a rebate I wasn't expecting, I decided to go for it.The model I purchased came with the wireless laptop card.
It probably took a half-hour to hook it all up. The router was installed onto the primary computer (Windows XP home edition). A second computer was also hard-wired into the router (Windows XP Pro) -which worked without making any changes. A Compaq laptop was the wireless part of the installation.
The status of the wireless connection can sometimes change from excellent to very good from the same location, but the transfer rate stays steady at 11mps. As long as the status remains at good or higher, you don't even notice you are operating wireless.
If you are downloading large files, such as PDF docs and such, you will notice a performance decline over your wired computer, but for surfing the net and reading email, I have trouble noticing a difference when using the wireless laptop.
Outdoor range (with the router inside) is strong enough to surf the net from anywhere in my yard. The signal is also strong from my basement.
I haven't really experimented with router location or the position of the two antennas on top of the router, as I haven't had a signal strength problem.