Linksys WUSB11 Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v4
by Linksys

List Price: $86.99
Our Price: $49.99
You Save: $37.00 (43%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details

• Product Type - Adapter
• Warranty - 3 Years Limited
• Transmitted Power - 18dBm (Typical)11Mbps, 16dBm (Typical)54Mbps
• Receive Sensitivity - -84dBm (Typical)11Mbps, -73dBm (Typical)54Mbps

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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Linksys WUSB11 Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v4

Customer Review: Want free internet access? This is all you need.
Summary: 5 Stars

If you want to take advantage of free, wireless internet access, then this device is all you need (or one similarly priced). This is a Wi-Fi device (like an antenna) that brings down signals in the air being generated by routers out there (more or less 1500 feet away). of course, you either need to be in a heavily populated area (like a beach or city like New York) to get freely available connections. If you live in a less remote area, then you can still use it at "Starbucks" or other commercial businesses that are "with it".

This device is so small you can use it on a laptop or desktop, via a USB cable.

The other thing is, free wireless internet access is common these days. All you need is a device like this. The bandwidth I am getting is a range from 200kbps to 600kbps (out of 11MBps). That is about 10 to 20 times faster than a dialup modem. Very nice.

If you are unsure whether or not this device will work for you, buy it, install it, and the device will automatically search out wireless network connections and display them for you to connect to. If there aren't any, then return it. Some tips on getting the most out of your reception: extract the antenna up on the device, mount the device on the outside of a window if you can (so there as few barriers as possible), and play with the position of the antenna - to get the best reception possible. You will have to toy with it a little, as you would a handheld FM radio...

Most of the reviews I've read here ... seem to be oriented for those who wish to do home networking and then do such things as parcel out bandwidth for family and friends. This is my next project, to home network 3 or 4 computers in my home. But you need a "base station" or router to do this which will run you an extra $... or so.

But for now, my objectives are met - to get free, high-speed internet wireless access, and all for a one-time cost of $60. Compare that with DSL at $...-$... per month! I hope you live in an area that has a grassroots "free wireless internet" mentality or businesses (like hotels, coffeeshops) who are making their airwaves publicly available. I've been to Boston, Miami Beach, and other places ... and if I bring this device along, I never have to worry about paying for Internet access again. By the way this is all legal ... airwaves are all public domain. People who are broadcasting these signals/connections have the ability to add security (password-protect) to their signals. Some of the signals I am getting are that, and if you guess the passwords/keys, that is illegal (hacking). Some connections are not secured, and I assume they are meant to be accessed (although some businesses tend to be careless about their security). The reason I mention this is because you want to be sure that any signal you get, that provider is going to be reliable and willing to provide free access.

Power to the people. :-p

Description of Linksys WUSB11 Wireless-B USB Network Adapter v4

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 trans missions 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, because 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 mi nutia

• 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

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. Which Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.

The wireless USB network adapter provides data security and reliability with its automatic fallback rate for data transfers and ensures secured networking with 128-bit WEP encryption capability.

This adapter comes with a one-year limited warranty.

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere -- without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. What Wireless Standard is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.