Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g Base Station Router
by Microsoft
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List Price: Buy Used: from $11.93 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g Base Station Router
Customer Review: A nice wifi router/firewall
Summary: 4 Stars
I bought this router to replace an SMC router after my roomate left with it. I have Windows XP and a cable modem. Got it up and running in 5 minutes, but fine tuning the security features took an extra hour or so.Pros:
- The Price, so cheap with all the good features, couldn't pass it up
- Nice install wizard, handled my cable modem really well
- Great security features: NAT, WEP, MAC filter, Port Filter, etc.
- Configuration tool has a nice user interface
- I like that it automatically patches it self.
Cons:
- The documentation that is included is not very good. Amazing how many pages they spend on stupid stuff (this is what you power cord looks like... Instead of This is how you can increase security in your wireless network set by step.)
Tips:
- Be careful turning on the MAC filtering, make sure you put your desktop MAC address in first, or you might get locked out :) found out the hard way.
- Make sure you block the ICMP Ping so hackers/crackers can't find you easily on the network
- Make sure that you select "share files and printers" in the wizards, because it is super difficult to find these settings to change your mind later. It probably isn't a good idea to "share my whole computer" though. Should someone actually break into your network...
- It is a pain in the butt to copy down that long WEP key, on all of your wireless laptops, but once you have done it, you can rest assured that you are pretty darn secure.
All in all, I have no regrets with losing the SMC wireless router.
Customer Review: A Novice get it to work on the first try
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first introduction to wireless networking. I just got this router in January of 2004 and have no disconnection problem reported by other users. I did do an update during setup. It has worked in every way I expected to be. I picked MS MN-700 over the competition, because I heard it is very easy to use. The setup,
I am a novice and didn't want to be hassles by a lot of informational inputs. This device worked on the first try with Wizard setup. I first plugged it straight to a network card with a cable it worked fine. I have a window 98 and a win2000 computer on. I am using Linksys's Dual band A&G on my XP laptop and all I had to do is enter the network key on the card and it will work. You might have to plug the router with an ethernet cable before you can set up the wireless connection; that is what I did.
Conclusion,
I read that you can not extend the range with a wireless bridge with the MN-700 and I was a little bum (never had to also). If you want to compare performances with this device to other go to CNET first. This is a simple device, which doesn't have much configuration to play with. The exterior design is nice; I like how it looks standing up or sideway on my desk. Most of my friends said go with D-link, but I am happy with this pick.
Customer Review: MS MN-700 Wireless G Base Station Router
Summary: 4 Stars
Purchased before reading that MS has announced plans to discontinue their Broadband product offerings. However, they will provide two years free 24/7 tech service and support. The MN-700 base station has four Erhernet connections and an Ethernet modem connection. Rated at 54 Mbps and acheives that rating over the 20 foot distence covered by my simple network. Typically bulky power adaptor.Fairly painless setup in combination with the MN-710 wireless USB adaptor. Uses a reasonably easy to follow wizard, but I found myself scurrying back and forth between PC's to ensure that all settings were the same.
After connecting the Ethernet DSL router supplied by AOL, found out that AOL does not support Microsoft products, specifically their routers. Contacted MS tech support who walked me through the process of setting up a PPoE connection to AOL which is now accessed via Internet Explorer on either PC. Process is more awkward than using the sign-on screen (and I don't have access to my AOL Favorites), but works flawlessly.
Bottom line -- works well and the discounted price is right. With two remaining years of tech support, the product will probably last until the end of its design curve anyway.
Customer Review: OK but be aware of critical software setting for IIb laptops
Summary: 4 Stars
The Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g router was my first experience with wireless. Installation was easy, and the NetGear IIg PC card in my Sony laptop recognized the router immediately, and worked perfectly. The Netgear IIb USB device in my wife's Toshiba laptop recognized the router, but would not work. Of course, I suspected the IIb USB device. After days of calling, updating, swapping devices and reinstalling software, I found an option in the router's Base Station software that was set at "IIg (faster)". As soon as I changed the setting to "IIg plus IIb (slower)", the Netgear IIb device worked fine.
So, Microsoft's hardware is great, the software is great. But the lack of clear simple communications caused me distress.
If MN-700s are preset to "IIg only", then documentation should be presented that reads "The Base station is preset at the faster IIg speed. If your laptop has a IIb device, use Base Station software to select the slower option."
I suspect that a good number of the poor reviews for this product at Amazon may be attributed to this issue.
Customer Review: Check your settings
Summary: 4 Stars
Was getting dropped wireless connection every couple of minutes until I tried this:
To disable 802.1x authentication in Windows XP
1. Click Start, point to Connect To, click Show all connections, and then double-click your wireless network.
2. On the General tab, click Properties.
3. Click the Wireless Networks tab.
4. Under Preferred Networks, click your home network, and then click Properties.
5. Click the Authentication tab, and then click to clear the Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network check box, if it is selected. If you cannot click this check box, then you are not using 802.1x authentication or wireless security.
Seems ok now ... now to get the workgroup working.