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NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter by Netgear
Digital Photo Product DetailsManufacturer: Netgear Audio: English (Original Language) Format: CD-ROM Platform: Windows Model: WN111-100NAS Product features: - Product Type - Adapter
- Warranty - 1 year
- Wireless Speeds
- -- 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
Accessories:
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB AdapterCustomer Review: A speed/range upgrade for an older computer on a wireless n network Summary: 5 Stars
When you need a wireless connection - or a faster one for cheap!
This review is written for non-technical people about improving the speed of their wireless access or getting on a laptop that does not have the capacity built in - For very little money! It reviews the utility of these devices and specifically discusses the features of this Netgear WN111v.2 Wireless-(draft-n) Adapter.
More and more people own laptop/notebook or the newer and even smaller "netbooks." The idea is pretty straight forward. A computer that is portable and can easily be taken from place to place, unlike our traditional desktop-type computers that are secured by both the sheer mass as well as by the multitude of wired connections they usually require to one place.
The evolution of portable technology led to what we call, descriptively, "wireless" connections. There are connections to wireless system that do not require wired connections. What they DO require is a wireless adapter, often built into to newer notebook and netbook units.
There are a couple of possible complications. One is having access from a portable computer that does not have a built-in wireless card and the other is having one, but wanting greater speed than the now older versions of wireless adapters allow. An inexpensive and entirely satisfactory solution to either issue is the Netgear WN111 v.2, available for about $60. new. I bought one of theseand am please to say that it works perfectly.
There are, essentially, four generations of wireless connections. They go by the shorthand designations of a,b,g and draft-n. "a" is the first and slowest and they increase in both speed and range up to the latest draft-n adapters and routers. Of course, for any wireless card or adapter to function, it must be within range and have access to a wireless router. These are ubiquitous at internet `hot spots' and are frequently becoming the connections of choice in peoples' homes.
When I first wanted to increase the wireless download speed of my own notebook (two years old and with a built-in a/b/g wireless card, I mistakenly thought that I would only need to replace that card with one that would receive the faster, `draft-n' signal. Wrong! Turns our that these small wireless cards are often necessarily compliant with the motherboards (the computer heart and brain of your machine) and the card cannot be replaced with a `draft-n' card because it will not work with the motherboard.
I actually thought about replacing the notebook computer - though in all other respects, it performed perfectly. Then I discovered the magic of wireless adapters, including those that received the speedier `draft-n' signals and connected to the outside of a laptop by simply 1) downloading the software from the company's website if a disc did not come with I and then 1) plugging it into an available USB (v2) port. After trying several and doing a good deal of research, I settled on the Netgear NN111 v.2 wireless USB adapter. It works perfectly.
For the information of the `teachies' among readers, the specifics are as follows:
Physical Specifications
* Dimensions: 94.5 x 30.2 x 15.2 mm (3.72 x 1.19 x .6 in)
* Weight: 21.5 g (0.76 oz)
Wireless Speeds
* 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
* 802.11g: 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54 Mbps
* 802.11n draft: 6, 6.5, 13, 13.5, 19.5, 26, 27, 39, 40.5, 53, 54, 58.5, 65, 78, 81, 104, 108, 117, 121.5, 130, 135, 162, 216, 243, 270, 300 Mbps (300 Mbps when used with WNR834M & WNR854T only)
* Improves network performance up to 50% when used with legacy 802.11b/g wireless routers
Standards
* IEEE 802.11n draft specification, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g 2.4 GHz
Security
* Wi-Fi protected access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK)
* Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) 64-bit, 128-bit encryption for IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g
* Smart Wizard(tm) simplifies setup and Touchless Wi-Fi Security makes connecting to secure networks simple and fast
Warranty
* NETGEAR 1-year warranty
There are other reasons you might want to consider getting one.
If you have upgraded your wireless router at home from the now standard `g' or `a/b/g,' to one that spreads the coverage and increases the signal strength and downloading speed, you will find that if ANY device operating at less than the `draft-n' speed is connected to your network, the entire network will revert to the slower `g' configuration. For the `n' to work, every item connected to that network must be able to use the signal at that level or the whole shebang reverts (`downscales') to the lowest common denominator.
Description of NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB AdapterNetgear Wireless N Rnagemax Next Usb The NETGEAR WN111 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.  | The NETGEAR WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter offers: - Wireless-N protocol for up to 300 Mbps throughput.
- A small, portable size for easy portability.
- Backwards compatibility with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless networks.
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The WN111's small size makes it easy to bring wireless access with you. View larger. | Easy to Carry, Easier to Setup About the size of a pack of gum, the WN111 is easy to throw into your purse or pocket. This small size was made possible by the Micro Antenna technology. 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 device into a USB port. A removable port cover keeps the connector protected and clean from knocks, dirt and other potential harm. Fast, Backwards Compatible, and Secure The NETGEAR WN111 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. Patented micro-antennas allows the WN111 to achieve this speed and range while maintaining its small form factor. You'll notice the difference immediately. The WN111 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 WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter is backed by a 1-year warranty. What's in the Box WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter, installation guide, setup CD, warranty/support information card.
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