Linksys Wireless Ethernet Equipment

[scoreadeal]

Once again, it's a good time to combine free shipping and 'magical discounts' (those c-words are evil here) at Buy.com to get a great deal on Linksys Wireless equipment. For about $300, you can score a wireless access point and PCMCIA card! This is a great deal for true wireless ethernet equipment, none of that funky parallel port home network stuff. This beats the best prices I've been able to find on D-Link equipment as well.

http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?prid=157&grid=19

For those magical discounts:

 

[Bronko]

We have 802.11 at work, it is so convenient. Once the access point is around 150.00 or so, I will bite.

 

[loup garou]

I noticed that the Linksys setup is much much cheaper than the comparable 3com, Cisco, HP, and even no-name stuff, even without coupons, etc. Those usually go for around $800-900 for the same thing that comes in this setup. Great deal for whoever's looking for some 802.11b stuff.

 

[RossMAN]

I wish my roomate didn't have a 2.4 GMHz cordless phone because I've heard that they don't get along that well.

$234.95 Linksys Wireless Network Access Point
$116.95 Wireless Network PC Card
-$30 off $150 for returning Buy.com customers expires 12/31/00
-2% eBates.com
-free shipping
==============================
$312.24

 

[SJ Sharkie]

I called buy.com last week and they say the release date for the linksys wireless network is 12/22. Has anyone seen any reviews for the linksys equipment. I'm wondering about the battery drain on the Wireless Network PC Card.

 

[scoreadeal]

The PCMCIA cards are in stock, but not the wireless access points, I was told they'd ship 3rd week of December, so it would be a good deal to buy now while the savings are in effect. Or you could use with D-Link equipment, it's all IEEE standard protocol stuff. If you place seperate orders for each component, you can save more $$$...

 

[RGN]

Anybody know of a site that has reviewed these things? I want to know how well they really work.

 

[scoreadeal]

There has been very little talk of it so far since it's not available yet. However, everyone I've talked to with other wireless products, ie 3com, d-link, etc... love theirs, this one is a steal compared to the pricing on those... and I've been very happy with my cheap Linksys hub/switches so far, hope they keep it up with this new product. Here's a site that plans to review it, they claim to have one on the way to them...

http://www.practicallynetworked.com/

 

[nallur]

For those of you who use ebates for cashback, it appears http://www.shoppin.net gives back a bigger percentage. The last time I used them, I got close to 10% back.

 

[dealchecker]

3com product are the best, but they are too expensive :|

 

[Wag]

Thanks Nallur! And I've been settling for 3% all this time.

Oh well...

 

[scoreadeal]

Hey guys! My WAP11 finally arrived from Buy.com! This thing is totally b1tchin! Works great with my laptop, beats the pants off my laptop's built in ethernet port (it's a Compaq - need I explain any further?)! It's totally fast for surfing...

 

[immortalis]

The weirdest thing is that in the office of my friend, whenever the microwave oven goes on, the wirless network begins to stutter.

I wouldn't believe it first, but made some experiments myself and it really is the microwave.
I then borrowed one from the neighboring company (same floor) and it caused the same problem.
Then I thought it might be power related, i.e. microwave=large power drain . But even after I connected it via extension wires to the neighbor's outlet, it still had the same impact!

Seems the microwave ovens have the same frequency or are not shielded as good.

 

[Rab]

Yep, I noticed that as well. (It happened to my wireless 2.4 GHZ A/V Transciever even before I got the Linksys.)

Are you using a Panasonic microwave, by any chance?

 

[SLEEPER5555]

while we are on the subject of 2.4g, My GE microwave interferes with my panasonic 2.4g phone if you are within about 2 feet of the micro. I guess that is technology, you win some you loose some!

 

[cantstop]

<...whenever the microwave oven goes on, the wirless network begins to stutter...>

Sounds like just the thing for these cold winter mornings. Try standing a little closer
Seriously, check out that microwave with one of those thingy's from Radio Shack. Sounds like you've got a bad seal. Or check to see if it's been recalled by the mfg. Could just be a bad design... The old radar detectors use to leak RF bad too

 

[Unclemo]

Anyone know if the linksys wireless network works with windows ce?

 

[immortalis]

The oven is a Sharp, the other a Samsung.
At home I have no problems with the CyberGenie and my oven, even if I am close to it.
But that is off topic.
Anyhow, just a warning to 2.4GHz wirless stuff, if you encounter sudden problems, ask your neighbors to turn off their ovens....

 

[Souka]

For those excited about wireless just a FYI regarding bandwidth.

I did some benchmarking on an isolated system at work as part of my evaluation of wireless LAN for IS and Exec's a few months ago..... I verified something that concerned me a bit. I don't have the numbers anymore, but hopefully it'll help provide some information.

In a nutshell, wireless compared to wired was about half the speed. This is because of overhead from the wireless requiring more verification of data sent. We have good range before the wireless switches to 5mb/s from range, so I don't think excessive background noise is the issue.

And using wireless in a company, we needed to turn on encryption....add even more overhead.


Despite this, we use wireless, as bandwidth isn't really an issue, 1-3mb/s is plenty for a small number of users.



My two pesos....

 

[SuperRob]

I got in on this a few days ago, but the WAP and PCCard are on backorder. No biggie. Got the WAP on one order with a $30 off, and got the PCCard and two dvd movies on the second order with a $30 off. Not bad.

 

[immortalis]

And that refers to a 10mbps connection only.
Most offices use at least 100mps or the newer GHz ethernet.
It's a connveniance versus usability factor which must be resolved individually.

 

[1greatguy]

bump

 

[JamesGang]

I got the accesspoint hooked up to my Linksys cable modem router/hub... use the accesspoint for the laptop so we can roam. Works great. If signal strength drops, it lowers data transmission rate. For surfing purposes appears to be as fast as the PCMCIA 10/100 network card &quot;hard-wired&quot; to the router/hub. Also, when signal strength increases it automatically &quot;ups&quot; the send/receive rate as well.

Plus, my wife's off my back about cable runs in the house!!!

SWEET!!!!

 

[scoreadeal]

No kidding, my long ethernet run was getting all kinked up after dragging it around so much.

It's so cool, I even took my laptop outside my house and it was STILL working...

If you guys have questions about their product, call Linksys tech support at (800) 326-7114. I called them before buying, they know the most about the product. I don't know if there are drivers for WinCE or not. ???

 

[Jagshere]

Link for wireless networking product reviews!