hotish Linksys 802.11g (54mbps) wireless at BB! $130AR Router , $70AR PC card

[Devistater]

Linksys wireless 54g 802.11g (54 mbps speed, much faster than the 802.11b 11mbps speed and BACKWARDS COMPATIBLE!) network equipment is on sale at Bestbuy this week! $130 for the wireless router, $70 for the wireless PC card.

Keep in mind that this is based up a draft of the 802.11g specs, no garuntee it will be exactly like the final, but it probably should be close enough to upgrade with firmare to full compatibility when final standard is released.
NOTE: Tom's hardware reviewed this and had some interesting stuff to say. Might want to pass on this, or it may be fixed with firmware upgrade. YMMV.
http://www6.tomshardware.com/network/20030117/index.html

Also, this is a decent price for wireless stuff, so you'd probably be better off getting this than the slower 802.11b equipment

Note: some prices are after rebate. Check the ad to see.

Also on sale:
Wired PCI linksys network card $5
cable dsl router w/ 4 port switch $50
cable modem for $20 (says requires activation whatever that means).

Links:
http://www.bestbuy.com
bestbuy ad page with linksys wireless stuff
wireless router specs
specs for wireless PC (laptop) card
wired DSL/CABLE router specs
PCI network card specs
cable modem specs

 

[tuan121]

nice find but same router could be bought at buy.com for same price w/ free shipping and no tax. there is also a 15 dollars off 150 too.

 

[AWEstun]

Soemthing to keep in mind about this new linksys router... if you have just 1 802.11b card, *ALL* cards run at 11Mbps.

shelbY

 

[Mr.Mike]

I would hold off on this router, I have had it about 1 month and have had nothing but problems. This is a new standard (That hasn't even been finalized yet) and many people have had problems with the wireless portion, I.E. fails to connect to 802.11b wireless cards, dropped connections, stuttering in 802.11g mode, . I am on my second one and it is already on it's way back to linksys for examination/testing. Steer clear until they work out all the bugs!!!!!!!!

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: AWEstun
Soemthing to keep in mind about this new linksys router... if you have just 1 802.11b card, *ALL* cards run at 11Mbps.

shelbY

I just finished reading the users guide and I saw nothing in there about that. The only setting I see relating to that is a mode setting that says mixed or G only. Would you mind providing a source or link? Thanks

 

[mpevah2]

Originally posted by: Devistater

Originally posted by: AWEstun
Soemthing to keep in mind about this new linksys router... if you have just 1 802.11b card, *ALL* cards run at 11Mbps.

shelbY

I just finished reading the users guide and I saw nothing in there about that. The only setting I see relating to that is a mode setting that says mixed or G only. Would you mind providing a source or link? Thanks

check out tomshardware.com. They did an article about this issue

 

[Jumby]

Just FYI

Ummm.... I think Amazon have that ROUTER at like $129.99 before any Rebate.

 

[HOOSDAMAN]

I have the G-Card in one laptop and another laptop with a built-in (802.11b) Wireless card and both work fine. The G-Card works at 54 and the integrated works at 11. I am on my second unit. The first one had a problem with the 4-port switch. The new one is fine. The only concern is the finalized standard's differences with the draft. Should not be all that different. Should be easily upgradable via firmware upgrade.

 

[lundog22]

I was going to make the move to this 54G thing. But this is not true 802.11G! The standard is not fully finalized yet. This is based on specs that is approx.. 802.11G... Check out this link~ 54G website! If you call Linksys up and ask them will this Router fully support 802.11G, they wouldn't give you a firm answer~! Also there are many problems on and off with this Router and other 802.11b and 54G products... So lots of firmware updates... That is a big sign of problems that you might run into... Besides 802.11b products are cheap. Got in the Netgear MR814 Router for cheap last week at Amazon.com.

Before you buying 54G products, be sure to read more about them online. You might save yourself some serious headache.

 

[azoomee]

Does anyone know of a good 22mbps WAP and card???? I can't find any comparisons or recommendations.

 

[Devistater]

Originally posted by: azoomee
Does anyone know of a good 22mbps WAP and card???? I can't find any comparisons or recommendations.

Probably because 22 is not the standard. 11 is I think only a couple manufactures provide a 22 mbps version, and thats only if you use thier stuff from what I recall. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[CZroe]

Umm, I just went to my local BB and they had:
Wireless Access Point Router with 4-port Switch for $99
Wireless Access Point for $129 (Cost more... Why?)
Wireless 54G Access Point Router for $129 after $20 rebate.

BUT WAIT. There's more. Both 54G APs were opened, so I asked about the open box discount. The guy asked how much it was and I said "$129 after rebate" and he knocked it down to $129 instead of the usual 10% (I think they do this because rebates are supposed to be invalid for open items). Then, I went to the register an $40 worth of rebates printed out!

That's $89 for me if it works out. $109 for you guys... Why is the $130 price in the title of this thread instead?

BTW, that's the Douglassville, GA store if anyone want's the other open one. I have the same ad you guys link and it's off by $20

Another thing, it wouldn't work with my Belkin ver.1 cards until I upgraded the AP's firmware. That's probably the major problem people were having because a large percentage of cards are Intersil Prism2-based like these. No worries.

Are you guys sure 802.11g products don't cohabitate well? I mean, if a 802.11b user goes far enough to have the rate drop to 5 or 2mbps it doesn't slow everyone else down! Considering that 802.11g is designed on the same frequency with compatability in mind, I'd assume it would be similar.

Yet another thing, the 22Mbps is for cards with the latest Texas Instruments chipset. A TON of manufacturers support it, but of course it isn't standard