NetGear 11 Mpbs Wireless NIC $29, Access Point $39 - (not 802.11b)

[seanthedealliker]

Found these while searching for wireless networking equipment. They use another standard for multimedia wireless (probably dead) - claim 1000 feet outdoor/200 feet indoor range:

11 Mbs Multimedia enabled wireless access point for "W" Series products only

11 Mbs Multimedia enabled wireless PCI Adaptor Card (includes card & antenna).

Any reviews - please post.

Sean "dealliker"

 

[mailnride]

I don't know. 802.11b can be had at $69 retail, use a coupon and you're looking at 49-59. I've yet to see a non-11b solution that measured up.

What standard do these use anyways?

 

[TheDebater]

Very tempting......i wonder if these are any good

 

[seanthedealliker]

What can you get for $69? - this is a PCI wireless NIC and Ethernet access point. The cheapest 802.11b Access Point I have seen is probably a DLink for around $100-$120, then that funky PCI holder card that you then put the 802.11b PCMCIA nic into for ~$100 for both? Probably 3 times as much!


Found this:
- NETGEAR announced today that they've decided to join Panasonic in offering "multimedia" wireless products based on Sharewave's Whitecap1 technology. The WA301 11Mbps Multimedia Wireless PCI Adapter and WE102 11Mbps Multimedia Wireless to Ethernet Bridge will be available this month for on-line prices of around $120 and $160 respectively. NETGEAR is also offering the WB302 starter kit ($280), which contains one each of the WA301 and WE102.

For $70 for both, I don't see anything close to it. Proxim's system is 1.6 Mbps and $20-$30 more.

 

[wjsulliv]

Ok so this in NOT 802.11b compatable... So if you ever think you might want to expand your nextwork (get more computers, etc.) buy extra.

Also no laptop PCMCIA card?

This appears to only be a desktop set up only - PCI Card with Antenna, unlike most others that are PCMCIA with an adapter card for PCI.

Might be good, don't know, I'd stick with the 802.11b standard stuff. Pay more, but it will expandable/upgradable later

 

[JasonH]

Looks like the new Whitecap2 protocol is compatible with 802.11b. Maybe Netgear is blowing out these products and will be offering the new versions of these products with the new protocol?

It also looks like the Whitecap devices work best (fastest) with streaming multimedia. Here's a review of a Panasonic Whtecap Product with some good test results.

For the price, even if it's not quite as good as 802.11b it could still be a hot deal.

Jason

 

[Zwingle]

Compusa sells the same type of equipment branded under Panasonic....see here for the PCMCIA card and here for the gateway. They use something called Whitecap technology.....doesn't work very good.....I tried and returned the stuff.....I couldn't get 20 feet away from the gateway without losing connection.

 

[Dekaner]

Always stick to the standards! They were created for a reason.