Cisco-Linksys WUSB54G Wireless-G USB Adapter

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.2 x 2.5 inches ; 2.9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00009X6PH
• Item model number: WUSB54G
  

List Price : $66.99
Price : $34.95
You Save : $32.04 (48%)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer
The easy way to connect your desktop or notebook to a high-speed wireless network
Connect your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to a wireless network at incredible speeds with the Linksys Wireless-G USB Network Adapter. By incorporating two new, blazing fast technologies -- USB 2.0 and Wireless-G -- the Adapter delivers data rates up to 54 Mbps (5 times as fast as 802.11b), without the trouble of opening up the case of your desktop computer.
To install, simply plug the Adapter into any available USB port. (It's compatible with both USB 1.1 and 2.0 ports, but 2.0 will yield the fastest speeds.) It gets its power through the USB connection, so no power cord is necessary. The included Setup Wizard walks you through configuring the Adapter to your wireless network settings, step by step. The Wireless-G USB Network Adapter is also compatible with the Wireless-B (802.11b) network standard, with data rates up to 11 Mbps. And your wireless communications can be protected by 128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.
The Wireless-G USB Network Adapter's high-gain antenna lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, without the cost and hassle of running cables. Now you don't have to drill holes in your walls and climb through the attic or cellar to get connected to the network. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, use instant messaging to chat with friends, and share files and other resources such as printers and hard disk storage space with other computers on the network.
So don't hassle with running cables through your house -- get connected the easy way with the Wireless-G USB Network Adapter.


See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.
Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere -- without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.What Wireless Standard is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use.
Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time:

• 802.11b
• 802.11a
• 802.11g
• 802.11a/g

To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.
Linksys Wireless-G 802.11g 54Mbp USB 2.0 Network Adapter.

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Technical Details

• Connects your desktop or notebook to a wireless network at up to 54 Mbps when used with a USB 2.0 port
• Easy, no-tools setup on any desktop or notebook
• Also compatible with Wireless-B networks (at 11 Mbps)
• Wireless communications are protected by up to 128-bit data encryption
• Compatible with Windows 2000 or XP

Customer Reviews

I have a SOHO that uses a wired 10/100 switched network. Already part of this network is a Linksys single port Cable / DSL Router. When it came time to make the jump to wireless, the WAP54G seemed the logical choice, as I would not have to reconfigure anything on my existing network. For my initial conversions, I was converting a desktop PC and an older laptop. For this review, I'll be discussing at the WUSB54G. Look for reviews on all these items posted separately.
I decided on the WUSB54G because I did not have any available internal slots. This computer may be replaced in a year or two, and unplugging the network card from a USB port seemed a lot more attractive than opening the case. Actually, the installation is almost a simple as plugging the adapter into an available USB port.
My initial installation was using Version 2.0 of the installation software. The significance of that will be explained later. Regardless of your version of Windows, I suggest installing the software first. This will eliminate any potential problems in the installation process. Make sure you know your network name and WEP Key. You will need to supply that information during installation or you will not be able to connect right away. If you don't have the key handy, it can be input later, but it is not as convenient.
The Wizard does a good job of walking you through each step. Once done, you will need to reboot. Don't disconnect from the wired network just yet. Wait until the next phase is completed. On boot, you computer should detect the new hardware and install the correct drivers for it. The next step could take a while, so be patient. Your new wireless network card will search for a signal, an access point, and you should be prompted when a network is found. If more than one network is detected, a distinct possibility with the proliferation of wireless networks, you will quickly realize the advantages of naming you network something other that the default and of applying a WEP Key to your network.
The initial connection took about two minutes, but seemed a lot longer! You will see an icon on the Bottom Right of the Task Bar indicating you are connected. I do one final check by opening a command prompt and using the command "ipconfig /all" to show all my adapters. If there's a difference in IP addressing ranges, reboot one more time. If both the wired and wireless connections show IP address in the same range, you're ready to unplug the wired connection. Now try opening your web browser. If you can surf, you're all done.
My experience with this installation was very positive. The wizard was friendly, the physical installation could not have been easier, I had all the information on hand I needed and I was wireless after the first reboot. I'm using this adapter with a G network and I'm getting the full throughput.
One final note: this installation went so smoothly I got another adapter from a local dealer that had a price too good to pass up. When I got home, however, I noticed a small sticker that said this was for Windows 2000 and Windows XP only. I then noticed the serial number and installation software said version 1.0. Hmmm... this was going on a Windows 98SE machine. The hardware specs looked identical, from what I could determine from the box, so I tried an experiment and used the version 2.0 software. It worked just fine. BEWARE: this is not an endorsement that this will work in every case nor should you conclude there is no difference between versions. I strongly suggest you try to get the latest version hardware and software for optimal performance.

First, the hardware. The Linksys WUSB54G wi-fi adapter comes in the form of a small box with a flip-up antenna. You hook the included USB cable (A-B type) to the adapter and to a USB port on your PC -- high-speed USB 2 port preferred -- and you can surf the web wirelessly. The adapter seems average in performance, in terms of speed and distance. (I use it with a Linksys Wireless-G router.) The signal strength seems to fluctuate quite wildly, even when you don't change any of the factors that might affect it. But overall, it works.
Now comes a BIG warning: do NOT install the utility that came with the adapter. It has a confirmed serious memory leak problem. By this I mean that after running the utility (which sits in the system tray) for about an hour, it'll have gobbled up anywhere between 300MB and 600MB (or more) of your system memory! My desktop has 1GB and at one point the utility took over more than 580MB before I shut it down via the Task Manager. Unfortunately (as another example of really bad software engineering), you can't quit the program for real. As long as you have the adapter active, the utility will come back to life and start eating up your memory again.
If you have Windows XP, use the OS's built-in "Windows Zero Configuration Wireless Client." First, uninstall the Linksys utility if you already installed it. Second, you need to install the adapter's driver: simply plug the adapter into a USB port, and, when Windows' driver search dialog comes up, browse to the "Driver" folder on the Linksys CD-ROM (e.g., "D:\driver"), and use the "v4" (version 4) driver, which is the latest -- after that, Windows' built-in wi-fi client will automatically kick in.
Unfortunately, if you use Win2k or earlier, you'll have to either live with the poorly written Linksys utility (the problem exists on all systems) and restart your PC periodically to reclaim the memory, or just return the whole thing as a defective product and get another adapter (e.g., Netgear).

 

Cisco-Linksys WUSB54G Wireless-G USB Adapter