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Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter
Product Description Are you tired of running wires through your house to keep your computers networked and connected to the Internet? Have you recently purchased a wireless data card only to discover that you have to open up your computer to install it? Don't worry, help has arrived. With the Linksys WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter, you won't need power drills or screwdrivers to connect to the Web anymore.
By incorporating USB 2.0 and Wireless-G protocols, the Linksys WUSB54GC can immediately begin delivering data rates up to 54 Mbps (five times as fast as 802.11b) without the trouble of running wires or opening up the case of your desktop computer. To install the adapter, you simply plug it 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.) You can plug it directly into your PC, or you can use the included USB extension cord to put the adapter anywhere you'd like, up to five feet away. Because the adapter gets its power through the USB connection, no power cord is necessary. The included setup wizard walks you through configuring the adapter to your wireless network settings, step by step. The Linksys WUSB54GC lets you put your computer almost anywhere in the building, as long as you have a wireless signal to connect to.
The new push-button setup feature makes it easy to configure your wireless devices. Just push the button on the access point and on your other enabled wireless device to automatically create a safe connection, protected by the industrial-strength security of Wireless Protected Access (WPA) and 128-bit encryption. This means that your data stays secure. Included with this Product WUSB54GC USB adapter, USB extension cable, setup wizard CD-ROM, user's guide on CD-ROM, and quick installation guide. Product Description Connect your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to a wireless network at incredible speeds with the Linksys Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. By incorporating USB 2.0 and Wireless-G the Adapter delivers data rates up to 54Mbps (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.) You can plug it directly into your PC, or use the included USB extension cord to put the Adapter anywhere you'd like, up to five feet away.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 Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter is also compatible with the Wireless-B (802.11b) network standard, with data rates up to 11Mbps. And your wireless communications can be protected by industrial-strength WPA and 128-bit encryption, so your data stays secure.The Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter 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. You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number of public hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers.So don't hassle with running cables through your house - get connected the easy way with the Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter. Reader Reviews At first glance, the WUSB54GC Compact Wireless-G USB Adapter is a simple solution for connecting any computer to a wireless network with support for industrial-strength WiFi Protected Access security (WPA including the newest version WPA-PSK2). Because this value option doesn't require you to open up the computer to install a network interface card, most people should be able to install the USB wireless adapter by following four simple steps: Step 1. Open the package, Step 2. Insert the included CD in your CD-ROM drive and install the driver, Step 3. Plug the adapter into an empty USB port(socket) on your computer (do NOT plug into a USB hub as you won't get enough power), Step 4. Setup the adapter with available wireless network. I've been using Linksys networking products for ten to eleven years and have been pleased most of the time with the functionality and simplicity of their offerings at a value price. Through the years I've gradually upgraded from my initial Linksys product (a primitive, but inexpensive, router...sharing a dial-up modem connection on a wired network with a tangle of cabling to match) to my current, fully functional, wireless/wired network that has seven Linksys products attached to it. This WUSB54GC adapter is the first Linksys device I purchased (or replaced within warranty) that did not require a call to tech support for help to hook it up. USB devices are almost always very straightforward and user-friendly out of the box, but unfortunately I ran into a snag right away. When it took more than a few minutes to "install" the new hardware and my Windows 2000 plug and pray OS didn't find the new device, I thought that my latest Linksys acquisition was DOA (dead on arrival). Having had more than my share of networking "experience" and dreading the thought of calling Linksys about as much as...[insert bad memories here], I downloaded the latest driver (there was a newer version than the one that came on the CD with the adapter) and installed it. A search of the Linksys website for "Easy Answers" revealed none, and the User Guide included on the CD provided no help. Before giving up and returning the adapter (after checking to make sure the bar code in the package was not destroyed while unpacking the unit), a closer examination of the USB port on my notebook computer revealed "the problem" -- the plug end of the adapter is a flat rectangle that's 1" across with no tapering and the USB socket on my laptop is 1/2" across and recessed about 1/4" so the USB plug wasn't fully seated and the adapter wasn't getting power. Now, you might possibly run into this issue, too, so check your USB ports for clearance BEFORE purchase unless you want to progress to the next step. Step 5. While unpacking the bubble pack in Step 1 above, you might wonder why this wireless adapter comes with a 5 foot extension cord. I plugged in the extension cord, plugged the adapter into the cord and it worked. So...now I have a wireless adapter with a five foot dongle (oh well...my wireless adapter isn't totally "wire-less"), but my old Linksys PCMCIA network adapter that cost almost twice as much as the WUSB54GC didn't support WPA security. WINDOWS XP USERS: You will have an issue if you use Fast User Switching (you are using FUS if you have the welcome screen where all of the user names appear); Linksys has a workaround for that problem on their website. The Linksys WUSB54GC network adapter is small, lightweight and it works well; the connection is very reliable and fast, installation is minimally invasive and the adapter monitor that's part of the driver makes connecting to your network a breeze. It also comes with a three-year warranty. Here's hoping your installation goes as smoothly as 1,2,3 and 4; if so, your rating will be a 5. Comment (1) | Permalink | (Report this)
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