Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Adapter

Average customer rating: 3.5

averageguy@graffiti.com Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter
Didn't work at first--frustrationville!
Great!
Works great, would recommend
Linux compatible chipset in card

Listmania:

Wireless Home Network

Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Notebook Adapter

Manufacturer: Microsoft
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B00006IJO7
2002-09-22

Related Categories:

Networking & Online Communication

Networking & Online Communication

Microsoft

Wireless Network Adapters

All Microsoft

| Microsoft | Brands | Software

802.11b Networking

| Hardware | Microsoft | Brands | Software

Product Description

The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter makes it easy to securely add a notebook computer (or any computer with a PC Card) to the 802.11b wireless network in your home or small office and share a broadband connection, such as a cable or DSL modem. The Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter protects your network from unauthorized access with 128-bit wireless security (WEP). It also includes the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility allowing you to easily monitor your network status.

Amazon.com Product Description

The Microsoft wireless notebook adapter makes it easy to add a notebook computer to your network. Share a broadband Internet connection by connecting to a router, share files and printers with other computers on your network, or play games with multiple players on the Internet. You can also connect to other wireless 802.11b/Wi-Fi networks when you're away from home for added productivity on the road.

The wireless notebook adapter comes with an easy-to-use setup wizard, designed to make connecting your computers together easier. It has strong security features, including 128-bit wireless WEP security, and support for 802.1x standards. The Microsoft broadband network utility makes it easy to monitor your network status.

Included with the wireless network adapter are an adjustable antenna and attached cable and setup CD-ROM, as well as a startup guide and a user's guide.

System requirements include: a wireless router (sold separately) or other 802.11b/Wi-Fi device or network, as well as a computer running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home editions; Internet Explorer 5.0 or later (setup will install Internet Explorer 6.0 browser components, if necessary, but will not displace your primary browser); 28 MB of available hard disk space if you already have Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (132 MB of available hard disk space if you are installing Internet Explorer for the first time); a 4x or faster CD-ROM drive; and a VGA or higher-resolution monitor.

Customer Reviews:

averageguy@graffiti.com Microsoft Wireless Notebook Adapter.......2004-11-07

I have been to severel stores looking for a wireless adapter that runs on Windows 98.I have 2 laptops that are running 98 and at the beginning of the year I purchased the Microsoft one and placed it in the first laptop. Since then I have acquired another laptop and wanted to do the same but could not find the same card in any of the local computer stores. In fact one salesperson told me that wireless does not run on 98 os.
Thanks to averageguy, I found what I needed and received it promptly. Thanks Joe
Joe Scalisi

Didn't work at first--frustrationville!.......2004-07-24

I just received this adapter and installed it almost without any problems. The instructions in the booklet for inserting the card were different from the software--one said to turn off your computer. I tried it without turning it off and it worked (sort of). After completing the installation I still didn't have an interent or networking connection and the signal strenght was poor. (We have a Linksys wireless router--about five feet away).
After going through the help screen in the utility menu about four times--it was no help. I finally figured out that it needed the ssid--it didn't detect it automatically (like the usb version does). To make a long story short--I finally manually inputted the ssid and after tinkering a little more it worked.

Great!.......2004-06-22

I have used for 1 year and there is no problem.

Works great, would recommend.......2004-06-21

Inserted the setup CD, followed the prompts, plugged in the card and it started working. I don't have any signal problems throughout my house. Comes with a neat graphical status program too. For the price, you can't beat it. Unless you want to run CAT 5 all over your house.

Linux compatible chipset in card.......2004-06-16

This is a pretty good card. It uses the Prism2 chipset. Linux recognizes it on my system (MDK10 with kernel 2.6.X), although I have not finished the annoyance that is setting up wireless networking under linux. The MS Windows OS installer ap is annoyingly big, but post-install card configuration is much better than what I have seen with other brands. The stupid inability to cut and paste WEP keys is very standard for all cards I've used. It's not as though such measures really increase security. Disabling cut and paste for the WEP key certainly does not keep one from storing the key locally. Therefore, I really must wonder what manufacturers think is gained. All in all, though, a very good, highly responsive card with excellent range and GREAT compatibility. Supposedly, it _might_ even work under BeOS.

Electronics:

Electronics

Electronics