Hands-On Review: 802.11g Wireless Network Starter Kit from U.S. Robotics

The Straight Facts: Pros - For systems with a USB port, it comes with everything you need for 50 bucks. Install, setup and use were easier than with other 802.11g wireless systems that I have tested. Cons - The most difficult process was opening the package. Intro Please It's hardly news that mobile workers want wireless broadband when working at home or on the road. Home users are looking for a network that's easy to setup and easy to use. The new 802.11g Wireless Network Starter Kit from U.S. Robotics makes it affordable and practical for anyone to connect, anywhere. The Kit is a modestly priced solution. The router and USB adapter are compatible with all 802.11g and b equipment. Connect to the router with the adapter or any g or b device at home; connect to networks on the road using the adapter, as well. U.S. Robotics is a proven name in networking. The 54Mbps Wireless Kit is one of their (slightly) better accomplishments. Test and Review The router was connected via its WAN port to a SpeedStream 5200 DSL router. The USB adapter was connected to an IBM ThinkPad R40 with 384 MB RAM running XP Pro. The router included a 4-port Ethernet hub on the LAN side. The network setup for this review included an Ethernet connection to an HP Pavilion XE736 that I have managed to keep thriving, which is still running Windows 98se. The 'lab' was set in a third floor corner office. Ping times were recorded from approximately 50-feet using an MS-DOS prompt and the ping command; ping times help determine latency. The proprietary U.S. Robotics software reported the signal strength measurements provided here. The pings showed an average latency of 6 milliseconds from 50-feet. This was through three floors at an angle, from the basement to the third floor. That's good! The signal strength was initially 68-percent, though rescanning produced a signal strength of only 31-percent. That's bad. Though this result was duplicated and does not appear to be an anomaly, I was satisfied with the performance that I experienced. Everything uploaded and downloaded to my liking. Speed Test, More or Less A 10MB file downloaded over an ADSL connection with a realized download speed of 368k and across the wireless connection to the laptop at 109KB/Sec in 1 minute and 35 seconds. This is a less than scientific measure of the speed of the wireless network itself. However, I was satisfied and would use the product. Recommendations All science aside, I liked it. It was fast enough for my purposes and dependable enough at as far a distance as I plan to use it. Compare these findings with reviews that test signal strength, latency and upload and download speeds across only the wireless network, and from distances up to 300-feet. What a bargain if it checks out to your liking. A Word to Vendors Nobody likes ruining their good kitchen knives on the otherwise impenetrable, preformed plastic packaging that products like this are shipping in these days. Not all computer enthusiasts own Bowie knives either, nor can we all cut our new purchases free without damaging the products or ourselves in the process. Vendors who find adequate packaging alternatives should have an advantage.