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.