Cisco-Linksys WUSB600N Dual-Band Wireless-N USB Network Adapter
by Linksys
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Cisco-Linksys WUSB600N Dual-Band Wireless-N USB Network Adapter
Customer Review: Version 1 does not work with Win7
Summary: 1 Stars
As far as I can tell, Version 1 will not work with Windows 7. On XP it works OK, but nothing special. But my main worry is what I have experienced with Linksys in general.
I suggest that you get several opinions before buying anything from Linksys or Cisco. Perhaps I have just had 5 or 6 unlucky experiences in a row. Bad days happen and even great companies and great support people have bad days.
I've been computing about 15 yrs and consider myself Intermediate.
I bought a Linksys router about 5 years ago and was always very well treated by their knowledgeable and efficient support people. I did not need them often because the router worked very, very well.
But, my experiences this year cause me to believe that the repeated incompetent support that I have gotten from Linksys guarantees that I will not buy anything else with a Linksys name or Cisco.
First we bought a WRT54G2 in June 2009 when the old Linksys router died. One port was found to be erratic when we tried to add a 3rd computer. Then the troubles began. The technician refused to cross ship the replacement. But after I hung up, I found that their website offers it, so I called back. The 2nd technician refused to cross ship the replacement until I forcefully pointed out that their website offers that. When the new router arrived I could not get it to recognize any of our computers. Their support guy took quite a while to answer and by the time he did the router had healed itself and was working, but he insisted in making a bunch a setting changes that seemed unrelated. When he kept insisting to set up the WiFi even though I repeatedly told him that we do not HAVE any WiFi computers here, I hung up.
I am OK with off shore support >IF< they know what they are doing. I have no problem with script readers that are useful, but this one was brain dead.
Later his colleague attempted to charge me before he would answering the question "Will my WUSB600B Ver 1 USB WiFi stick work on Windows 7.
I bought it less than 10 months ago. It has 12 months support warranty. (By the way it won't as far as I can tell.)
Another tech was going to charge me $10 to show me how to get it to work. They seem to work on the baksheesh philosophy.
Then they tried to charge me a support fee before they would tell me how much repairing the 5 year old, out of warranty router would be. And the list goes on. Sadly, more and more things cause me to say to me that the company that I regarded highly for years is no more and should be avoided like the plague. But ask around for >recent< experiences, because they used to be good. I hope they come back someday.
Customer Review: Great hardware, flaky installation software
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased this Linksys N adapter to replace a historic Microsoft MN-510 802.11b adapter on one Windows XP desktop computer to take advantage of a new Linkys WRT400N router on my home network.
The adapter works flawlessly, allowing me to connect to either the mixed 2.4GHz or pure-N 5GHz radio on the WRT400N. Signal strength, as expected, is better over distance for the 2.4GHz band. But it's still good for 5GHz. At 30+ feet on the same floor with two walls in between, the 5GHz radio routinely showing a connection at 160-240Mbps (although at 2.4GHz at the same distance, it's routinely at 270-300Mbps).
The desktop stand for the USB-form factor adapter is solid and appreciated, as it makes it easy to position the adapter for a desktop computer. The stand and adapter are glossy black, with a blinking blue light showing operation.
The major flakiness (and what cost this adapter a star) is the installation wizard software.
I removed the old wireless adapter and followed the Linksys adapter instructions as written. When it came to confirming that the adapter was installed correctly, the installation software displayed an error message saying it may not be. I hit Retry (as the wizard suggested), and after a couple of minutes got the same message. However, the Wireless Network Connection icon in Windows XP showed a working connection throughout. I exited the so-called "wizard" and finished configuration manually with no problems.
But it appears Linksys simply can't do decent installation software. I had similar problems with the WRT400N router install, which I also had to complete manually. I have to wonder if the Linksys software only assumes a new install without previous wireless equipment and a network, and fails when it finds any existing wireless network that's being upgraded.
(One tip, by the way, that applies to Windows XP: If you get an error when connecting stating, "Windows was unable to find a certificate to log you onto the network," you'll need to go into the Properties for that particular wireless network connection in Windows and uncheck the box "Enable IEEE 802.1x authentication for this network.")
All in all, a good piece of N adapter hardware with flexible 5GHz and 2.4GHz operation. A poor piece of installation software that should be avoided. Either use the CD, as others have suggested, just to install the needed drivers when prompted after plugging in the adapter, or try the installation software and be prepared to complete the configuration manually if you have problems.
Customer Review: Trouble with Windows 7 64 bit - Vista 64 bit is OK
Summary: 2 Stars
This Linksys adapter is currently being delivered as a "version 2" hardware/firmware release. This can be significant when it comes to acquiring updated drivers, which you will need if you are running Windows 7. I would strongly suggest checking out the customer forum at the Linksys website before buying this adapter. The forum is replete with unhappy customer comments regarding Windows 7 installations of this adapter. Linksys acknowledges the problems this adapter has with Windows 7, and offers a workaround that doesn't seem to work for many people. This is in spite of the fact that this device is certified by both Linksys and Microsoft to work with Windows 7.
I have a Gateway dual core Intel 64 bit system with 4GB of memory that originally came with Vista 64 Home Premium. I have set up a dual-boot system with the original Vista installation and a Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit installation. I am transitioning all of my applications to Windows 7 and was looking for an adapter to work with this system in a new location in my home, far away from a hardwired data port.
I attempted to install this device for my Windows 7 system early this morning, and have lost about six hours of my life that I'll never get back. The adapter ships with a CD with driver software that Linksys acknowledges on their website is for Vista and will not work with Windows 7; they provide an alternative method for installing Windows 7 drivers on their support site. Unfortunately, as can be noted in their customer forums, this alternative method does not work either. The solution apparently is to use the Vista drivers instead - but these have to be manually installed apart from the CD. All solutions seem to be coming from customers - none from Linksys. Based on other comments here on Amazon, it is apparent that some people have been able to get this adapter to work on Windows 7, but there are certainly many reports of incompatibility.
If you are looking to acquire this adapter for a Windows 7 system, I would strongly suggest looking at a non-Linksys solution. I successfully installed the drivers for my old Vista installation from the supplied CD (and it performs very well), but have yet to get this working in Windows 7. My solution is going to be to return this device, and run a new CAT 5e cable to my system. I could have easily done this within the time that I've wasted on this adapter.
Customer Review: No luck with Windows XP (professional)
Summary: 2 Stars
I spent quite a bit of time this morning trying to get this working with my XP laptop.
First, I tried the normal recommended install from the instructions that came in the box. In addition to the driver, this option installs a network monitor utility and a diagnostics tool. The install works without error on XP and requests a reboot at the end. I rebooted, then went into the network tool. Automated setup did not work and manual setup could not see my router.
I brought up the diagnostics tool, and it reported my driver test had failed. From windows, it reported that the driver was functioning properly.
Using the normal windows connection technique does not work. It looks like the installed software disables it. You need to go into the services (my computer/manage/serives and applications/services) and restart Wireless Zero Configuration.
I deinstalled the software and reinstalled using windows directly. This is done by inserting the USB and inserting the install disk when windows prompts for the driver.
This approach did not connect properly either. The driver sees the router but doesn't connect successfully.
I plugged in a wireless g based USB adapter and verified that it was able to connect ok.
I messed around with the security settings on the router and the adapter to verify that the issue was not related to security settings. I tweaked the advanced settings - for the most part, no impact, although when I enabled auto port, it seemed to connect for a couple of seconds.
Next I took the adapter to my Vista PC. I plugged it in and let windows install the driver. Double clicked on the connection after getting the message that windows had installed the driver successfully. No reboot needed on Vista. Manually entered my WPA key and bingo - connected no problem. Worked well and was much faster than the g-based adapter.
Based on this, my current thinking is that the driver is not working right for XP. I'm not sure if everyone trying to use this adapter with XP will have the same experience, but wanted to share what I tried in case anyone else is having the same problem.
Customer Review: Problematic
Summary: 2 Stars
Its impossible to know for sure if my problems are with the LinkSys dual band router or with this adapter. But I'd have to say that its the adapter.
When I first installed the product, it went smoothly. But I am not a huge fan of software that tries to set up windows functions for me when its easy enough just to use what is built into windows. But I used the linksys software and installed it before plugging in the USB adapter. And it worked on my XP pro desktop.
But when I tried to use the adapter on my Vista laptop that has a built in wireless G adapter, I could never get it to work, even after working with linksys tech support. I gave up on the Vista since I have a working G adapter on this machine. But it would have been nice to have the faster speed on my laptop.
Back to the desktop for the linksys and it worked OK for a few weeks. It was much slower to establish a connection after boot than I would have hoped. But it mostly worked, connecting at between 130 and 270 Mbs.
But resuming from hibernation became a more and more frequent problem. I'd often have to do a full reboot to get a connection. Now, even this strategy no longer works. Going through their wizards to reestablish a connection does not work, even though the signal strength is shown at maximum bars. It even says it is connected but then shows no signal and windows sees it as non-operational. Bypassing the linksys and using windows directly gives the same results. Windows sees the signal as full strength but can never establish a connection.
The only thing that I can do now is plug back into the router with a long cable. And interestingly enough, when I do this I can get a slow connection a 1Mbs with the wireless.
Since this product does not work at all on my laptop, and since my laptop connects fine with the router a G speeds, I am blaming the issues on the usb adapter. Its been more than 30 days, so its not possible to take it back to my retailer. Maybe I can find time to work a few more hours with linksys? But I would recommend staying away from product to avoid these hassles.