NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter
by Netgear
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: NetgearAudio: English (Original Language)
Format: CD-ROM
Platform: Windows
Model: WN111-100NAS
Product features:
- Product Type - Adapter
- Warranty - 1 year
- Wireless Speeds
- -- 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11 Mbps
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter
Customer Review: If you have lots of USB devices living on your computer, look elsewhere for a different product
Summary: 2 Stars
The marketing promises are impressive for this device and the reviews are fairly positive so you're thinking the WN111 should be a good device...however if you have several USB devices you use often on your computer, you're in for quite the frustration.
So I've always been a big fan of wireless adapters as they allow you to connect to your access point without having to run cables. I've run several different types over the time I've had this desktop and I've always had reasonable service with them, given the design constraints they had to work in. The biggest problem with the early generation adapters is that they were PCI cards and the antenna was on the card, meaning the antenna was very low and in a very RF noisy environment by the computer. This typically meant that range was short and even minor positing of the computer could have a big effect on signal strength. When the USB wireless adapters came out, I was an early convert. Ive run a few of them back in the days before they supported WPA2 security...which is a big necessity if you're considering a wireless adapter. So when my Dlink wireless adapter died, I started shopping again for a replacement. It had to support WPA2 security, it had to support 802.11N. Looking at what was available, the WN111 seemed like a good choice at the time, and since I've not run Netgear equipment before, I decided to pick one up to try it out.
Over the years, I've come to expect that when I buy a device such as this, that I'll have to download the latest drivers from the mothership...no big deal and I do so as a matter of course. I downloaded the latest and greatest and made sure they were installed properly and the device installed properly. So far so good...wireless speed was good...good connection signal strength even across the house...fast connections from a reboot...WPA2 security with my really long password works perfectly...automatic reconnection to my unbroadcast SSID network name worked perfectly...everything looks good. Do a few speedtests at Speakeasy and Im done. Thinking things are normal and working, I place it on the computer out of sight and go about my routine.
A few days later, I plug in my camera via USB cable to download some pictures. When I'm done, I disconnect the camera and about 3 minutes later, I noticed that I'm not connected to the internet anymore. Look at the WN111 for a few minutes and the blue light is frozen on with no activity. I unplug it and reseat it about 5 seconds later and I'm now connected again. Hmm...moved the WN111 to the desktop to watch it while I work. Over the next several days the same situation plays out. The example this time, instead of my camera, I'm working with my GPS. Unplug the USB cable from the GPS, the WN111 drops the wireless connection. USB hardrive...same thing. USB thumbdrive...same thing. Over the next 3 or 4 days I live with this "situation", working around it by simply unplugging the WN111 from its base and wait 5 seconds to plug it back in. The adapter work fine after replugging it in, so obviously something isnt right with the handshaking that is going on with the WN111 adapter and the USB network when other devices are unplugged. Since I've not had this problem before with the DLink wireless USB adapter before it, it appears that something is going on that is unique to the Netgear WN111. Being the determined type, I decided to simply keep it and try to troubleshoot some less obvious advanced settings for the device in Windows 7, and see if I can solve the situation.
3 months later, I've yet to find any setting that resolves the dropped connection on the WN111 when disconnecting a USB device. I've been silently hoping that the Netgear mothership will release an updated set of drivers to fix the problem, however my recent purchase of a 2TB USB external drive for backup purposes has caused the dropped connectivity situation came to a head. It seems that this USB hardrive goes into standby mode that has the effect of "disconnecting itself" from the USB network if you're not using it for awhile. Right on que, the WN111 drops the internet connection when the hardrive finishes doing whatever it is that its doing and goes into "standby"...sigh. This isn't working.
Fastforward to this past weekend (November 7th, 2010). I've now replaced the WN111 with a Belkin F5D8055. The Belkin has WPA2...USB2.0...802.11N...says its happy with W7. Do my "mothership" downloads before install (ironically, thats the last thing that the WN111 did for me before I retired it...I wonder if it knew....). F5D8055 installs perfectly. Set it up with my crazy, 63 random alphanumeric character password on WPA2...connects perfectly to my "no network name being broadcast" SSID. Speedtest things...very nice. For the "acid" test...I plug in my camera and download a few pictures to my desktop. I disconnect the USB cable...and holding my breath....the internet STAYS CONNECTED! GPS...check...2TB usb hard drive...check...thumbdrive...check.
Thank God the "working around" the dropped connection episode is over.
I consider myself patient troubleshooting situations like I described. If you're not as patient as I am, save yourself from hours of frustration...If you're considering the WN111, dont...try something else first.
Description of NETGEAR WN111 Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter
Netgear Wireless N Rnagemax Next UsbThe NETGEAR WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter makes it simple for you to provide the highest speed wireless internet access to your computer, whether it is a desktop or notebook, letting you surf the web, check email, stream music, make internet phone calls, and get a leg up on opponents when playing online games.
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 The WN111's small size makes it easy to bring wireless access with you. View larger. |
About the size of a pack of gum, the WN111 is easy to throw into your purse or pocket. This small size was made possible by the Micro Antenna technology. The adapter supports Windows Vista and is also compatible with Windows XP and 2000 SP4. The WN111 features a USB 2.0 connection for wide compatibility and high speeds, and setup is as simple as installing the included software and plugging the device into a USB port. A removable port cover keeps the connector protected and clean from knocks, dirt and other potential harm.
Fast, Backwards Compatible, and Secure
The NETGEAR WN111 uses the Wireless-N protocol (based on 802.11n draft) for speeds up to 300 Mbps and a range ten times that of 802.11g adapters when paired with a NETGEAR Wireless-N Router. With this much speed and bandwidth, you can easily download large files, place Internet phone calls, download MP3s, stream video, and play online games -- all at the same time, without hiccups, and from farther away. Patented micro-antennas allows the WN111 to achieve this speed and range while maintaining its small form factor. You'll notice the difference immediately.
The WN111 is backwards compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b wireless networks so you'll be able to connect to any hotspot, and it improves network performance up to 50 percent when used with the older 802.11b/g networks.
You can feel secure about your information as the adapter supports Wi-Fi protected access (WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK) and 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption for IEEE 082.11b and IEEE 802.11g. The included software makes managing different WEP passwords a breeze as you can set up different profiles for each location you frequent, saving yourself the trouble of having to type in encryption keys each time you connect to a hotspot you've already used.
The NETGEAR WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box
WN111 RangeMax Next Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter, installation guide, setup CD, warranty/support information card.
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