TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G PCI Adapter TEW-423PI
by TRENDnet
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List Price: Our Price: $18.86 You Save: $18.13 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $5.85 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of TRENDnet 54Mbps Wireless G PCI Adapter TEW-423PI
Customer Review: Defective product, Terrible Support
Summary: 1 Stars
I have a degree in physics from UC Berkeley, and have built, programmed (in various computer languages) and networked hundreds of computers. This computer was built from off the shelf, most commonly used, name brand, components (Intel processor, Maxtor hard drive, Corsair memory, etcetera. I read and followed the installation instructions precisely, and I had a very similar experience. However, if I removed the card, my computer would boot, but very slowly. After it booted, I attempted to remove the card's utility software, which proved impossible to remove. I also called the Trendnet Tech Support line and the assistance I received was less than useless. After I explained the computer would not boot with the card installed (I had put it back in for the call), she told me to click on "Start", click on "Network Connections." I had to remind her 3 times that since computer would not boot, I could not get into Windows XP Professional to do what she was asking me to do. After the third time it began to sink in and she asked "Your computer won't boot to Windows?" After wasting nearly an hour running me through their "diagnostic" that she was apparently reading from a script, she declared the "hardware bad." No kidding!? She offered to let me return the card so they could "repair and return it" to me. I declined their offer. Amazon, which is always great at customer support, is now sending me a replacement card. If the replacement card fails to work, I will order a Linksys PCI wireless card.Customer Review: Nice hardware, bad software, low price
Summary: 3 Stars
I had some problems with the installation and setup, but once I got it working it seems to do the job fine, and is quite inexpensive. The software could be better, but it's only really an issue during setup, since you shouldn't need to worry about it after that.
Others mentioned not being able to get the configuration utility to run, and I had the same problem. When I tried to run the program I got an error noise and nothing else happened. It turned out that the card wasn't properly installed, I hadn't pushed it in all the way. It would be nice if the program gave you some indication that it couldn't find the card rather than just crashing, but if this happens to you, and you didn't see the Windows "install new hardware" prompt on startup right after you installed the card, you probably didn't get it in right.
Then, once I got the utility running, it took me a few minutes to set the correct security type and enter the passkey. While I was trying to do this, I had it set to WPA (it's actually WEP), which resulted in the program trying to acquire a non-existent certificate and flashing a series of upwards of 30 identical error messages one on top of the other that I had to click away before I got it under control. So yeah, the software is not great.
I haven't had any connection problems after getting it running, though, and I get an 80% signal from behind a large piece of furniture, which I don't think is too bad.
Customer Review: Excellent Signal Strength and fast speed
Summary: 5 Stars
After I read the review from other buyers, I decided to purchase three of them for me to install on three Windows XP machines. One of the machine that I install is a Toshiba M510D with a PIII 866 MHZ cpu, which is a computer that I purchased in 2000. The wireless router that I use is D-Link DI-624 Wireless G model. The Link quality and Signal Strength is close to 100% most of the time with the router in the next room. The Internet Access speed is surprisingly fast and stable. This TrendNet product is absolutely wonderful and the price is unbelievable. It is faster than all of my three laptops' built-in wireless device and two other D-Link PC cards.
A few things that you might want to adjust (fine tune) so that you can get the best result.
1. First of all, adjust your default Wireless Router signal channel from #6 to other number. Since the wireless router is running at 2.4 GHZ, if you use the default channel #6, it will get interference from all other house-hold 2.4 GHZ wireless phones.
2. To install on Windows XP, be careful to follow the instruction and install the utility (includes driver) from the CD first. Then you can install the Wireless PCI Card to your computer. Once you power on the computer after the hardware installation, allow Windows to install the proper driver for you via "automatically" selection mode.
This porduct is definitely worth of $19 and a five stars rating.
Customer Review: SW install unsuccessful, now cannot delete files
Summary: 1 Stars
I followed the instructions to install the software first. It caused a complaint about not passing Windows Logo testing, and a warning about making the system unstable. I chose to continue anyway. It appeared to finish, but I didn't get the windows printed in the manual. I shutdown, installed the card, and started up. I got an error that Microsoft Process Kill Utility has encountered a problem and needs to close. I sent the error report to Microsoft. I shutdown, removed the card, and started up. No errors. I removed the software with Add/Remove Programs, but it did not delete the Program Files\TRENDnet directory. I could not delete it manually because I didn't have access to the DLLs there. I don't know why, because nothing was running that used them. I restarted in safe mode and deleted the directory. I restarted, and got complaints about not being able to open certain kernel files. Great, it had burrowed in and left tentacles in my system. So I called technical support. A, I couldn't understand her. B, after consulting with a senior technician, she said I can't delete the directory because the system needs it there, but it was harmless to leave it there. C, she said to talk to my system administrator, even after I said it was my home computer and I'm the only one using it. This doesn't seem harmless to me. It seems like a virus. Time to wipe the disk.Customer Review: Good hardware, possible software problems
Summary: 4 Stars
The software included with this card works occasionaly, so this card is controlled via the Windows XP wireless configuration page. Mostly, it is very stable.
For a couple weeks my DSL connection wasn't working and I had to use the computer this was installed in for dialup internet connection sharing. At this point, I noticed that if dialup sharing is on, it will work properly for a few hours then suddenly lose the connection to the access point. At this stage, trying to disable the card and reconnect to the network results in Windows crashing, requiring a reboot, then the cycle repeats itself.
When not being used for dialup sharing, however, the card is very stable. The computer I have it installed in turns on every morning and remains on till late at night. It remains connected to the access point all day and reconnects at every boot with absolutely no hassle.It is a tiny bit slower than other wireless devices that I use on my wireless network (MacBook, Dell 6400, desktop with a Buffalo PCI card installed), but not by much.
Overall, if you don't use dialup connection sharing and are looking for a cheap PCI wireless card, this should do fine.