Linksys WPC11 Instant wireless network adapter user reviews

Cons Through MY experiences with this card, I've had no problems. on January 18, 2004  | Read full review

Cons Range is a joke. Can't go more than 25 feet (through one floor and one wall) on November 27, 2003  | Read full review

Cons Found that a VPN connection failed using this card, while it worked hardwired into a Linksys router. I checked the Linksys web site for the latest drivers, and to my surprise, the driver that came with the card was (5.158.1001.2003 Driver date 10/10/200 on November 24, 2003  | Read full review

Cons Notebook PC froze when transferring files between networked PCs; set-up took a long time to locate broadband internet connection; WIFI utility is non-detailed and sloppy; product's update page on www.linksys.com is out-of-date, as the most "recent" versio on November 24, 2003  | Read full review

Cons Took about 4hours of tweeky to finally get it working with windows XP. Signal strength not great unless your less then 30' from the router. Placing the router (BEFW11S4) at a higher level improve distance alittle. signal strenght problem resolved by purch on November 15, 2003  | Read full review

Cons In public wireless environment the product rarely works! Especially when trying to connect to Cisco networks (specifically a Cisco Aeroport 350) that I know of. Seeing as how Cisco is Linksys's daddy how come this issue cannot even be fixed by their upper on November 7, 2003  | Read full review

Cons Version 4 driver is not comparible with A VPN on September 11, 2003  | Read full review

Summary The install when good but that was it. Since I'm a computer professional I finally got the card to talk to the base station. The key is to mannual pick your network keys. Don't rely on the "auto" key feature.

Summary This is a good card and easy to setup. On the downside, the range on this card needs improvement. The signal started dropping off at around 10-15 feet from the access point.

Summary I liked linksys from my previous experience. I wish I had the same experience this time. Bougt wCP11 ver3. Laptop would not recognize the card. When I went to return the card the Customer service rep found that the card did not have a serial number. I was told that generally they do not return the merchandise with serial number (as if it is customers job to put the serial number on the card)but were going to exchange it in my case. Got the replacement and istalled per instructions. However this second card still does not work with the D-Link Router. Tech support kept me waiting for 30 minutes and had me install-uninstall the card 3 times and gave up. I am going to take the card back to the store tomorrow and spend my time and money somewhere else.

Summary Very simple: I turned on my brand new laptop, put in the Linksys CD, inserted the card, and it installed the drivers in about 5 seconds. Done and done. Right away the thing lit up like a Christmas tree, finding 2 wireless lans in my neigborhood. One guy's lan is well over 100 feet away, THROUGH TWO HOUSES AND THREE BACKYARDS! I don't even KNOW where the other lan it found is. I was getting a poor signal at 11mbps, but everyone should keep in mind that i haven't played with the channels or lowered the connection speed at all. My card is version 3, though so older cards probably won't work as well. My system is a Compaq Presario 905US laptop with Windows XP Home.

Summary I got a WPC11 for my Dell notebook. I'm running Win XP and the install was cake, had it all up and ready to run in about 2 minutes. But DANG... the range diminishes by the yard. I have an excellent range at 5 feet away, very good at 10, good at 15... and no signal at 25 feet. This is ridiculous. I'm returning this POS tomorrow.

Summary I have a v3, and the range is rubbish, when I get 30-40 feet from the linksys wireless router it dies...

Summary If you are new to wireless 802.11b networking, please note that you do not have to buy a Linksys PC card to connect to the Linksys Router. You can use other products and you should. Linksys makes a great router but their pc card is not very good. Buy the Orinoco/Lucent/Avaya/Dell/Agere branded Gold cards (it's the same card). Find the cards on eBay for the best deals.

Summary never buy this card. i bought one and when i installed it, it picked up the signal of the base, but it wasnt recieving information...(i.e. nothing worked on the network). so i called technical support. after 45 min. on hold, i finally got to talk to someone who couldnt fix the problem. i took it back to best buy and bought the microsoft wireless pc card. it works wonderfully and comes with good software. get it.

Summary I bought the WPC11 wireless card at BestBuy. Got it home and installed it with no problems. The card found the wireless network right away. I bought this card knowing that this card has a range problem. My card was no exception. I returned the card mainly due to the fact the LEDs were very faint (which I found out is common with the V3 cards). The new card I got also has the same weak LEDs, but the range was MUCH improved. At the end of the house were I usually get no signal to about 11% signal/link, I am now getting 70%. The reception was a little better than my brother's netgear card. I was happy. If your WPC11 card has range problem, get another. This card and the new system tray config utility with the site survey tab is NICE! If I didn't get a replacement, I would have given this product a thumbs down. This replacement card is excellent!!

Summary I can't believe I didn't read these review pages before I plunked down the cash for a Linksys suite that includes the WAP11 access point/gateway, the WPC11 v1.0 wireless PC card, and the WUSB11 wireless USB antennna. The gateway has been fine, no problems under XP or Win2K. However, I've noticed two major problems: the range on the gateway (or is it the WUSB11) SUCKS. I can't get it to go through any more than ONE WALL in my house. Pathetic! Tried changing channels, figuring perhaps there was interference... signal strength went from 14% to 23% (whoo hoo). The second major problem is that the original version of the WPC11 (which are still plentifully in stock at your local CompUSEless) has now configuring ability on XP. i.e., you can't change the channel, access the params, etc., since the Config Utility doesn't work on XP. I run my network on an alternate channel (other than 6), and use WEP, but I can't access the card's settings to change them to recognize the realities of my network. Linksys seems to try to remedy this situation by focusing on new product and abandoning their installed base. Tech Support recommended upgrading to the new 5.4Gb card. Sorry, kids, but I don't have cash to go fund your R&D every few months. Recommendation: go with a company that supports products of theirs that are over 5 months old.

Summary I tested the WPC11 side by side with a Cisco Aironet card. Both cards used the same LinkSys WAP11 access point. The Cisco performed flawlessly at any point on my property, inside or outside (up to 200 feet away). The Linksys only gets a good signal very close to the access point (w/i about 30-40 feet). Outside this, the speed quickly dropped to 1Mbps with a poor signal. In spots in the house where I got no signal, the Cisco had a good to excellent signal. Running streaming video with both computers side by side right next to the access point, the Cisco was flawless while the linksys was choppy and couldn't keep up. Only problem with the cisco was getting the encryption to work with the LinkSys access point. Bottom Line: don't use the LinkSys cards at all, but the base station seems to perform okay, although encryption may not be compliant.

Summary I had the original WPC11 in my new XP laptop. (Insert a loud Stone Cold "What?" in between each sentence for effect!) Finally got the drivers loaded. It worked fine by the access point. I lost a signal 34 feet from the router. I went back to CompUSA. I now bought a 2.5 version of WPC11. I got an extra 10 feet. My signal strength was 20%. At 1 Mbs. I went back to CompUSA. Went to the return desk. Plunked it on the counter. Asked for my money back. Got a refund. Walked out of the store. And that's the bottom line.....