Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #485 in Consumer Electronics
• Brand: NetGear
• Model: WG111
• Released on: 2004-07-12
• Platform: Windows
• Dimensions: .0" h x .0" w x .0" l, .62 pounds

Features

• 54 Mbps standard 802.11g wireless Internet access
• USB 2.0 powered
• New antenna technology allows wireless access at
• Easy setup via Smart Wizard install assistant
• Compact pocket-sized design

Manufacturer's Description
NETGEAR's 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter enables 54 Mbps wireless Internet access to either your desktop or notebook PC. Its antenna technology delivers greater range so you can move extended distances without losing your connection. Setup is now made quick and easy with a Smart Wizard install assistant. High-level WEP encryption shields your network from wireless eavesdroppers without sacrificing performance.This adapter supports office roaming for notebook PC users for shared broadband Internet access and resources. Gives you untethered mobility at home, the office, the airport, and other public hotspots. NETGEAR's Wireless LAN Manager lets you create profiles that reflect specific WLAN settings for each place you travel.The WG111 simply plugs into the external USB port of your PC, eliminating the need to open up your desktop PC. Gain full mobility with your notebook, or place your desktop anywhere in your home, without the need to use unsightly Ethernet cables. 802.11g standard compliance ensures interoperability with existing 802.11b and 802.11g networks. Setup is now made quick and easy with a new Smart Wizard install assistant.This adapter's compact, pocket-sized design allows it to be easily carried anywhere.

Box Contents

Customer Reviews

If you find it loses the connection ...
If you are running this on a Windows XP machine and you find it loses the connection every 15 mins or so, you need to go to:
Control Panel->Administrative Tools->Services and disable "Wireless Zero Configuration" on startup.

This fix was suggested by Netgear themselves on the discussion forum on their site. It solved the problem for me.

You also need to get the latest version 3.3 driver from the Netgear site.

With these two modifications, my adaptor never loses its connection. Seems to be the answer.

GOOD SIGNAL & EASY SET UP
I bought this together with Netgear's 54 Mbps wireless router (WGR614v4) to wirelessly share our broadband internet connection with the kids' computer.
Once I had set up the router it only took a few minutes to install the adapter. Simply load the software, plug in the adapter and follow a few simple instruction. It located the network straight away plus another network which must be in the vicinty.
The kids' computer is upstairs about 20m away with a thick wall in between. The signal strength is fairly good and my sons have been surfing merrily for 10 days without losing the connection once.(touch wood!)
Setting up security with WEP (Wired Eqivalent Privacy) was also easy. I simply had to enable WEP on the router, type in a passphrase and 4 encryption keys were generated. The adapter's program allows you to generated the same keys by typing in the same passphrase.
It comes with a 5ft USB cable enabling you to place the adapter in the best and safest position.
The tranfer rate is a litle slow because the computer only has USB 1.1 capability whereas the adapter has USB 2 capability. Having said that it is still much quicker than dial up and the kids haven't complained.
We haven't been able to share files and the printer yet but I think that's a case of figuring out how to confiqure Windows and the router. I'll submit a review of the router once I've worked out file sharing and ironed out a small problem with the laptop dropping connections.
As far as the USB adapter is concerned it's thumbs up!!!

Doesnt play well with others
I downloaded and installed the Vista drivers for this wireless adapter and i was online in no time at all.

However, my connection promply disconnected as soon as I connected ANY type of usb Mass Storage device on another of my usb ports. iPod, USB Flash Drive, External Hard drive...... this usb adapter lost the wireless signal and refused to reconnect. I had to disconnect the other USB devices and reload the netgear software to get back online.

I dont know what this thing does to the usb bus but it certainly doesnt play well with others.

Anyway. I resolved the problem by connecting my Belkin powered USB hub and pluging the netgear adapter into it. Now i can use all my other devices at the same time as this wireless stick. I can only assume this thing uses a lot more power or just cant cope with other devices working on the same usb bus.