Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card
Manufacturer: Belkin Part number: F5D8011
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The Belkin N1 adapter is a little better than the competition, but that's not saying much. Hold off on buying Draft N networking equipment for now.
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CNET editors' review
Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card price range: $14.99 - $99.99
- Reviewed by: Felisa Yang
- Edited by: Matthew Elliott
- Reviewed on: 06/19/2006
- Released on: 05/01/2006
The good: The Belkin N1 adapter is less expensive than the competition and a cinch to install, and it's backed by a generous service-and-support policy.
The bad: The Belkin N1 adapter (with the N1 router) doesn't live up to the promise of 802.11n in terms of performance.
The bottom line: The Belkin N1 adapter is a little better than the competition, but that's not saying much. Hold off on buying Draft N networking equipment for now.
The Belkin N1 wireless notebook adapter is a standard PC Card. Its black endpiece has two LEDs--one for power and the other for activity on the card's internal antenna. As with all of Belkin's previous adapters (and most wireless adapters in general), setup is a snap. Start by inserting the included CD-ROM into your laptop's optical drive to install the necessary drivers. When prompted, insert the card into your laptop's CardBus slot, which will launch the remainder of Belkin's setup wizard. Simply click through the wizard until the installation is complete. Belkin's Wireless Client Utility lets you scan for available wireless networks, set up advanced configurations of the card, and save wireless profiles for the networks you access most often. You can do some of the same things with Windows's Zero Config utility as well, but Belkin's utility gives you a more granular view.
As we mentioned in our review of the N1 router, Belkin has decided not to support single-mode networks in this product. Instead, it offers just a mixed n/g/b mode and will offer an n-only mode only if the finalized 802.11n spec requires it. The N1 adapter (and router) fared well against its Draft N competition in the 10-foot mixed-mode test, more than doubling the Netgear's throughput. At long range (200 feet), the N1 pair also bested the Linksys and Netgear pairs, which is especially impressive when you consider that the Linksys and Netgear pairs were both tested in single mode. (Generally, the slowest clients on a wireless network--in this case, 802.11b clients--create a bottleneck in the network.)
The support options for the N1 wireless notebook card are the same as those for the N1 router. Belkin offers a lifetime warranty and toll-free 24/7 telephone support. Web options include a FAQ, downloadable driver and firmware updates, and an e-mail form to tech support.
(Throughput in Mbps)
(Throughput in Mbps measured indoors at 200 feet)
User reviews
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Lives up to the hype
by jstickman1969 on November 11, 2006
Pros: Fast, super long range
Cons: I haven't found one yet.
Summary: Don't believe someone's biased opinion as stated above/below about stay away from all Belkins. This is the most user friendly equipment on the market. You must have ...
Summary: Don't believe someone's biased opinion as stated above/below about stay away from all Belkins. This is the most user friendly equipment on the market. You must have the router and matching card. Don't try to mix and match your equipment here. I can walk down the street with this router and still surf the net at 200 yards!! I tried the cheaper G routers with three other companies and was very disappointed so I got this jewl here and I'm a Belkin fan for life!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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No techical support!
by mzemina on July 10, 2006
Pros: The product seems to work ok
Cons: No technical support!
Summary: I have contacted on three sepperate occasions tried to made contact with Belkin's technical support. Each attempt to contact Tech Support was worse than the previous to the point ...
Summary: I have contacted on three sepperate occasions tried to made contact with Belkin's technical support. Each attempt to contact Tech Support was worse than the previous to the point where I never was able to communicate with tech suport about my problem. I had been emailing them every day for a week with no response. Then I even emailed the sales group. Again no response! So in my view, they have no technical support!!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Belkin N1 Router, Not working to expectations
by Skypilot666 on July 25, 2007
Pros: I like the display on the front of it
Cons: It doesn't work very well or at all
Summary: I have a Belkin GPlus router at home and have been happy with that model, in spite of it losing sync with the cable modem everytime I make a change ...
Summary: I have a Belkin GPlus router at home and have been happy with that model, in spite of it losing sync with the cable modem everytime I make a change to it. I've also heard great things about the pre-N router, tho these seem to have gone out of channel.
Unfortunately, Testing on the N1 router has not gone well. It is slow to connect, has poor range. Only Intermittently connected via cisco VPN. The longer I left it on, the worse it got. In the end it started dropping my connection, now it won't hand off an IP address, although; I can still connect to it using a network cable. I'll be sending this one back, too bad...I thought Belkin had higher standards, the price is certainly higher.1 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Three times unkucky
by Dieselmax on January 13, 2009
Pros: Easy to install
Cons: But it doesn't work. I have tried three of these cards but they all fail to connect properly to a Belkin N1 Modem / Router.
Summary: I have tried the cards in different laptops and typically the signal is 40 to 60 db worse than the built in wireless g adapters even at 5 foot with ...
Summary: I have tried the cards in different laptops and typically the signal is 40 to 60 db worse than the built in wireless g adapters even at 5 foot with direct line of site.
I have not achieved any connectivity so can?t comment on the potential transfer rate. Technical support is very limited as they simply read from a knowledge-based script, which is fairly basic and fails to acknowledge the information you give them. I would list all the things I've tried but there isn't enough room.
Although the N1 Modem / Router is a nice product it doesn't seem to be supported with an appropriate wireless adapter. I see similar comments about the USB adapter to those posted here. For now I have achieved very good connections (all be limited to 54Mbps) by connecting my old DG834gt router to the N1 (two wireless access points) and using my built in wireless g cards. I have returned all N1 wireless cards and will wait until they sort the design out. -
Works wonderfully for me!
by PBarrette on July 31, 2007
Pros: Faster than cat5
Cons: Doesn't always connect quite as well as expected (I said quite)
Summary: I have this with the Belkin N1 Router and it flies! I recently downloaded at over 20Mps via DSL Reports speedtest (link to results below). The results were 20.14mbps ...
Summary: I have this with the Belkin N1 Router and it flies! I recently downloaded at over 20Mps via DSL Reports speedtest (link to results below). The results were 20.14mbps down and 1936 kbps up. I have Cox broadband, and they recently boosted the speeds where I live. Just make sure you have the latest drivers and firmware and you will be happy with this. I got it for a very low price via a popular price search engine. Very low price indeed.
http://www.dslreports.com/im/33817121/8240.png -
Has less range than my g adapter.
by jpk476 on July 22, 2007
Pros: It was packaged in a nice cardboard box.
Cons: Lousy reception and range and no speed.
Summary: I tried the Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook card with my Belkin N1 Wireless Router. It connected at the far end of the house with a very weak signal strength indicated ...
Summary: I tried the Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook card with my Belkin N1 Wireless Router. It connected at the far end of the house with a very weak signal strength indicated as low or no signal and it kept connecting and disconnecting from the network. When I placed it next to the router, it connected at 300 mbps with a good or very good signal strength. The weak reception at the far end of the house was unacceptable, because my notebook's built-in g adaptor always connects with a good or very good signal strength at the full 54 mbps from there. Also, Belkin's tech support is lousy. In two attempts via telephone to foreigners with difficult to understand thick accents, they checked the obvious and simple things, then disappeared for long times, and finally hung up on me. I guess that's their answer to a difficult problem. I returned the card, but I'm thinking of trying a Belkin N1 Express card which is supposed to have better range.
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Junk Junk Junk
by thebiggarbonzo on July 19, 2007
Pros: Was able to take it back
Cons: Purchased it
Summary: I have the Belkin N1 wireless router. But my wireless connection on my Toshiba satellite M55 kept dropping. I had already researched and done all the tweaking I could to ...
Summary: I have the Belkin N1 wireless router. But my wireless connection on my Toshiba satellite M55 kept dropping. I had already researched and done all the tweaking I could to get a stronger signal and still my connection was dropping. So I thought why not get a wireless card to speed things up and get a strong signal.
I thought by purchasing the same brand as the router that it would work well and be compatible. I was wrong.
I'm not 20 feet from my router and the signal is so weak that my page turns are at dial up speeds. I get 3 feet from my router and it works great. I get frustrated with this piece of junk turn it off and leave it alone for a while.
I come back and now it won't work. In fact my computer will not recognize the card any longer in the slot. After installing and uninstalling 10 times. I give up, uninstall it, and go back to using the computers original wireless connection.
This Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card is the biggest piece of trash!!!!
Where is the great connection from 200 yards? I can't get six feet away without crashing this piece of trash!
Belkin, what are you doing? Pay attention. You're putting out crap!!Updated
So I took this card back to bestbuy and got the N Wireless Notebook Card, thinking if this didn't work then I'd be really pissed!
I fiddled around with this card for about 2 hours. I got excellent signal strength, unlike the N1 card, but the router would not let me connect. So I knew I was close.
I got hard wired to the net then downloaded the firmware update for my router. Then updated it. Check your version on the bottom of the router, for your certain firmware,I have vers. 1xxx. I then downloaded the the most recent n card software from the belkin site and installed it.
After doing this my wireless card worked. Not only worked but is now blazingly fast!!! I used to have a inconsistent signal from my built in wireless connection from my laptop that ranged from 54 but mostly 24 Mbps, and couldn't get page turns or emails sent out.
Now it's 270 consistent Mbps!!!!! It's too bad that Belkin is not user friendly!!
Leave it to the CNET faithful to figure it out!! -
Worst tech/customer support in the business
by phycycle on July 10, 2007
Pros: Fast, if it works
Cons: Worst tech support I've ever encountered
Summary: Better hope it works right out of the box because Belkin has the worst tech support and customer service that I've encountered in over 20 years of dealing with ...
Summary: Better hope it works right out of the box because Belkin has the worst tech support and customer service that I've encountered in over 20 years of dealing with computer companies.
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It's O.K. nothing spectacular
by sdw70 on November 19, 2006
Pros: Recieves strong signal
Cons: Over-priced!
Summary: Works well w/the Belkin n1 router....do not know if it's compatable w/ other brands of pre-n routers! Definately over-priced....would like to see it drop at least $...
Summary: Works well w/the Belkin n1 router....do not know if it's compatable w/ other brands of pre-n routers! Definately over-priced....would like to see it drop at least $20 in price. Easy installation!
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Hoping for a refund/exchange
by dakiwi on August 24, 2007
Pros: Comes in a pretty box...
Cons: cannot connect to secure network. Software contests with windows
Summary: I bought this card 2 days ago and I will be returning it ASAP. I have tried this card in 2 different laptops. On one I could not connect to ...
Summary: I bought this card 2 days ago and I will be returning it ASAP. I have tried this card in 2 different laptops. On one I could not connect to an unsecured, or a secure network. On the second laptop I connected to unsecure network, but with very low speed. My Linksys wireless-g is a lot faster. I had hours of problems trying to configure this card for a secure network using WPA encryption. Windows even said the card was not equipped to use this security protocol! The software Belkin supplied also conflicted with Win XP wireless software on one of the laptops.
I won't be buying Belkin again...0 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Belkin
- Part number: F5D8011
- Description: The Belkin N1 Wireless ExpressCard connects your notebook computer to your wireless network, through an ExpressCard slot on your notebook. With a Belkin N1 Wireless Router as the central connection point of your network, your computers can share your broadband Internet account. Powerful N1 networking lets you exchange documents, share resources, and distribute large video and music files on your network, at a link rate of up to 300Mbps.
General
- Device Type Network adapter
- Form Factor Plug-in module
- Networking Device Type Network adapter
- Interface (Bus) Type ExpressCard
- Form factor Plug-in module
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
Networking
- Data Link Protocol IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
- Connectivity Technology Wireless
- Data Transfer Rate 300 Mbps
- Networking type Network adapter
- Status Indicators Power, Link activity
- Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
- Features MIMO technology
- Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
- Compatible Slots 1 x ExpressCard
- Connections None
- Expansion Slot(s) Total (Free) None
Miscellaneous
- Microsoft Certifications Certified for Windows Vista
Power
- Power Device None
- Power Supply / Device None
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Limited lifetime warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Lifetime
Expansion / Port(s) Required
- Slot(s) Required 1 ExpressCard
- Port(s) / Connector(s) Required None
Warranty
- Service / Support Details Limited warranty Lifetime
Manufacturer info
- Belkin
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Belkin products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.belkin.com/
- Address:
501 West Walnut Street, Compton, CA 90220 - Phone: 1-800-223-5546
