Wireless-G Notebook Adapter
Manufacturer: Linksys Inc. Part number: WPC54G
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The WPC54G is a great value and a good way for families or businesses on a budget to add 802.11g to a laptop.
Read more
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CNET editors' review
Wireless-G Notebook Adapter price range: $39.99 - $56.05
- Reviewed by: Allen Fear
- Reviewed on: 06/18/2004
- Released on: 12/01/2002
The good: Supports WPA; easy to install.
The bad: Lacks instructions for using WPA security; no Mac or Linux drivers.
The bottom line: The WPC54G is a great value and a good way for families or businesses on a budget to add 802.11g to a laptop.
The Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter comes with a printed quick-installation guide that walks you through the setup for Windows PCs. (Unfortunately, this adapter doesn't support Macs.) The WPC54G setup is slightly differently for XP than for the other supported versions of Windows (98SE, Me, and 2000), because you'll need to use XP's native wireless configuration tool rather than Linksys's configuration utility. Both configuration tools are easy to use, but XP's native Zero Config utility has security advantages, which we'll discuss later. Regardless of the Windows OS you're running, setup is foolproof and entails little more than loading the accompanying CD and inserting the PC Card.
The WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter is Linksys's plain-Jane 802.11g adapter. It doesn't tout proprietary speed enhancements, such as Netgear's WG511T, or an external antenna connector, such as the Buffalo AirStation Adapter-G, but the WPC54G does cover the basics. It's Wi-Fi certified for both 802.11g and 802.11b, and it supports both the older WEP and the newer and stronger WPA encryption schemes. If you're using the WPC54G with Windows 98, Me, or 2000, you'll have to settle for WEP, though, since the Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter needs XP's Zero Config tool for WPA support.
In our informal tests using NetIQ's QCheck to measure throughput, the Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter clocked a speedy 24Mbps. You can get about twice the throughput with enhanced PC Card adapters, such as the Netgear WG511T, the D-Link DWL-G650, and the Linksys WPC54GS. These enhanced adapters also offer slightly better range in most environments, but the WPC54G will be adequate for most home networking scenarios or for connecting to public hot spots.
The Linksys WPC54G Wireless-G notebook adapter comes with a respectable three-year warranty that falls short of Belkin's lifetime policy but is on a par with the warranties of other networking vendors. You also get toll-free 24/7 support for the lifetime of the product. In addition, Linksys has one of the best online-support offerings in the business, with product-specific setup guidelines, FAQs, troubleshooting solutions, drivers, firmware, live chat with support staff, and a copious knowledge database that contains how-to information for the WPC54G's setup and configuration, as well as problem fixes for a collection of common networking issues.
User reviews
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OK product, but continuously loses signal even if the signal is very good
by p0nt1acG6 on April 27, 2005
Pros: works great...when connected, conects you to the internet wirelessly when really close to the router, easy set-up and installation
Cons: continuously loses signal even when signal strength is very good
Summary: The wireless internet card is easy to set-up and install and works well when it will actually connect to the router.
The card continuously loses connection, even when the signal ...Summary: The wireless internet card is easy to set-up and install and works well when it will actually connect to the router.
The card continuously loses connection, even when the signal strength says that it very good. must be very close to wireless router to keep connecton.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Worked great until I upgraded
by dpc2376 on April 10, 2005
Pros: Worked great in Windows 2000.
Cons: The power light would not even come on when I upgraded from Windows 2000 Professional to Windows XP Professional.
Summary: This was a good piece of equipment. But when I upgraded to Windows XP Professional the power light would not come on. I tried the easy troubleshooter through my wired ...
Summary: This was a good piece of equipment. But when I upgraded to Windows XP Professional the power light would not come on. I tried the easy troubleshooter through my wired network card and it said the drivers were only partly installed. But when it tried to install the drivers it did not work. I have tried uninstalling and reinstalling. Nothing works.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Never had a problem...good product!
by mhwchar on March 23, 2005
Pros: Has never failed in 1.5 years.
Cons: Linksys support does suck!
Summary: I use two of these cards in my five pc home network in a three-story house. I use the cards with a D-Link router, and they always work! Don't ...
Summary: I use two of these cards in my five pc home network in a three-story house. I use the cards with a D-Link router, and they always work! Don't know what else to say. The only reason I don't give it a 10 is due to Linksys poor customer support (regarding another product). So you know, D-Link provides great support.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Easy setup, works right out of the box
Pros: Easy as pie to set up. Great website support. An easy choice
Cons: None that I can see
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Returning for Refund
Pros: I bought and installed a WRT54G router that worked fine, so I thought I'd buy the sister card to go with it.
Cons: I never even got to install the card. Installing the software trashed the Windows 2000 installation on my IBM Thinkpad A22m. I received several errors while trying to install it, then after cancelling and trying to reboot, got a stop error. Couldn't ev
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Slightly above average
Pros: Setup seems to be easy. Performance had minor problem. When I start used it the morning. Unable to connect to internet. I had to reset router. It happens 3 times already. Sometime it had some conflict with win xp zero configuration. Most of the tim
Cons: Sometime unable connect to internet in the morning. Maybe router goes to sleep mode. Have to reset router. Sometime conflict with Win XP zero configuration.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Performance sucks
Pros: Supports WPA on W2K
Cons: Can't get clear signal within 50 feet across cardboard walls. Same setup w/ Belkin PCMCIA card worked great. This was with a Linksys WRT54G access point!
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Product
by Christian829 on November 19, 2008
Pros: Is a good wireless adapter. Not to hard to install.
Cons: Doesn't let you use Microsoft xp's built in wireless program. It uses a linksys alternative program. It is little more expensive than off brand alternative.
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DHCP vs PPPoE issue
by 123David1 on December 2, 2007
Pros: Works well ...with correct setup
Cons: Setup could be easier
Summary: Being new to networking, I bought this along with a WRT54G router. I had a few days of frustration before I contacted ATT (my DSL ISP) to figure this out. ...
Summary: Being new to networking, I bought this along with a WRT54G router. I had a few days of frustration before I contacted ATT (my DSL ISP) to figure this out. I spent a lot of time with Linksys online support (read more in my WRT54G review). If you've never attempted to use Linksys support, don't. If management at Linksys wants to do some "belt tightening", they can reel in their payroll expenses by starting with their support staff.
Once it is setup it works as it should (as I said, read my WRT54G review).
Keeping my fingers crossed... and my cat5's "uncrossed." -
It works well
by rkb33 on April 8, 2007
Pros: compact, has LED status lights, does not drop signal,
Cons: price, signal strength (probabley my house)
Summary: I got this and paid more than I could have for another brand but it was the same brand as my router so i figured it would be the easiest ...
Summary: I got this and paid more than I could have for another brand but it was the same brand as my router so i figured it would be the easiest to get set up. It does not have a great connection (might be my house) but it works. It was simple to set up and sync with my home network. It took about ten minutes. Works well, but that is not to say a cheaper brand would not work just as well, I just did not feel like having any problems, so I bought what I KNEW would work.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Linksys Inc.
- Part number: WPC54G
- Description: Wireless-G is the upcoming 54Mbps wireless networking standard that's almost five times faster than the widely deployed Wireless-B (802.11b) products found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the country - but since they share the same 2.4GHz radio band, Wireless-G devices can also work with existing 11Mbps Wireless-B equipment. The new Wireless-G Notebook Adapter from Linksys has both standards built in, so you can connect your notebook to existing 802.11b infrastructure, and also the new screaming fast Wireless-G networks. The included Setup Wizard will walk you through configuring the adapter to your network's settings, step by step. Then just slide it into your notebook's PC Card slot and enjoy network access with your notebook computer, while retaining true mobility. Once you're connected, you can keep in touch with your e-mail, access the Internet, and share files and other resources such as printers and network storage with other computers on the network, wherever you wander. At home, you can surf the web or use instant messaging to chat with friends while sitting out on the patio. You'll also be able to connect with any of the growing number of public wireless hotspots springing up in coffee shops, airport lounges, hotels and convention centers. And as those hotspots upgrade to the new high-speed Wireless-G standard, you'll be ready to take advantage of the increased speeds. Get connected to current-standard 802.11b networks today, and be prepared for the future with the Wireless-G Notebook Adapter from Linksys.
General
- Device Type Network adapter
- Form Factor Plug-in module
- Width 4.5 in
- Depth 3 in
- Height 0.2 in
- Networking Device Type Network adapter
- Weight 1.7 oz
- Interface (Bus) Type CardBus
- Form factor Plug-in module
Antenna
- Antenna Internal integrated
Networking
- Data Link Protocol IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
- Connectivity Technology Wireless
- Data Transfer Rate 54 Mbps
- Networking type Network adapter
- Status Indicators Power, Link activity
- Network / Transport Protocol TCP/IP
- Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
- Features DHCP support
- Compliant Standards IEEE 802.1x, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
- Line Coding Format CCK, OFDM, DBPSK, DQPSK
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
- Compatible Slots 1 x CardBus
- Connections None
- Expansion Slot(s) Total (Free) None
Miscellaneous
- Encryption Algorithm TKIP, 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP
- Compliant Standards CE
Power
- Power Device None
- Power Supply / Device None
Software / System Requirements
- Software Included Drivers & Utilities
- OS Required Microsoft Windows 2000 / XP, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition / Windows ME
- Min Processor Type 200 MHz
- Min Processor Type 200 MHz
- System Requirements Details - RAM 64 MB
- Peripheral / Interface Devices CD-ROM
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 3 years warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 3 years, Technical support - Phone consulting
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 131 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 5 - 95%
Expansion / Port(s) Required
- Slot(s) Required 1 CardBus
- Port(s) / Connector(s) Required None
Warranty
- Service / Support Details Limited warranty 3 years, Technical support Phone consulting
Manufacturer info
- Linksys Inc.
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Linksys Inc. products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.linksys.com/
- Address:
17401 Armstrong Ave.
Irvine CA 92614 - Phone: 949-261-1288
- Email: support@linksys.com
- Fax: 949-823-3002
