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Greg S.

Greg S.

Joined on 10/15/04

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Product Reviews
product reviews
  • 5
Most Favorable Review

Everything you could want and more.

Linksys WRTSL54GS Wireless-G Media Storage Link Router with SpeedBooster IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.3, 802.3u, USB 1.0, USB 2.0
Linksys WRTSL54GS Wireless-G Media Storage Link Router with SpeedBooster IEEE 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.3, 802.3u, USB 1.0, USB 2.0

Pros: Works great out of the box. Good range, even with single antenna, 80+ feet through several walls, in rural area. (i.e. not many other 2.4Ghz devices running) Easily upgradeable to OpenWRT (Caution, voids warranty!) to add MANY more features

Cons: Cost. More than twice as much as others, just to get a USB port. Non-removable antenna. Can't upgrade it to a better one without soldering / voiding warranty.

Overall Review: Overall a nice unit. Does what it's supposed to do, and does it very well.

Most Critical Review

Not a clean amplifier

Winegard HDA-200 24dB Distribution Amplifier
Winegard HDA-200 24dB Distribution Amplifier

Pros: Compatible with Cable Modems (5-42 MHz Return Path) as advertised, and the +12dB return amp spec is spot on with what I was reading from my cable modem after installation.

Cons: This amp is noisier than I can believe! My SNR (Signal to Noise Ratio) dropped by over 4 dB when I put this in, even at the lowest power setting. At the lowest setting, it brought my power up by +6dBmV which got me to where I needed to be, but the added noise isn't worth it. +6dB signal with -4dB SNR is really bad! To see what the amp would do, I tested higher power levels and my SNR steadily dropped by almost 20dB at full power. FYI - Over amping is bad (because you amplify the noise as well), so I'm not surprised at the SNR dropping due to this overpowering. However, full power was well beyond what the amp was rated for I measured very close to a 40dB gain in signal, when the amp is only rated for 24dB. Something isn't right here.

Overall Review: I'm going to contact Winegard as I have to hope this is a defective unit. No amp should add that much noise at such a low setting. My 12 year old cheap amp from the "Shack" is cleaner than this! Also, the full power setting was way out of spec, so I'm hoping Winegard will take care of me with a new unit.

You get what you pay for!

SUPER TALENT EXTAI1SILG All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader
SUPER TALENT EXTAI1SILG All-in-one USB 2.0 Card Reader

Pros: Fast, cheap, works great out of the box with no drivers needed. Reads my Compact Flash perfectly.

Cons: Doesn't work with my 1GB IBM MicroDrive, even though it should since it supports CF. LED blinks constantly and never reads it.

Overall Review: You get what you pay for!

Good unit for the price!

JAHT WN-4054P 54Mbps Wireless Cardbus Adapter
JAHT WN-4054P 54Mbps Wireless Cardbus Adapter

Comments: Bought this a couple weeks ago, Works good in Windows2000 and Linux (card uses Ralink RT2500 chipset, but it's supported under the rt2400.sf.net project). Range is good (300+ ft) through the walls, and it doesn't suck the battery out of my notebook.

Nice media!

RiDATA 4.7GB 8X DVD+R 100 Packs Spindle Disc Model DRD+478-RDCB100
RiDATA 4.7GB 8X DVD+R 100 Packs Spindle Disc Model DRD+478-RDCB100

Comments: These show up as "RITEK R03" and burn at 12x on my BenQ 1620 with the latest firmware, just like cdrinfo.com said it would. Good media, good price. I've burned a dozen already, no coasters, no probs!

12/14/2004