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OVERVIEW
The compact design of the N300 Micro Wireless USB Adapter makes it easy to connect to your laptop or netbook and go. It's so small you can easily leave it connected to your computer.
Connect your computer to your modem or router without any cables. Simply insert the setup CD, run the software setup and plug the adapter into a USB port on your computer, and you’re ready to connect to the Internet from anywhere in your home.
Get wireless speeds ideal for surfing, emailing and instant messaging – up to 300Mbps.*
WEP and WPA/WPA2 security protocols and Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) let you configure and secure your connection.
Backward-compatible with 802.11g devices at 54Mbps and 802.11b products at 11Mbps, the N300 Micro Wireless USB Adapter can connect to older wireless networks and hotspots as well as newer 802.11n networks and wireless-N devices that offer increased range and speed.
FEATURES
*The standard transmission rates – 300Mbps, 54Mbps, and 11Mbps – are the physical data rates. Actual data throughput will be lower.
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform Compatibility | PC running Windows® XP (SP3 or greater), Windows Vista®, or Windows 7 |
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Max. Link Rate | Up to 300Mbps |
LED | N/A |
Radio Frequency Band | 2.4GHz |
Encryption Type(s) Supported | Wi-Fi Protected Setup™ (WPS) WPA®, WPA2® 64-bit, 128-bit WEP Encryption |
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
Pros: Inexpensive, fast, small, easy. It came, I opened it, I put in the enclosed CD and let it chew, it restarted my computer, I plugged it in, disabled the card that I had (story to follow), entered the password for my router/firewall and POOF! I was connected. The router is about 25 feet away with a wall in between and I'm getting speeds up to 2 MB/s. And that isn't to say it topped out, that's just what I happened to be getting.
Cons: The only thing I can think of is that the instructions for installation consist of pictures and arrows, with no verbose instructions. Be sure to have the number of your Know-It-All nephew Ralston(tm) handy just in case you're doing something similar to what I did.
Overall Review: I upgraded my computer with all-new parts, except for the wireless NIC. Should've spent that last $30 because it must have gotten ker-zapped too, because the connection to the wireless router was spotty. The connection used to be just fine but now it was like computing from a Faraday cage. My wife finally demanded that I move my computer from the living room floor, where I could get a good signal, back to the bedroom. So now I *HAVE* to do something about this lack of connection. I didn't want to open my case, so I got a USB adapter instead. I'm glad I did, too, because it upgraded me to the N standard.