U.S. Robotics USR5451 Wireless MAXg Access Point

Pros: This router replaced my malfunctioning Netgear router. Plug and play pretty much! Setup was easy about five minutes to set up my whole network with a wireless printer. Much faster than my old router. Does not need to be rebooted constantly like my old one did. Security is a VERY simple setup. Much further range than my old router. Router is upstairs and I still have an excellent connection at the other end of my house outside on the patio on the first floor.

Cons: case design not as sleek as some other brands, somewhat larger than I expected.

Overall Review: Great value for the price!

Pros: This Access Point worked great out of the box. The included software did not find the AP on the network, so I locate the IP address another way and accessed the AP from a web browser to configure it. It was a breeze from there. It went through/around some concrete walls that I didn't think it would penetrate. The signal even went up through coragated steel and then a concrete ceiling to the floor above to give good signal upstairs. It is impressive.

Cons: It would have been VERY nice for the included software to have recognized it and helped me to configure it.

Pros: It has a strong signal and works very well as an access point.

Cons: It's bridging mode is a bit difficult to set up and won't connect as a client to some other brands (e.g it would be visible from my wireless router and from my wii but would not see the router or try to connect to it). Early firmware versions require a DHCP server on the ethernet connection to get an ip address for setup.

Overall Review: Newest firmware version defaults to ip address 192.168.1.64 if it can't find a DHCP server, so this problem is being addressed. Unfortunately, I don't need it as an access point, I need it as a client bridge to my wireless router. As it isn't compatible with my router in this capacity, I had to RMA it (Newegg Rocks!) and ordered a different device instead.

Pros: Simple, straight forward setup. Pretty good range. Plays well with Vista

Cons: None so far.

Overall Review: Bought this after trying a less expensive Trendnet wireless AP. In all fairness to the Trendnet, it worked with all systems except the MS Flagship operating system, Vista (big surprise). There were still some words while setting up the encryption, but it was due to Vista's horrible network setup dialogs. Once setup, the link has been stable and running about as fast as the wired systems. Yeah, it cost more, but I didn't spend three nights learning about wireless networking and an hour plus with a russian service tech like I did with the Trendnet (and for nothing). This was purchased to provide wireless access (where I wanted it)to an otherwise wired network.

Pros: This Wireless AP is hella sweet. Within an hour I had it and 2 PC's setup with their corresponding wireless adapters working and networked to the rest of my LAN. Easy setup and documentation was great. Would recommend to any noobs trying to set up thier own WiFi

Cons: None.

Overall Review: Along with the US Robotics PC adapters this thing is awesome

Pros: Very simple installation, practically plug & play. Detailed descriptions of what needs to be explained are perfect for people who have a lack of understanding for these types of things. Range was excellent using normal 802.11g. I placed my unit next to a window and was able to get probably around 1000ft away from my house before I completely lost my connection (this is with a weak IBM thinkpad). The unit is small and light with a stylish design.

Cons: Setup and settings pages are almost too simple for an advanced user. Although this unit does have a fair amount of options for the advanced user, I feel USR could've added more settings or a power mode for very advanced users who want more out of their AP.

Overall Review: I don't have a MAXg compatible wireless card as of yet, so I am unable to judge USR's draft-n MAXg WIFI capabilities. Although I didn't use it (as there is no need to), the software included with this AP is perfect for someone who has a lack of understanding for these types of things, it even automatically scans for the AP on the network and connects to it, so you don't have to figure out which IP your AP leased from your router and type that into your web browser.

Pros: Great range, excellent throughput.

Cons: None so far. Okay, maybe one: why does an access point cost more than a router????!!!?

Overall Review: I bought this by mistake (thought it was a router at the time) and ended up putting it on the shelf for a few months. The other day one of my users decided he'd had enough and complained loudly about the throughput on his laptop. After replacing his 802.11g cardbus adapter to no avail, I pulled the USR WAP off the shelf and replaced the Dlink DI-524 I was using as an access point. What a difference! I noticed an immediate improvement in ping times to his laptop (it went from about 40ms average to 0ms average using PingPlotter), and he noticed that a spreadsheet that used to take up to 20 seconds to open now opens nearly instantaneously. I have two other DI-524s in use and my initial testing shows that they are suffering the same problems. Why do users wait until they're ready to strangle someone before they report a problem?

Comments: http://www.usr.com/home.asp The system call the wireless ap/bridge but the divice actually just only wireless ap. if you want bridge the model# is USR5432...I hope that newegg will change but it up to them....