Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $99.99 -- our price: Too Low To Display
(price subject to change: see help)
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

When you connect your cable or DSL modem to the Netgear MR814 wireless router, you'llenjoy wired or wireless Internet access for all your computers, and you'll be assuredof protected communications on your home or small office network. This three-in-onerouter, switch, and wireless access point allows you to share your Internetconnection, files, and printers with other computers on the network.

You'll be surfingthe Web in minutes with Install Assistant to guide you through each stepand onscreen help that's there when you need it. The unique Smart Setupwizard automatically detects your ISP connection type, savingyou time and effort. Lighted, front-panel icons display status at a glance.The router works with PCs, Macs, and virtually all Ethernet devices. A sophisticated network address translation (NAT) firewall protects againstInternet hackers, while a virtual private network (VPN) pass-through allowsusers secure access to corporate networks. Powerful encryption (40-, 64-,or 128-bit) protects against eavesdroppers, and address authenticationrestricts connections to specific wireless adapters--only those you approveare allowed to use your network. E-mails notify you of Internet activity,and content logging and filtering limit access to inappropriate Web sites. Roam your home and office with the freedom of a Wi-Fi notebook computer.Distribute MP3s, digital movies, and photos with ultrafast, wired LANports capable of speeds of 200 Mbps. Preprogrammed port-forwarding setupssimplify playing multiplayer games and hosting Internet services. Sharea single broadband connection with up to 253 users to give everyone simultaneousaccess to the Internet. The Netgear wireless router provides a powerful2 dBi detachable antenna for longer wireless range, and delivers doublethe memory and a 50-percent-faster CPU than many popular routers. The Netgear MR814 comes with a three-year warranty.

See a detailed diagramof how to integrate the Netgear MR814 into your home network.

... Read more

Features

• Compatible with Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, Mac OS, NetWare, UNIX, and Linux
• Connect to a cable/DSL modem and get wired or wireless Internet access for all your computers
• Compatible with most 802.11b wireless networking devices
• Firewall, 128-bit Encryption, Parental controls
• Smart Wizard automatically detects ISP type, Port Range Forwarding, Exposed Host (DMZ), URL Content Filtering, E-mail Alerts, and Wireless MAC Address Authentication

Reviews (694)

total junk
I have a masters degree in telecommunications and have worked in networking for over 10 years. I tried this device in two similarly configured DSL networks and had the same problems with both.

Not wanting to believe that I completely wasted my money on this POS I have spent many hours trying to get it to work. At first the problems were just intermittent -- the wireless would work for 5 or 10 minutes and then stop forwarding packets. The wireline wouldn't work for even that long. I found a known issue on the web site with Centrino-based wireless cards that seemed relevant. (But, jeez!!, what kind of morons make a device that doesn't work with Centrino out of the box?!?!?) So, I upgraded the firmware per all the instructions on the web site.

The upgrade was smooth, but after the upgrade the thing was pretty much useless. The alleged "SmartWizard" could not detect my network type and could not be avoided. My DSL modem has a built-in DHCP server and router as well as handling all the PPP stuff. So, all I needed the Netgear box to do was essentially be a switch -- there was no way to turn off the routing.

Anyway, I should have been able to use it as a router, but when I manually configured the box to use DHCP it just plain didn't work. I set up a hub between the switch and the DSL router so that I could sniff the traffic. I could see the DISCOVER from the Netgear box and the OFFER come right back from the DSL modem. For whatever reason it did not like the offer and would not pick up an IP address.

Anyway, I could have probably spent more time dumbing down my DSL modem and handing over the routing and PPP stuff to this box, but it should have worked period -- there really isn't a simpler network than the one I was trying to get it to work in.

I did try manually configuring a static IP on the switch. If I remember right it would forward packets from wireless clients, but not responses. Again, I sniffed it and I could see my DNS requests leaving and the responses coming back, but they were not getting forwarded over the wireless network to the client who requested them.

I've had really good luck with a lot of Netgear products and I hesitate to say that this is the last one that I'll ever buy, but I think I'd need a pretty good reason at this point. I'd probably spend more time trying to get this work (despite the fact that I've already wasted 4 - 6 hours on it), but I was toying with upgrading to 802.11g anyway so, forget it, I'm just going to take a hammer to this brick. I don't even want to give it away and trouble anyone else with this junk.

simple, good features, perfect for home use
I have used the router for several months now and I haven't had a problem with it. It's simple to set up, fairly powerful, and for the price it's great.I have no problem with the range, I sat my laptop at the other end of my apartment, and left it pinging the router for about 20 minutes, through a few walls, and the packet loss was about 1.2%, more than acceptable.I'm not sure why other people are seeing so many problems; maybe they need to make sure the position the aerial properly?

Good for about 6 months
I bought this router last year and it was working fine. But for the last 3 weeks the router is a piece of crap. It connects to the internet through the LAN, but when it comes to wireless it is as slow as a modem. And that too it works for only 15 minutes and then drops the connection. I have spent at least 6 hours on the phone with Netgear support and they are not helpful. They kepp telling me the same thing over and over again. I have told them that it works for only 15-20 minutes and that too at a modem speed. When they send you a replacement, it is a refurbished one which someone else had sent in to Netgear with problems and obviously that has problems too. ... Read more

Asin: B00006HYKM

Netgear MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $59.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

Netgear's 802.11b wireless PC Card allows you to connect to your localarea network without any wires. Whether you're setting up a new office orextending your existing workplace, it lets you quickly network yourwork force--including employees in remote locations in your building--withoutthe time or expense of Ethernet cabling. With an operating range of 175 to 500feet indoors and 835 to 1,650 feet outdoors, the MA401 enables roamingthroughout your office from one access point to another to send and receivee-mail and share other network resources, such as files and printers, at ahigh-speed 11 Mbps data rate. Standards-based 802.11b technology and 128-bitwired equivalent privacy (WEP) encryption ensure maximum reliability and privacyfor your network.

The MA401 performs with a wide range of wireless Internet services available inairports and hotels, and supports PCs running Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000and most notebook PCs. Netgear provides a five-year limited warranty on theMA401 802.11b wireless PC Card. ... Read more

Features

• Wireless connectivity for notebook PCs
• High-speed 11 Mbps data rate
• Operating range up to 500 feet indoors and 1,650 feet outdoors
• Supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000
• 5-year limited warranty

Reviews (155)

forget about the rebate amount
product works great. but i never recieved the rebate amount. Whatever product you will buy from Netgear, you will never get the rebate amount.

Worked better than internal 54g card
This card works great and I haven't had any problems with it in spite of abusing it.However, the price seems a little high.You can buy newer models and even 802.11g cards for less.

I have used this card on 2 laptops.I used it on a work laptop that I used for travel, and then gave it to my daughter for her laptop, which she abuses.There is even a dent in the metal case.I was worried because about a quarter of the card sticks out from the laptop (for the antenna).

It came right up on both my computers, and I don't think I even needed to use the installation disc (maybe I did, I can't remember, but if I did, it was so easy that I forgot about it).Both my laptops have Windows XP.

The signal is very good.It is much better than the factory installed card that came with a Compaq computer.It is about the same as the internal card I have on an IBM laptop.

Note that with a router and this card, I am not able to get a good connection everywhere in my house.I blame that on the router and not the card.There are only so many walls 802.11 technology can penetrate.To get wireless connection to a remote bedroom, I bought a Buffalo router and repeater kit.It works great, when it works (the router had to be sent back to be fixed.)

Note that I have researched wireless networking systems, and they don't seem to be very reliable, especially wireless routers.I had both a Netgear and Buffalo wireless routers where the radio portion went out.These cards are probably more reliable.

If all you need this for is the internet, 802.11b is sufficient, because DSL or cable modems are not any faster.If you want to send video data between computers then you should go with 802.11g.

Great for OTHER operating systems and older laptops
The Netgear MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card is great for Windows 95, NT, Linux and Macintosh operating systems. The reason is that there are no other wireless cards that I know of that have DRIVERS for the wireless card to operate with the other operating systems. Newer Netgear products will not work.

The MA401 has a 16 bit PCMCIA interface is great for some older laptops that will not support a newer 32 bit cardbus interface.

This is in addition to the fact the MA401 is built well and has very good signal strenght. ... Read more

Asin: B00005B8HO

Netgear MA101 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter
Average Customer Review:
Electronics
list price: $69.99
US | Canada | United Kingdom | Germany | France

Editorial Review

With Netgear's MA101 802.11b wireless USB adapter, you can easily network all of your employees at 11 Mbps speed without installing any new wires. Because the MA101 is USB-powered, there is no need to open the case of the PC. Set up a new wireless network or extend your existing workplace to remote sites in your building in no time, and escape the hassles and expense of Ethernet cabling. Your work force can immediately use your wireless network to access e-mail, file servers, printers, and cable/DSL Internet access.

Standards-based 802.11b technology plus Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption provide your wireless network with the highest level of reliability and privacy. The MA101 is equipped with automatic speed adjustment to extend the communication range for longer distances from other 802.11b PC nodes or 802.11b access points. Designed for PCs running Windows 98, Me, and 2000, the MA101 performs with the vast majority of PCs, supports plug-and-play installation, and includes a five-year limited warranty. ... Read more

Features

• 11 Mbps wireless desktop PC networking
• Reliable, 802.11b standards-based networking
• USB Powered--no need to open your computer
• WEP encryption to ensure privacy
• Supports Win 98, Me, 2000

Reviews (57)

Works great in spite of abuse
This unit set right up on my daughters desktop computer.It wasn't quite plug and play, as I did have to load the driver from the disc that came with the unit.But, it didn't have any issues with loading.

It was worked fine for the most part, in spite of my daughter throwing it across the room.She also kicks it around and steps on it.The little plastic that goes around the antenna has popped off, but we were able to pop it back on.

We did have a couple of occasions where it did cease to work.I am not sure what happened.My daughter's computer was a mess due to viruses and spyware from all the sites she visited.To get it working again, we just had to plug it into a different USB port on the computer.

Poor Reliability
Easy to set up and worked great except two different routers failed within the first 8 hours of use.The outsourced tech support (email and voice) was marginally acceptable with garbled email due to different ascii character sets.

Be sure of vendors return policie before you buy.

Simply the best!!!
I must confess that this is one of the equipment I ever had without hassel in configuring it.It works straight right out of the box.It still keeps me connected.It's surely the best!!! I will highly recommend it... Signal strength is great!!! ... Read more

Asin: B00005NWVJ