Customer Reviews

ZyXEL AG225H 802.11a/b/g/n Wifi Finder, 802.11g USB 2.0 Adapter, and Soft Access Point

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Alert: there's a twenty-dollar rebate if you buy this from J&R via Amazon before 12/31/2005.

The ZyXEL AG-225H 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi Finder & USB Adapter (the official name) is a three-in-one device that packs some useful features for the wireless road warrior: it sniffs out access points (APs), it works as a USB wi-fi adapter, and it can turn an Internet-connected Windows PC into an access point!

The package comes with the ZyXEL AG-225H adapter, a Quick Start Guide that describes the finder and wi-fi adapter functions, a software installation CD-ROM for Windows, a USB extension cable, and a wrist strap.

Physically, the adapter is slightly larger than a pack of chewing gum. Its USB connector hides behind a cap. Inserting and removing the cap is a breeze, yet there is enough friction to keep the cap secure. In fact, this has the best balance of friction and ease of insertion/removal I've laid my fingers on; it actually feels good to put on and take off the cap! Unfortunately, the cap is small and, when taken off, can be misplaced very easily.

The ZyXEL has a small b&w LCD screen that shows hotspot info in the finder mode. When connected to a PC, it shows the status of the built-in LiIon rechargeable battery: charging, or full. Under the LCD screen are two blue LED indicators, one for power and the other for wi-fi access indication.

There are two buttons at the top: one for controlling the seek mode (see below) and the other allowing you to scroll through the list of APs. It took me a while to remember not to use the Seek button as "previous," as there is no previous button. You just keep pressing the Next button to cycle through the list of APs. There's a Power switch at the bottom. This power switch controls the finder mode; when connected to a PC, it has no function.

Ok, now let's look at the three operational modes in detail.

As a wi-fi finder, the ZyXEL allows you to identify nearby (and useable) wi-fi APs without having to turn on your laptop. The packaging says a scan takes only 6-7 seconds. Unfortunately that's false advertising. In my many repeated trials, it always takes at least 20 seconds, or as much as 30 to 35 seconds, for the finder to locate all the APs nearby. (The ZyXEL has a small built-in LiIon rechargeable battery which recharges whenever the adapter is inserted into a PC's USB port.)

Once it displays the list of APs -- it can display up to 15 APs, sorted by signal strength (how useful!) -- the finder displays on the small LCD screen each AP's SSID, signal strength, security, type (802.11a, b or g), and channel. (Battery status of the adapter is also displayed.) Unfortunately, it does not refresh each AP's status automatically. You'll have to re-scan, by pressing the Seek button, to get up-to-date information on the APs.

In addition to the basic AP finding mode, you can tell the ZyXEL to only show open APs, i.e., those without security. Note that an open AP doesn't necessarily mean it gives you free Internet access, as the host might have an account validation feature (e.g., many hotel APs). You can also tell the finder to lock on to a particular AP so you can "track" it.

As a wi-fi adapter, the ZyXEL goes into a PC's USB port and allows you to surf the Internet wirelessly. Before you insert the ZyXEL for the first time, be sure to install the driver software first. Otherwise, Windows will not be able to recognize the adapter. The installation is very easy and straightforward. In addition to the driver (which includes a Windows service and a WinSock layer), you also get the ZyXEL wi-fi set-up utility. Note that this utility *only* works with the ZyXEL adapter.

The ZyXEL utility displays a windows of useful information about your wi-fi connection, including a nice-looking signal strength bar. If all you want to do is connect to the nearest open AP, the utility does the job. But if you want to set up a particular SSID to access or security, good luck: the utility's interface is not too user-friendly. It's probably not going to be hard for you to figure things out (hint: go to the Profile section to set things up), but it's not very intuitive, esp. for non-expert computer users.

At least, the adapter features excellent performance: it's very good at pulling in signal and maintaining steady, usable reception from the AP. It simply works very well. Its lightweight means it won't add much weight to your laptop.

Finally, you can also use the ZyXEL hardware and software to turn your Internet-connected PC into an AP. Here your host PC is already connected to the Internet via Ethernet -- could be LAN, DSL, cable modem, dial-up, etc. -- and the ZyXEL can work in "access point mode." But you'll also need to set up Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in order for this to work. This involves some work. Please see my 12/5/05 blog entry for details on ICS setup. Once properly set up, the ZyXEL turns into a powerful AP.

The documentation that came with the ZyXEL, both printed and electronic, is poor-quality, esp. the electronic user's guide, which misses important information about using the adapter as an AP. (That's why I created a blog entry to detail the steps needed.) E-mail support is fast; they e-mailed me back two hours after my initial inquiry, although the response had poor grammar and wasn't particularly helpful.

In summary, if you are a wi-fi geek or a road warrior who wants to maximize wi-fi on your laptop, the ZyXEL AG-225H is quite a useful gizmo for finding nearby APs, quickly identifying open APs, and even turning a friend's PC or a hotel PC into an AP (assuming you can install the ZyXEL utility on that PC and have administrator right, too). I also like the ZyXEL's excellent performance as a wi-fi adapter.

Alert: there's a twenty-dollar rebate if you buy this from J&R via Amazon before 12/31/2005.

The ZyXEL AG-225H 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi Finder & USB Adapter (the official name) is a three-in-one device that packs some useful features for the wireless road warrior: it sniffs out access points (APs), it works as a USB wi-fi adapter, and it can turn an Internet-connected Windows PC into an access point!

The package comes with the ZyXEL AG-225H adapter, a Quick Start Guide that describes the finder and wi-fi adapter functions, a software installation CD-ROM for Windows, a USB extension cable, and a wrist strap.

Physically, the adapter is slightly larger than a pack of chewing gum. Its USB connector hides behind a cap. Inserting and removing the cap is a breeze, yet there is enough friction to keep the cap secure. In fact, this has the best balance of friction and ease of insertion/removal I've laid my fingers on; it actually feels good to put on and take off the cap! Unfortunately, the cap is small and, when taken off, can be misplaced very easily.

The ZyXEL has a small b&w LCD screen that shows hotspot info in the finder mode. When connected to a PC, it shows the status of the built-in LiIon rechargeable battery: charging, or full. Under the LCD screen are two blue LED indicators, one for power and the other for wi-fi access indication.

There are two buttons at the top: one for controlling the seek mode (see below) and the other allowing you to scroll through the list of APs. It took me a while to remember not to use the Seek button as "previous," as there is no previous button. You just keep pressing the Next button to cycle through the list of APs. There's a Power switch at the bottom. This power switch controls the finder mode; when connected to a PC, it has no function.

Ok, now let's look at the three operational modes in detail.

As a wi-fi finder, the ZyXEL allows you to identify nearby (and useable) wi-fi APs without having to turn on your laptop. The packaging says a scan takes only 6-7 seconds. Unfortunately that's false advertising. In my many repeated trials, it always takes at least 20 seconds, or as much as 30 to 35 seconds, for the finder to locate all the APs nearby. (The ZyXEL has a small built-in LiIon rechargeable battery which recharges whenever the adapter is inserted into a PC's USB port.)

Once it displays the list of APs -- it can display up to 15 APs, sorted by signal strength (how useful!) -- the finder displays on the small LCD screen each AP's SSID, signal strength, security, type (802.11a, b or g), and channel. (Battery status of the adapter is also displayed.) Unfortunately, it does not refresh each AP's status automatically. You'll have to re-scan, by pressing the Seek button, to get up-to-date information on the APs.

In addition to the basic AP finding mode, you can tell the ZyXEL to only show open APs, i.e., those without security. Note that an open AP doesn't necessarily mean it gives you free Internet access, as the host might have an account validation feature (e.g., many hotel APs). You can also tell the finder to lock on to a particular AP so you can "track" it.

As a wi-fi adapter, the ZyXEL goes into a PC's USB port and allows you to surf the Internet wirelessly. Before you insert the ZyXEL for the first time, be sure to install the driver software first. Otherwise, Windows will not be able to recognize the adapter. The installation is very easy and straightforward. In addition to the driver (which includes a Windows service and a WinSock layer), you also get the ZyXEL wi-fi set-up utility. Note that this utility *only* works with the ZyXEL adapter.

The ZyXEL utility displays a windows of useful information about your wi-fi connection, including a nice-looking signal strength bar. If all you want to do is connect to the nearest open AP, the utility does the job. But if you want to set up a particular SSID to access or security, good luck: the utility's interface is not too user-friendly. It's probably not going to be hard for you to figure things out (hint: go to the Profile section to set things up), but it's not very intuitive, esp. for non-expert computer users.

At least, the adapter features excellent performance: it's very good at pulling in signal and maintaining steady, usable reception from the AP. It simply works very well. Its lightweight means it won't add much weight to your laptop.

Finally, you can also use the ZyXEL hardware and software to turn your Internet-connected PC into an AP. Here your host PC is already connected to the Internet via Ethernet -- could be LAN, DSL, cable modem, dial-up, etc. -- and the ZyXEL can work in "access point mode." But you'll also need to set up Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in order for this to work. This involves some work. Please see my 12/5/05 blog entry for details on ICS setup. Once properly set up, the ZyXEL turns into a powerful AP.

The documentation that came with the ZyXEL, both printed and electronic, is poor-quality, esp. the electronic user's guide, which misses important information about using the adapter as an AP. (That's why I created a blog entry to detail the steps needed.) E-mail support is fast; they e-mailed me back two hours after my initial inquiry, although the response had poor grammar and wasn't particularly helpful.

In summary, if you are a wi-fi geek or a road warrior who wants to maximize wi-fi on your laptop, the ZyXEL AG-225H is quite a useful gizmo for finding nearby APs, quickly identifying open APs, and even turning a friend's PC or a hotel PC into an AP (assuming you can install the ZyXEL utility on that PC and have administrator right, too). I also like the ZyXEL's excellent performance as a wi-fi adapter.

I had been looking for a full-function WiFi finder and after reading a number of good reviews, bought it. It is also a USB 802.11g wireless adapter and an access point. I didn't actually need these features (although I might use them later), I was willing to pay extra to get a top-quality finder. I have not been disappointed in this product. I've traveled with it and it has performed as expected, locating all nearby hotspots, even better than my laptop can detect with it's build-in WiFi adapter. Highly recommended if you don't mind the price.

I've been using the ZyXel adapter for a few months now in a mixed PC and Mac environment. And while it is a good little adapter for these sorts of things, it does have shortcomings.

First the positives. I can't tell you how useful having a network finder can be when you're searching for a connection and have limited notebook battery life to burn. Or when you get suckered into setting up a network for a friend who lives in a brick building. The comprehensive information display is better than any I've seen before. It isn't quite realtime... a search takes 5 - 10 seconds in tedious reality, but it is certainly fast enough to speed things up overall.

The battery on this little thing charging Via USB is also very, very nice.

As an adapter the device is perfectly servicable. It is about as powerful as the internal cards you see in a lot of laptops these days. It does require extra software to run, and that software could be better written, but it works and doesn't seem to add too much to system instability. Unfortunately, don't expect to just plug it into a friend's computer and have it run. Under windows, it does everything it says it will, which makes it a powerful little device.

However, the OSX driver currently has some limitations (as of March, 2006). The two units that I purchased required updated firmware to run under OSX, but the updater only ran under Windows. Once updated, it turns out that WPA authentication, a security protocol used by many workplaces, is not supported yet on the mac. Fortunately, home networks can be stepped down to WEP without much loss in security, but business users may be SOL.

The other major flaw is a simple design one: the USB port is small and flakey, and designed to be used back-to-back. However, most Macs and a lot of ultralights put their USB ports side-to-side. Thus, the adapter consumes both available USB slots, and anything that might be to the other side as well. Plus with this several-inch dongle sticking out it just feels like it is going to break off at any second. I've already noticed a slight bend to the USB side of the adapter.

Overall, though, the Zyxel adapter has been a good piece of hardware, and I'm glad I picked it up. It does everything it is supposed to under Windows, and works serviceably well under OSX. It now travels everywhere my computer does, and it does a pretty good job of it.

ZyXEL seems to have ironed out some of the issues that were initially a problem (2005 blogs). The unit includes a USB connection cable to alleviate the "crowding problem" of other USB ports. Windows "Vista", along with "XP" & "2000" as well as "Mac OS X" (10.3 & above) are now supported.

This is important if you want to use the AP function:
The Software AP function is available only on computers running Windows 2000, XP - only - NOT Windows "Vista" or "Mac OS X". The unit functions fine for locating WiFi hot spots.

ZyXEL AG225H 802.11a/b/g/n Wifi Finder, 802.11g USB 2.0 Adapter, and Soft Access Point

Purchased this item about a month ago to replace my outdated Canary Wireless Wi-Fi finder which only detected 802.11b/g radios.

The ZyXel unit can detect all formats - 802.11a, b, g, and n. It will list the top 15 in order of power displaying the SSID, channel, band (a/b/g/n), and encryption type if any.

The display is a greenish-backlit LCD that it clear and easy to read. The unit contains a rechargeable battery that charges directly from any available USB port. Take approximately 2 hours to fully charge.

The unit also doubles as a 802.11b/g USB wireless dongle for any of your non-WiFi enabled computers.

The unit is built well, performs as advertised, and is relatively inexpensive. Highly recommended if you are looking for this type of device.

I was looking for a wireless device that I could take on travel that would allow my iPod Touch and my laptop to communicate. This seemed like it could be the thing. I found it to be too complex to try to configure - couldn't get it to allow communications between the iPod and the PC. I returned it and purchased the D-Link DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router for about the same price. It does exactly what I want - gives me a standalone wireless network on which the laptop and iPod can both reside.

The reason I went for the ZyXEL first was because I wanted something compact and light - space and weight are the enemy when you travel with only a carry-on. The D-Link looks bulky, with its case and AC adapter and cables. But it turns out all I have to carry is the little-bitty router and very short USB cable for its power. Weighs nothing, about the size of a chocolate-chip cookie.

Does everything it's supposed to do reliably.

I wish it was smaller and had a key chain loop. It's too big to carry around on a key chain. I'd gladly give up the wireless adapter feature for that.

There are other smaller WiFi detectors out there that can go on a key chain easily, but they don't provide the detailed info this unit does.

I purchased the ZyXel AG-225H specifically to set up a WiFi access point for my iPod. The software is straight forward requiring only basing network skills. You will need to play with your PC settings to allow internet sharing. I have not utilized the WiFi WAN location function except in passing but it has provided SSID of several local networks. The AG is about the size of a pack of gum and solidly built. My only gripe is the USB cap is separate and could be lost. The price is steep for my taste but I've been very satisfied with it's performance as a wireless access point.

product is one of the better i've seen on the market not only tells u if there is a signal around but also tells you if security is present.