Cisco-Linksys WGA11B Wireless-B Game Adapter

by Cisco

Product Details

Product Manual [347kb PDF]

• Item Weight: 3.5 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000AJVBW
• Item model number: WGA11B
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (187 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,677 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 8, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Early Adopters Pick: July 2003. The first wireless networking adapter made solely for console gamers.

The Wireless-B Game Adapter gives any wired-Ethernet-equipped game console wireless connection capabilities. The Game Adapter can be used in two different ways. If you have an existing home wireless network with a cable or DSL Internet connection, the Game Adapter lets your PlayStation2, Xbox or GameCube attach to the network so you can get into online games without running wires to the game room. Or, use a pair of Game Adapters to form a "cable-less cable" between two game consoles for head-to-head gaming--in the same room, or all the way across the house.

It's completely driver-free, so there's no software-installation hassle, and it works on any platform. And the innovative Channel Selector Button with LED display makes wireless network configuration into child's play. If you're using two Game Adapters, just press their Channel Selector Buttons until the channel numbers match, and you're connected. To connect to an existing wireless network, press the Button to select Infrastructure mode. If your setup's a little different, there's an easy-to-use PC-based Setup Wizard to guide you through. Then just plug the Adapter into your game box, and go.

The Wireless-B Gaming Adapter provides lag-free gaming with communication speeds up to 11 Mbps. So spend your time gaming, not stringing wires, with the Linksys Wireless-B Gaming Adapter.

See a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies.

Wireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere -- without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. What Wireless Standard is Right for Me? Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. Basically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: 802.11b 802.11a 802.11g 802.11a/g To learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart.

Product Description

The LINKSYS WGA11B Wireless-B Game Adapter gives any wired Ethernet equipped game console wireless connection capability. If you have an existing home wireless network with a cable or DSL Internet connection, the Game Adapter lets your PlayStation, XBOX, or GameCube attach to the network so you can get into online games without running wires to the game room. Or, you can use a pair of Game Adapters to form a "cable-less cable" between two game consoles for head-to-head gaming -- in the same room, or all the way across the house!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

124 of 137 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you use Xbox or PS2 - this is THE adapter, January 2, 2004

By 

Bryan (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WGA11B Wireless-B Game Adapter (Personal Computers)

Okay, first of all I'm hot on linksys (see my other reviews). I used to do network stuff for a living - don't anymore, but I have always been impressed with Linksys (compared to Netgear, DLink and Microsoft) for the consumer market. Their stuff is by and large (prosumer) - it has some good pro features without having to be a rocket scientist to configure the thing. Now that Cisco owns them - it's even a better deal as Cisco has been putting some nice features into all of linksys's products. While the tech support guys at linksys all need an attitude adjustment (they are a surley bunch) - the products often don't require tech support... so I suppose it is a good-news, bad-news, kind of thing...

But this sucker was PLUG AND PLAY for all intensive purposes. There are a few things, however, I think people should know in order to set this up:

a) You probably want to turn off all WEP and MAC filters. You can turn them back on once you get the sucker id'ed on the network and talking... but for now, leave it off.
b) You probably want to turn ON your SSID (again, makes it easier for the thing to install out of the box.)
c) You probably want to know what your broadcast frequency is on your WAP. If you are using a linksys WAP it is found on the admin screen regarding security. You need to look for the broadcast ID channel (default is six). That is the channel you want to tune the WGA11B. However, what I really recommend that people do is avoid "ad hoc" mode entirely and set the WGA to In mode (looks kind of like 1n on the WGA display) - this is infrastructure mode. Infrastructure mode is what you want to use if you are using a broadcasting router/switch/bridge access point (like the linksys Wireless-B, G, WAP11, etc.)
d) Make sure you know what type of cable you are using to connect it. The cable that comes with the broadcast bridge unit (the WGA) is actually a CROSSOVER cable. This was a bit surprising to me (not that they are hard to make, just, you rarely ever get one from someone - you always wind up making them). You'll know you have the switch in the right position when the WAN light (the little symbol that looks like a circle with two lines in it) lights up GREEN.
e) If you are not already, I'd set up DHCP for the moment. The bridge is default configured to try and connect via DHCP. If you don't have DHCP configured, I don't know what it is going to try to do default IP static (probably 192.176.1.1 if it is like other linksys products). Save yourself the headache and do DHCP.

Okay - otherwise, this sucker is easy as pie to set up. Plug it in to your LAN adapter (I have PS2 so it is a little box on the back of the game thing - don't know about Xbox). Then plug the cord into the WGA. Turn the WGA on and set it to the channel of your WAP. It should start talking IMMEDIATELY. If not - you have done something wrong.

The CD for the PC is interesting. Like most linksys products - it looks nice and is full featured. You won't need the CD for configuring the WGA unless you plan on using WEP.

The infrastucture mode is really fast. I must say that I play online alot.... and this connection point on PS2 shows virtually no lag. I don't know what Sony did via their gaming networks - but this sucker runs QUICK. Like I said, virtually no lag.

The real bummer is that about 99% of the games out there are not multiplayer yet. The ones that are, however, are really fun to play. I play MOH:RS, Desert II, and a few others online. The games are quick paced. To really take advantage of it, however, you might want to go "full bore" and invest in a USB headphone/mic set so you can "talk to people". Also, the USB keyboard might be a nice feature too... although I don't have that...

I've seen quite a few game adapters out there (do a search on Amazon - you will see). This is the best one I've seen for the money.

One last thing - I'd forget "Wireless G" adapaters. Again, unless your connection is like a T3 line straight to the house (which 99% of most people do not have) - you're only as fast as your smallest connection - which is likely to be the ADSL/Cable router connection. Comcast is 3MB - which I NEVER get (even burst inside Comcast's net). So B is MORE than enough bandwidth. I heard some guy at Best Buy trying to talk up a Wireless-G adapter saying he would get "better performance" - and while that is true.. it's like putting brand new wheels on a car with an underpowered engine... yeah, it will look better... but it won't go faster.

See you out there...

47 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works, but you need a PC to configure it, August 29, 2005

By 

M. M Magliaro "maxvideo" (Philipsburg, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

= Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars 

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WGA11B Wireless-B Game Adapter (Personal Computers)

This device works just fine with our XBox. There's no lag when playing on-line XBox-Live games. It's less than half the cost of the Microsoft "official" Xbox gaming adapter.

Incidentally, these gaming adapters and generic "wireless adapters" are exactly the same thing. They bridge a wired device into your wireless network.

This is only an 802.11b, not g, device, but that is NOT a negative. Don't spend the extra money on "g" ANYTHING. b gives you 11 Mbit/sec, and if you're really lucky these days, your DSL or cable modem internet connection will get you 2 Mbit/sec. So why pay extra money for g? Even if you are far from your wireless access point, and the speed drops to only 2 Mbit/sec, you'll never use that through the internet. Your Xbox will never come anywhere near saturating an 802.11b link. I've sniffed the packet traffic, and it doesn't even break 120Kbps at its worst.

But here are some tips for configuring this device.

1. If you don't use WEP, and have your wireless access point is set to broadcast its SSID, this thing will probably plug right in and work with no setup. I can't vouch for this, because I don't set my network up that way (and I think that anybody who doesn't use WEP encryption is a fool).

2. Assuming you do use WEP encryption, the easiest way to set this device up is to plug it directly into a PC. Yes, connect the box to your PC with an Ethernet cable. Forget the internet for a minute, just hook the two together. Make sure to set your PC to have a fixed ip in the 192.168.1.x range, set the subnet mask to 255.255.255.0. Then run the setup wizard on the CD that comes with this device. Enter your WEP key, enter your SSID, and your access point channel, and you're all set. These settings will be saved as "profile 1". Now, hit the button on the side of the gaming adapter until the display reads "P1".

The big knock I have against this device is that you can't just hit it with a web browser and set it up like you can with any wireless router or access point. So if you don't have a Windows PC, you are out of luck. I have all Macintoshes at home, so I had to scare up a PC just to configure this device, which is really REALLY lame.

Most people don't understand WEP, wireless channels, SSIDs, or ip addresses. So Microsoft makes a mint selling their box for $100. But if you take a little time to learn, you CAN set up this box and save a lot of money.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best thing Ever!, August 23, 2003

By 

Eric D Lorenz (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WGA11B Wireless-B Game Adapter (Personal Computers)

I was a litte doubtful on how easy this would be to use. But I had it configured and playing online with my X-box in under 5 mins. I use WEP in 128 bit, and also use MAC filtering on my access point. I simplyed hooked the unit up to my laptop and configured the WEP setting with the easy to understand config wizard. Unit supports three different profiles so you can setup the config for different networks, and simply chose which profile you want to use with a push of a button. Great feature if you move your unit in bewteen secure wireless networks.

Most people could have this ready to go in about a minute, since they don't use WEP or Mac filtering. Already have plans to get one to go with the Replay TV Box. No more cable clutter around my home. Also easy to connect multiple game consoles togther without the need of an access point. Simply chose the saem channel on each unit, and they each game console will see each other. Some concerns over wired connections, since ethernet can support 100mb and the wireless only supports 11mbs. Any game setup for on-line play should have no issues, since most high speed internet tops at 1.5mbs and below.

Great product, just wondering what took them so long to make it