Cisco-Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster

by Cisco

Product Details

Supplementary Guide [628kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000085BD7
• Item model number: WSB24
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: December 30, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Linksys wireless signal booster piggybacks onto your Linksys wireless access point (or wireless access point router) to increase the effective range and coverage area of your 802.11b network. The added signal strength also helps speed up your close-range communications, because every packet comes through "loud and clear," reducing retransmissions that are due to reception errors.

To install, just stack the Linksys wireless signal booster on your access point, move the antennas to the booster, and attach the booster's twin cables to the access point--no drivers or modifications to your setup are necessary.

The Linksys wireless signal booster saves wiring costs and helps build corporate wireless infrastructure by driving signals even into those distant, reflective corners and hard-to-reach areas. And it's perfect for covering large areas in warehouse environments, public spaces, wireless hot spots, and outdoor venues--anywhere you need extra coverage for your wireless LAN.

NOTE: The wireless signal booster is certified by the FCC for use only with the Linksys wireless access point, model number WAP11 and the Linksys wireless access point router, model number BEFW11S4.

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 the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer. Which 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 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

Get Connected to the Internet and each other. Surf, store, stream and share. A Linksys by Cisco device is an essential part of your home network.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

74 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A no-brainer purchase and install, January 19, 2003

By 

G. R. Parker - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster (Personal Computers)

The reality of WiFi is that just about everyone I know is not getting as solid a signal as they'd like. I've been frustrated by dead spots in the house, and I'm sure we've all done strange "rain dances" with our notebooks, cables, antennas, etc. to try to improve the signal.

However, my WiFi network did not seem as zippy as my Ethernet when using our cable modem, even though the bandwidth of both networks dwarfs the cable modem. Well, instantly after installing the booster, I got noticeably better response in a room where the signal used to be so weak that Linksys' own utility would show no signal strength (even though I could surf from there).

The WSB24 is trivial to install (180 seconds and that was because I didn't know you had to push the cable onto the connector pretty firmly). If you were a LinkSys pioneer and bought the early access points, you owe it to yourself to upgrade with this booster.

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple - easy - effective, January 16, 2003

By 

firewallbill "firewallbill" (Midland, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster (Personal Computers)

This product could not be easier to install. No CD to spin. No complex manuals - just a power "brick", 2 cables, and the booster. Linksys has a nice package if you need a little more signal.
I did a preliminary survey using my notebook computer with an Orinoco Silver card and Toshiba e740. The notebook usually runs about 3-5db higher gain for any given distance from the router than the PDA, which is normal given the available power to the 802.11b chip and antenna size.
After installing the WSB24 booster, I noted a 5-9db gain throughout the house and down the street on both the notebook and PDA. My goal was to get a solid signal "footprint" covering my entire house, yard, garage. The WSB24 achieved this admirably. I believe Linksys claims a 10-15db gain, but I noted approximately half that. Given that almost all the advertising for WiFi seems to double or treble the true available distance, this doesn't alarm or bother me. At distances and locations where I previously got 1 or 5 mb connection I now have a solid 11mb.
The bottom line: 5 minute install, no problems, definite gain in signal strength, reasonable price.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works with WRT54G, January 7, 2005

By 

sk330 "sk-la" (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys WSB24 Wireless-B Signal Booster (Personal Computers)

I've had the WSB24 signal booster in storage since I switched from a Linksys wireless 802.11B router to an 802.11 B/G router, the WRT54G to be specific. However, I decided to give the signal booster a try with my B/G router. It is very easy to set up, just unscrew the antennas from the back of of the router. Screw the wires from the signal booster onto the router in the place of the antennas you just removed. Then plug the power adaptor in and Bobs your uncle (you're done, that is).

My signal strength went up 2-3 bars in the "dead" spots in our house and now goes to the farthest corner of our 2 story house with all signal strength "bars" lit up.

So even thought the WSB24 is not designed to work with an 802.11 G router, it does work fine with the Linksys WRT54G. Note that this booster has been pulled from the market by Linksys. If you want one, you will have to buy a used one. But you can't have mine.