BELKIN F5D7050 Wireless 802.11g USB Network Adapter

by Belkin

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 2 inches ; 5.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002HA7FY
• Item model number: F5D7050
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (195 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #79 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Network Adapters > USB Network Adapters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Wireless G USB Network Adapter easily connects your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to your wireless network for Internet and file sharing. Desktop users can now join the network with the ease of a USB plug-in, without opening their PC cases; laptop users can enjoy the benefits of staying mobile-while connected to the Internet.

Features

• Adds 802.11g wireless capabilities to desktop and laptop computers, for faster wireless networking available for home or office
• Fits any standard 1.0, 1.1 and 2.0 USB slot
• Provides 3 times the wireless range of 802.11a adapters
• Offers backward-compatibility with all 802.11b network devices
• Features wireless 64- and 128-bit WEP Encryption
• Keeps notebook batteries running longer with advanced, low-power consumption chipset
• Works with Windows 2000, XP, or Vista
• Comes with Belkin Lifetime Warranty and free 24-hour technical support

Product Description

The Wireless G USB Network Adapter easily connects your USB-equipped desktop or notebook computer to your wireless network for Internet and file sharing. Desktop users can now join the network with the ease of a USB plug-in, without opening their PC cases; laptop users can enjoy the benefits of staying mobile-while connected to the Internet.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Attention Macintosh Users, February 27, 2006

By 

mrkite123 (Lake Charles, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: BELKIN F5D7050 Wireless 802.11g USB Network Adapter (Electronics)

I have an older iBook that requires an original Apple Airport card. Unfortunately these are no longer in production. They can still be purchased new online for $150-180 if you look for them, or you can get a used one from eBay for $100-150 or so. Couldn't see going those routes so I picked up one of these babies and it works flawlessly with OS 10.4. Belkin doesn't make drivers for it but you can get the driver at the Ralink Technology site (http://www.ralinktech.com/supp-1.htm). The Belkin adapter that I received from Amazon is version 3000, and it uses the RT71W driver. It's the one listed at the very bottom of the list of Macintosh drivers, dated 2006/01/25. When you open the box for this adapter, take the Install CD and the Quickstart Guide and all that other Windows-related stuff and throw them straight in the trash. Download and install the driver mentioned above and it'll prompt you to restart afterwards. Then go to your Network System Preferences pane and select Ethernet Adapter(en1) as your connection method. Plug the adapter into an available USB port (1.1 or 2.0, either one will work), then launch the Ralink Wireless Utility that you'll find in your Applications folder. And suddenly - hey yer smokin'! Been connected by cable for over three days now via a wireless Linksys router without a single disconnect. You can do it, too...

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The other reviews are correct, February 28, 2007

By 

Juan Ortuno (Hialeah, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BELKIN F5D7050 Wireless 802.11g USB Network Adapter (Electronics)

I've purchased and attempted to install three of these adapters. One of them was on an older Dell laptop,installed without any problems at all and connected seamlessly to a Linksys WRT54G router with WAP encryption.
The problems really started showing when I tried to install the second and third adapters, both on desktop computers running Windows XP SP2. The software installation was a breeze, but when I plugged in the adapter - nothing happened. Connect to network...which network? Scan..who? What?
It looks like this adapter has a very, very short range and doesn't work very well a wall or two in between the routers. It would see the router and connect - to drop the connection and not find one. But then it would find it again, and on and off.
Never really worked as expected on the desktops, so I've given up. I've had to disconnect them and reconnect them multiple times. Downloaded the updated software from Belkin's site, and still have connection issues with the desktops. The laptop works fine as long as I don't take it one room away from the router.
Avoid at all costs please. I've used other wireless devices with the same router that I'm trying to connect and they work fine - a few rooms away and all.
Spend a few more dollars and get something worth the money spent. Spend less time troubleshooting and more time surfing.
Good luck.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Honestly, this adaptor is bad.... REAL BAD., April 8, 2005

By 

Kelly J. Conger - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: BELKIN F5D7050 Wireless 802.11g USB Network Adapter (Electronics)

Installed drivers, plugged it in, nothing. Uninstalled, rebooted, installed drivers, NOTHING. Googled it and found tons of stories you have read here.

I like what a couple other people have said.

"Buy this for someone you hate." It's terrible...

I've had other Belkin products in the past and I'm surprised at how bad this thing is.

The few people on here that gave it 4-5 stars will probably win the lottery next week because they are the luckiest people I know.