Customer Reviews

NETGEAR WG111US Wireless G Usb Adapter

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

I purchased a Vista laptop a few months back and no longer needed my XP desktop on the first floor of the house. The problem was, I dreaded the prospect of having to get a super long ethernet extension cord and tediously staple-gunning it along the wall all the way down to where I wanted to put my computer in the basement. The other option was to get some sort of wireless card installed to my desktop, but I'm not that tech-savvy and generally try to avoid ulcer-causing IT-related nightmares.

So I procrastinated for a good long time, frozen by my aversion to either manual labor or the daunting task of setting up my own wireless network. The months passed --spring summer autumn winter / he sang his didn't he danced his did-- and one day I finally just went out and purchased this Netgear USB Adapter, and it was so much easier than I had ever expected to get it working. For one, it's a plug-in usb interface, so there wasn't the PCI card installation to deal with, and since this interface works so well, I wouldn't recommend that the novice user go out and get the PCI card version unless s/he has particular reason for it.

This is about all it took to receive wireless internet on my XP desktop:

1) Removed driver cd installation disc and usb adapter from box
2) Installed drivers from enclosed cd onto my desktop pc
3) Plugged in the usb adapter into a rear port on my desktop pc
4) Clicked "next," etc. as directed by the setup window after I plugged in the usb wireless adapter

And then I was online. I was a little worried that the wireless range wouldn't be very good since the router was on a different floor, but it turned out to be fine, for the most part. Once in a while the little green icon in the taskbar that indicates online connectivity blinks red, but it's only for a second and isn't enough to cause much interruption in my site browsing activities.

I'm not sure if the setup process was made easier because both my router and this adapter are made by Netgear, but for whatever the reason, it was simple for me to set up and use so I'm recommending it. That is all... I hope my review has been helpful to you in your hunt for the perfect network adapter!

I had this thing for 2 months and got constantly bad signal from it. It would go all the way down to 2mbps. I did not pay for a crappy b signal. I paid for a good g signal. What was wrong you ask. I had the netgear plugged directly into the back of my computer. When I used the provided usb extension cable voila I have had nothing but 54mbps since. Keep this adapter away from your computer otherwise your signal will be extremely terrible.

Due to the nature of my work, I have used several types of these 54Mbps wireless cards. The only 2 Wireless Homenetworking I recommend to others is either D-Link or Netgear.

I personally am using a 54Mbps wireless WG111 USB adaptor on my PC plus 2 others in the house.

In addition I use the Neatgear 54Mbps Wireless Card (WG511) for my older Dell laptop. I have used these adaptors for over a year and have not had to replace them, or have had any problem with their peformance.

I have installed hundreds of these for customers. It does come with software for the drivers, AND comes with a NETGEAR PROGRAM that overides windows. I never use the program personally. I just use the CD for the drivers, after insert the adaptor. It also comes with the software updates for vista.

I found that as long as you have a Wireless Netgear Modem, it never seems to have any problems with 128bit encryption or 64bit (which is what I mostly use)

The biggest reason for any Netgear adaptor 128 or 64 bit is 1st) If you use install and use the NETGEAR PROGRAM, then the best way to avoid internet drop off, is to enter you 64 or 128 bit encryption password on the first page of the progam IN THE MANUAL SLOT and not the 2 slots for above! Trust me I know.
2nd) If you plug the adaptor in, and then insert the CD just for the drivers (when prompted) WITHOUT using Netgears program, then you have to set internet options to set LAN and check "automatic" and leave proxy settings alone. Then right click on the little wireless pic in your tray, and select "status" then "properties". From there at the top box scroll down to TCP/IP and click properties and make sure "automatic is checked" The click close and click the middle tab. If there is more than 1 network in your area or in that box, remove them all, except yours. Then make sure to check the box "let windows configure my wireless settings for me" and on the last tab check the box "automatically connect to this network when in range" After that click okay, and close. It may start to try and connect right then, or you can right click on the little wireless computer in tray and select "view wireless networks" and you will see your there, click connect and it will prompt you for you password, twice and thats it. You don't have to type in the password any more. Everytime you turn on your computer, it will automatically detect settings and connect you to your wireless internet network.

It sounds like a lot, but it really is simple and will prevent internet drop off tremendously!

I setup networks for a living and years ago, I used to pull my hair out sometimes, until I finally found out what works the best, regardless of number of networks, users or 64 and 128 encyrption. If the router is setup correctly and you install Neatgear wireless usb or card, you will be very happy. I have moved and used the same USB and CARD for my laptop with 3 dirrent networks, and all I did was set it up with the new password and it is working as of now.

Hope this helps

So this thing worked great when it worked. Problem is data would stop transferring often. It was strange because my signal in both the windows notifier and the Netgear program would show the signal as being strong and when it came back I would sometimes even get a notification that I was connected to the internet even though it never displayed that I had been disconnected. I don't know if my specific unit was defective or if this is a widespread problem but from reading the other reviews it seems that not everyone has problems with it but I am not the only one who did. Either way I replaced it for a different brand (Belkin) and had no more dropouts.

Also I have some other nitpicks which aren't much but since many of these devices are pretty much the same (if they work properly) the nitpicks become why you would choose one brand over another and are further reasons why I like my replacement better.
1. The blinking indicator light is too bright. When I am in the dark the flashes are bright enough to illuminate my desk are and is distracting
2. It gets too hot. I don't know what kind of long or short term performance issues this may or may not cause but it made me nervous that it will.
3. It runs a separate program to display connectivity as opposed to just using the Windows program. So I have an extra program I don't need cluttering up my system.
4. Both the new and old ones come with extension cables but the new one's cable has a nice looking stand to plug the adapter into while the Netgear one just hung off my desk with a recommendation in the instructions of taping it to the monitor. (Note: the new one is also much wider so if you are plugging it in directly without the extension cable it won't look better then.)

You've likely seen warnings from Vista owners already. Windows XP users should also tread carefully.

I was optimistic that this wireless adapter would work my well-patched and reliable Windows XP Pro desktop, and so I bought it to connect with my new Verizon FiOS router. Regrettably, I didn't read the reviews beforehand.

Following the initial installation, my computer would freeze every time I inserted the adapter, requiring a reboot.

After updating the software with NETGEAR's online update, the adapter still would not work. Each attempt to launch the NETGEAR software failed: there were no error messages, it simply refused to launch.

And so I was never able to launch this product to the point where I could even attempt an Internet connection.

These issues were not addressed on NETGEAR's support knowledge base. Following this string of failures, I have no intention of further troubleshooting and potentially jeopardizing my Windows XP installation with this unstable product.

Look elsewhere: there are other alternatives with solid ratings here on Amazon.

I bought this at such a great price, I may as well have stolen it! When I ordered this I thought I was going to get a piece of junk in the mail or worse yet, not get anything at all because I swore it was a joke. I couldn't believe such a handy little piece of equipment was being sold so cheap! I have been using this since the second I opened the package and I do not have any complaints at all. If you need a wi fi adapter and you are on a budget, then this one is for you!

I have a lot of walls to go through between my base unit and remote unit. The netgear series has done a great job in delivering high speed wireless connection. Originally, I got the linksys series which just proved to be worthless for my situation.

I installed this adaptor on a Dell Dimension with windows XP. I used the USB cable extension on the initial installation figuring it would have more of an antenna effect with the cable. I installed the software provided. But, it didn't work. On the second installation try it did. For some reason unknown to me, it disabled my log on log off options, and I can't use the quick log feature now to switch users. A message comes up in control panel that the feature has been disabled by the adaptor program. But, I can live with that. It picked up my routers signal with no problem, and connects every time I start the computer. Occassionally it will exhibit a symptom whereby the signal strength drops to 0 and then to excellent, fluctuating back and forth. Restarting the computer takes care of it. And,it doesn't happen so often that it is a big pain.

a little problem when I install it,
but after one day, it works with no reason.
very stable, keeping connected.
great for this price.

Originally bought this because it is one of the few wireless networking adapters that has drivers that will work with Vista 64. It has performed flawlessly over the last few months under regular use. I was having trouble on an separate XP system using a Linksys USB adapter, but the WG111 gets a strong signal and never drops it. Overall I have found the Netgear wireless adapters to outperform the Linksys. This would be a good buy at twice the price.