NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router Wall Pg

by Netgear

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 6.7 x 4.3 inches ; 1.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0002ZH71S
• Item model number: WGXB102
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (112 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: July 7, 2004

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender offers: Everything you need to create an 802.11g wireless network using power outlets Backwards compatibility with 802.11b networks Enhanced security with WPA and 64/128-bit WEP encryption

The NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender includes everything you need to provide wireless access to an existing network using only power outlets. You can now extend an internet connection to even the farthest reaches of your home without a tangled mess of cables.

The WGXB102 comes with everything you need to create a wireless network over power lines. View larger.

Elegant Design and Simple to Install
The WGXB102 is a kit that comes with two devices, the Wireless Range Extender (WGX102) and the Powerline Network Bridge (XE102).

The WGX102 is a small silver-colored box with rounded edges that has no wires or ports of any sort. Installation is truly plug and play: simply plug the device into the outlet and you have a wireless network originating from that spot.

The XE102 is a similarly shaped box that connects from an existing wired or wireless router to the power line. It then sends a network connection between connected NETGEAR Powerline devices. In addition to the included WGX102, other compatible devices include NETGEAR's XE104, XE103, XEPS103, and XE102, all sold separately.

Fast and Secure
The WGX102 complies with both the Homeplug 1.0 and 802.11g wireless standards for compatibility with a wide range of devices. Since 802.11g is backwards compatible with 802.11b, you don't have to worry about your older devices that might not yet support the newer standard. The WGX102 supports 64-bit and 128-bit WEP encryption as well as WPA so you can be sure your data is safe from prying eyes. Additionally, it has VPN (IP-Sec and PPTP) passthrough, as well as the option to turn Wireless SSID broadcast on and off.

The NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender is backed by a 2-year warranty.

What's in the Box
WGX102 wireless range extender, XE102 Powerline network bridge, ethernet cable, two setup CDs, installation guide, and warranty/support information card.

Product Description

Netgear Wireless G Router Wall Pg

See all Product Description

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 98 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good solution to wireless range extension, March 22, 2005

By 

nycebo (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router Wall Pg (Personal Computers)

I use a wireless router in the house with great success. However, the range is pretty weak or my house is too big, and I am pretty sure it's not the latter. As a result, I researched a variety of solutions, none of which seemed too appealing to implement (bridges, wireless range extenders, new RF antenna, etc). It just all seemed too complicated, and I consider myself pretty tech savvy.

Fortunately, I was reading through some tech reviews and stumbled upon the Netgear Wireless wall-plugged router kit. It seemed like it was pretty simple to setup and easy to use. Well, I can report that it is exactly that.

There is no software to install at all. You simply plug in the ethernet cable from the cable modem in one room into the Netgear plug and then plug that into the wall. Check that all three green lights are lit and you are good to go.

The next step is to take the second half of the Netgear plug into the desired room in the house and plug it into an electric socket. When its three lights are lit, you have a connection and are good to go in there. My laptop computer picked up wireless signal immediately and I was surfing the web in no time flat. Basically, it was flawless.

So, WHY am I am only giving it four stars? Two reasons:

First, the wireless range of the Netgear plug is pretty weak. It definitely doesn't have the power of my main wireless modem. Then again, it doesn't have an antenna AND it still works, so it's no big deal; it's just not perfect.

Second, the Netgear plugs need to be plugged in somewhat near each other to function correctly and get the Homelink green light to turn green. When the Netgear plugs were plugged in on opposite ends of the house (what I was hoping for to maximize range), it did not achieve a homelink connection. However, when I moved the plugs to outlets that were closer together (but still outside my wireless routers range), it DID work. So, partial credit again here. While I cna't explain why it did not work, perhaps the electrical homelink signal degrades the farther the outlets are apart.

Anyway, everything is working pretty smoothly now and I am excited that I can get a signal in another area of the house that was not covered by internet previously.

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Worked for 6 weeks then died, July 8, 2006

By 

A. Carey "adamarket" (Vallejo, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router Wall Pg (Personal Computers)

I bought this product from Amazon in July because it seemed the solution to my problems, a very low wireless signal in my garage. I was prepared for the worst, i.e. that my powerline from my router wouldn't be on the same circuit as the outlet in my garage. Fortunately, they were.

It took about 20 minutes to get everything working correctly. The instructions weren't the greatest but a little messing around and I suddenly had Excellent signal strength in my garage where I play multiplayer games online. The signal was constant and in the next six weeks remained strong, never weakening.

The problem came in week six when the extender unit in the garage suddenly died. Only the Powerline light was lit -- the power light and Wireless connectivity green LEDs were permanently dark. Considering how hot the two units can get when constantly left on, it's not that surprising there might be some burn out risk. I believe this to be a design flaw.

I went to the web and found a lot of people (I counted five) with accounts identical to mine. The units worked perfectly for 4-6 weeks then died. I suggest anybody buying these units after reading this post, keep the box for at least 3 months to make returning easier.

When I called Tech Support at Netgear, my call was answered pretty quickly after navigating through the voicemail options. The first tech was from India, very friendly, but ran me through a predictable sequence of tests (reset this with a pin, take it out of the outlet, put it back in, "I believe you have a faulty unit"). My call was then elevated to an inexplicably hostile tech support person, also in India, who ran me through exactly the same tests before also concluding I had a faulty unit. Altogether, this wasted 45 minutes of my time.

I was given 3 options:

1) Return the unit at my own expense and Netgear would send me a replacement unit

2) Pay $16.99 and Netgear would send me a new unit and I could box up my old unit and return it postage paid.

3) Pay $27.99 and get an express version of #2.

Now, I'm not usually very picky, but it annoyed me that I should have to do anything at my own expense when I'd paid $120 for the Netgear product and it failed within 6 weeks. I opted for the cheapest solution #1 then tried a different option, I bought a new wireless USB adapter from Linksys and turned off my old PCI card (which lamely was also Netgear) and am getting a constantly Very Good signal with it. It's not Excellent, but it's unlikely to burn out again in 6 weeks.

I can't recommend this product anymore (I unfortunately persuaded a commuter friend to buy it and am hoping it doesn't burn out) or indeed any Netgear product after my experience with their goods, customer service or return policy.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Useless even if it worked, October 19, 2007

By 

Ron Bob "Ninalimar" (Blue State, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: NETGEAR WGXB102NA Wireless G Router Wall Pg (Personal Computers)

I had two problems with this wall plugged router:

First, I spent 2 hours on the phone with technical support at the end of which tech support threw up their hands and said it must be my firewall.

Second, tech support guy 1 and guy 2 both said, "both devices must be plugged in to the same circuit" that is, on the same electrical breaker, in order for it to work properly. In 95% of US homes each circuit covers 1 to 3 adjacent rooms, the area covered by a decent regular wireless router. If you need a range extender, the area you want to extend to is extremely unlikely to be on the same electrical circuit. Duh.

If you read the reviews, it appears that many people have had good success with this device. My recomendation - if it fits your needs buy it, save the reciept and, if it's not up an running in 20 minutes, take it back.