Netgear WG121 Wireless 802.11g USB Adapter

by Netgear

Product Details

Product Manual [1.64mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 7 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000DBMDM
• Item model number: WG121NA
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 16, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Blazing-fast 54 Mbps Wireless Internet Access with Superior Range
NETGEAR's 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter enables 54 Mbps wireless Internet access to either your desktop or notebook PC. New antenna technology delivers greater range so you can move extended distances without losing your connection. Setup is now made quick and easy with a new Smart Wizard install assistant. High-level WEP encryption shields your network from wireless eavesdroppers without sacrificing performance.

High-Powered
Features a USB 2.0 interface that is up to 40 times faster than USB 1.1 allowing you to realize full 54 Mbps speed. New antenna technology provides superior range above previous-generation 802.11b adapters.

Carefree
Supports office roaming for notebook PC users for shared broadband Internet access and resources. Gives you untethered mobility at home, the office, the airport, and other public hotspots. NETGEAR's Wireless LAN Manager lets you create profiles that reflect specific WLAN settings for each place you travel.

Alert
The WG121 simply plugs into the external USB port of your PC, eliminating the need to open up your desktop PC. Gain full mobility with your notebook, or place your desktop anywhere in your home, without the need to use unsightly Ethernet cables. 802.11g standard compliance ensures interoperability with existing 802.11b and 802.11g networks. Setup is now made quick and easy with a new Smart Wizard install assistant.

Stylish & Convenient
Sleek, platinum-look casing. Compact design ideal for external placement on any surface. Included 5-ft (1.52m) USB cable lets you locate your adapter where signal is strongest.

Features

• 54 Mbps standard 802.11g wireless Internet access -- 5x the speed of 802.11b
• USB 2.0 powered -- up to 40x faster than USB 1.1
• New antenna technology allows wireless access at ranges greater than ever before
• Easy setup via Smart Wizard install assistant
• Sleek, attractive platinum casing
• Works with all standard 802.11g and 802.1b wireless routers and access points

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Works Fine, June 22, 2004

By 

Vince M. - See all my reviews

This review is from: Netgear WG121 Wireless 802.11g USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

I bought this same product. I use it with a Netgear 802.11g router. I use all Netgear products to hopefully prevent any conflicts between hardware, but I'm not an networking expert so I'm not sure if that will really prevent any problems. But from my POV this is a safe buy. No problems so far. What I like about this product is that i can place it on a high shelf out of the way of metal objects and other stuff that would potentially interfere with the radio signal, because it's connected by USB.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Didn't work with my TiVo, worked fine with Windows XP..., June 5, 2004

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Netgear WG121 Wireless 802.11g USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

...but sadly, I purchased it for my TiVo Series 2 (240 series). It's not on the recommended or even the 'reported compatible' list for the TiVo (see http://customersupport.tivo.com/tivoknowbase/root/public/tv2006.htm? for that) but I figured it was worth trying. All the ones on that list are 802.11b, and since I have an 802.11g network I didn't want to slow it down by adding a b client.

I will probably keep this, as it is very lightweight and portable, and it will probably be handy for adding wireless capability to computers I'm doing short-term evaluations on, esp during business travel.

Setup on Windows, for those of you concerned with such things, was a snap. I particularly liked the NetGear software's more detailed signal strength graph than the standard Windows XP wireless software; this made it easier to position the adapter for best reception.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars With the exception of a few systems - the best, April 21, 2006

By 

Tom Carpenter "- www.sysedco.com" (Marysville, OH) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Netgear WG121 Wireless 802.11g USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

Note the Athlon processor and VIA chipsets - on the system board - have shown problematic with this device. If you do not have these, there is question - in my tests - that this is the best USB WiFi client on the market. It provides greater range than the others and is very easy to install and configure. The software, however, does not support WPA so you will need to use a third-party wpa supplicant (understood as client) or the built-in Windows XP WZC (wireless zero configuration).

The device is fast, reliable and compatible. I tested it with thirteen different access points, as I do all client devices I test, and it worked with all of them and provided approximately the same throughput. This device is not as fast as the buffalo cardbus wifi clients, but if you're using a desktop and don't want to plug in a PCI card, this is about the best way to go.

I hope this helps you make your decision.

Tom Carpenter, Wireless# Author, Father, Husband, Techno-Geek