Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Networking Kit

by Netgear

Product Details

Data Sheet [511kb PDF]

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Supplementary Guide [1.93mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000117DGW
• Item model number: WGB511NA
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (63 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #66,115 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 16, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Netgear WGB51 Wireless Networking kit contains everything you need to get a laptop that lacks built-in wireless support up and running on a wireless network in your home or small office.

Netgear’s 54 Mbps Wireless Router offers a simple, secure method to add wireless to your network at a great value. It makes sharing your cable/DSL connection with other PCs a snap, enhancing your ability to download large files, video conference, distribute and play high-quality digital movies, photos and MP3s. The router also features double firewall protection that helps shield the network from malicious intrusions with two security methods—Network Address Translation (NAT) and Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI). All this in Netgear’s compact signature design, plus a convenient stand for vertical positioning.

The 54 Mbps Wireless Router is optimized for use with Netgear’s 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card (WG511), PCI Adapter (WG311), or USB Adapter (WG111). I t also i s backward compatible with 802.11b wireless devices.

Netgear’s 54 Mbps Wireless PC Card delivers wireless access to your laptop when installed in any available CardBus PC Card Type II slot. Optimized for use with the 54 Mbps Wireless Router, it enables you to download large files, video conference, distribute and play high-quality digital movies, photos and MP3s without the cost and effort of running new wiring. Installation is fast and easy thanks to a unique setup CD that automatically detects necessary settings, and a configuration utility that lets you monitor signal strength and adjust security settings. Standard 802.11g compliant and backwards compatible, it works with either 802.11g or 802.11b wireless routers and access points.

Product Description

Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Kit - This wireless kit gives you everything you need to get your notebook computer up and running on an 802.11g wireless network. It includes an 802.11g router that has 4 Ethernet ports for regular wired connections, as well as a built-in firewall for online protection. The included 802.11g PC card gives your notebook the ability to access the network for wireless file transfers, printer usage or Internet access. 128-bit WEP Encryption MAC address authentication

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast setup, easy configuration, September 11, 2004

By 

35-year Technology Consumer "8-tracks to 802.11" (Mid Atlantic, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Networking Kit (Personal Computers)

This router replaced an older Netgear 802.11b router which had served our network well. The web-based configuration utility is easier to navigate, and the signal strength and data rate were improved even with our older 802.11b adapters. One complaint: the MAC filtering option (which limits access to your network to specific physical adapters as alternative or adjunct to signal encryption) is deeply hidden, under the Advanced Wireless Settings | Setup Access List settings.

Nice small footprint, excellent price (especially with the rebate) and good functionality..


The bundled PCMCIA adapter for a laptop was up and running immedaitely on a Toshiba laptop..no issues with the computer's Windows XP SP2 upate (not true of Netgear's WG311 PCI adapter).

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Works well with other wireless cards, some trouble XP, June 26, 2004

By 

Andrzej Novak "novakyu" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Networking Kit (Personal Computers)

I bought this WGB511 Networking Kit just this week (compliments to Amazon.com for fast shipment, BTW) after much consideration of different companies (Linksys, Belkin, etc.) and models (like the 802.11b wireless networking kit from Netgear). In the end, I decided buy this product because it seemed to give greatest bang for the buck (and reviews were up and down for all the products--for some people it worked great, for others, not at all). So far, it works great. My roommate has a Belkin 802.11g wireless card, and the router works just great with his computer--no spotty connections, and Internet connection as fast as connecting to the modem directly. As for me (with the included Netgear WG511 wireless card), the connection was somewhat spotty at the beginning. I think the problem was XP's (I'm not a great fan of M$) automatic wireless network configuration. It must have done something that increases (apparent) signal strength but makes the connection unstable. But, after configuring the router channel to the one with least interference (you can see which channels are in use by other wireless networks using Netgear's configuration utility--Site Survey) and setting up everything using Netgear's utility, it's working fine. So, five stars for working as expected, no points lost for the failings of the other company (er... M$?)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simple to use and hookup, July 17, 2004

By 

HunkaBurninLove (Silicon Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Netgear WGB511 802.11g Wireless Networking Kit (Personal Computers)

Let me say that I know absolutely nothing about home networking. I had dial-up for so many years because it wasn't available in my area (and I live in Silicon Valley!). When our cable company started to carry it, we signed up immediately.

I found the Netgear router and card to be very easy and simple to use. I just plugged the router in, followed the instructions and off I went. The card was just as easy to set up. My desktop is running Windows XP and the laptop has Win98.

The only problem I had was running the "test" button after logging into the router's setup page. After inputing the router's settings on the setup page, you're supposed to hit a "test" button to see if you're router is setup correctly. It takes you to a Netgear web page where is says you're successful and you're now protected. For me, the success web page would never appear. After surfing the Netgear web site (and several tech support articles), you have to disable any popup blockers you have. When I did that, the success page finally appeared.

For research, I went to www.practicallywired.com where there's a lot of good, basic info for newbies like me.

Good luck!