Customer Reviews

PLANEX WiFi USB Adapter for Online Game/Wireless LAN GW-US54Mini2W(White) designed in Japan

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

Hello everyone,

To enable GAMING MODE/ad-hoc/internet connection sharing/wii/ds/psp/all that good stuff, you need to use the software Utility that comes on the disc. DO NOT USE THE XP CONNECTION PROPERTIES WIZARD/DIALOG AT ALL. Once the software utility is running, right click the utility icon in the lower right corner of your screen, on your taskbar. Select AP mode. The utility will drastically change and turn itself on automatically. From there, you can configure all the fun stuff.

I give the hardware an A+ but the software/documentation an F! This extremely useful AP mode is so hidden, I would have never found it! I hope this advice helps shave some hours off a frustrating install.

first i got skeptical about this product because some reviews said its hard to get started and not compatible with windows vista, so i bought it just for try. my cd driver was broke so i went to [...], download it for windows vista (without AP) and voila its work for my Wii and DS

I bought this guy a little over a month ago. It was a little hard to get installed (no.1 the software included with it is out of date :| and no.2 the manual makes it look easy to get going...it wasn't)

BUT! now that I've got it humming, it works like magic. I can take my DSL online w/o an issue. Perfect. Some teething issues, but worth it.

Like many others have reported, trying to get this adapter to work was no simple task, mainly because of poor (or just plain wrong) documentation and the outdated software that comes with the device. After much fiddling and trial and error, I got the adapter to work. Once I got it working, it has run flawlessly. (Note: I'm currently only using it as a wireless access point for my Nintendo DS, so that's the only functionality I've tested).

A few notes on what worked for me to get everything up and running:

- First, I'm using WinXP. I can't speak for Vista or Mac users.
- Next, completely ignore all the documentation that comes with the adapter and go out to [...] to download the latest drivers and utility software.
- Before you even put the adapter into the USB port, install the downloaded file, choosing to install the driver and config utility. Also make sure that you choose to use the Wireless Zero Configuration if given the choice (more on this later).
- After installation, you may need to restart. Do so.
- Plug in the USB Adapter. In the system tray, you will see the Planex Wireless Utility. Right-click and switch to AP mode. You will then be asked to choose the adapter that currently runs your Internet connection for enabling ICS (Internet connection sharing).
- You should now be ready to connect through the access point. You can also use the Planex Wireless Utility to configure your new access point "network."

Other thoughts/notes: The installation will put the Planex Wireless Utility in your start-up folder. If you are using this device as a wireless access point (for a NDS, PSP or other computers to connect to), you will want to remove this from the start up folder. If you leave it in, your existing wireless internet settings will be turned off each time the computer starts up. You will need to go to Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services and then select Wireless Zero Configuration to turn it back on (select Automatic for start-up and then "Start") if it is turned off.

After the initial set-up, all I need to do now is plug in the adapter and start the Planex Wireless Utility from the programs menu (or desktop icon) and I'm ready to go online with the Nintendo DS. I hope this helps others.

As was mentioned in previous reviews this product will work with Windows 7 64 bit and Nintendo ds but I had try to setup multiple times and in a specific order to finally get it to work:

1. Download GW-US54Mini2_v1.3.0.0_XlinkKai_Vista_only driver from their website.
2. Do not plug the unit into your computer, install the driver software first then reboot. After computer was back up I also closed the Planex Wireless Utility from the system tray and deleted it from the startup folder and put a shortcut for it on my desktop.
3. Plug the unit in and go into device manager and update the driver from the folder the software installed in step 2. is in. Default path is: C:\Program Files (x86)\Planex\GW-US54Mini2\Driver.
4. Go into Control Panel\Network and Internet\Network Connections, right click on the network adapter you have your internet connection through and choose properties. There should now be a tab called Sharing next to the Networking one. Click this tab and check the top option: Allow other network users to connect through this computer's internet connection. Make sure the option below it is unchecked.
5. Now launch the Planex Wireless Utility software, I used the shortcut I placed on my desktop but you can also find in the Start button programs list. The first time this launches it will be in station mode so ignore any window that pops up and right click on the icon in the system tray and choose AP mode from the list that pops up. The first time I did this it seemed to take a minute or so but my computer changed to internet sharing mode, the device activated and I was then able to configure the settings on the device with the Config Utilities. I was able to go into Access Control and add my dsi mac address and choose allow all to filter it. In the Config tab I choose Security Setting and turned on Shared for the Authentication Type and WEP for the Encryption Type. I then put in my WEP key, hit Ok and Apply All on next screen and closed the Planex Wireless Utility. From this point on I was able to config my dsi wireless connection and it connected with no problem.

Since the install I have had the device work every time I use it. I do alway make sure to close Planex Wireless Utility from the system tray and then use the safely remove hardware to stop the unit before I pull it out of my usb slot. When I use the device again I first plug it in, make sure system recognizes it and then launch the Planex Wireless Utility.

I hope this helps anyone struggling with setup on this, the device works great once installed but was a monster to get working initially.

I ordered this product to play Monster Hunter Freedom and other PSP games online that were unable to do more then ad-hoc in the past. Using the XLink Kai program this will let you play any game that does not have infrastructure with anyone else who uses XLink Kai in the world. As long as the game has some form of Ad-Hoc play, you'll love this product.

Definitely works great, with far less trouble/hassle then the WiFiMax counterpart.

Happy Gaming

I purchased this product for use with Xlink and so far it has been flawless. Even though it doesn't come packaged with instructions for xlink, I found them online easily.

I have two of these little adapters and yes, they were a struggle to get working, but in the end they both work perfectly.

Windows XP (32-bit): I had my doubts that this would work on a 10-year old computer updated to XP, but it actually worked. First I installed the driver on the CD, but that didn't work. Next I did an uninstall and reinstalled the updated driver: V 1.3.2.0 (2000 / XP) from the planex site. I was able to connect my Nintendo DS Lite without a problem.

Windows 7 (64-bit): Now, this one was the toughie. I must have installed the cd driver and websites' V 1.3.2.0 (2000 / XP) and V 3.1.5.0 (Vista) driver 4 times before I found out what to do. After lots of heartache and uninstalls I decided to give the Driver: V 1.3.0.0 (Windows Vista only) from the planex website a try. I assumed that Xlink Kia was a PSP/PS3 only thing, but this driver did the trick and now I am able to connect my Nintendo DS Lite.

Troubleshooting (Windows 7 - 64bit): At first my system wouldn't register the software driver with the USB dongle. I had to manually go in and update the driver. Right click 'My computer' and select properties. Then select device manager from the left side of the menu. You'll find the Planex USB in the Network Adapter group. Click it and go to the driver tab. Click on update driver and select 'Browse my computer for driver software'. The software will generally be located in this directory unless you changed it during installation C:\Program Files (x86)\Planex\GW-US54Mini2\Driver .Run the install and it should work. If you are connect by LAN (wired) network, set the LAN adapter to shared internet connection. To do this, go to control panel, network and sharing center, change adapter settings, right click LAN adapter, sharing tab, select 'Allow other network users to connect through this computer's Internet connection'. DO NOT select the other box 'Allow other network users to control or disable the shared Internet connection'.

After going through a series of other adapters, this is the first one that has worked for me. I'll be testing Vista (32-bit) sometime soon. Enjoy your new wifi!

I'd never been able to play any of my Nintendo DS games online before I bought this WiFi Adapter. Now, I can. I'd give this little tool 5 stars if only it were "plug and play" but it's not. The drivers must be installed from the CD. The included instructions are long, daunting and come in more languages than necessary. I found the read me on the disc to be a bit more helpful but as long as you know you need to install, it's pretty simple. Just open the folder for your operating system, run the installation and then configuration utility. The basic config is what we use for the Nintendo DS and works with my husband's iTouch as well. For PSP users, the Windows Zero Config needs to be used, I believe (another reviewer has instructions but I have not set it up for that).

When it's working, the adapter will light up. I used the advice to switch to "AP Mode" which resulted in a different light show. Additionally, you can specify the "network" name and either a WPA or WEP key to protect it from freeloading neighbours. The DS uses a WEP key which can be accesed from the Utility: Config > Security Setting > Auth Type 'Shared' > Encryption Type 'WEP' and I use a 26 character key. I'm no rocket scientist but I was able to bumble through it all in a few moments. After that, I was able to find and connect to the network with my DS (using the Connect1/2/3 not the Nintendo USB Connector tool) and play online for the first time ever. The single was at full strength; albeit, I was sitting right next to the computer.

I'm really sad I didn't invest in this Wifi adapter sooner. Now I can play online and upload all my stats!

This is a great USB WIFI. It is extremely sensitive, but best of all it supports an Access Point (AP) mode, so it can simulate a WIFI router.

If I don't have WIFI nearby. I plug this into my laptop in AP mode and I let it share my Sprint mobile broadband card. My iPod Touch then sees my the AP like a router and works through the Sprint card.

Awesome for $16.00 Also, just a great USB WIFI adapter.