Customer Reviews

Windy31 USB-Type Portable Wireless Gateway to Combine Wireless Lan card, Wireless AP and Wireless Router (Black) (Retail Packaged)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I like to get out of my office and work out on the counter with my own personal laptop. Our IT guys were miffed that I had installed a traditional wireless router to allow me to do this because, with only one NIC card, it put the desktop as well as the laptop behind a NAT address - and so IT couldn't "see" the company desktop. Now, instead, I use the Windy31. Since it just looks like one of those big, old, first generation, USB drives, no one knows it is a router, and the company desktop can be seen by IT (so they're happy). But, I can get a very good wireless connection through the Windy31 at 50ft. or so from my office. When I go home, I just unplug the big, old "USB drive". I very pleased with this product.

I got this because I thought it would be great to share my internet connection with some co-workers when we are on the road. Setup is straightforward, but it takes a long time for the management software to load. (to the point where you think something is wrong.) During the times it works, I cannot enable my VPN connection to my office, otherwise, my wireless users will get disconnected. Nor can any of my users enable their VPN connections. The DHCP feature is extremely limited, I cannot define my own subnet. In playing with a friend's iPod Touch, he was able to get an ip address, but not a DNS entry. Once we hardcoded the DNS, then he was able to connect. I would definitely not recommend this as it seems work work about 30% of the time.

I spent many hours trying to get this router to work reliably. Then spent 30 minutes with tech support from Korea. They said, "It's a Windows problem," but could offer no help in solving the reported IP conflict. All I know is it only works half the time, and it interferes with my otherwise reliable Sprint Aircard. Back it goes.

I must say that tech support responded promptly to my second email. But the engineer only spoke Korean. And the translator knew nothing about this device. So response = 10. Competence = 0.

I have seen just a few happy customers on another site. But also a review just like mine, "It doesn't work."

You get what you pay for. In this case, not much. Next I'll get a real router that takes a USB modem.

Works great on windows XP, suitable range for what I need. Only complaint I have is I could not get it to run on Windows 7.

This product did not work on Vista Home Premium. The icon installed after rebooting but Windy 31 Manager will not launch -- briefly flashes on then off. Attempted to set up network manually but no success. There is zero customer support and the telephone number listed on their documentation has been reissued to another individual. Toll free phone number is non existent.Windy31 USB-Type Portable Wireless Gateway to Combine Wireless Lan card, Wireless AP and Wireless Router (Black) (Retail Packaged)

It works great with win7. If you use win7, [...]
And download the patch file for windows 7.
(you must follow the instruction for the setup or it will not work properly).

Disable the following programs while you install Windy31 : 1) Firewall 2) AntiVirus 3) DVD ram driver 4) NeroInCD.

They have new windy31 model came out "windy31N"

This model is 3 times faster than the previous one.
The previous model is 54mbps but this new model is 154mbps
Is supports 802.11b/g/N!!!
And of course it fully supports windows 7
But you need a patch file for 64bit windows7 T_T(it only needs to be installed once)

[...]

Pros: I pluged it into a USB port (Win7/64) it installed itself and worked. Had to answer a few questions for network ID.

Cons: None, it works.

I purchased my unit to use at my workplace as I didn't want to have my iPhone 4 always using the data network of my Cell provider, so the idea is to borrow some bandwidth at work. Turns out it is extremely slow, so slow that 3G and possibly Edge is faster. Maybe I haven't set it up properly. At home where I don't need it its fast.

It's too bad that it does not support Windows 7 64-bit. The support site must be reviewed to have at least English instructions...

The Windy31;
It seemed to be just what i needed. I have a desktop PC and 2 different laptop computers. I connect to the net using a USB727 modem on Verizon Wireless and wanted to connect with the laptops, while in the livingroom.
For under $50, Amazon delivered a Windy31 to me. Setup was real easy and it worked great, for about an hour. Then it went dead.
I contacted Amazon for a replacement. They were great. They even had UPS come to my house & pick up the dead one, for free.
Windy31 #2 worked for about 20 days before it too died. I returned the second one for a refund. Also made very easy by Amazon.
On with the review.
Setup is easy, but it has to be done every time the computer boots up (I normally shut down my PC at night). Some others have said the signal is good, as far away as 200ft. I could barely connect at 30ft. While not perfect, it did what I wanted it to do. I'd still be using it, if it hadn't died.
Both of the ones I received, died without warning, in a very short time.
I wouldn't recommend buying Windy31.