| Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router |
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Model: BEFW11S4
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 1079
Platforms: Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows NT 3.5, Windows NT 4, Windows NT 5, Windows Me, Windows XP, Windows 2000 Server, Windows
Operating system: None
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b
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| Features: |
Connects to a broadband modem, a 10/100 Ethernet backbone, or wireless network
Long wireless operating range supports 300 feet indoors and 1,500 feet outdoors
Provides roaming, best access-point selection, load balancing, and network traffic filtering
Configurable through your networked PC's Web browser
Can act as a DHCP server for your existing network |
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| Description: |
| The Linksys BEFW11S4 is your all-in-one networking device This wireless router features support for the 802.11b protocol, which lets you wirelessly access your network and the Internet from up to 800 feet (outside), or 300 feet (inside) away |
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| User Reviews (1079 total): |
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Good for vanilla; Painful to setup IPSEC, February 6, 2003
By unknown
This is a good solution for a plain vanilla Wireless based Internet access solution. I bought this solution for my home office. I use Cisco VPN (IPSEC based solution) client to access my corporate office. Setting Cisco VPN thru this product is a harrowing experience. It involved upgrading firmware, which can often fail. Further, getting hold of Linksys is not easy at all during business hours. On 2 occasions it took me 45 minutes to get thru.Like I said good solution for plain vanilla Internet access. But if you ned to support CISCO VPN then I highly recommend the Netgear MR814 802.11b Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router. This took me less than 15 mins to setup.
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Worked Like a Charm..., February 6, 2003
By kyoder10 (CENTENNIAL, CO USA)
The router worked perfectly right out of the box. I would recommend using the Setup Wizard CD to easily configure the router based on your current Cable/DSL modem settings. Also bought the USB Wireless adapter (WUSB11 from Linksys) for the remote computer and it truly is plug and play. Great products and setup was a snap! Cudos to Linksys!
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Worked like a charm,, February 6, 2003
By unknown
I bought this w/ the USB Wireless Adapter. I have a home computer wired to the router and use the USB adapter for my work laptop. I have to say the set-up was very easy for the laptop and was as simple as following the directions. I have access anywhere in my house with my latop. I am now considering by the wireless nic card for my desktop. It is nice when the technology really works.
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Good Router with Easy Setup, February 5, 2003
By James T. DiGiovanni (Hazlet, NJ USA)
As I was shopping for the components for my home wiress network I considered some of the cheaper alternatives but decided to go with Linksys based on its reputation. I am glad I did. The setup was easy and flawless. Despite my mother talking to me, my wife talking to me, my baby poking at the laptop, and my Persian cat walking on my keyboard , I had the my router-desktop-laptop all configured in about 10 minutes.The range is very good. My setup is in an upstairs bedroom. I get an "excellent" signal anywhere upstairs and when I go downstairs it drops to "very good". All in all, I am happy with this and the WPC11. Despite it being a few bucks more, you get what you pay for.
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nice features, nice price, February 5, 2003
By Erik Rogneby (Seattle, WA United States)
When I ran through the installation of this it sniffed out my primary computer's MAC address and asked me if I wanted the router to use it. This feature is very cool, because a lot of broadband ISPs make you register your computer's MAC address. You can go in and change it in the browser based admin page as well.This little box has all kinds of other nice features like MAC filtering for both Wifi connections and cable connections. I am running without Wireless(read that weak) Encryption Protocol, but I have the MAC filtering turned on so that only devices I specify can get access to my network. Anyhow, at [the price] for a firewall/switch/access point you can't go wrong!
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Boy is this GREAT, February 1, 2003
By unknown
It took me less than 10 minutes to hook up my Dell Dimension 8200 running Windows XP Home edition and my older Compaq Presario running Windows 98 S/E, and that included doing the online registration. I use a cable modem using AT&T broadband and enjoy really fast and excellent connection to the internet. So far I can see no dimunition in quality and speed. I cannot believe how easy installation has been. Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router on the Dell and Linksys WUSB11 802.11b Wireless USB Adapter on the Compaq. By the way, the Dell is downstairs in the office and the Compaq is upstairs in the kid's playroom, apx 50 feet distance and floor and several walls.
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Easy Install, January 31, 2003
By Arnold Cruz (Chicago, IL United States)
The first words that come to mind for the router is EASY install. For me there was no need for any software install. The router is already defaulted to DHCP which I am using. The longest part is thinking of a word for your SSID. You will be up and running before you know it. Wirless Range is great was well. I am able to get great signal strength in every room in my house. The lowest signal stregth is running at ~80% from the upstairs den to the family room which is around 100 ft.
Highly recommend.
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Cheap, easy to use, reliable, A+ support, best product ever, January 30, 2003
By Tyler Ransdell (Columbia, MO)
I've owned this Lynksys router with 802.11b wireless AP for about six months now and everything about the product is excellent. Great for home or business because of its price and reliability. This is quite simply one of the most easy to use networking solutions out there. For near-by computers it offers a 4-port 10/100 switch while the 802.11b signal reaches well, nearly as far as the manufacturer suggests (which is very god by my book). Home users see great advantages too such as avoiding running wires as well as not having to pay the extra $5 per extra computer connected to DSL or CABLE (the router lets all computers behind it use the same ip#) This allows the router to pay for itself in just 14 months with only a two-computer network. If you have three computers, make that seven months; five? Make that three and a half months. You literally don't have to adjust a single setting to use this product. The set-up cd literally does everything for you and unles you want to encript your wireless signal, all computers with wireless cards (as well as ones with 10/100 cables attached) will immideatly be on the network. Some users may have a few troubles when wishing to use some advanced internet features and protocalls behind this router, but with a single call to lynksys tech support, these can be resolved quickly. Tech support also receives my A+ with fast and helpful service. Phone waits are very short compared to competition and e-mail is returned within a day. I've never been more satisfied with a networking product. The only complaint that I have with this product is the price of the matching linksys 802.11b adapters ($50-60+). Keep in mind these are not nessary as most any 802.11b wireless adapter (even USB starts around $25 a piece) will work fine with this product. If you're looking to network two or more computers with Cable or DSL access, this is definately your answer. Rumors about 802.11b being too slow for cable or DSL access are untrue. The speed is roughly 20 times faster than standard 512k service or roughly 200 times faster than 56k. Our home connection peaks around three megabit just fine even through wireless. My final advice to everyone is don't wait to buy this product. Many important rating companies rated this last year's product of the year for a reason. Now they are available for half of last year's price.
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Want wireless - get it - easy set-up, January 30, 2003
By perry245 (Maryland USA)
Out of the box, easy set-up - less than 1 hour and you are up and running. Strong signal - even on your back yard while watching your little one. Nothing about this product is complicated and instructions are easy to follow. There is 1 800 number FREE if you need help with it. This is product for you if you are looking for wireless network or just to go on line and play games. Great product straight out of the box.
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Easy set up - great product, January 28, 2003
By perry245 (Maryland USA)
I am (you may say) a computer dummy, but I got the wireless Intel ... and after 4 days of trying to get this up and running I took it back to the store and got the Linksys wireless AP Router and PC card. I am usin windows 98 on my desktop and winows xp home on my laptop and the laptop is the wireless. Let me tell you I got this set up and running in about 1 hour. I is very easy and the instructions are very simple so anyone can follow. I am very happy with this product, I am moving around the house with my laptop and signal is very good, I have not gone out in the back yard yet since is freezing cold right now but I will soon just so I can see how far I can go from the base - it says up to 1500'. I just love it..good buy.
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Works GREAT!, January 26, 2003
By David Hudson (Chattanooga, TN United States)
I did have to call customer service for some help. They were very friendly, professional and my the router was up and running in less than 30 minutes. I have recommended to friends as well as I recommend to you.
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Seamless and Effortless, January 26, 2003
By A. Field (Los Angeles, CA United States)
Being somewhat computer savvy, I was still nervous about setting up my wireless network. After hearing some horror stories about tech support and hours of frustration, I was expecting some difficulties. I had none. It was the easiest thing I have ever done! I had more trouble getting my DSL to cooperate than the router. I installed the router and a linksys wireless card to my laptop in less than 20 min without ANY issues whatsoever. I don't know if that is the quality and ease-of-use of linksys products or the efficient set-up now available in networking products. Whatever the reason, I am ecstatic at how easy and effortless it was. As far as wireless performance, I have found no problems in a spacious two bedroom apartment in LA. Granted, this isn't the newest fastest technology, but it is relatively inexpensive to start and really, really cool to have. Running wires all over the house was time consuming and looked ridiculous. Now my problem is solved!
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Good product, but setup and range can sometimes be a problem, January 26, 2003
By amazon35 (Florida, United States)
Although the Linksys Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router works well when it works, setup and configuration was somewhat of a hassle, and sometimes feels only shakily configured. Range goes to about 100 feet maximum, but this could be a limitation with the matching Linksys Wireless 802.11b cards, and not necessarily this Wireless Access Point itself.
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Great product backed up by great tech support :o), January 25, 2003
By unknown
Having recently gone through the frustrating process of purchasing DSL (I won't name any names) I may be prejudiced by the relative ease and positive tech-support experience I have had so far with the wireless router and adapter.I have been up and running for about 3 weeks with only one glitch that has required me to call tech support for help. Wait times are not long at all and the tech support people are patient, knowledgeable, and ultimately very helpful. Happy and satisfied with my purchase thus far :o)
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Dead after a year, January 25, 2003
By eddiedoyle (Seattle, WA USA)
Never had much of a problem with my router. Once I had to update the firmware, but that was it. Yesterday, I noticed that the WLAN link light was off and my wireless connections were no longer working. Called Linksys support and told them all of my troubleshooting procedures. They had me reset the router again and it still didn't function. Then they asked me how long I had the router. I said that I had purchased it around 1/15/02. They told me, "We're sorry but that's more than a year. We won't be able to help you." Apparently, the wireless part of the router burns out (I can still use the switch ports to connect via cable). I paid around [$$$] for this last year. I would have expected it to last for more than a year - or at least have been given some assistance in fixing it. Beware - you may have to replace this annually.
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Easy installation -- but set up your security!, January 25, 2003
By Mongo (Chicago)
This (the version 2 model) installs quickly and easily. If you're using it as a stand-alone router, you shouldn't have any problems. But, if you're going to install this behind a hardware firewall, such as the Linksys BEFSX41 Firewall Router, you've got to tweak several settings. The manual won't help you there, so contact the Linksys customer service folks and they'll send you the info you need. They are fast, sharp, and courteous -- far ahead of the industry average!After you install this, you MUST change some settings for basic security. Remember, this is a radio transmitter, and anybody living in, or driving through, your neighbourhood can easily log on to your network if you leave the default settings alone. They may also gain access to the computers on your network. Unfortunately, the manual doesn't do a very good job of explaining the changes you need to make to the SSID, password, WEP, and MAC filters. But Linksys has an excellent article in their knowledge base that explains everything.
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Best of the lot, January 23, 2003
By vinayg (Somerset, NJ United States)
I must begin by admitting that I am a novice as far as networking is concerned. All I wanted was to setup a wireless connection to my laptop with my cable modem brodband connection. I began with D-Link (AirPlus 2.4Ghz Base and wireless adaptor). Installation was not a problem, but performance was. I could have lived with it, but there was another hassle which required to hard-reboot my laptop everytime it went into standby. I have Windows XP, and although D-Link specifies that it's product works with XP, it doesn't. I exchanged both router and adaptor and this time got the Microsoft base station and wireless adaptor. Life was great - easy setup and excellent performance... but only for two days. Third day the base station died. It just wouldn't power up. I called microsoft tech support and after half an hour, he advised me to return the base station. Apparently, there was this well known problem of base station resetting itself every now and then and in that process it could get stuck for good (as mine did). As a final trial, I bought the Linksys router and the Linksys wireless card for notebook. Installation was a snap. It's been 10 days since I last saw my router (which is in my basement). It's doing it's job without getting itself much attention. I guess that's how these things are supposed to be.
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Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL Router, January 22, 2003
By Xuan Le (pearland, TX United States)
definitely need improving. Here what I see after 5 days:
first time set up was so easy. It reconigned my cable modem and ran right away. The problem started when I turned off the pc. One the pc (Win XP) turned back on, it could not get the DHCP address from the router so of course no Internet connection. Had to repower off router, modem and pc in this order for it to work. Try it several time and got the same symtom. Upgraded firmware still not resolve the problem. Still can not get tech support because i was on hold for too long.
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Highly Recommended - Great Support, January 20, 2003
By Bill@TheMiddletons.com (Colfax, IA United States)
I actually bought the wrong thing when I bought this router. I already had a LinkSys 4 port router, but I wanted to add wireless connectivity for my laptop. I should have bought just the wireless access point without the router. After looking at the documentation I couldn't figure out how to configure a second router on my network. I searched the web and only found information saying that I shouldn't have two routers. So I sent an email to LinkSys support asking if I could make it work. I sent the email on a Saturday and received a reply on the next day (Sunday)! They gave me instructions how to configure both routers and they are now up and working great. Wireless is more expensive than wired, but makes things very convenient. Both LinkSys routers I have have been rock-solid, easy to set up, and the tech support is the best.
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Good for the most part, January 18, 2003
By K. C. Haugh (Madison, WI United States)
Great and easy to set up if you're not doing anything crazy. Beware of some of their VPN troubleshooting techniques, though. Techs had me DOWNGRADE my firmware to the last "stable" version for what I was trying to do. Not exactly confidence-inspiring.
Overall, a very stable and reliable product.
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