It couldn't possibly be any easier. Great product!

Installation was a breeze. After attaching the router to my computer and cable modem, I downloaded the firmware update. Following the instructions in the guide accompanying the Router, I made sure all the settings were correct for my Win 98 and Win 2000 systems. Everything worked fine on the first try.

My Win 98 desktop is attached to the router with a Cat 5 cable (you'll probably want to get one of these if you don't have an extra: Belkin A3L791-07-S Category 5e Snagless Patch Cable). I often use both my desktop and my laptop at the same time without any problem. I have also been able to FTP to my laptop from my desktop when transferring large files.

The biggest benefit is I can use my laptop anywhere in my condo and the surrounding area. I can actually take my laptop to the restaurant downstairs and work while eating lunch.

Because of this relatively wide area of connectivity, I decided to enable the WEP 128-bit security. Using the passphrase method worked fine, and I haven't noticed a reduction in speed (though I assume there is).

I don't have any information about using this router with other wireless cards, so I can't comment on compatibility other than the 128-bit security is listed as proprietary to Linksys. If you already have a card from another manufacturer, you might try a router from them or find a friend or business with a wireless router that you can test against.

I tried several other routers and wasn't very pleased. They didn't perform as well as the Linksys, despite the FTP problem. After Linksys released this new version, I purchased it hoping that it would work better than the original. It does! The wireless signal works better now that it's a 2.4ghz signal. Plus my FTP problem went away (once I went to Linksys' website and upgraded the router's firmware to the latest version). I highly recommend it.

Oh yeah, I drink coffee on the front porch with my wireless notebook. Video streams, mp3 streams download at 300k and up from my cable modem in the house.

Dr. Kioni
Port St. John FL

Additionally, Linksys support has been outstanding compared to other tech companies. They had the wrong Firmware update on their site and I downloaded it and tried to install it and it fried my router. I called them and was actually able to speak to a person! They kept escalating my call to higher levels of tech cupport and was able to reverse the effects of the damaging incorrect firmware. Kudos to Linksys!

Here are two things to consider: (1) you don't know whether you will get a v1 or v2, and if you get the old one you are stuck (like me -- and they will not replace for a v2) and (2) if they treat their v1 customers this way, do you think they would do it also to their v2 customers?

D-Link has fabulous products, so does Speedstream and SMC and Belkin.

When the day came, I disconnected the wired network, installed the wireless software, and put the card in my machine. I powered back up, and although I had 100% signal strength and 100% signal quality, the link was terrible - I could only download a few KB of data before losing a link, and I couldn't even connect to my router's configuration page.

I made a quick call to Technical Support and they suggested that I upgrade my drivers and firmware in both products. I was skeptical, but I did anyway, and it worked just fine. Since then, I've moved my router to the basement, two floors below my computer, with floors and walls in the way, and you'd never even know. I run with good signal strength and quality, and I never notice loss of connection or errors on downloads. I've been very, very pleased with this purchase!

I've owned one of these for about two and a half years now and have yet to have a problem with it.

Couple of things to note:
By default - Allowing administration of the router from the interet is turned *ON* - First order of the day is to turn this *OFF* unless you really need to have access to it from the internet.

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