| 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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Linksys Wireless Router Unusable in Wireless mode, August 23, 2002
By unknown
I bought the Linksys Wireless 4-port Cable/DSL Router and 2 WMP11 cards. The router worked fine with direct CAT5 connections, but totally failed with wireless connections using the WMP11 cards. 2.5 hours on the phone with Linksys support did not solve the problem. I eventually solved it myself, but Internet connection speeds went down 100x, from 1.5Mbps to 12Kbps. Distance from PC to router was 18 inches, and signal strength was 100%. I am returning the equipment.
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Easy to use; couple with WUSB11 for best results, August 22, 2002
By weissjc (Hanover, NH USA)
I have two of these now, one connected to a wireless access port (WAP11) in one house, another connected to the new Linksys cable modem in the other. This router is easy to set up, with virtually no configuration changes no matter which entry device I connect it to.I have had some problems (wireless network goes down completely for a moment) with the one connected to the cable modem. I suspected they were heat-related, since I was stacking the devices and the cable modem runs hot. Linksys suggested that maybe the cable modem was "interfering" in some way with the router. In any event, it is much more stable now that the two devices are separated, although this obviously takes up more footprint in my house. My final suggestion is to use the USB wireless connector (WUSB11) for PCs that need to be on the network. I have found that I get stronger, more reliable connections from farther away than I can get from my PCMCIA wireless card in my laptop. In fact, one of the WUSB11's is easily 50 feet from the wireless router, through floors and walls, in the basement, and gets nearly 100% signal strength. The point is, it matters what device is on BOTH ends of the connection to make it work best. All in all, I am very happy with all of my Linksys products, and would recommend an all-Linksys setup to first-time buyers.
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Linksys Wireless Just Works!, August 21, 2002
By unknown
I have a Linksys wireless cable/dsl router, which I use only to share internet connections among pc's in my house. Set up was easy -- the instructions were clear and accurate. More impressive is the ease with which wireless clients can see the network and just hop on.For example, I use an Apple iBook, and I was hesitant to get an Airport card, worried that I'd have problems getting it to see the pc-based Linksys router. I know that 802.11b is supposed to be "compatible" across the board, but ... well, we all know how that works (or doesn't work!) sometimes. Nevertheless, I took the chance, and everything worked perfectly. The Airport card saw the network immediately, and I was on the internet from my iBook a few seconds later without a single glitch. Impressed, I bought a Netgear wireless usb adapter for another pc in the house. Unfortunately, it didn't work at all. After working over an hour with tech support, I decided to trade it in for a Linksys wireless usb adapter. Best move I made! The Linksys unit found and communicated with the router within minutes after it was out of the box. Connection speeds are amazing -- indistinguishable from the pc that's hard wired to the router. I can't tell you how pleased I am with the Linksys router and wireless adapters -- they just plain work!
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Simple and Effective, August 20, 2002
By VodkaPundit.com (Colorado Springs, CO United States)
My broadband connection is in the basement. My wife's computer is on the second floor.Now, I could either buy a wireless Wi-Fi router, or tear up a bunch of walls and install a couple hundred feet (or more) of network cables. The only question I had was, would this LynkSys router be powerful enough to travel up two storeys and through six walls. The answer, surpringly, was yes, it is plenty poweful. So not only are my wife and I sharing a fast internet connection, complete with firewall protection, but it took me only twenty minutes to get everything set up. And I'm no computer specialist. If you're looking for wireless connectivity for your second computer, your laptop, or your home network, I can't recommend this product highly enough.
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Excellent product !!, August 20, 2002
By unknown
I've tried other brands of wireless router with mixed results.
Could not get full speed in my kitchen and on the balcony.
Usually 1-5Mbps, low signal.Didn't expect the Linksys BEFW11S4 to be much better, but I wrong. The Linksys BEFW11S4 v2 was amazing. I got full speed (11Mbps) all over my apartment, on the balcony, even outside the house.
The ultimate test was to take my laptop down the street to a friend of mine (150 meters away). My laptop reported 11Mbps and full signal strength....Wow!
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Quick and easy install and works like a charm, August 17, 2002
By Mike Horn (Austin, TX USA)
Fantastic product. Installed in minutes and extremely strong signal.
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Excellent Product, August 16, 2002
By paul (Plantation, FL USA)
I had a very easy install. I downloaded the useres guide and studied it for about an hour before I bought the product. The instructions which come with the router are very basic, all the advanced functionality stuff comes on a CD. I highly rcommend reading the users guide first.
I have two desktops(one ME one 2000) in one room and then a laptop for the wireless(windows xp).
It took 10 minutes to hook up router to modem and router to PC's ethernet cards.
It took 2 minutes to set-up PC's and 5 minutes to input router settings.
Bam!! Both PC's working on Cable Internet after reboot!
The laptop was even easier. Install CD, Install Linksys wireless card. Sit and watch it automatically set-up(20 seconds). Re-boot,
Bam! Highspeed cable internet less then 2 minutes.
Download speeds off NVIDIA's site for free USA ARMY GAME download: 23 Meg file I got the following download speeds:
PC1 WIndows ME -- 180kBs
PC2 Windows 98 -- 160-180kBs
Laptop Windows XP -- 110 kBS anywhere in the house (thru 3-6 walls single story)
Excellent buy - easy install. Hope it lasts a long time.
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Wonderful!!!!, August 15, 2002
By Steven Hintzsche (Garnerville, NY USA)
The Linksys router and wireless card works like a charm. I had things set up in about 20 mins. My wife can access her work computer via her VPN connection and the only configuration I had to do was the log-in for our DSL modem! Later that night, I spent about another 10 mins. to share our printer (never possible on the Panasonic unit as far as I could tell!) and was printing out the rebate info from our laptop in the living room.I would highly recommend this product.
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Works for me, August 14, 2002
By flannery626 (Washington, DC United States)
I'm not a "techie" - yet, I was surfing wirelessly at home on my computer in less than 5 minutes after opening the box! Then, I followed their step by step instructions on how to set up the highest level of security. I didn't know that anything computer related could be so easy to use. I called tech support just to walk through installation. Tech support is easy to reach, although the guy I spoke with had problems coming down to my level of little tech expertise. The tech support website is exceptional - they use step by step pictures. I use Windows XP. I was totally covered by the directions provided.
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even a dummie like me, can set it up., August 8, 2002
By dlevine01 (East Brunswick, NJ United States)
Ok, just got it yesterday and hooked it up in under 10 minutes. Now, read the instructions, but really just put the cd-rom in your drive and follow the prompts. Do not forget to wear a white shirt and tie, and ill fitting chinos, so you look like the geek from your office. Now the important stuff. The cards for the other computers take a little longer, but don't give up. Now my house has 3 desktops (2pcs and an Apple)., plus my Jornada 720 clogging up the internet. HANG TEN!! and have a great summer
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The Best value for an all in one wireless router !! A+++, August 8, 2002
By Smail Haddad (Torrance, CA United States)
I was amazed with this product (actually I bought the ver 2.0). as soon as I plugged everything and turned on my laptop that has a lucent wireless card, like by magic everything was working without any setup or changes from my side. Really impressed ++++I have a cable modem from time Warner (RCA Modem) and a laptop with a Lucent wireless pc card.
Good product 02 thumbs-up...
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~!@#$%^&*()_+|}{":<>?/.,;'[]\=-0987654321`abcdeFGLMNOPQR, August 8, 2002
By unknown
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I forget I even have it!!!, August 8, 2002
By unknown
I've had this since November 2001 and after I set it up I almost forget that I have it! Setting up was easy as plugging the cables. Very little configuration to do. Range is reasonable and covers almost my entire 3-story house. I enabled wep encryption and am port forwarding so I can have some servers running on my network acessible from the outside. I'm not sure how strong this firewall feature is but it's an added security.
I've never had problems with it and even when the power in my house goes out and comes back up the linksys just restarts itself as it was before.
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excellent, August 7, 2002
By Roger Hsueh (Cerritos, CA)
linksys quickly made a name for itself for innovative high quality consumer routers. this one is no exception.
i use this wireless AP/broadabnd router with my new iBook, kudos to linksys for using web based administration interface, so i am not locked into a MS-only solution.
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BEFW11S4 ver. 2, August 7, 2002
By Daniel (New York, New York United States)
The linksys wireless router is a wonderful piece of equipment. Be careful to only flash the firmware through the "help" page on the router's config, or it gets [messed] up. Placement is everything. I had it on a table 3 feet off the ground, and the signal was terrible. 10 feet away, 40%. I moved it 2 feet higher on a shelf in the same place, and now it is perfect. 100% from 10 feet away, 70-60% from 30 feet away. If you choose this, place it high. I have 2 wireless desktops, and 1 wireless laptop.
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Working after 2 days of setting up, August 6, 2002
By unknown
When first set this up seemed to work great out of the box but then the signal from my comcast cable modem kept dropping. Since I know relatively little about routers and I've read that Linksys tech support is pretty bad I unhooked the router and plugged the modem directly into my computer and searched the internet for someone with a similar problem. After I cloned the MAC address this thing works like a champ.
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Easy setup, works great!, August 4, 2002
By angiodan (Cape Coral, Florida USA)
I had my wireless laptop, 2 hardwired desktop PC's and X-Box (bring on X-Box Live!!) up and running in less than 30 minutes. This product is great. Wireless range throughout my home was excellent. Read the instructions, and for most users you'll have no problems.
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Fair product, horrible support after it died, August 3, 2002
By Don Archibald (Jamestown, NC USA)
The router was simple to install. It worked well for 3 months and then died. It took 2 days to get tech support to tell me it was dead, then an additional 5 days to get an RMA number. They then make you pay shipping back to them so they can replace it. They claim to return ship it in 3 days but it is now over 4 WEEKS and I still do not have it back even after 5 phone calls.
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Can't be beat for the price - but you get what you pay for., August 3, 2002
By S. Moon (Lower Maryland)
If you want wireless, this router will do the job nicely. With 128-bit WEP, it's minimally secure enough to deploy in a home environment. However, contrary to company literature and the users guide, it will NOT allow the designation of MAC addresses as 'go/no go.' All it will alllow is "no go." So the MAC filtering that is advertised only works to cut off a networked computer from accessing the Internet. Fine if you're controlling your kids, but not so fine if what you want is to positively designate the computers that are allowed to use the wireless system in your home (to avoid hacking).
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It works!, August 2, 2002
By unknown
I just bought this item along with two wireless network cards and a USB wireless access point from the same manufacturer. I have read some disturbing reviews of problems with the installation so I thought I should report on my success. I hooked them all up to their respective partners (cable modem, an XP and a 98 notebook, and a 98 desktop) and everything works! All three systems cruise along at 11 mbps in three corners of the house with no perceptable effort. I realize that it's early days yet but so far I'm sold. I will give 5 stars if everything is still working in 6 months.
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