| Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router |
 enlarge
|
Model: BEFW11S4
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 1078
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
|
|
|
| |
| 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 |
| |
| 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 |
| |
| User Reviews (1078 total): |
|
Easy to setup, you should flash it right away, August 31, 2005
By M. Chamberlain (San Francisco, CA USA)
My previous 802.11b router finally failed after 4 years of constant use, and I was dreading buying a replacement. I hadn't been keeping pace with the drastic drop in price for 802.11b devices! Talk about a pleasant surprise. I figured that since my wireless PC Card investment is still in (b) technology, and this router was so cheap, I'd stick with 802.11b and give the BEFW11S4 a shot.
I did notice as soon as I connected to the admin interface for the router that it was running an old version of the Linksys OS. I suspect that all of the 802.11b routers you'd find today will have been sitting on a shelf for quite some time... So I wasn't bothered by a quick visit to the Linksys web site where I pulled down the current firmware (under 400kb), and updated the router with it (under 2min process from start to finish).
It runs great. I get at least 30% higher throughput than my previous router (I think it's tied to having a faster processor in the router itself) when it's under load - like when I have two wireless clients downloading large files from the internet at the same time.
It's range is also better than my older unit. I now get reliable links (through two walls and a floor) at about 75' from the router. My older device range was about 50' - and I used to get dropped connections from time to time. I haven't gotten a dropped connection once in the month that I've been using the BEFW11S4.
|
Run away run far away, August 30, 2005
By Talpaman (Charleston, South Carolina, USA)
I should have known things were bad when they sent me a broken router to begin with. I have nothing positive to say about the Linksys company and will never buy another Linksys product. When I got my brand new modem and router and plugged everything in, none of the house laptops received any signal. After calling Linksys about the problem they initally blamed me and it was only after days of fighting that they agreed for me to send my router to them where they would evaluate the problem. It was over two weeks before they returned my brand new router and when I got it back it was no longer a brand new router, it was a refurbished one. It worked well for just over a year. Then the warranty expired and the router began to experience severe failures. Tech support was called and after hours (no exaggeration) of arguing they would finally patch the problem and it would work again for a few months only to crash again and start the headache over.
|
I love Linksys products, August 28, 2005
By M. Gorthi
This router is awesome. It is easy to install. It is like Install once and forget about it. No troubles till now.
|
very good!, August 27, 2005
By Xia Juan Wang (NY, USA)
The quality of linksys is good and the price is affordable. Don't install it by its CDs. Just unplug the modem and router and connect them well to the pc. Power on modem first then plug router. You'll find it's easy to access to internet. If you want to change some settings of linksys, open your IE and enter 192.168.1.1 in address bar. The original user name is blank and password is "admin". If you want to reset your router, press the bottom behind it. Have a nice try with this amazing product!
|
Great product, August 25, 2005
By John (San Francisco, CA)
I've had this router for about 2 years now and so far, its been great and worth every penny. I had cable for a year, then when I moved got DSL. I've never had any problems with it and its very simple to use.
|
Routers wih rebates are always buggy, August 22, 2005
By Mohit H. Vora (San Jose, CA, USA)
Till now I've bought 3 routers (D-Link, Netgear and now Linksys). I've always got them when they have rebates offered on them. Now I know that they are refurbished and not worth the money.
This router required restarts every 2-3 days and its quite irritating.
|
Don't waste your money on this product., August 12, 2005
By Hernan Cunico
I bought this wireless-B broadband router about 2 years ago. It was price convenient and provided a pcmcia wireless ethernet card.
The first impresion you get is WOW, this is very simple. You get carried away with how simple it is to get it to run the first time. Well, that's about it, I have nothing else nice to say about this P.O.S. product.
The Quality of Service is terrible. Once the router is fully configured to match your home network needs (I mention this because you spend some time customizing ports but the problem shows up with or without customization), it is just unreliable.
The connections drop all the time, you are browsing just fine at good speed (with cable modem have an average speed of 5Mbps) and all of the sudden the next click (or any other action over the network) never gets resolved.
You can no longer resolve any domain names nor ping anywhere else. I did problem determination just to ensure it was the router and nothing else. Initially I thought it was just the wireless, so I focused on that. Today I can tell that this problem is mainly on the wireless but still you have problems with the wired connections. The relation is about 10 to 1.
I have updated the firmware several times where Linksys tech reviews for those updates were mentioning that "some users" had similar problems and those problems should be fixed in the new firmware update. Well, I have read that more than 3 times so far. I no longer believe them.
Sometimes you can recover your connectivity by just powering the router off/on. It has become common task to pull the plug up to 10 times a day. Some other times you have to be more drastic and do a hard reset loosing all your customizations.
This product is a piece of junk. If you like to waste some money, give it a try, you may be one of those lucky ones that get one that actually works.
|
This product is garbage, August 11, 2005
By Xrlq (Richmond, VA)
Rarely a week goes by that this thing doesn't lock up for no apparent reason and have to be rebooted. I've called tech support and the best they could do was guide me through a firmware upgrade or two, which did not fix the problem. After my experiences with this hunk o'junk, I do not recommend purchasing anything with the name "Linksys" on it.
|
review, August 10, 2005
By Alexei Rudnev
It works very well for me. Keep in mind, i live in 1 bedroom apartment!
|
Excellent for the Home User, August 5, 2005
By reader and published author (Iowa , USA)
I had this router installed and running within 20 minutes. It works great with my desktop pc plugged directly into it, and I as well as my neighbors utilize the wireless connectivity it offers as well. No down time. Easy to configure. An awesome buy!
I love this item! Not sure why everyone else had issues with it. I'm quite pleased.
|
|
|
Going Wireless Couldn't Be Easier, July 29, 2005
By M. Chandler (Seneca, SC USA)
I own a G4 MAC and the Befw11S4 couldn't be easier to setup! Just follow the instructions. I own a 4000 square foot home the router is downstairs and the computer is in an upstairs bedroom and works great. I plan to install a second PC in my basement and this should be no problem. If you have a range problem verify that antenna is connected the airport card. This is an excellent router I would recommend it to anyone.
|
Barely usable, unstable and constantly aggravating, July 18, 2005
By David Hauslaib (New York, NY)
I've been using this Linksys wireless router for over a year, so I've got some experience with it. In a word: terrible. Sure, sometimes you can manage to get a wireless signal, but otherwise it'll suddenly drop for no reason, then refuse to let you reconnect. Unplugging it and plugging it back in might help, but who wants to do that a half dozen times a day just to maintain a constant connection?
I've tried all the workarounds, from updating the firmware to using a secure connection - and nothing really helps. Oh, and when I do get a stable connection, it's horrendously slow. Somehow, as the connection goes through the cable modem to the router and then to my laptop's wireless card, the speed is reduced to dialup sometimes.
I would not recommend this product, unless you regularly purchase electronics as a means of masochism.
|
Sometimes great, sometimes very unstable, July 4, 2005
By cranky iconoclast (Chicagoland, USA)
I use this device for DHCP and NAT between my DSL router and my other wired and wireless machines. Sometimes it works great, and I have no wireless coverage problems.
Other times, it seems to have major DHCP issues. It will hand out the same IP address to wired and wireless computers, or it will just drop the wireless connection and has to have the power pulled in order to fix the problem (which also disrupts connectivity for the wired users). I've recently upgraded firmware, but that hasn't helped.
I would not buy another device from this manufacturer if (when) I replace it.
|
Awfully unstable product., June 11, 2005
By Boston Cream Pie
It works.. but sometimes it doesn't. And then, after working for a few minutes, it suddenly doesn't work. Then it *may* start to work, but eventually it will stop working anyway... (I hope you got the point)
|
Lost connection in 30 minutes, June 8, 2005
By pengyj (Petalumca, CA United States)
If you surf internet lightly, this router may be good for you! However, you will run into connection lost problem if you have heavy internet traffic.
My DSL connection is 3M/512K. After configuring this router and upgrade to latest /greatest firmware, I fire up eMule and BitTorrent client -----> This router choked within 30 minutes. I thought it's my configuration, No, it's the router. Check dslreports.com, lots of people complain connection stall problem with this router. Or you can just do google "BEFW11S4 issues v4", and you will believe me!
Conclusion: Stay away from this router!
|
No problems..., April 23, 2005
By GG (Sunrise, FL USA)
I have been using it with DSL connection for the last 3 years. never had a glitch.
|
Don't buy Linksys!, April 12, 2005
By L. R. Fenstermaker
I've had nothing but problems since getting this router, which recently came to a head in a 7-hour tech call. During this 7-hour tech call, they had me install a new version of the firmware, which resulted in the router not working at all. Linksys offered to ship me a new one, but I needed it immediately for my work. They told me I would have to pay for rush shipping EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE THE ONES THAT "BROKE" IT!! Their customer service was horrible, so I called the corporate office and found out that there was actually another level of tech support that they never even sent me to. The corporate technician was able to help me by suggesting that I simply get a different type of router (too much interference from my neighbors' wireless systems). Although they had indeed rendered my system useless, they likely would not have been able to fix the original problem. Why couldn't the original tech have just given me this information and saved me the 7 hours out of my workday? I went out and bought a Netgear router that evening, and so far, it's worked excellently. I understand Linksys is supposed to be of superior quality, but if anything goes wrong, don't expect any sort of quality tech support.
|
Worked for six months, April 8, 2005
By Greg in Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Easy setup, great at first. Then it started dropping connections and acting flaky. The problem was not my DSL provider (SBC), because a direct connection to my PC always works perfectly.
Then, about three weeks after the warranty expired, it stopped transmitting any wireless signal.
Thanks, LinkSys!
|
Good router overall, with flaws, February 21, 2005
By sohmc (College Park, MD United States)
I've had this router now for little less than a year. I've had some major issues with it.
I use this router to share the one IP that I get through my university to 7 computers (I know, a lot for one guy). According to tech support, this router isn't designed for T1 speeds. It was only meant for cable/DSL and there will lock-up every once in a while. This doesn't make any sense to me but I'm sure they are right. Every couple of months, the unit will stop working without rebooting. I've already sent it back twice (spending about $15 on return shipping).
I'm not sure if this behavior would change in an non-university environment. I've asked them if I could upgrade to another unit. They said no.
Other than that, this unit is poorly designed. You only have 10 spaces in which you can forward ports. I wanted at least 20.
It seems if you go with Linksys Wireless-G routers, you can install third-party firmware which will extend this. I'd recommend getting it, or going with anouter manufacturer.
|
Fails after months of use, February 19, 2005
By R. Beyer
I have noticed this router typically begins to fail after 6 months of use. By fail, I mean it starts dropping connections and has trouble reconnecting to the WAN.
A router should not have to be reset (or unplugged) every day. IT should just be plugged in and work constantly.
My router started getting flaky after a year, but my mother has gone through two of these in one year.
I think its time Linksys get to addressing their customer's concerns.
|
|
|
| Copyright 2001-2007 WiFiReview.com |
|