| Linksys WPC11 Wireless-B Notebook Adapter |
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Model: WPC11
Brand: Linksys
Manufacturer: Linksys
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 417
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: Microsoft Windows 2000
Form factor: Plug-in module
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: IEEE 802.11b
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| Features: |
11 Mbps high-speed transfer rate
Advanced Power Management features conserve valuable notebook PC battery life
Compatible with Windows Windows 98SE, ME, 2000, XP
Rugged metal design with integrated antenna
Works with all standard Internet applications |
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| Description: |
| A IEEE 802.11b wireless Type II PCMCIA-type network card giving you wireless Ethernet access up to 1,640 feet away / For Windows Rugged metal design with integrated antenna Advanced power management features Compatible with Windows 95, 98, Millennium, NT, & 2000 To use with your desktop PC, add the Linksys WDT11 Instant Wireless PC Adapter |
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| User Reviews (417 total): |
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Mature Technology - Go for It, July 3, 2002
By Ken of Brookeville (Brookeville, md USA)
...I purchased the Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless 4-Port Router and the WPC11 Laptop Card in June 2002. Both are working well after an easy setup. Based on my admittedly small sample, plus other reviews here and elsewhere...This applies to these Linksys products and I suspect to those by other vendors too. I recommend doing as little as possible during setup and let the devices attempt to figure out basic issues. The Router worked out of the box with no setup, nor need to load drivers or such. Configuration of the router via a web-based interface is easy for basic operations. I was able to change the wireless network identifier and enable encryption with no trouble. The Card was a bit more of a hassle on a NT 4.0 Laptop, which according to the Linksys doc is because 4.0 is not plug-and-play. After installing the Linksys config software, the Card works, though it does ask after each boot up to upgrade the Card's firmware, then crashes NT when I tell Yes. Giving it a No prevents that problem. I'll fix this someday. Wireless speed and connectivity are excellent to very good, in fact I've not seen speed drop below the 11mb max anywhere in the house. Regarding complaints about doc, yes the Linksys doc doesn't cover how Networking works and the Help info is often skimpy, but, neither does a car owner's manual explain how to overhaul an internal combustion engine. Both tell you what the switches do; if you want more you must consult other sources. ... Wireless works well and if you're considering it, go for it.
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Linksys [Stinks], July 1, 2002
By tim (San Jose Ca.)
Linksys [stinks]. Netgear is by far a better product. Not to mention their routers are made out of aluminum rather then plastic. If you want a serious PCMICA card get Orinoco PCMICA cards. They have better security and are just the best period.
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WEP with XP Home Edition extremely unreliable, July 1, 2002
By Arthur E. Lyman (Dobbs Ferry, NY United States)
With either 64-bit or 128 bit WEP, my laptop running XP Home Edition can not reliably connect with my access point. I have a Netgeat MA401 on another machine and it works flawlessly. I am returning the Linksys and getting another Netgear MA401.
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WPC11 / WinXP Not a happy marriage, June 29, 2002
By Cheezr (Boynton Beach, FL USA)
after my second card and second go around w/linksys tech support I am giving up and returning the card. Linkysys is either shockingly incompetent or unwilling to play with WinXP (you decide).
The install instructions do not match the supplied software.
The software dated 5/31/02 on their website contains drivers older than the ones on the CD (dated 1/8/02).
Unless you enjoy spending hours fooling around w/drivers and tech support do yourself a favor and get a different brand.
I borrowed an enterasys card and it plugged into WinXP, configured itself and is working perfectly withoug the 2 month drama with linksys.
I no longer accept this kind of BS from companies that want me to purchase their products, screw them if they cant get it right (after a year)
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Unpredictable., June 26, 2002
By Rheumor (New Orelans)
I have used the same card in several (3) different laptops, and although all were running Windows XP, the setup was different every time and the reliability has varied too. It still won't work with my HP Omnibook 6000 (not at all!), but worked in 15 seconds in my Compaq 725. Go figure!! My original review is appended... worked and then it quit. I had to call Linksys (on a Sunday at 10 AM, wait time was less than 5 mins) and spent 45 minutes on the phone with them figuring out what was wrong. When we finally tried all the tweaks, it was working like a champ. However, we did so many things that neither the tech nor I could possibly know which one thing was really the issue (was it the firewall setting, the DHCP, the WEP?....we'll never know). Anyway, in my one-story ranch home, a good quality signal fades beyond 60 feet. When placed right next to the antenna (which was how I did the set up), speeds approach those of the wired PCs on the network. Anyway, if setup were easier, I'd give it 4 stars.
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Linksys is the way to go Wireless, June 26, 2002
By pcsupportforyou (Columbus Ohio)
If you want to spend time with your laptop roaming about your home, choose this product. I have installed four of these cards on different networks and found it to be a painless experience. The range has always been acceptable though not up to advertised ranges, it has freed my clients from there desk allowing them to use their notebooks throughout their businesses. I guarantee my customer's satisfaction and I don't hesitate to recommend this card to my customers.
I haven't tested this card with NT but it is easy and friendly in XP Home, Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE.
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Works great once you get past the set-up, June 25, 2002
By tinahaidl (Orange County, CA)
Once you get this product working, its great. Even if the signal strength indicates "low" it still works just as fast as the wired hook-up. However, the installation of the card was troublesome in Windows XP and the user manual was of no help. The CD set-up disk drivers and the internet drivers didn't work. The card appeared to work properly in the device manager, but it wouldn't communicate with the router. After about an hour with tech support we uninstalled the device (for the third time) and restarted Windows to allow it to detect the new hardware (for the third time). But this time when the set-up wizard in Windows asked where to locate the drivers, we checked the box that lets Windows XP locate its own drivers, rather than giving a file location. This fixed the problem and now the card works great!
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A great wireless card, June 17, 2002
By thetexasboy (Round Rock, TX United States)
I use this wireless card with my IBM laptop and my SMC wireless router. No problems in setup (Read your instructions carefully). Did both the router and wireless card setup in an evening and it's run like a champ since.Excellent range. I normally use this on a different floor and end of the house from the router.
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Does not work with NT, June 13, 2002
By Dave (Washington DC)
This product has awful support for Windows NT. After installing the produt the instructions said to re-install all Service Packs!!! But my regular wired network card was no longer working in order to download the service packs! This install totally hosed up my PC. I got my PC back in shape and then installed the Netgear card of similar stats without any problem. Linksys should not claim this card has NT support.
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Happy until..., June 12, 2002
By William Auld (Portland, OR USA)
I purchased a PCcard last December (about six months ago) and have beem mostly satified with it until about two weeks ago. This is when the card started to act flaky. Over a very short time it went from a little flaky to being unrecognizable to WinXP (PnP would just shut the card off). I checked it out in another system (Win2K). The card had the same problem. Linksys support is not being very flexable. I explained to them the problem. I am at work and the machine is at home so they will not do anything. They will not step through their trouble shooting steps with me without the machine. They will not even tell me what the steps are. They may replace the card but I don't like the service!
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Not there yet, June 12, 2002
By David C. White (Seattle, WA)
I built a small wireless network using the WAP11, the WUSB11, and the WPC11. After hacking through the install, being demeaned by Linksys technical support, they finally admitted that the WPC11 "DOES NOT WORK" with the WAP11. They say that they need a firmwire upgrade on the WAP11 to get things straightened out. Whatever it is, the whole system is flakey at best, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, at best it's a [gamble].I have purchased many Linksys products over the years and have had nothing but great success. The wireless products just aren't there yet, don't waste your time or money.
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Beware, wpc11 has only marginal support for winXP, June 9, 2002
By Cheezr (Boynton Beach, FL USA)
after 20min on hold linksys told me that 1st card was defective, one week later got new one and was after 1 hour of struggle able to install under winxp. linksys webstie has basically zero info on using their products w/winxp and the wpc11 xp driver was written in Jan and not updated since.
A friend had similar probs and had to get a 2nd card also. on my pc after 30 min or so using wireless card pc freezes and must be rebooted. no explanation..
if i had it to do again i would have looked for a product with better win xp support. I regret this purchase, the functionality has not been worth the pain.
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Works like a charm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, June 6, 2002
By unknown
I installed this product along with the wireless 4 port router over this past weekend. It was up and running in less than an hour. I have a old home with plaster and lath walls, and I can connect with my laptop from any room in the house. My internet connection is a good as my wired desktop. I also tried it outside where I was able to get an acceptable connection from about 400+ feet away. If you plan on going wireless, this product is for you !!
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Works like a charm on Mac OS X, June 2, 2002
By David L. Van Brunt (Indianapolis, IN USA)
I have an older Mac Powerbook G3 ("Wall Street" model) that came out before the Apple Airport wireless card. So I have to use a 3rd party card.On OS 9, I was limited to whatever wireless card had a Mac driver. But since OS X is Unix, I found a free open-source driver for many wireless cards including this one ... , and it works great with this card. I've had no problems, set up was easy, and the range is good with the SMC Barricade wireless broadband router.
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Wireless Laptop Network Adapter, June 1, 2002
By net
Easy to install, just accept defalts, works all over house at 80--100% signal strength and signal quality. Make sure you get version 2, 2.5 or 3. The earlier version was no damn good.
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Worked like a charm, June 1, 2002
By Pawan Vora (Broomfield, CO USA)
I was a little skeptical after reading some of the negative reviews. But this product worked very well for me. I got a Linksys Wireless Router as well... and setting up both of them took me about 30 minutes. No problems whatsoever! Because I used my laptop with a DSL router before (also Linksys), I had to release and renew IP addresses... that was the only piece of knowledge I had to use that was not provided in the manuals.
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Amazing! Linksys is the easiest!, May 31, 2002
By Natalie Kilpatrick (Omaha, NE United States)
This little network card gets me everywhere around the house in a Compaq 2805US with WinXPPro.Wanna know how easy it is to set up? Slide the PCMCIA card into your notebook, use the setup disk that comes with the card, and that's it! You don't even need to restart the computer! It is absolutely awesome. I can walk from the kitchen to the backyard to the bedroom with no disconnection ever! A must have for all homes with notebooks! Update July 7, 2002: This card will stop working if the notebook has been on for quite a while and is hot. It's almost impossible to keep it running after the first time of disconnection, so you must allow the computer to cool down.
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Good value, bad config utility, May 30, 2002
By Computer Enthusiast (Jersey City, NJ)
I purchased this card to work with a linksys wireless access point (befw11s4 v.2). I have version 3 of this item, which has significant upgrads from the previous cards. The configuration utility in the lower left corner of the XP screen does not work that well. I had to call tech support and go through a series of diagnositics to determine that the correct changes I had made previously were not updating from the configuration software to the card. I had to go directly into the network properties to set up the pass phrase for the encryption, change the channel, etc. The card actually works quite well once configured, I'm using it right now! I would recommend this product, however; linksys needs to update the configuration drivers to match all the possible settings. I don't look forward to the day when I have to add additional sites to the list.
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Initially difficult to set up but works well now., May 25, 2002
By John J. Cheyney (Irving, Texas United States)
I got this to hook my laptop into a wireless network to share my cable modem between two computers. I got a Linksys BEFSW114 v.2 to mate with it. Initially I could get it to connect with the router but couldn't transfer data. The install was difficult because the Windows XP drivers for this card do not come on the CD. You have to go tho the website to download them. I have the WPC11 v.3 and it is not easy to find the right drivers for this model. Finally I got in contact with Tech Support and had to manually enter the IP and DNS data to get it to work. It now works fine and is able to cover my entire two story house. I am happy with my purchase, despite the difficulties. I am not sure why a device would ship without the proper drivers. I would like to give it three and a half stars but I will round up for the great help from Tech Support.
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Great range ... Now, May 21, 2002
By unknown
For some reason this stupid thing kept dropping off line with a lost connection. The only way to restore is to reseat the unit and you are good for another 10 minutes.Picked up another one to see if I had gotten a lemon the 1st time and it seems to work just fine with no drops. I've return the lemon and will keep you posted.
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