So, as suggestions for future buyers: open well your eyes as to what type of network you want this package to run onto. PPPoE can require some skill/luck and patience. When first installing the base, it's a good idea not to assume anything about the options you are presented with by the setup wizard. Click for help and understand what all the options on the screen can be about. Only then can you make your selection and hit next. As well, in an environment with different providers for the network adapters, be careful about the configuration of the non-Microsoft card. You need to know the name of the network, the encryption key, etc. Knowing (how) to use the web interface, once the base is installed, helps a lot. The IP numeric address is provided in the help section; you introduce it on a web browser and things will move from there.

Had the folks in Redmond done a more thorough testing of, at least, the major types of install in the U.S. and either documented properly or built the whole package not so sensible to, what I consider, slight variations of install steps/conditions, it would have deserved a 5 star rating. However, since this is not the case, Microsoft Wireless-G Notebook Kit barely gets a 4-star rating. Watch this space for an update in case anything deteriorates within the next 30 days.

We were happy with the 500. However, the 820 is a dramatic improvement. We are noticing even better reception around the house and much faster data transfer, going from 802.b to 802.g. Only one little speed-bump with the installation wizard. An error message popped up, but after closing it, the wizard seemed to continue on its own. It finished the job successfully.

I noticed that Microsoft included multiple stickers/warnings in the packaging instructing you to install the router & notebook card ONLY AFTER the wizard tells you too. We had some trouble installing the original mn-500 because we jumped the gun and plugged in the hardware before we were supposed to. Microsoft will probably get far fewer service calls thanks to all the stickers.

You could have two computers connnected with 128 WEP encryption in about 20 minutes after opening the box. Don't skip the encryption section of the wizard. Without WEP, anyone with a wireless card could view your shared directories and use your internet connection. Someone in my neighborhood is using an unsecured wireless network. My laptop can see it! With one click, I could be on it.

I would recommend this product. It's my second Microsoft router/card system and I'll probably go with Microsoft for another future upgrade.

As for calling them, I called and was greeted by someone in US and he promptly handed me to somebody in India and I swear I couldn't understand them (spoke to 2 people).

Lousy hardware and service...

AVOID AND GET REAL WIFI PRODUCTS FROM LINKSYS, NETGEAR, DLINK OR HOST OF OTHERS.

PS - good riddance by unloading it on ebay.

After that initial problem, everything worked fine...great connection speeds and good range as well.

I only give it 4 stars because of the initial problem that took me almost 2 hours to fix, but well worth the money after a couple weeks worth of use.

I was set at channel 6, switched to channel 1 (planning to run through them all 1 by 1). Channel 1 appears to be working well. I'll know better in a few days. If not, I'll start working through them all. Like E.H., I show no other networks, but something is causing interference.

If you have this problem, start changing up your channels.

As for setup and operation (aside from the above glitch) it was amazing. Very, very, very easy. I believe I was up and running in 15 minutes with my desktop, laptop and WPA encryption.

Edit 01/07/04: Nevermind. Been through all the channels and still having the same problem. Going to scrap this unit. Too bad too, because otherwise it was near perfect.

Updating the software was easy, since the product automatically checks to see if there are any updates available each time I boot one of my computers. Everything is working great, right away.

EDIT-12/12/03. I found the issue. The channel I was using was the problem. I was using channel 5 instead of the default channel 6. Once I swichted it to channel 6 everything was fantastic (maybe something in my area was causing interference with channel 5 - there are no other visible wireless networks in my area). The signal strength was strong. I even tried blocking the signal as best as I could, but no matter what I did the signal remained strong and download speeds were unaffected. Its a great buy!!!