| Netgear MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card |
 enlarge
|
Model: MA 401
Brand: Netgear
Manufacturer: Netgear
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 153
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
Form factor: Plug-in module
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: IEEE 802.11b
|
|
|
| |
| Features: |
Wireless connectivity for notebook PCs
High-speed 11 Mbps data rate
Operating range up to 500 feet indoors and 1,650 feet outdoors
Supports Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000
5-year limited warranty |
| |
| Description: |
| NETGEAR's MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card gives you total freedom - it allows you to stay continuously connected to your Local Area Network without any wires. Roam freely throughout your office from one access point to another and continue to send and receive e-mail and use other network resources, such as files and printers, at 11 Mbps speed. Quickly and effortlessly network your employees, including those in remotely located offices in your building, minus the time and expense of Ethernet cabling. Standards-based 802.11b technology and 128-bit Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) encryption provide your network with the highest level of reliability and privacy. Designed for PCs running Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, and 2000, the MA401 performs with a wide range of wireless Internet services available in airports and hotels, and supports the vast majority of notebook PCs. |
| |
| User Reviews (153 total): |
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 of Total 8 Pages
|
Disappointed, August 26, 2003
By cabintrail (Avon, In United States)
I bought this for my husband to use so he could work at home. The signal has trouble reaching is work space from the router. If the product is touted as a "home" product I would think they would take into consideration some obsticles for a wireless card. Why go wireless if you have to be so close to the router?
|
Works great with NetGear's MR814 wireless router, But..., August 17, 2003
By Kurt A. Pochert (Hartland, MI USA)
Works great with Netgear's MR814 wireless router but my new Compaq 2500 54g enabled laptop does not work with the router. The 54g standard SHOULD work with the MR814 as it is a 802.11b system, but it does not. The card works fine, but do not fully expect Compaq's 2500 54g enabled laptop to work with the MR814 router.
|
Excellent wireless card, August 16, 2003
By D. Schwartz (Seattle, WA United States)
After attempting and failing with a Linksys wireless PC-Card, which turned out to be defective, I slipped this baby right in, followed the on-screen instructions and was good to go. It's reception never lets me down. I successfully connect to a Linksys wireless router and a Netgear router on a daily basis without any problems. In fact, I have to do little to no configuring.I run Windows XP Professional Edition on my laptop and it works great with this wireless card.
|
Works well, but not too laptop friendly, August 7, 2003
By Rob Riker (Pittsburgh, PA)
Installation was quick & troublefree. I get a little less than 100' range indoors (through a couple of walls & a floor). Biggest problem is lack of support for various laptop power-down modes (e.g., standby) and hot-unpluggability. With this in, my laptop won't standby unless I turn wireless off AND close a bunch of apps. If I need to remove the card (the computer doesn't fit its case well with this sticking out the side) I need to shut the OS all the way down. Odd, for a device obviously intended for laptop use! I figured I just needed to update the driver, but after failing to get it to upgrade & asking the mfg multiple times for help, the eventual response was not to bother, the new driver wouldn't help: standby etc. is not supported.
|
Great Wireless PC Card, July 21, 2003
By Jeffrey Claman (New Jersey)
Slipped the card in the PCMCIA slot in my laptop. Followed the directions. It pretty much self installed and works as advertised. I recommend it!
|
Range Claims exagerated, July 9, 2003
By Jeffrey S Endres (Indianapolis, IN United States)
I got everything to work right out of the box pretty quickly and easily. Have three computers running through it, one using a standard rj45 cable, which works quite well. The other is using the MA311 PCI wireless card, and a Dell laptop using MA401. At a distance of 80 to 90 feet through the house the MA311 gets a 30% signal at best, and the MA401 gets 0% and will not connect to router. Tech support stepped me though a few things. But ended up telling me it's too far away from the base station, and that it was not really designed to function in a 2-Story Environment. I have limited experience with this type of networking but it seems that with a claim of 500 feet max range, an 80 foot distance should be working much better.
|
So Far, So Good, July 2, 2003
By TheBucket (Minneapolis, MN USA)
Bought this PC card along with the Netgear 814 router. Easy, easy install, and has worked flawlessly so far. Can use all over my 3000+ sq ft house with a strong signal. Tried to go across the street to the neighbor's, but that must have been too far (the router is in the basement, so it's not the best place for long-distance surfing). I've been at a couple of friends houses with wireless networks and have connected without a hitch as well. I'm vcery pleased - especially for the price.
|
Netgear MA401 802.11b Wireless PC Card, June 26, 2003
By unknown
Card works great, does the job, and doesn't get dropped signals. I would highly reccomend this product.
|
Gets the job done, all the time, June 20, 2003
By Mehmet Haciomeroglu (Arlington, VA USA)
I am using this Card for over 4 months now. I paired it with a Netgear MR814 wireless Router. Never failed to work. Covers a honest distance. (Doesn't loose reception through 6-7 walls, still gets reception in an apartment that is 3 apartments next to my apartment). I used it with a Windows 2000 and a Windows XP machine and both combinations worked out well. I sometimes lost connection momentarily in the Windows 2000 machine but I can't blame the card for that since the machines were different as well.
|
Easy, Fast and Reliable, June 11, 2003
By voraciousbookworm (Brooklyn, NY United States)
I'm using this card with the Netgear MR814 router and I'm very happy with the results. Link quality is excellent, and I have not been disconnected once. I don't know how easy it is to configure with other brand routers, but with a Netgear router setup is a breeze.
|
|
|
No effort required, June 10, 2003
By L. Myers (Murfreesboro, TN United States)
I recently purchased a ThinkPad 600E on eBay with the intention of running Redhat Linux 9 on it. I spent a fair amount of time researching Wi-Fi cards that should work in Linux. I ended up buying this one at Staples(for much more than it costs here) and it works with Redhat 9 out of the box. Seems to have good range as well, although I only use it at home and don't get that far from my AP.
|
Setup needs some work., June 6, 2003
By jaj69 (Southeast Georgia)
Over all I like this card. I did run into a minor problem (for advanced users, would be a bigger problem for average users). During the installation of the drivers the configuration software was not installed like the instructions said it would be. I had to manually install it and set it up to start when the systems starts. After that was installed configuring the settings was really easy. Performance wise I can use it in every room of my house, without any real delay. (Compared to cable networking) I have used it to print on a networked printer. I'm really happy with this card. Transporting and storing it is easy because it is small and lightweight.
|
Does what it's suppose to do., June 5, 2003
By unknown
I use this with the Netgear MR814 router and they both work fine. I have a laptop with Windows XP. Installing the PC Card into the laptop was just plug n play. All I had to do was stick it in the slot, and that was it. I was connected in a minute. No problems what so ever. It does what it's suppose to do.
|
Download speed [stinks], June 5, 2003
By unknown
I bought this card along with NetGear MR814 rounter. The download speed on a cable modem using this card is around 30-40kbps while using the direct connection to PC is more than 100kpbs. I don't know whats wrong with this card, but I'm not satisfied.
|
good so far, June 4, 2003
By sopecreek (Marietta, GA)
I used orinoco silver card for about 3 years before it died on me. I thought about buying the orinoco gold card but tried to give a try on Netgear products.So far so good, can't see the difference in range within my house. The AP (Lucent RG1000) located upstairs room, and two laptops running downstairs in living room and family room, no degradation in signal quality comapred to my old orinoco.
One discrepancy to note: the warranty is for 3 years, not 5 years as advertised here or in Netgear.com hoempage. The warranty card clearly shows that. Kind of odd...
|
New to wireless networking, June 1, 2003
By S. LUNZ (Cincinnati, OH United States)
I'm using this wireless PC card with the NetgearMR814 802.11b
wireless 4-Port Cable/DSL router base unit. Now I have a great wireless network in my home and with the adapter for my second desktop computer downstairs, now all my computers run flawlessly off of the one hardline cable modem connection. Installation was very straightforward for all the components and with all the rebates being offered, this looks like a great option. ...Wireless cable modem RULES!
|
one-step installation. superb signal strength., May 23, 2003
By Lu Fu (Columbus, Ohio)
it works very well with Windows XP and a microsoft basestation. its basically plug n play. as long as the installation cd is in the tray, windows xp installs the card automatically.
signal strength and speed are both excellent.
|
Perfect, May 10, 2003
By unknown
It just works. It is still a little pricey though for a little wireless adapter.
|
net where? :), April 30, 2003
By mipsv (Boston)
I bought this card because it was not very expensive. It sets up as well as can be expected but its best suited for a laptop thats not going to move much. My concern with this card is that it has a non-moving antenna (blueish part in picture - it sticks out about 2 inches (and is as wide as the PCMCIA card ( sliver part with sticker)and you cant get too much stuff by it or the link suffers or drops off. This card is best if: 1. you are in the same room as the wireless router.
2. dont even think of using the microwave if your doing something important! (in general this is a 802.11b issue, to be fair)
3. you CAN afford to get a better card if cant move your laptop (or pda I guess) or get sick of moving it to find a signal.
4. you have (or get someone with) some networking experience.
5. dont care that your buying a "16 bit" PCMCIA card. remember, 802.11b has a max through put of ~10mbit. Thats not what you always get depending where you have your equipment setup. Infact you might have to do some serious experimenting to get a connection you can really live with. as with any card make sure you use WEP and a firewall or you will be "hacked"....(sigh). the manual tells you what WEP is and if you own your wireless router that manual does also. to sum up: I have one - its ok. I might by another one if is on sale but not for more than any other card.
|
Works great with Windows XP, April 30, 2003
By Michael (Paris, France)
I downloaded the latest drivers from the website and it works great with XP. The range is fine with my Netgear MR814. If you're having problems try changing channels on your router, often one channel has interference while others do not. I haven't had any problems that others mentioned, my hibernate works just fine. Just download the latest drivers.
|
Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 of Total 8 Pages
|
|
| Copyright 2001-2007 WiFiReview.com |
|