If your wireless network knowledge is limited, adding this card to an existing could be frustrating, since the printed insructions are minimal and no glossary of LAN or internet terms is provided. My LAN is based on a Linksys BEFW1154 wireless router and two other WinXP computers, so it took me longer than expected to figure out which IP, DNS, DHCP, gateway, WEP encryptation and SSID settings to use on the Win98 system and how to enter them in the SS1021 configuration utility program. Solving these issues using a web-based tech support system would not be fun.

After I got the card talking to the router, the notebook crashed repeatedly from a corrupted operating system file, which required reinstalling the system. This was my fault, since I forgot that any PCM card installed on this notebook requires the sound card interrupt and I/O address settings to be manually changed from the default, even though Windows Device Manager shows no conflict with other hardware.

A distances of 10-12 from the router, but the data transfer rates seem comparable to the WinXP boxes and it hasn't drop the connection once in 8 hours of operation. When moved to the other end of the house (~75 feet and one masonry wall away) the data transfer and conection quality are unsatisfactory. My HP WinXP notebook's integral wireless system is unfazed in the same distant location. I downgraded my original rating to 2 stars due to the poor performance at larger distances from my wireless router.

Here's an update on this card. It quit working 4/27/2004, and on boot-up I get a message that states it is not working and should be reinstalled. After repeated attempts to load drivers and the configuration program, I even reloaded the operating system. The light on the card, indicating it is locked onto the wireless router, is on all the time, even during bootup. It used to blink until it locked on. The config program will not run. Whether it's a hardware or software problem, or a combination of both, the hassle of using this card in not worth it.

Final downgrade to 1 star based on Siemens tech support personnel agreeing card had failed (it would not install and operate in another notebook), but refusing to honor warranty since it was bought on-line. The card got very hot when it did operate; I think the heat killed it.

My advice: stay away from this brand all together. Buy a more known brand (linksys, netgear or so). Not this one. Not the greatest support. No updated drivers. the router does not support UPnP.
Not that satisfied with this product. Would not buy it again!!

As soon as I started the installation, Windows 2000 warned me the driver were not certified. However I just ingored the warning and the installation completed sucessfully.

It works with my SMS 2404 WBR wireless router. However the signal strength is always about 50-60%, and the link quality never surpasses 60-70%, even though my laptop is just 3 ft from the router. For reference, my other Trendnet TEW-221PC card works just fine, with quality and signal strength approach 90-100% most of the time.

Most anoying of all is its problem with DHCP. 3 out of 4 times I don't get IP address (DHCP). Remove and put it back a few times help. Another trick is change any parameter and "apply" (so that the card gets restarted) also helps sometimes. My other card does get this problem but rarely.

Will try to return it next week.

My advice -- don't buy this card unless you can try it out in your notebook immediately!

Siemens Wirless Network Card Status icon down at the task bar shows Signal Strength as "No Signal". The only problem is that there IS active connection being transferred between router and PC Card. Also, this PC card would not work at all with a friend's Microsoft Wireless Router.

So far by following the intructions, I have been unable to fix the "ACT" (activity light bar) on the PC Card to stay "On". When data is being transferred, the light blinks as supposed to be. The light does not light up when data is NOT being transferred. Instruction states that when there IS connection, the ACT bar should stay "ON" and blink when bytes are being transferred (or when it is activity scanning for a "channel"). ACT light bar in the "OFF" position means that there is NO live connection, which obviously is not accurate in my scenario.

I give it such low rating because even if there is something in the configuration that I am missing to complete properly, the signal strength is extremely weak compared other wireless router.

I installed the software. The connection was continually dropping and reconnecting even though I was 10 ft. from the router.

I went to Siemens site to get updated drivers and this did not help.

Save yourself the headache do not buy this card if you have XP.
Read the newsgroups it is a known issue.

I have 2 laptops. One laptop is connected to internet directly. I installed this wireless adapters in both the computers and was able to share the internet connection through my first laptop which is connected to internet.

For people with a desktop and a laptop this is a great buy. This setup don't need a wireless acess router. I got this one from circuit city ....

I tried microsoft adaptors a week ago and it did not work in peer to peer conection.

I am not very knowledgeable about computer hardware but the installation of the the PC card and related router was not difficult. I also wanted to be able to use a printer connected to the desktop computer. I was able to set that up as well. I did contact a customer service rep at Siemens to walk me through a configuration problem. She answered the phone quickly and solved my problems immediately.

Try it, you'll like it!