sprint_sucks's Full Review: Linksys Instant Wireless WPC11 Network Adapter
For my birthday a few months ago, I bought a LinkSys Access Point and DSL Modem Router, as well as this Instant Wireless Network PC Card.
I didn't have DSL at the time (was between providers) and I could not get the software for the Access Point to install on my PC.
But, it was a no-brainer to get this card up and running with the laptop. The software installed fine and put the card in and instantly it located the Access Point.
Even though I hadn't been able to get the Access Point installed, the card was receiving a signal from it, and was able to get on the internet (using the dial-up from the PC connected to the Access Point).
I've since changed some settings on the now-installed Access Point to make its wireless connection more secure. In its stock setting, all LinkSys wireless products that use the same protocols can communicate with one another. But to keep others in my apartment complex from potentially tapping into my connection, I changed some settings. That meant changing settings on my laptop as well.
The nice thing is that you can create profiles. That way, when I take the laptop into work, where they have a LinkSys access point (a wireless connection box without a built-in router), I just select a different profile and am online, able to tap into the T1 as well as access the company's network files.
I know there are several other competing products. I haven't heard anything good or bad about them, and haven't used any of them. So I can't really speak to how LinkSys compares, except that this card has been incredibly easy to use and really extended the life of this laptop that was pretty much given to me because it had been retired, too old and too slow for today's modern apps. But still fast enough to run IE and Office 97.
I would assume that it has to be somewhat of a drain on the laptop's battery. I use it in an old, slow Toshiba with 32 MB of RAM running Windows 98 with a color 800x600 screen. I'm able to use it on batteries for over 2 hours at a time, though I often use it plugged in since there are power outlets all over the place. Then I can leave it on longer, or leave it on for periods of time where I'm not using it so that I don't have to sit through the shutdown and startup times.
The only thing I don't like is that the card sticks out more than an inch past the side of the computer, because of the antenna. (The black part of the picture above, that's beyond the metal.) I know this is important, but sometimes I find myself coming close to knocking it up against another surface, like a desk. I'm not sure how strong it is, but I don't want to find out. So as long as I'm careful, there won't be a problem, but this probably something inherent in all oversized PC cards.
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