Actiontec Wireless G Router and Network Cards

Reviews: Networking

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Richard Poelling
Brian
Actiontec
Oct. 3, 2005

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Introduction

The wireless market has expanded far and wide from the days of old 802.11b. Now, not only do we have 802.11g products, but many vendors have used proprietary technology to boost those speeds far above the basic 802.11g. Unfortunately, this throws the interoperability idea of a standard out the window. For those individuals that purchased laptops or other items which work with the "g" standard, proprietary transmission protocols are worthless. Why spend money on technology you really don't need or can't even use?

Not every company is doing this; some like Actiontec have decided to focus on the standard, and only the standard. This means that if you have purchased an 802.11g product, then it will work with an 802.11g router. There is no need to troubleshoot settings and switches within the router just so can browse the internet from your laptop. Simple and to the point - or at least that is what I am told. For just this reason I have in front of me three of Actiontec's wireless G products: the Cable/DSL router, USB wireless adaptor, and PCMCIA notebook card.

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Page 1: Introduction
Page 2: First Looks
Page 3: Setup
Page 4: Router Features
Page 5: Router Features Continued
Page 6: Testing & Conclusion

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7 User Comments

1 - Posted by blackjet on October 4, 2005 - 10:34 am

what does the 802.11 and the letter following it ie b or g stand for?

2 - Posted by handrail on October 4, 2005 - 12:37 pm

in short....

b = 11Mbps transfer rate

g = 54 Mbps transfer rate

3 - Posted by Rich on October 4, 2005 - 12:41 pm

Check out this article for more info.

http://www.thetechlounge.com/article.php?directory...

4 - Posted by blackjet on October 5, 2005 - 4:21 am

good article, u just cant beat a GB wired connection for gaming with mates tho! when u think wireless will ever get that fast? if ever?

5 - Posted by Rich on October 5, 2005 - 8:18 am

Some of the new "pre-N" routers are much faster, but it is still a wireless link. I personally would rather run the wires, but then again, I have so many wires now whats a few more. The thing I hate the most is that there is so much overhead and other stuff that is involved with the transmission of wireless signals that it may say 54 Mbps but it is really 25 Mbps. The "speed boosted" options that are advertised as 108 Mbps are actually sitting at the 50-60 Mbps range of the previous standard.

6 - Posted by blackjet on October 5, 2005 - 8:59 am

yea i perfer the wires too...

7 - Posted by Rich on October 5, 2005 - 6:13 pm

Wireless is good if you can't run wires, but a Gigabit connection can reach speeds of 300-500Mbps. Show me a wireless that runs that well and then I will think about it.

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