Amazon.com Product Description

A simple and inexpensive way to share your one IP address over yourentire network, the Linksys EtherFast cable/DSL router connects up to 253 PCs toa high-speed broadband Internet connection or to a Fast Ethernet or Ethernetbackbone. Configurable as a DHCP server or client, the EtherFast cable/DSLrouter acts as the only externally recognized Internet gateway on your localarea network (LAN). The router can be configured via SNMP to filter internalusers' access to the Internet and serve as an Internet firewall againstintruders.

The router features advanced functions such as dynamic and static port routing,DMZ hosting, filtering, forwarding, and quality-of-service capabilities. All ofthese functions can be easily configured through any networked computer's Webbrowser.

The Linksys BEFSR81 router comes with a one-year limited warranty.

Note: All Linksys routers now include a special edition of Norton Internet Security! Claim your free CD-ROM by calling (800) 814-0180, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific, seven days a week. ... Read more

Features

• Access the Internet over your entire network with just one IP address
• Offers port security, packet filtering, and internal user's access filtering
• Acts as a DHCP server for your network
• Configurable through any networked PC's Web browser

Reviews (49)

The BEFSR81 Works for Me
This product is doing everything I bought it to do, at a very resaonable price. It allows multiple systems to share an ISP broadband connection. It also acts as a firewall (attacks to the home PC have stopped according to NetIce Defender). Please note, that I am only using this product as a gateway and not a router!

Today, I share my ISP connection between home PC and work laptop computers {via a VPN tunneling product). I expect to have additional home computers in the future. I am confident that I'll be able to safely (securely) share printers and files between them.

I particularly liked BEFSR81's ability to configure the WAN port hardware address. This allowed using the home PC hardware address. If needed, this allows easy trouble shooting. I can remove easily remove the Linksys router and test the ISP connection with the home PC. If you do this, I recommend providing the original Linksys hardware address to the ISP in case the programming is removed. I did (no sense jeopardizing your relationship with ISP)!

The documentation was good, except around setting the hardware address. It is clear what to do to the Linksys router, but completely lacking in information about how to determine your computer's hardware address. For MicroSoft operating systems use either winipcfg for Win98 and ipconfig for NT or Win2000.

My last learning of interest, concerns accessing the router after you connect with the ISP. My ISP configured a proxy script on the home PC. I wasn't able to access router until I disabled the script (easily checked on/off in Tools/Internet Connection/LAN settings). This demonstrates the security functionality! The router's LAN address is on your private network. The Linksys router is a firewall between it and the public network containing the proxy server.

Excellent product for Home Networking and small Business.
The Linksys Instant Broadband EtherFast Cable/DSL Router is the perfect option to connect multiple PCs to a high-speed Broadband Internet connection or to an Ethernet back-bone. Allowing up to 253 users, the built-in NAT technology acts as a firewall protecting your internal network.

Configurable as a DHCP server, the EtherFast Cable/DSL Router acts as the only externally recognized Internet device on your local area network (LAN). The router can also be configured to block internal users' access to the Internet. A typical router relies on a hub or a switch to share its Internet connection, but the Linksys EtherFast Cable/DSL Router channels this connection through the blazing, full duplex speed of its built-in EtherFast 10/100 4-Port Switch.

I think - its the best in today's time..

Terrible throughput
Apparently some have success with this unit and some don't. I bought the V3 unit and put the 2.50.2 firmware on it and 50k is the best download speed I can get. Spent time on the phone with LinkSys and they said take it back. Weird thing is, my upload speed is over 200k, about what it should be.

throughput problem...
I liked the specs on this device so I picked one up today. I was especially looking for the QOS abilities as I often have a download in progress (ftp, scp, etc) and I want to give my web and ssh connections priority so I can do real work while the downloads are in progress.

Set it up, nice interface. Set the QOS to the way I wanted it.

Did some web browsing, file transfers, ssh connections.

Then after about 5 minutes I noticed that ftp's would suddenly 'stop' for 10-15 seconds, then resume (using hash mode so I could see progress). This is a linux to linux xfer.

It got really bad, then my web pages started slowing down. I was using MRTG to plot the traffic flow on graphs since the router does SNMP. Traffic showed an average of 56kbps on a 1.54mbps dsl connecting to servers one hop away!

I rebooted my pc, the dsl modem, the router, my flourescent lights and the the kid next door. (ok, I'm kidding about the lights. And the kid) Still jerky downloads, even when NO other traffic on the link.

After about a half hour of frustration, I put my 'old' SMC Baricade (about 2 years old) back. All the issues disappeared.

Sure wanted the QOS, but getting it meant I lost QOS. I hate to say it but I have had problems with other linksys stuff (56k wireless).

Taking it back to Best Buy, sorry guys you'll have to make Linksys pay...

Cisco Makes great stuff. I hope they can apply some of their abilities to Linksys. I hate to put in a negative review, especially since there (may be) other positive reviews. This is just my experience. Also, I am not an 'average consumer' but someone who has experience with 'real 'Cisco stuff, especially ds3 and gigibit routers. Please Cisco, fix these guys stuff!

Good for about 9 months - then flaky - then fialed
I set up a fairly comprehensive home network with all linksys gear. Three 8 port switches, a BEFSR81, a BEFVP41, and Linksys cable modem. All worked great for about 1 year.

After that time I started losing my internet connection. The problem was the BEFSR81. Only unplugging it/replugging it would clear it. Sometimes the diag light would come on, most of the time everything looked normal. It worked well for a year, but I had it in a very comfortable environment (in my dry basement with fans cooling all - cause I thought all this hardware ran a bit hot.) It seems from all the reviews here that this is the usual way this device goes. As a last ditch effort I was going to reload the firmware and see if that helped, even though I had reset the device several times. When using the linksys firmware install program the install died in the middle of the process and now I can't communicate with it or reset it at all.

I'm done with it. Don't waste your money or time on this product. So far my other linksys hardware has been OK, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. ... Read more

Features

• Plugs into a USB port on a Windows or Macintosh computer
• Provides one RS-232 male DB9 port for direct connection to serial devices
• Supports data rates up to 230 Kbps
• Draws its power from the USB connection -- a power adapter is not required
• Easy to carry -- weighs just 2 ounces

Reviews (4)

linux works just fine
Despite the first reviewers comments, the Keyspan 19HS works just fine with linux. The driver for the 19HS was included in the kernel source a while ago. Standard off-the-shelf kernels (2.4.24 and 2.6.5) work without any patches. In addition to regular usb support, my kernels also load the keyspan and usb-serial modules.

After executing "mknod /dev/ttyUSB0 c 188 0", I am happily communicating with Palms and GPSs using the new /dev/ttyUSB0 device.

Does NOT work with Linux even though it's advertised
I got the USA-19HS thinking it would be good to support a company that releases it's products with linux drivers. Well, what a disappointment this was, even though there is a picture of Tux on the box along with the Windows and Mac icons this model is not supported in Linux. I emailed Keyspan support and got an auto-repsonder that said they'll get back to me within 72 hours. It's been 4 days and still no response from them. Luckily this thing worked pretty well in OS X so I sold it to a friend of mine and bought myself another USB serial adapter, a keyspan USA-19, which is an older model with good Linux support. Although I replaced this purchase with another one of Keyspan's products I wouldn't support this company in the future and won't recommend them to anyone else.

Works great with OS X
I usually don't write-up reviews, but I am writing this to let those Mac OSX users (inc Panther which is what I am running) know that this adapter does work. I bought this for my Garmin etrex Legend GPS. I use it with my iBook and my Power Mac G4. It was a flawless installation. (1) I installed the Mac OS X drivers (2) told virtual PC to emulate COM 1 using the OS X driver, and (3) Download GPS map data to my GPS. It's that easy! Keyspan has good instructions to set up your serial devices.

Lets my Mac OS X iBook talk to my GPS
I bought this to hook up my Garmin eTrex GPS to my iBook running OS X. It did what it says. I transfer data back and forth without a problem. I use it with National Geographics TOPO map program also available at Amazon. ... Read more

Product Description

This pocket-sized storage drive uses Flash memory, plugs directly into any USB port and is PC and Mac®-compatible. With the sleek EP Memory USB Drive, you can store digital photos, MP3 files, PowerPoint® presentations, Excel spreadsheets, Word documents and entire applications.

Features

• USB 2.0 interface
• True Plug-and-Play connection for hot swapping
• LED indicates when drive is in use
• No drivers required for Windows® Me/2000/XP, Mac® OS 9.0 or later

Features

• Works with Windows and Mac operating systems
• 2 GB USB flash drive
• USB 2.0 interface
• Plug-and-Play connection for hot swap function
• LED indicates when drive is in use

Reviews (1)

Took two seconds
I had my laptop in my client's office and they wanted me to send them a few files.I also had this product newly received from Amazon and unopened.So, insteading of bothering with e-mail, I figured I'd try it.I opened the package, stuck the drive in my Powerbook, the icon popped up, I dragged the files into the folder, removed the drive and handed it to my client.She popped it into her computer (a desktop Mac) and dragged the files out.

How many times does technology actually work the first time?And right out of the box too?

Just make sure none of your file names have /s (backslashes) in them. It doesn't seem to like those, but I think that is a PC thing.

I have no idea if this is a good buy, but it had the most memory I could find in my two second search and I am perfectly happy with it.Granted, I have had it all of one day.



... Read more

Features

• Blanket coverage – none of the dead spots that other 802.11 devices might have
• Detachable antenna – gain better range and signal flexibility by positioning the antenna where you would like
• Multiple device recognition – connect to a switch and attach many devices to your WGE101
• Compatible with Windows® 98, Me, 2000, XP

Reviews (6)

Decent speeds in mixed mode
I already own the WGT 624 that goes b/g/super-g, and my laptop was just b, but I bought for the future when I got a g-bridge (mainly for my xbox).

With the router setup as b and g, I got throughput speeds of 2.5 megabytes a second from a different floor of the house from bridge to router, which is about 20Mbps.

I've always bought netgear products and I like the whole slick-silver design, and the ability to stack the units on top of each other. I already own the FS608 and could stack the bridge ontop of that.

My only problems with the router was how to add it to the access list. I figured out that you do NOT add the bridge's mac address, but instead any device that connects through the bridge to the router... so if you have 15 computers being bridged to the router, you have to add all 15 mac addresses to the router... that sounds like somewhat of a pain, but if you think about it, your network is that much more secure...

The reason I say that is, suppose you had a bridge connecting to an accesspoint to further spread signals within your network... well by having to add every mac address that goes through the bridge, you are individually authorizing everyone, instead of just allowing the bridge itself.

Anyways... I feel it's a good product and will continue to buy from netgear.

Works great with the Netgear WGT624
I just picked up the WGE101 from zoomfly.com, it works great. DIdn't have a difficult time setting it up, everything went smoothly.

Didn't work for me
This product didn't work for me. It refuses to communicate with my Linksys 802.11g Access Point/Router box. According to press reports other people have seen the same problem and the Netgear firmware in the WGE101 box seems to be at fault. What's odd is a Netgear 802.11g USB adapter works fine with the Linksys access point.

The Netgear bridge did work with the Netgear WGR614 access point, but I had to stop using the Netgear access point because it locked up every few days for some unknown reason.

Given my experiences with the WGE101 and WGR614 boxes, I think Netgear isn't up to speed yet on 802.11g technology.

Not useful for longer distance links
I am quite disappointed about the product.

I run a 5 mile link with two large external antennas with an old Orinoco AP-1000 and a Avaya PCMCIA client since over a year. It offers a stable performance and around 4 MBit/s on the application level (e.g. ftp) - this ist what you can expect from a 802.11b device. The link has about 10dB margin.

I tried to replace the PCMCIA client through the WGE101. After a lot of configuration trials I found out that Netgears algorithm that generates WEP keys from a passphrase is different from that of other manufacturers (Proxim/Orinoco and D-Link use compatible ones), and after filling in the right key the link worked basically. It has the same 10dB margin (tested with an attenuator), but the throughput is ridiculous - about 500 kbit/s downstream and 80 kbit/s (!!) upstream.

The signal strength of the WGE101 at the AP is even higher than that of the PCMCIA card; nevertheless the AP monitors a lot of FCS errors. Either the transmitted signal modulation quality of the WGE101 is so much inferior to the Avaya card, or there is a protocol incompatibility. The WGE101 displays RSSI of "39...56 %" (whatever this may mean in true dBm - it should be around -91...-81 dBm), always with a "green" bar, depending upon the extra attenuation.

There is nearly nothing to tune or to monitor on the WGE101, you don't see error rates or even the used data rate. No chance to e.g. lock the rate to 5.5 or 2 Mb/s. Nice for dumb users in simple cases but annoying otherwise. Though I managed to come through to the 2nd level support at Netgear they couldn't help me while being friendly.

Maybe the box works well for short indoor links. But do not use it for serious applications. Conclusion: if you buy trash you get trash...

Works as advertised w/ minimum fuss
Basically, just worked as advertised. Connected to D-LINK 624 (802.11g) on wireless side and small 10/100 switch on the other.

Full 128 bit WEP encryption is in place and works splendidly, with no noticable impact on performance.

DHCP services provided by router accross bridge to multiple PC's on wired network w/out issue.

This device is able to serve as a DHCP client as well, making network configuration pretty easy. Because of the IP range I use, I did have to set the network configuration while connected only to a single PC, then power down and attach to network. Once configuration was complete, however, fired right up and got itself and IP and was off and running.

Overall, very pleased. Good purchase for a good price. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

A waste of money
Most new dedicated fax machines will direct a call to itself or to the phone/answering machine. EVERY answering machine will let you plug the phone into it to take a call. A waste of money for anyone who doesn't have an ancient fax machine they don't want to upgrade.

An ingenious device!
This device works perfectly! It has many features and modes of operation but here is how I set mine up for basic use: I connect my incoming phone line to the input port, my answering maching w/phone to the TAD port, and my fax machine to the fax port. When a call comes in the Comswitch "picks up" the call on the first ring and listens momentarily for a fax tone. If there is a tone it immediately switches the call to the fax machine and then transmission begins, if it is a voice call it immediately switches to my anwering maching which then begins ringing, working as it usually does with any incoming call. For my answering machine connection, the only difference from before the Comswitch is that there is one addtional ring before the call actually starts to ring on the anwering machine. However, all of this is invisible to the caller. It also is supposed to work with voice mail systems too.

A great device.
I've got a Canon D680 Fax/Printer on a dedicated phone line. I wanted to utilize this underused phone number as an "info line" for my business with an out-going message on an answering machine. Even though the Canon has some setting for a tel/fax, I was unable to get the answering machine to work with the Canon by direcly connecting the two. Furthermore the Canon instructions said something about you needing to make your outgoing message very short, which I don't want to do.

Enter the ComSwitch 5500.

Plug your hot phone line into the back of the 5500, plug in your answering machine, plug in your fax machine, plug the power into the wall and presto --- it worked perfectly immediately without any tweeking!

Every call routes automatically & correctly to either my fax machine OR to my phone answering machine. The caller can't really discern any switching going on. It's very impressive, and quick.

It comes preprogrammed. If you need to make some changes to it the instructions talk about this but since I didn't need to I didn't even bother reading the instructions.

I recommend the ComSwitch 5500.

A good device that fulfills a necessary function
If you don't want to pay for a separate phone line dedicated to your fax machine, this is an excellent solution. It separates out fax calls from voice calls and routes each type to the appropriate device. All you have to do is plug it into your phone line and them plug the fax machine and telephone into their separate ports in the Comswitch. This item is also nicely priced at $... and is probably tax-deductible if you're using it for business. A cimple and elegant solution. ... Read more

Product Description

IOGEAR’s new MiniView™ Extreme Multimedia KVM and Peripheral Sharing Switch brings extra value to conventional KVM switches by offering USB peripheral ... Read more

Features

• Compact design for easy placement
• Eliminates need for multiple monitors, keyboards, mice, and peripheral devices
• Multi functional switch allows 4 USB or PS/2 computers to share 1 USB console and 2 USB peripheral devices
• Superior video quality,supports resolutions up to 2048 x 1536
• Easy installation: no software required, hot swappable

Reviews (9)

Attractive unit, works great.
This switch is a good looking, solidly built device. The plastic is accurately joined and has a sort of metallic semi-gloss finish that allows it to blend in gracefully on a desk next to fancy flat screen monitors and flashy keyboards and mice.

The proprietary cabling that it comes with is well made. It has color coded speaker and microphone jacks on each end with caps that are attached to the cord with a short tether. This is a nice touch that prevents the caps from becoming lost when the cables are plugged in.

Since I got this switch, I moved away from PS/2 entirely and now I run 3 computers via USB only. It took about 30 seconds for my Windows 2000 machine to recognize the device and then the keyboard and mouse attached to it. The Windows XP computers took considerably longer, about 2 minutes.

Once everything is recognized, switching between the computers is very fast, and takes about 2 to 3 seconds, depending on how fast you can press the button corresponding to the computer you want to use.

Unlike some of the other reviewers, I have had no problems getting my USB keyboard to work properly. My Logitech keyboard has all sorts of fancy buttons and features I rarely use, such as an additional scroll wheel, media control buttons, "internet" buttons, and so forth. These work perfectly, and indeed no differently than when I had the keyboard hooked up via a PS/2 adapter on my old KVM switch.

My only other complaint is that they provide a base that gives the illusion of being able to make the product stand upright, but with the weight of the attached cables and the fact that the console ports are on the front, this really does not work very well. Even if you do manage to prevent it from tipping over, you have all these cables in midair and there is nothing provided to help keep them out of the way. I find the unit works best when laid flat.

The device is functionally excellent, and looks great. After getting it all unpacked, and seeing how it is well made and how it comes with everything you need, it doesn't seem so bad that it cost $160. The delay for Windows XP and the under-engineered base keep this product from earning 5 stars.

Will work with docking station if using PS/2 cable.
To reiterate the comment by "D" below, this device indeed does not work with my docking station using the included USB cables, but I ordered the PS/2 cable and it does work (manufacturer part #G2L5302P).

Great quality video and audio with multiple OS
I just upgraded from an old PS/2 Belkin Omniview from about 1998. What a difference! Video quality is much better, as I'd expect - no more ghosting. I'm running RedHat Linux on Dell, Windows XP on Dell, and Mac OS X (Mac Mini) with no issues. I don't use the "shortcut" keys on my keyboard so I'm not concerned if they don't work.

NOT with port replicators or docking stations!
Though not mentioned anywhere on the IOGEAR website, this KVM switch is useless if one of your computers is attached to a port replicator or docking station. The device will simply not be recognized by the USB port. When I contacted the tech support line, they told me that it they do not support port replicators or docking stations though their website does not say so. Even then, there is absolutely nothing they can do for you except tell you to bypass the docking station.

Unlike some here, I'm very pleased
I have half a dozen computers in my office and have tried out (and spent a lot of money on) a variety of KVM solutions. This device, which I've used for several months now to control four computers, is my favorite; let me tell you why.

-- I prefer to use a wireless keyboard, and I've found that "hotkey" KVMs have real problems with some wireless keyboard, often requiring multiple attempts to get it to register.

-- I'm a fast touch-typist, yet I don't find "ScrollLock-ScrollLock-<#>" or "Ctrl-Alt-<#>" to be any faster or more convenient than simply reaching over to punch a button. Your mileage may vary.

-- Video switching speed is a lot faster than, say, the Belkin KVM+audio (F1DL102P) I'm using right now for two of my computers. The Belkin also causes a audible 'pop' on my speakers each time I switch.

-- The extra USB ports have made it easy to share USB devices among the four computers hooked up to the IOGEAR.

The only (momentary) problem that I've ever encountered with this IOGEAR KVM is when I switched to a Gyration wireless keyboard+mouse. The Gyration wireless receiver has a single USB connector instead of a PS/2 pair, and plugging that into either of the IOGEAR's front USB ports (keyboard or mouse) didn't work. However, I quickly discovered that plugging it into one of the IOGEAR's general USB ports in back worked just fine and actually has a benefit: when I run down the rechargeable batteries in the Gyration mouse, I just put that mouse back in its cradle and plug a USB mouse into the IOGEAR's front USB mouse port and keep working.

In short, I like this a lot. In fact, I came here to Amazon tonight to see if there was a two-connector version, so I can replace the Belkin. Turns out there is, and I'm ordering it. But I thought I'd write this review first. ..bruce.. ... Read more

Features

• Perfect for integrating your 10 BaseT and 100 BaseTX network hardware
• 16 auto-sensing ports operate in half-and full-duplex modes
• Switched 10/100 ports run up to 200 Mbps
• NWAY technology detects cabling type, speed, and duplex mode

Reviews (4)

Excellent Switch for Home use
I just purchased this switch and it works great. Here's some of the reasons why I recommend it.

Works great and it's relatively cheap. 5 minutes out of the box and it was up and running. I own several Linksys equipment and have not had any problems.

It stacks well with other linksys equipment. I also have a cable/DSL router and this switch has the same footprint so they stack together. Beware of the linksys 5 port or 8 port switches, they are much smaller and will not stack on top of a Linksys Cable/DSL router or Wireless router. The pictures make them look the same but make sure you look at the dimensions of the item.

The ethernet cables run into the back of the unit. I think this is plus for home use since it keeps the desk less cluttered. You can tell the status of the connection on the front without the cables everywhere like the Netgear switches.

Highly recommend this switch.

Works Great!
Speaking to reliability, our company (one of the DOW companies) bought several of these for a testing group over network products that our own company makes! We have used them for over a year now and have had absolutely no problems with any of them. I highly recommend them for cost and reliability.

As I said about its little brother, you can't go wrong
After an unfortunate power spike that fried 3 of the 8 ports on my old switch, I felt that as long as I need to replace, I may as well upgrade at the same time.

With the expansion of the wireless market, switches like these are coming down in price. Life is good. If you can accomodate the wiring it's tough to beat the Mbps/cost ratio that wired networking provides.

This switch is just as easy as its little brother. Plug it in, plug in the CAT5 and you are up and running. The LEDs let you know at a glance if there are any collision or speed issues.

This switch provides enough performance to share the DSL connection, play skipless music and video over the network and make the transfer of large files quick and easy.

With 16 ports, I doubt I will be filling out the switch anytime soon and I will probably upgrade to Gigabit networking before then anyways.

Best switch for home use
Had one of these for over a year. It is extremely reliable,
works with all of my other equipment (including Cisco),
and has lots of flashing lights (status LEDs). If I could
find any new ones for sale under [X]/each, then I'd
purchase two more. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The D-Link DUB-H4 2.0 is a Hi-Speed USB 2.0 4-port hub with backward compatibility to USB 1.0 and 1.1. It provides an out-of-the-box industry standard that allows connection of up to four USB peripherals or devices to your USB-ready PC or Mac.

The D-Link DUB-H4 2.0 is designed to provide quick and easy access to the four type A downstream ports for connecting USB peripherals, devices, or other USB hubs. A single type B upstream port connects the DUB-H4 to the host computer, or another USB hub enabling up to 127 devices to be connected by cascading multiple hubs.

As a standard USB hub, the D-Link DUB-H4 buffers USB data from any attached peripheral in compliance with USB specifications to provide an invisible extension of the USB bus. Supporting both low-speed (1.5 Mbps and 12 Mbps) and high-speed (480 Mbps) devices, each port creates a bridge between the peripheral and host computer.

Diagnostic LEDs located on the top of the device provide power state (self-power) and port status on each port. The DUB-H4 2.0 is packaged with all necessary documentation, a six-foot Hi-Speed USB 2.0 AB cable, and an AC power supply to ensure that the user is able to easily and quickly install and use the device.

The D-Link DUB-H4 comes with a one-year warranty. ... Read more

Features

• Up to 40 times faster than USB 1.1
• Works with PCs and Macs
• Connects more devices to your computer
• Backwards compatible
• Hook multiple hubs to each other to connect up to 127 USB products

Reviews (15)

No problems so far
I've had the D-Link DUB-H4 USB 2.0 4-Port Hub for about a week now. I've been using it with a Dell notebook running Windows XP. So far, the only devices that I have connected to it are an 80 GB external hard drive, a multifunction printer/scanner, and my Nikon Coolpix 3200 digital camera, all of which are devices that support USB 2.0. And like my title says, I've had no problems so far. All of the devices are running at USB 2.0 speed, and everything is running fine.

USB mouse periodically freezes
I have a laptop without PS/2 ports so I needed a USB hub to connect an external keyboard (MS Natural Elite) and mouse (MS Optical Wheel Mouse). Unfortunately, the mouse freezes for a complete second during high CPU times (about every ~1-10 minutes). I bought a much smaller SIIG USB 2.0 mobile/notebook hub (not the "mini hub" one which is bigger), and it doesn't have these problems. With the SIIG, you don't have to use the AC adapter, unlike the D-Link.

Fantastic
I ordered this Product on June 10th, late in the afternoon, I received it, via UPS, on June 11th, early in the afternoon.

I couldn't BELIEVE I received the Product in LESS than 24 HOURS.

And it works perfectly. Simple instructions - plug it in and it works like a charm.

I highly recommend both AMAZON and the Product manufacturer.

Excellent Product
It was an easy installation. No problem at all. The package came with Power Supply cord , AC Adapter ,and USB 2.0 Cable. I use Windows 98.

Works great, great price!
Just plugged it in and it works. No problems. (I'm using Windows 2000 Professional) ... Read more

Features

• High-speed, auto-switching 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet connection
• Up to 2000 Mbps on each port
• Integrates 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps within a network
• Provides Auto Uplink functionality on all 8 RJ-45 ports
• Supports PC or Macintosh operating systems

Reviews (1)

Gigabit made simple
This switch is exactly what I expected it to be: solid. Just like the other Netgear equipment I've used, the GS108 is completely hassle-free. My whole house was literally wired for gigabit Ethernet in no more time than it took to plug in the cables. I took it out of the box, plugged in the power cord, and plugged in connections (including a router and the patch cables to the rooms in my home), and went about my networking. It's completely idiot-proof, since all 8 ports automatically detect connection speed and uplink/downlink (meaning that no special cables are needed to hook up additional switches or routers). Plus, the indicator lights show which ports are in use, and at what speeds (10Mb, 100Mb, or 1Gb).

The form factor is great, too: At about 9 inches wide by 4 inches deep by 1 inch thick, it's small enough that I was easily able to place it inside the structured wiring panel, and so light that a little heavy velcro holds it fast. Plus, it doesn't put out a lot of heat; even with the door to the panel closed, it feels warm but never hot to the touch. ... Read more

Product Description

ProSafe 16 Port Gigabit Desktop Switch ... Read more

Features

• Space-saving desktop dimensions
• High-speed, auto-switching 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet connection
• Integrates your network's 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps devices
• Delivers up to 2000 Mbps on each port, silently and efficiently
• Honors Layer-2 802.1p traffic priority tags

Amazon.com Product Description

The Netgear FS605 is a powerful plug-and-play switch that connects at 10 or 100 Mbps and makes it easy to link as many as five computers or peripherals to your Ethernet network. You'll experience maximum performance for 10/100 Mbps devices with five ports that automatically sense the correct speed, and Netgear's Auto Uplink feature adjusts for different types of Ethernet cables. The FS605's sleek case has lights on the front for easy monitoring. Installation into your home network couldn't be simpler and, once connected and turned on, it begins cool and silent operation--without an internal fan. ... Read more

Features

• Plug and Play installation, no configuration
• Auto-detects speed and duplex
• Auto Uplink makes the right connection
• 100 Mbps access/200 Mbps in full-duplex
• Vertical option saves space on your desk

Reviews (8)

Inefficient power supply
Switch is fine, but power supply is the least efficient I've ever seen, producing 6 watts out with 23 watts in. There's no excuse for 26% power supply efficiency, when an 80% efficient design costs nearly the same. This power supply will add about $3/month to your electric bill.

Great value, great switch
This is a great switch, I use it to share my ADSL, it was just plug an play, no fuss, in three minutes I was running three computers, its also very compact and nice looking, the silver finish is better looking than Lynksys and Dlink. Well worth the price.

Their products have no warranty
Contrary to their claims, their products have no warranty at all (unless you pay for it). I have a 2 year old gateway router that had a 5 year warranty that stopped working one day so I called their tech support. The tech support person told me that since the product is over 90 days old and they do not manufacture it anymore, then I would have to contact their pay tech support line to get an RMA. If they are able to fix the problem over the phone line, then they will charge me, otherwise they will offer me an RMA number for a return. So basically you have to pay to use their warranty. A friend who is a lawyer is currently handling this situation.

Nice Switch
Its a basic but reliable, non-managed switch. Great when you need a simple solution with a good brand name.

works well, runs a little warm
This switch is as advertised. It works out of the box, without any problems, setups, uplink switches, or anything else. Just plug and play.

Silent, fan-less operation. However, it does get a bit warm to the touch. If fully loaded (using all ports at high volumes of traffic) and running in warmer room, overheating may become an issue. Even so, I'll take that possibility over yet another noisy fan in my office. ... Read more

Features

• USB 2.0 connectivity for up to 40 times faster transfers than USB 1.1
• Expands one port into four ports to support up to four USB devices
• Perfect for travel: compact, slim, lightweight
• Plug and play: ready to go, anytime and anywhere
• Power adapter ensures full power to any peripheral

Reviews (1)

Extremely thin, reliable, and easy to use
This is an extraordinarily thin and slick USB2 hub. I checked out many others at circuit city, and this was by far the most attractive.

- 3.0"L X 0.5"H X 2.25"W
- adapter: 5V 2.5A 12.5W, even the 2-prong adapter is slim! It fits "sideways" into your power strip easily without taking up two outlets =) I haven't seen an adapter with this ingenious design/orientation before.

The hub can also work without the AC adapter, but I imagine it drains power from my laptop. But it's nice to have the option.

As with any small usb hub, there's a chance that you may have difficulty fitting devices that are slightly larger than average, e.g. USB IR receiver for your mouse or some USB thumb drives. It was a tight squeeze, but I managed to carefully fit my receiver for my Wireless Optical Notebook mouse (Targus PAWM10) without too much trouble. The mouse also came with an extension cable for the receiver which would circumvent the tight fit, but that's just one more thing to plug in than necessary.) It helps that the receiver swivels 90degrees.

I've read reviews of other hubs, indicating that they overheat. I haven't experienced it myself. The Kensington remains quite cool. It is possible that without the AC adapter, it may heat up. But I'll leave that for someone else to investigate.
Connection is truly plug & play. The book even warns you about the alert when conneting backward to USB1.1 device.

I often have my pda, camera, printer, and mouse conneted simultaneously. I can't say that all devices are truly running simultaneously, but for someone who does average-to-heavy computing I haven't had any problems yet. I use my IR port for my pda now, so have freed up the port for my usb drive.

It's a great buy and very elegant--a great price through amazon. It will look great among your other trendy gadgets and fits conveniently in your laptop case, pocket, etc. ... Read more

Features

• Streams and plays MP3s and Windows Media format digital files from all of your networked PCs and Internet radio directly to your home stereo
• Compatible with your existing 802.11b or 802.11g wireless home network
• Remote control and vivid LCD interface for easy browsing of music collection
• Listen through your stereo, boom box, headphones, or powered speakers
• Compatible with Windows 98, 98SE, Me, 2000 or XP

Reviews (13)

Does what it says
I'm not sure what the reviewer from England was reading as the datasheet on Netgear's website makes clear that a subscription to Rhapsody is required for the internet radio functionality -- in fact that's the main reason I purchased it since I already can stream MP3s via Tivo but got sick of stringing cable around to get internet radio to the stereo. (Additionally, keeping the TV on all the time when streaming music can get tiresome.)

One advantage to this product is that it wirelessly streams MP3s (and WMAS) at up to 320 rather than the standard 128 rate that some of the prior competing products knocked down MP3s to (so you don't lose the quality difference if you've encoded MP3s at a higher rate).

It can take some time to get through the playlist but not unreasonably so. And the price is relatively cheap compared to other wireless streaming solutions.

PS. Make sure you upgrade the firmware and software -- it addresss a number of the complaints of the other reviewers (dropped connections, lack of Internet radio etc.) I also found that its very sensitive to interference from other wireless networks -- and worked much better when I shifted my entire network up to a higher channel.)

Great for Wired Rhapsody. Beware otherwise.
Good: The unit is attractive and solid, the sound is great. The unit's interface is surprisingly easy to navigate with the remote. If you have cataloged your MP3 music properly (playlists or MP3 tags), you will have no problem navigating a large library. Cataloging is not an issue using Rhapsody because it's automatic.

Bad: The wireless mode fails to connect, even though my dhcp server (linksys wireless router with all default settings) says an IP address was provided. As a network professional, I recommend against wireless if wired is an option for reasons mentioned in earlier reviews. As far as I can tell, it's mandate if you are not using a netgear hub.

The included media server is so bad that it's almost inoperable. It fails to operate as a service, requiring PC login elsewhere on the network. I was hoping that the unit could directly connect to Rhapsody, but that also requires a login to a PC. To get around the deficiencies of the media server, I manage all cataloging and playlists through Real Player.

Ugly: It cannot play internet radio. For that there is no workaround, and I almost returned the unit. I can only hope that one day Real Player can integrate with the unit.

Works Great !!
The only problem I encountered was with my software firewall (Zone Alarm). After I disabled it, the MA101 is flawless! Looking for a fix now. It streams my 300+ cd collection from my pc to my stereo with virtually no lag time. Also installed the free 30-day Rhapsody software. Again, hardly any lag time between songs...even when using the shuffle feature. I'm very pleased!!

FYI: Athlon XP 2500+
1GB Ram
2-160GB Hard Drives
3Mb Broadband Connection

It is good
Good that is if you want a fancy looking paper-weight or a $100+ piñata, this is the way to go. After 20+ hours trying to get it to work I almost hit it with a baseball bat.

Like many of the bad reviews, I encountered frequent (like every 15 minutes) loss of server contact, box locks up and needs to be unplugged to re-boot, remote is unresponsive once the system crashes, using the remote while playing a song will sometimes crash it, and even when it does reboot it rarely finds the network again. The server software locked up my computer numerous times and now I get this stupid "wjveiw" error every time I boot up. It would reliably ping from my computer for hours, but somehow the mp101 would always say it lost server contact or lock up.

This will be returned, I think the only people making money on this product are the delivery companies. I should of bought it at a local store, now I have to pay $20+ for round trip shipping ,since I was so excited to get it I paid for 2'nd day air, big mistake. I think Amazon should credit that at least.

Went out and bought the linksys WMLS11b at Walmart for $149. It rocks, comes with it's own speakers and external jacks, even an optical, if you want to use your own stereo. So far no major problems. Loads 100's of internet radio stations automatically (I'm listening to my old college station right now, pretty cool). News, international, and plenty of music genres. You can even can listen to air traffic controllers and police scanners where available. Yes I know, internet radio is available with out the server, but it makes it 100 times more convenient than searching on your computer.

Some minor problems with the linksys, are the shuffle function is not working (I'll call tech support see if they can help), the vertical and horizontal footprint is larger than the mp101. Remote looks like it should operate a 1980's betamax player.

Set up time was about an hour. I have no idea how people got the mp101 to work reliably, esp. with rhapsody (yes, the upnp was enabled). The firmware and server upgrades did not improve the quality.

Sorry to bash a product, but this is a stinker! I lost 20 hours of my life and $20+ in shipping. If you want to try it out I suggest buying it somewhere that it can be quickly and easily returned without cost. OK, no more thinking about this product, I'm done venting.

FYI: My System; 1.8 ghz, win XP, wireless netgear 11.b network, internet 3Mb connection.

Great Idea - Poor Software
Great Idea, Wireless network set up OK, loaded software and scanned for MP3 files. Everything working fine, couldn't be happier.

Then I started loading more of my CD's and LP's into MP3 format for use with the system. Problems, each time I added more music the software "broke" and the browse music function stopped working. Each time I tried to select by Artist I could only get half way through the "B"s before the list would loop back. Any attempt to search by starting letter would produce a "Search Failed" message.

Deleting the music and loading from scratch did not solve the problem. Neither did restarting either the computer or the MP101

So far the only thing that has worked is un-installing and then re-installing the software, complete with rescanning for music. Not a viable options for each time I add more music.

As for customer support ? I'm still waiting for a response. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The EtherFast 8-Port 10/100 Workgroup Switch is a quick and easy way to boost your network's performance while migrating to the power of Fast Ethernet. With support for half- and full-duplex speeds, the switch allows your network to run at 10 Mbps, 20 Mbps, 100 Mbps and an incredible 200 Mbps.

The 8-Port Workgroup Switch is designed to meet the needs of small-business and home networks. The eight-port rack-mountable switch is great for enterprise and medium-size business use. ... Read more

Features

• 8-port 10/100 dual-speed per-port
• Perfect for optimizing 10BaseT and 100BaseTX hardware on the same network
• Reach speeds of up to 200 Mbps in full-duplex operation
• Eliminate bandwidth constraints and clear up bottlenecks
• NWAY technology detects cabling type, speed, and duplex operation

Reviews (24)

Cisco to the rescue
Cisco bought Linksys a while back -- smart move! Can't get any easier -- works great, while it is smaller than the Linksys router, it still sits nicely on top, although feet pattern does not match.

Watch out for size difference
I bought this switch because I trust the brand and also because I thought it would stack well with my Linksys BEFW11S4 wireless router (which I've run out of ports on). However, when I received the EZXS88W, it was smaller than in the technical description given by Amazon (which is actually the size of the box, not the switch itself). Because it is about an inch and a quarter narrower than my Linksys router, it does not sit nicely on top or underneath. I know that it's only a small complaint (otherwise the switch is terrific), but I just wanted to let potential buyers know about the possible size difference, especially if one is buying it specifically because it will interface nicely with a previous Linksys purchase.

Flawless switch in continuous use for 2 years
I have two of these switches in my network, never turned off connected to Compaq servers.

Not one issue. I see why Cisco purchased this company.

Cheap, fast, but beware premature port death
I've been buying Linksys equipment for a few years now and it's all good stuff, at very affordable prices. I've had no complaints with any of their equipment so far, except for one.

I have found (and so have a few of my tech buddies and Network Admins I know) that Linksys hubs and switches tend to have problems with ports going dead or becoming unusable after only about a year of use. That is, one or more of the ports will die within a year's time (or shortly following the warranty period -- this is especially true of the 5-port switches).

This premature port failure is not limited to just the hubs and switches. I've also had 2 DSL/Cable modem routers with 4 port switches exhibit the same problem (in one case, ALL the ports died except for the cable/DSL port).

My suggestion is to buy more ports than you need so that you can still use the hub/switch after some ports go bad. That's why I am buying an 8-port switch even though it's replacing a 5-port switch where 2 of the ports are now dead.

Why 4 stars? Because if you know about the port death syndrome and buy more ports than you need, it's STILL a great deal for the money...

Slam Dunk
It is as easy as others say - I added it to my DSL system in less time than it took to read the (sparse) instruction manual.
Plug in, turn on. Done
The manual devotes a whole page to CAT5 cable construction but does not say which type (straight or crossover) to use between the EZXS88 and the DSL modem. (Its straight, as are the cables between the EZXS88 and the computers). ... Read more

Product Description

Linksys (SRW2024) SWITCH 24-PORT 10/100/1000MBPS ... Read more

Features

• Up to 54Mbps
• 2 Operation modes: Access Point & Repeater
• 802.11b compatible when used as an Access Point
• Security Features include WPA and 128-bit WEP encryption

Reviews (9)

Terrible product
I tried to use this as an extender for a D-Link 624 router. It works fine for around a half hour, then loses the connection to the router, disabling the internet connection of all computers on the wireless network. Repeated hard resets and rerunning of the setup utility are required to get it to work for another half hour before it dies again. Updating the firmware had no effect, and I don't have time to mess with tech support, so I returned it to Amazon. Instead, I bought a Hawking HAI15S directional antenna for my D-Link router, which improved my signal significantly, obviating the need for this range extender. It's also much cheaper.

What More Can I Do For D-Link
At this point, about 5 days after receiving the range extender, I have spent more time on the phone with tech support than I have with my family. And it still doesn't work. The config is easy, but it still doesn't work. Power up, power down, reset. And it still doesn't work. The first level techs say they don't understand (with an accent). The second level can never be found. The third level only works M-F 9-5. Well, so do I, and I can't dedicate my entire life to making myself available at D-Link's convenience so that I can make their product work.

If they hadn't sucked the life out of me, it would have been funny. But my 624 router performance is fine if you are within 20 feet and no obstructions. As the D-link tech told me, "well, are there walls in your house?" Yes, I have one of those funny houses with walls. D-Link never figured on that. What a total, unmitigated disaster this piece of useless junk is. And I want D-Link to give me back the hours of my life lost to making its junk work.

Added 6/29/04: D-link tech finally tells me that this repeater is defective (duh). But their RMA mechanism is worse than their wares. It's a 32 step procedure that ends up costing even more money even though you've already paid for their defective equipment. If you should happen to be interrupted in the middle, you can't finish. The qualifications are ridiculous. And, as I've now found out, the defect rate on repeaters is extraordinarily high. Don't expect to get one that works on the first 3 tries.

Works well, however...
After three hours and getting to the second level of Tech-Support, we were able to get this extender to work. It works very well and, really, there is NO OTHER option if you need to expand your wireless network.

A Good Wireless Repeater
The DWL-800AP+ isn't officially supported by D-Link for repeating other brands of wireless access points. It's best to use this with D-Link APs only. I've heard of some working, but it's pretty random.

I use the DWL-G800AP as a wireless repeater repeating the signal of my DI-624 (wireless router). This repeats the 54Mbps 802.11g speeds and I find it very easy to use.
You don't need this repeater to be plugged into the network via wired connection for it to work, but you will need to when you are configuring it to work with your WLAN. Basically you plug it in, configure it, and unplug and set it in the optimum place for best repeating of the signal.
I hide mine behind a picture frame on the mantle and it works great and isn't seen.

A Wireless Repeater for the DI-624 Wireless Router Only
After purchasing a DI-624 and having that one raouter cover so much ground (air?) with a wireless signal I wanted to cover the rest of my expansive house with wireless internet coverage. This little box is just what I needed. First you plug this box into one of the router's open LAN ports, then access it via web browser and configure it (about 2 mins) to work with your wireless network.

This box will see the DI-624 and you just need to set it in wireless repeater mode. Then go put the little box at about the edge of where you get no more signal from the DI-624. I used my laptop for this. If the 624 reached out say 100 feet from it's base with wireless signal I set this little repeater at about the 75 foot mark to make sure it got a strong enough signal yet still add adequate coverage for the rest of my home.

It's simple enough and it works reliably. After setting up as a repeater you don't need to worry about it anymore. ... Read more