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Belkin F5D7132 Wireless-G Universal Range Extender | List Price: $42.99
Discount Price: $36.06
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Brand: Belkin
Binding: Electronics
Warranty: Limited lifetime warranty
Features: - Offers one-touch setup for wireless repeater mode
- Adds wireless-enabled PCs to your wired network in access-point mode
- Works seamlessly with the majority of routers and access points available
- Ensures data and network security
- Works with PCs and Macintosh computers
decent value hard to get to work [Posted on 2008-07-06]
took about one hours worth of work and one call to tech support to get operational. Works ok, does extend the range for reception based on the wireless computers signal strength meter, not sure if helps performance.
The review by Chovy was very helpful, if i did not have a WEP question for tech support his was all i needed to set up system. I would recommed reading his review before setup and try to do what he said.
Instructions lousy & setup utility flakey - but great unit once setup. [Posted on 2008-07-07]
Okay - I admit it - I'm a bit of a geek, and I thought most of the other people who complained about this were just not really paying attention to the instructions. I mean - how bad could it be?
Well - following the instructions included (both easy setup and the included on disk User Manual) I was completely unable to get the unit working. I could get it to automatically detect my network (with no security enabled) but then it would never stay connected. Fortunately, I had a copy of Chovy's review of this product - which gave step by step instructions - and I was able to get it working.
A few pointers from that experience:
* The web setup utility is flakey if you use the function to automatically detect your existing network. I would use it - it would see my existing network, and then after selecting the radio button to select it - would keep telling me to select the radio button when I tried to connect. I can't tell you how many times I tried it - and it would lock up the unit causing me to have to power it down to clear its brain... I eventually resolved it by just typing in the SSID manually on the BASIC setup page, applying the changes on that page, and letting it restart the unit automatically.
* I would also recommend downloading the firmware update available on the Belkin site before you follow Chovy's instructions - since if you try to do it during them you won't have a live internet connection to use for the "update firmware" option in the web management utility.
All in all though - if you follow the advice on Chovy's review it's a nice little unit and a bargain of a price - I now have my kid's Wii connected to the Net on it and they are happily racing Mario Kart users around the world!
The Extender Does Work as Expected---With Some Work [Posted on 2008-07-08]
I bought and connected the device July 1. I will admit that Chovy's review and detailed instructions did go a lonnng way to helping to get the device up and running. I do recommend using his review (actually: instructions) as the basis for getting the device working.
I did leave the device's SSID as the 'belkin54g'. The 'parent SSID' is the SSID of my main access point. The real key to Chovy's instructions was to set the IP address of the device to the same network and 'segment' of your home network. I used 192.168.0.x (the "0" is the segment). The "192.168" are the network. The 'x' is the 'host/computer' number.
I change the device's IP address to 192.168.0.254.
I left the device's 'mode' to 'Wireless Repeater Mode'.
The MAC computer that is in the house does connect in a 'back' bedroom (house is one level). The main access point is about 70 feet away from the extenter. Computers in the house now have full/excellent access.
I would recommend that once you configure the extender to satisfaction-->Save the configuration to a file. I had gone on vacation for a few days. Upon return, the 'belkin54g' network did not appear as a network to connect to as it had appeared prior to leaving.
Uploading the configuration file I had generated prior to leaving, brought the 'belkin54g' network back.
I will assume that Belkin provided the 'auto-connect' instructions to attempt to save the 'hassle' of providing a detailed manual.
To 'defend' (just a little) Belkin and manufacturers of like devices, providing devices that involve networking for the home have done a fair (to good) job of 'hiding' the complexities of networking from home users. It does appear things are getting better; but there is still quite a road to go to have networking devices operate as 'plug and go' in all scenarios.
All-in-all the device does appear to work as expected. However, I will join the chorus of persons indicating that there is more than a little bit of work required to get the device operating.
EASY TO USE [Posted on 2008-07-14]
When I got the Belkin F5D7132, I took it out of the box, read the couple of lines of directions, plugged it in, held the "connect" button, and it was up and running. Since that time, it has been plugged in, and working flawlessly. I would recommend to anyone who has a wireless system, that may be a little less than what they need. My wireless connection was several rooms away, and even though the computer could connect, I would get a low to very low signal. With this in place, I currently get an excellent signal. I am able to move anywhere in the house with the laptop and have a great signal. I do have this as an extender, not a direct connect to the modem.
MISREPRESENTED, NOT COMPATIBLE WITH LINKSYS WIRELESS-G ROUTER [Posted on 2008-07-22]
You are asking for trouble if your network is controlled by LINKSYS wireless router(s). Belkin does not properly represent this device in its advertising or in the user manual. Nothing in the Belkin spec sheet or user manual indicates that this unit will not automatically associate with Linksys Wireless-G routers. There is nothing at Belkin online support or in the PDF user manual about the issue. After wasting an ENTIRE EVENING - 3 hours - with a Belkin "technical support" agent who had to read from instructions, we were told to contact LINKSYS. We did that. LINKSYS tech support would not help set up a Belkin device of any sort. So, this unit is being returned by this dissatisfied customer. If you buy this unit, you'd be best off using it with other Belkin products.
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