Wl-500Gp V2 11B/G 2.4 Ghz Media Storage With Afterburner Tech Review

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(More customer reviews)Over my life time, I must have installed five or six different types of wireless routers to be hooked up with Comcast and other ISP's. I never had as much problems with this one with the others. The OEM firmware is very unstable. All these installations were based on dynamic IP or DCHP. So, I specified dynamic IP as this is what Comcast would require. I have to try and try cycling power on the cable modem before I finally get a connection. As soon as I modify any parameter including setting up the wireless parameters, bam, the connection is lost with error message like "you specified wrong dynamic IP or static IP address." After that, the only way to get back the connection with difficulty is to reset the router to default values and cycling the cable modem again. That means, it is of no use to me since I cannot specify any other parameter especially wireless for my use. I tried the two USB for both hd and printer when I have a connection following their exact instructions but found them not working. Not letting the harddisk to be NTFS formatted was a big disappointment. My setup is rather complicated. I have 3 bridge clints (one ASUS, one LINKSYS from T-mobile and one LINKSYS with small ram storage) all running with DD-WRT, and a WII connected wirelessly and directly. I have computers, blue ray players, game console, network printers connected to the network. I do not know if any or the whole configuration caused the problem, but as soon as I hook up a LINKSYS running on LINKSYS firmware (this one could not be upgraded to DD-WRT) to the cable modem, everything back to normal.
Anyway, last night I uploaded DD-WRT to the unit. That was another struggle. Some claimed they could use ASUS restore software to upload DD-WRT. I tried for an hour and a half but my laptop does not seem to be talking to the router, keeping a message "wait for getting an IP address." I know I was able to make the laptop talk to ASUS by an IP address 192.168.1.1, but this connection is lost when I ran RESTORE software. Finally, I use TFTP (Windows GUI version) with four steps to successfully upload the mega version of DD-WRT to the unit. Then, the unit seemed to work fine. I tested it as a bridge clint. Tonight when I returned home, I will try it as an AP.
I hope DD-WRT USB supports are better than ASUS OEM firmware because that was the reason I bought this one.
The moral of the story is if you are looking for easy setup and do not know basic knowledge of TCP/IP communication and how to load 3rd party firmware to this unit, I would suggest that you look elsewhere, or very likely you would have a unit without any use. If you are thinking to upload 3rd party firmware like TOMATO, OPENWRT or DD-WRT, I think this unit is worthwhile as ASUS routers are always on sale. I used a ASUS WL-520GU for a couple of years under DD-WRT with complete trouble-free operation. Hardware wise, they seem to be good. It is only the OEM firmware, which are user friendly in the interface but technically useless.
If you are thinking of using DD-WRT, I strongly suggest to look up this for installation instruction and not to use ASUS RESTORE utility.
[...]
If you use the windows GUI TFTP program, you can still follow the command line instruction but instead of using the command line, specify the appropriate .trx file in each step, leave the password blank, the server id should be 192.168.1.1. There is a working progress bar which makes you more confident about the process. However, I followed the instruction to wait 5 minutes when each step was finished. A couple of things you may want also to know:
(1) Whenever you want to pull up DD-WRT from the router, change the IP address of your network adapter to 192.168.1.1XX (I always use 100, but I do not think it matters much), and subnet mask to be 255.255.255.0. After you setup, you may want to change the network adapter setting back to DHCP. Of course, this is not necessary after the network is properly setup. This is only for initial setup.
(2) The first time when you pull up a new version of DD-WRT, they will ask you for a userid and password, just type your preferences and click the change button._______________________________
An update after one week ownership - Have used this unit with DD-WRT as an AP for several days now. I was able to hook up two different types of hard disks at different times to it. (I changed the hard disk when I decided to use the one with Freeagent 250G capacity instead of 75G capacity.) It has been great. The router now is running solid, supporting three bridge client routers, a WII, and two laptops while running the hard disk with no problem at all. The hard disk can be accessed by the whole network. That was my original intention of buying this. There is a wakeup problem from spin down with Seagate drive, but I think I found the fix in DD-WRT forum. That is not the router problem at all. I am now quite happy with it after going through substantial number of hours uploading DD-WRT to it.

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ASUS WIRELESS WL-500GPREMIUM V2- MULTI-FUNCTIONAL WIRELESS ROUTER, EZQOS (BANDWI

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Netgear XE103G-100NAS Powerline Ethernet Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I would have rated this 5 stars but for the price. It seems a bit expensive and if wireless had been an answer probably the way I would have gone. I have been having wireless network problems and wanted something that would extend my lan in the house without lots of wiring. This is a great answer. I read the directions (made sure it was not plugged into a power strip), plugged in near my router, went upstairs, plugged it in there and it worked, no problems and as fast as when right next to the router.
I must admit there was also a somewhat unresearched idea that my data is safer on a wire network than wireless, even with the encryption that I used when my wireless worked.

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The NETGEAR XE103G 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter Kit lets you easily extend a home network using just the existing electric lines of your home, eliminating the need to run unsightly Ethernet wires all over your house. At 85 Mbps, you'll have more than enough speed to download music, stream videos, and make internet telephone calls without any hiccups.
True Plug and Play Installation The XE103G comes with two XE103 units. Simply plug one of them into a wall outlet and connect it to your router with an Ethernet cord. Plug the second one into the wall outlet where you need a network connection and connect it to any Ethernet-ready device. That's it. There's no software to install. You can create as many network connections as you need by connecting more XE103 units wherever you need them. Each device has easy-to-read icon LEDs for status information at a glance.
Fast Performance Each XE103 supports speeds up to 85 Mbps which is enough for multiple video streams without interruptions. The XE103 has a 10/100 Ethernet port with which you can connect a PC, gaming console, Slingbox, DVR, NETGEAR's SC101T Storage Central Turbo or ReadyNAS NV+, or another networkable device. In order to enable encryption, you need a computer with Windows Vista, XP, or 2000.
What's in the Box Two XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapters, installation guide, Ethernet cable, setup CD, and warranty/support information card.

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Netgear Dual Mode Cordless Phone with Skype(SPH200D) Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been using this phone for little over two months and really like it. Before, I couldn't warm up to using Skype because I didn't want to be tied to my computer. Now with this phone I'm using it now for all of my outgoing (SkypeOut) calls. My long distance bill has fallen to zero and I've reduced the number of cell minutes as well.
There is practically no setup. I just plugged the base unit into my router, and it connected automatically to my network. I did have to punch in my Skype name and password on the numeric keypad, but it turns out that I could have done that easily through a web browser - the base unit has a configuration page similar to other Netgear routers. Once my name and password were in, I could start calling.
The phone displays all of the contacts that you have previously set up with Skype. In fact, I recommend using Skype on your computer to do all of the setup - it's just easier that way. The phone even shows the amount of Skype credits that I have.
The voice quality is great, but there is a slight delay - similar to what you get when your overseas call is routed through a satellite. I like the fact that the phone comes with a standard 1/8-inch headset jack - I use a headset for most of my calls.
As far as wireless range, I've been able to range throughout my house with no discernable dropouts. It's seems to get better range than my 2.4GHz cordless phone and my WIFI.
So the bottom line is: I'm happy with this phone, happy that it's Skype, and I plan to keep using it.

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Your internet connection can easily become a phone line, allowing you to make free, or very cheap, calls worldwide. The Netgear SPH-200D Cordless Phone with Skype takes all the hassle out of the process. You don't need to install any software, or even turn on your PC. All you have to do is plug the Cordless Base Station into your internet router and start using Skype's worldwide internet phone service to talk to your friends and relations wherever they may roam. And if that's not enough, the SPH-200D also replaces your land line phone. Just plug the base station into any active phone jack and it becomes a traditional cordless phone as well.
Three Phones in OneThere are three ways to use the SPH-200D. For no cost at all you can make Skype-to-Skype calls anywhere in the world. Skype software is pre-loaded on the phone, so you can start calling any other Skype users at their computers or at similar Skype phones right out of the box. An intuitive on-screen menu lets you see which Skype friends are online and available to call. Push a button and you're making a free domestic or international call.
Your second option costs only pennies per minute and includes no monthly fees. With SkypeOut you buy phone time in advance, then use the internet to make calls to cell or land line phones all over the world. You can also get a SkypeIn account for a small fee, which gives you an internet phone number, allowing friends to call you from any phone, anywhere, anytime. With the SPH-200D you can do all of this without fooling with software or plugging headsets into your PC. It's all there in the palm of your hand.
And of course the SPH-200D is also a traditional cordless phone. With the latest cordless technology, DECT (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications), the handset delivers incredible range, clear voice quality, and a full menu of digital features. You can even add up to three additional handsets, which allows you to replace all the old-fashioned phones in your home with one that truly belongs in the 21st century.
What's in the BoxCordless phone with Skype, rechargeable battery, cordless base station, power adapters for the charging cradle and base station, setup guide, and warranty card.
For calls made through Skype and/or the SkypeOut service. Terms and conditions of the Skype services are subject to change at any time in the sole discretion of Skype Limited

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Cisco SR2016 16-port 10/100/1000 Gigabit Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I owned this switch for a little over a year. It slowly died taking my LAN with it (slowly). It took me a long time to figure it out since my LAN is fairly complex and contains several switches. However, I had 3ea of the Linksys SR20xx 8-port models die on me much faster. Fortunately, those were much easier to find since they just died completely when they went. So, I am not going to purchase any more of the Linksys SR20xx products. I hope that others are more fortunate, but I have had too many of them fail and am now trying D-Link switches. I used to really like Linksys and their hardware used to work forever (or so it seemed).

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Whether you're starting from scratch or debating a possible upgrade to your network's internals, speed should be a top priority. The Cisco SR2016 16-Port Gigabit Switchprovides nonblocking, wire-speed switching for your 10-, 100-, and 1000 megabit (Mb) network clients.Formerly Linksys Business Series, now Cisco Small Business Unmanaged Switches, the SR2016 16-Port Gigabit Switchallows the connection of up to 16 separate devices into your network - computers, printers, and servers - to share and transfer files and videos across your network.World-famous Cisco reliability and limited lifetime warranty gives you peace of mind.

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NETGEAR HDX101 Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I've been looking for a way to avoid running network cabling around my entire home. I tried the wireless route, and did not find the technology quite there yet for VoIP, Online Gaming and HD Streaming. When I stumbled upon the new PowerLine HD products. While this technology has been around for a while, this was the first time it looked mature enough to be "acceptable" in my network. After a little research I settled on the NetGear HDX101's.
This product has performed marvelously. I am using them to bridge various local LANs (PC/Gaming, 360/Entertainment Center)I have in my home to the broadband router. At each HDX101 I am getting at least 100Mbs tx and rx. I then use a switch for each local network to connect all of the networked devices at that location. VoIP, online gaming and normal web surfing all going on at the same time worked great. Streaming media to the 360 from the PC, flawless.
I heartily recommend this product to anyone who wants a fast network and doesn't want to bother running cable through the house.

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The NETGEAR HDX101 Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter turns any electrical power outlet into a network connection. If you're looking for a fast, easy way to provide Ethernet connectivity to just about any device in your home, then this handy adapter is an excellent solution. The HDX101 gives you the bandwidth you need for high-quality video streaming, gaming, and VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol), without the headaches of running expensive Ethernet cables all over your home.With simple plug-and-play installation, this device turns any electrical outlet into a network connection. This compact, handy device delivers up to 200 Mbps to any outlet, and with no software required, you'll be ready to network your home right out of the box.
This is an ideal solution for connecting PCs, game consoles, digital media adapters such as NETGEAR's EVA8000, or a Skype cordless phone such as NETGEAR's SPH200D to your home network. Here's how it works: plug one HDX101 into your router and a nearby electrical socket, then plug a second HDX101 into any electrical socket that is conveniently located near the device you want to network. Each HDX101 has a built-in Quality of Service (QoS) that enables smooth streaming, awesome gaming performance, and uninterrupted VoIP telephone calls. The bottom line is, you get a powerful, seamless home network that runs on your existing wiring.
Please note that this product comes with only one HDX101 adapter. You'll need to buy at least two adapters to start your network, or you can purchase the NETGEAR HDXB101 Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter Kit which comes equipped with two HDX101 adapters. The Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter makes it a breeze to transfer large files to a network storage device, such as the NETGEAR Storage Central Turbo SC101 or the ReadyNAS NV+ RND4250. It supports up to 16 HDX101 units on one home network; and it easily coexists with a host of NETGEAR's HomePlug compatible products.
System requirements include a device for connection, e.g. an available RJ-45 Ethernet port, and Microsoft Windows Vista, XP or 2000 to modify encryption and settings. Microsoft Vista drivers are available at www.netgear.com/vista.
Note: Although the HDX101 may coexist with HomePlug 1.0 products, it is not compatible or interoperable with NETGEAR's XE104, XEPS103, XE103, XE102, or WGXB102 Powerline products.
In addition, this device can deliver up to 200 Mbps of throughput. The actual data throughput will vary depending on network conditions and environmental factors, such as network traffic volume, building material and construction, and network overhead.
What's in the Box One NETGEAR HDX101 Powerline HD Ethernet Adapter, Ethernet cable, installation guide, setup CD, warranty card, and support and information card.

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NETGEAR DS108 8 Port 10/100 Mbps Dual Speed Hub Review

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(More customer reviews)Net gear is owned by by Bay Networks, which does not make rinky dink equipment.
This hub has solid metal construction, sockets in the front, and lots of flickering lights that show the tranfer speed, and show who is connecting at either 10 or 100 Mbs. We use it to share one (adelphia 2-way cable) internet connection among 6 PCs, along with files and printing. No problems so far.
This hub handles the standard hub task with ease, and with a utilitarian aesthetic quality that you won't see in 3com's white plastic. 3Coms tries to disguise their hub as an external modem- why?
(p.s. I'm confused as to why 3Com's 8-port 10/100 hub costs over twice as much)

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The Netgear DS-108 10/100Mbps Dual Speed Hub connects multiple PCs to share printers, files, Internet access, and e-mail communications. You can mix and match 10 and 100 Mbps PCs, servers, and peripherals with this hub, all without any configuration required. The DS100 family combines many capabilities in a compact package and is designed for cost-conscious small-business users.
Each unit has a built-in self-learning bridge that provides the communications link between the 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps network devices. The intelligent bridge automatically manages network traffic so that 100 Mbps traffic and 10 Mpbs traffic do not unnecessarily crowd each other.

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NETGEAR XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I like hard data as well as opinions, and could not find much on this device. I tested these units for my own benefit, and provide the test, analysis, and my opinion to assist you.
Description/Test Setup/Notes
Description:
Determine Netgear XE103 throughput in real life situation.
Comparison with 802.11B wireless throughput in the same test situation.
Test Setup:
Two Windows XP SP2 endpoints with intervening switch.
XE103 Route - Computer1:Switch:XE103:Power Wiring:XE103:Computer2
802.11B Route - Computer1:Switch:802.11B AP:Air:802.11B PCMCIA:Computer2
Test based upon transfer of folder from Computer1 to Computer2.
Size of transfer = 376 MB (395,129,843 bytes).
No other devices on network, except those described.
No other activity on test computers, other than transfer monitoring.
Test results will be time of transfer.
Transfer monitored by network bandwidth monitoring software.
Netgear Encyption Utility, supplied with XE103, displays connection rates.
The XE103 devices are using maximum encryption supported, 56-bit.
The 802.11B devices are using maimum encryption supported, 128-bit.
All values recorded for comparison and analysis.
Notes:
The XE103 devices are affected by household wiring.
Quoted 85Mbps rate will only be found where devices in very close proximity.
Computer2 is located close to AP for 802.11B maximum rate and signal
reliability.
Computer2 is not located in same room as Computer1, power line routing
unknown, but not a great physical distance.
The XE103 provides extra security and network partitioning by using a
network identifier. All devices that will communicate together are
configured by the user to use the same network identifier.
Special Notes:
When comparing bps and Bps, there are some general rules of thumb.
In wired LAN environments, rule of thumb is 10 bits per byte, resulting in a 10:1 ratio between bps (bits-per-second) and Bps (bytes-per-second).
In wireless LAN environments, rule of thumb is 20 bits per byte (extra framing overhead, encryption), resulting in a 20:1 ratio.
Though not exact, you may find these values useful in comparing products.
In both wired and wireless cases, manufacturers quote highest rate possible at the lowest communications level.Test Results:
XE103
Netgear Utility displayed rate between XE103 devices = 42 Mbps
Bandwidth Monitor displayed rate = 1.2 MBps
Transfer time = 372 seconds = 1,062,177 Bps802.11B
Device setup utility displayed maximum signal and rate = 11 Mbps
Bandwidth Monitor displayed rate = 462 KBps
Transfer time = 985 seconds = 401,147 BpsTest Analysis:
The XE103 performed 2.65 faster over the 802.11B in a timed comparison.Product Opinion:
I have noticed that the Netgear Utility shows flunctuating rate values during different time periods. The lowest rate has been 18 Mbps, highest 45 Mbps.
The XE103 is at a premium price when compared with other powerline models.
If similar test data can be found, it may be more cost effective to use a less expensive model (manufacturer quoted as 14 Mbps).
If Internet surfing is main desire for the remote computer, then comparison of ISP provider rate to these tests results should be done.
For highest security and speed, nothing will surpass a wired network.
Powerline and wireless are a great convenience.
Judge which is best by comparing your needs and desires for speed and
security.
I hope that this helps in your research.


Click Here to see more reviews about: NETGEAR XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter

The NETGEAR XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter lets you easily extend a network using just the existing electric lines of your home, eliminating the need to run unsightly Ethernet wires all over your house or apartment. At 85 Mbps, you'll have more than enough speed to download music, stream videos, and make internet telephone calls without any hiccups.
True Plug and Play Installation Extending a network using the electric lines in your home requires two XE103 units. Simply plug one of them into a wall outlet and connect it to your router with an Ethernet cord. Plug the second one into the wall outlet where you need a network connection and connect it to any Ethernet-ready device. That's it. There's no software to install. You can create as many network connections as you need by connecting more XE103 units wherever you need them. The device has easy-to-read icon LEDs for status information at a glance.
Fast Performance The XE103 supports speeds up to 85 Mbps which is enough for multiple video streams without interruptions. The XE103 has a 10/100 Ethernet port with which you can connect a PC, gaming console, Slingbox, DVR, NETGEAR's SC101T Storage Central Turbo or ReadyNAS NV+, or another networkable device. In order to enable encryption, you need a computer with Windows Vista, XP, or 2000.
What's in the Box XE103 85 Mbps Powerline Network Adapter, installation guide, Ethernet cable, setup CD, warranty/support information card.

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Cisco-Linksys Power Over Ethernet Adapter Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)
Linksys makes a version of this unit ( WAPPOE12 ) - that is designed for 12 volt systems.

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The Linksys Power Over Ethernet Adapter Kit lets you put your access points almost anywhere, by removing the requirement of nearby power outlets. By using the existing Category 5 Ethernet cabling to deliver power to any standard 5 volt access point or other network device, you save the time, hassle, and expense of running AC power to the access points installation location. The best position for a wireless access point is usually on the ceiling, in the center of the area to be covered. Second best would be high on a nearby wall. Unfortunately, theres usually no easily accessible AC power plugs available in these locations. With the Power Over Ethernet Adapter Kit, installing the access point in these preferred spots becomes far less trouble.

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Netgear DS104 4-Port 10/100 Dual Speed Hub with Uplink Button Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I purchased this hub as part of a network starter kit (2 PCI ethernet cards + hub) and had no problems installing it. I run both Unix/Linux and Windoze machines and wanted all machines to be networked even with a mix of operating systems running at the same time -- and that meant simultaneous internet access, multi-player games, shared printers, etc. Basically, I wanted the network to do everything, so that any family member could sit down at a machine and do what they needed to do.
The DS-104 hub delivered from the time I installed it until the day I replaced it with a router (RT-314, also from Netgear). Installation was a snap, and as soon as I turned it on, I never had a moment's trouble from the DS-104.
So why did I switch? In two words, performance and price. Although the DS-104 is a fine product, its multiuser performance simply can't compare to a switch (which was built-in to the RT-314 router I replaced it with). I noticed that performance suffered when all of us wanted to use the computers simultaneously, which got me thinking about alternatives to improve performance. I initially intended to replace the DS-104 with a switch. After checking prices, I realized that I could actually purchase a router (switch + hardware firewall) for less than the cost of a switch alone. I eventually went that route, after receiving outstanding service from the DS-104 hub.
So was this purchase a throw-away? Hardly. The DS-104 did what it promised to do, reliably and without fuss. It handles both 10 and 100 Mbps connections transparently, so you don't even need to know the speed of whatever you're connecting. It's well-constructed (metal case instead of plastic) and absolutely reliable. Although I've replaced the DS-104 with a router, I haven't gotten rid of it -- I'm saving it for the day when I need to add several machines to the network and I'm out of ports on my router.
The DS-104 is solid, dependable networking at a very reasonable price. Recommended.

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The Netgear DS-104 4-Port 10/100Mbps Dual Speed Hub connects multiple PCs to share printers, files, Internet access, and e-mail communications. You can mix and match 10 and 100 Mbps PCs, servers, and peripherals with this hub, all without any configuration required. The DS100 family combines many capabilities in a compact package and is designed for cost-conscious small-business users.
Each unit has a built-in self-learning bridge that provides the communications link between the 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps network devices. The intelligent bridge automatically manages network traffic so that 100 Mbps traffic and 10 Mpbs traffic do not unnecessarily crowd each other.

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NETGEAR VPN05L ProSafe VPN Client Software 5-User Licenses Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I used to be a big proponent of Netgear. Not anymore. First off, after reading the package on the VPN box, I believed the software client was included, but no. Once I figured that out, I bought the software, which costs more than the router. After a week of hacking, I finally got the software to work, on one out of 4 machines. One machine hard re-boots if you try any kind of network activity once the VPN is connected. I've disabled everything I can think of, it just won't work. It won't work with Vista either, no word from Netgear on a date. All other VPN software has to be un-installed, so forget using one machine to connect to a Netgear, Watchguard, Cisco, etc. vpn.
Very frustrating software.

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The NETGEAR VPN05L ProSafe VPN Client Software 5-User License is the solution for network security admins that need a simple VPN client that is secure, and easy to deploy and manage.
Wide Compatibility and Strong Security The ProSafe VPN Client software is easy to set up and works seamlessly with the full line of NETGEAR VPN/Firewall routers. It is also compatible with IPSec VPN solutions from other manufacturers. The software supports many connection types and Microsoft Windows platforms.
The security protocols supported include Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), Data Encryption Standard (DES), 3DES, Message-Digest Algorithm (MD5), and Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-1). Also supported is a wide range of Smart Cards and Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Internet Key Exchange (IKE - Main and Aggressive modes).
Easy to Set Up When used with NETGEAR ProSafe VPN/Firewall routers, NETGEAR provides pre-configuration files for the easiest setup, minimizing any extra costs. A graphical user interface lets you configure certificates and policies. With included modules, diagnosing connection problems is easy.
Advanced Features Network Address Translation (NAT) traversal is supported with devices that have a VPN pass-through mode. Multiple configurations are supported, including central, block, and split tunneling.
The VPN05L ProSafe VPN Client Software 5-User License comes with 24 hours a day / 7 days a week technical support and is backed by a 90-day warranty.
What's in the Box ProSafe VPN Client Software CD for 5-user license packs, installation guide (on disk), ProSafe VPN Easy Configuration Files, support information and warranty card.

Get 7% OFF

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NETGEAR PS101 Mini Print Server Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)After a herky jerky start, my rating of this product jumped from 2 stars to 4. Don't fret Mac owners. If you are trying to integrate your Mac OS X system to print to the Netgear PS101, there is a solution: configure your Mac for IP printing, set the printer type to LPD/LPR, enter the print server IP address, input the queue name, example HPLASER4L_P1 (netgear device name_printer port), and make sure you select the right printer model. If you select Generic or any other model than your printer you will waste paper. I hope this is helpful...

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The NETGEAR PS101 Mini Print Server makes it easy for multiple users on a network to share a printer, letting you place the printer at a convenient spot for the entire office or out of the way altogether.
Built-in Parallel Port Connection for Easy Setup The PS101 interfaces directly with a printer's parallel port; no cable is required. It works with most parallel port printers from HP, Epson, Canon, Lexmark, and others.
Simply plug in the PS101 to the parallel port of your printer on one side and connect it to your network via an Ethernet cord on the other. The print server features a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection for quick data transfer and an easy-to-use web-based remote management tool.
Save Time, Energy and Money Using the print server eliminates the need to have a dedicated PC always-on acting as a print server, thus conserving energy and saving money. The print server supports simultaneous print jobs and an on-board memory buffer keeps prints coming out quickly.
The NETGEAR PS101 is upgradeable for future enhancements and is backed by a 3-year warranty.
What's in the Box PS101 Mini Print Server, CD with installation software, administration programs and reference manual, power adapter, installation guide, resource CD, and warranty/support information card.

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D-Link DSS-16+ Desktop 16-Port Switch Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I picked up a DSS 16+ switch and it definitely improved our network of 14 computers. We were using the two uplinks. I purchased the system in January and it has a 3 year warranty.
Yesterday, it died completely. We lost all our ports. You cannot get through D-Link tech support by phone, and e-mail has been slow to get an RMA.
In retrospect, I think the slightly more expensive Link-Sys switches may be manufactured with better quality control.
Pete

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The D-Link DSS-16+ is a powerful desktop dual-speed 16-port 10/100 Mbps Ethernet/Fast Ethernet NWay auto-negotiating switch. Designed to bring switching to the small office and small business, the DSS-16+ delivers high-speed switching capabilities at a low price per port. The switch functionally eliminates unnecessary traffic and relieves data congestion by delivering dedicated bandwidth for each of the 16 ports. An individual port can connect to either an Ethernet or Fast Ethernet device, and n-way auto negotiation automatically determines the transmission speed of the attached device on each port.
The DSS-16+ provides dynamic buffer allocation that employs network-load balancing for faster data handling. The uplink interface connection enables easy expansion. The DSS-16+ uses fast store-and-forward architecture to ensure low latency and high data integrity, and supports stacking through two MDI-II uplink shared ports.
D-Link offers a lifetime warranty.

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NETGEAR ProSafe WNDAP330 - Wireless access point - 802.11b/g/n (draft) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have been running Netgear ProSafe networking equipment for many years for my small office at home. Due to its typically high reliability, performance and value I always stick with the prosafe line (geared toward business or enterprise use) over the consumer grade networking gear which is often unreliable. This is the first 802.11n unit that I found which was designed for the enterprise. So I broke down and picked it up for about $300 with shipping. The most important thing to know about this unit is that despite their advertising this unit as a dual band with both 802.11n and 802.11abg radios; the radios cannot both be used at the same time. You can only turn on one or the other. This is a major limitation as far as I'm concerned. For those of us replacing old 802.11g equipment my preference would be for this unit to be able to support 802.11g legacy clients with one of the radios and also be able to support 802.11n 5ghz clients with the other 5ghz radio.
The range of the unit in 5ghz 40 mhz mode is quite short. Definately less than the WG102 802.11g unit that it was replacing. Since the range is so short I will have to get an additional unit and put it upstairs. Also, the firmware is a bit buggy and reliability doesn't seem as good as the mature wg102 unit. I'm certain that reliability will improve over time and perhaps speed too; but righ now I'd recommend sticking with 802.11g unless you absolutely have to upgrade to 802.11n.********************************
update
After countless hours of troubleshooting, I've finally narrowed down the problem. The unit is just not reliable with WMM turned on regardless of 20/40 mhz. With WMM turned off the unit is super reliable but only runs at 54mbps.
Stay away from this unit until more firmware updates are available resolving the WMM problem with Intel 5300 and Intel 4965 laptop nic cards. Don't know if this applies to other vendor nic cards.

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Netgear WNDAP330-100NAS ProSafe 802.11n Dual Band Wireless-N Access Point.

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NETGEAR GA311 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)Besides being available at an excellent price, the Netgear GA311 Gigabit Ethernet card is supported natively by Mac OS X 10.4 and later and by Mac OS X Server 10.4 and later.
Even though the product mentions no support for either OS, the card will work without the need for any third party driver.
--Gerrit DeWitt
Apple Certified System Administrator

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The NETGEAR GA311 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Adapter provides your computer with fast 1000 Mbps performance that is up to ten times faster than Fast Ethernet and 100 times faster than 802.11b wireless.
Easy to Install and Use The GA311 works in both 3.3-volt and 5-volt PCI systems. NETGEAR's Smart Wizard Install Assistant gets everything up and running in minutes and the Performance Dashboard tracks your network performance.
Outstanding Performance and Unparalleled Reliability At 1000 Mbps, even large video, CAD, and database files can be transferred over the network quickly. Since the port is autosensing, there is no need for manual switching; in addition to 1000 Mbps, the adapter will also work with 10 and 100 Mbps systems.
The adapter is compatible with 10 Mbps 10BASE-T, 20 Mbps full-duplex 10BASE-T, 100 Mbps 100BASE-TX, 200 Mbps full-duplex 100BASE-TX, and 1000BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet.
NETGEAR has a renowned reputation for reliability and the GA311 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Adapter is backed by a 1-year warranty.
What's in the Box GA311 Gigabit PCI adapter, installation guide, resource CD, warranty/support information card

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Netgear Stora 2-Bay 1 TB (1 x 1 TB) Network Attached Storage MS2110 Review

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(More customer reviews)What's not to love about the Netgear Stora? On description alone, this sounds like a great product for home users to back up their computers and store their music and picture libraries. Perfect, right?
Although this is marketed for the non-technical user, after my experiences, I don't thing Grandma would ever figure this one out.
When I first installed the Stora I thought everything was going to work just like indicated. I had the stora set up, registered, password created, and had even added a couple of music files to test it out. Music was streaming perfectly. Then.. I tried to go online to read the owners manual and that is where the fun began. I found when the Stora was turned on that it hijacked my router and blocked Internet access from any other device in the house. Even computers that had never even accessed the Stora or had the Stora desktop applications installed were blocked as well as my squeezebox.
I turned off the Stora and cleared the cookies from my computers and restarted them, and I was able to get back onto the Internet. Then I turned the Stora on and it immediately blocked Internet access. I worked for a few hours on my own trying to diagnose the problem and find a workaround. Having no luck, I contacted technical support.
I found that Netgear surprisingly had 24/7 technical support, which was excellent at 2:30 am, except for the forty minutes of hold time. The first tech support specialist was a joy to work with. He was patient beyond what could be expected of saints. He went through every troubleshooting idea he could come up with. After spending two hours with me, at my suggestion he agreed I should try to assign an IP address to the Stora rather than allowing my router to auto-assign an IP address. I knew the IP address should be along the lines of 192.168.1.1xx but the tech support specialist told me to set it to 192.168.1.1, and against my better judgement, I put that in. At that point, my router decided he'd had enough and flipped out and kept flashing lights non-stop. My Internet AND Stora access were blocked. The tech support specialist set up a time for a higher level tech support specialist to call me back, and right on schedule I was contacted by Patrick. Patrick quickly ran through the notes and tried a few more things to help me, but finally ascertained that he couldn't fix the problem and suggested I either RMA it or return it to Amazon. He also understood that the Stora and the last tech support specialist made the problem worse so he tried to help me get my network working again even after we had taken the Stora off of the network. It didn't work, but I did appreciate his willingness to help.
The technical support specialists we talked to never addressed the issue of a possible hardware conflict, such as my router, but I got to thinking that might be the problem. We run a home business and in a fret of worry about not being able to print out and access tomorrows business I had my husband run to Sam's Club and purchase a new router. I did a system restore on all of the computers in the house to three days prior (and made sure the Stora was not connected in any way to my network, lol). I then installed the new router and my network was resurrected.
That got me to thinking.. maybe my router was not compatible with the Stora. Making a leap of faith I printed out tomorrows business and reconnected the Stora. Like magic, I did not get kicked off the Internet. The Stora was still working. I uploaded dozens of albums to the Stora and started streaming music around the house. I finally figured out that my router was incompatible with the Stora. Others on forums have complained that the Stora running blocks their http access. I would suspect that the problem lies in the router, how it assigns IP addresses, and that interacts with the Stora.
I don't feel that this product was ready for prime time. I did some backups, but found they did not create what I consider to be a mirror backup. I couldn't scroll through the hierarchy of drives and files like on my Seagate replica, but instead it's the type of backup you would use to restore a system. I also found the backup on this product to be incredibly slow compared to other competing products I've used.
I still like using it for streaming music and will probably add another 1TB drive to safeguard my files, but I don't know if the average person would persist through the many hours it took me to get this working correctly.
My other complaint is that the PDF user manual was "included" on the setup CD, but in fact it needed to be online to read. In other words, when they say the user manual is on CD, you have to be connected to the Internet to read the manual at their web site. It's not a stand alone PDF accessible straight from the CD. That REALLY frustrated me when I was having problems.
One more complaint, if the music folder is a folder within a folder it won't play. For example, if you have eight Michael Jackson albums contained within a folder called "Michael Jackson" and click "autoplay" it won't play any music. You have to manually drill down to get to the album you want.
Some reviewers have reported having to open ports on their firewall. I suppose experiences will vary. I set up my Stora using a Windows 7 64-bit operating system with Windows firewall and MSSE. I never had to adjust anything to complete the setup and my network is still secured. Perhaps there are compatibility factors that cause workarounds like disabling your firewall or opening ports.
I haven't yet set up the remote access free trial, but plan to give it a try once I have more loaded onto the Stora. I'll update my review and experiences after I try it out.
I hope that Netgear improves the Stora software because it has a lot of potential, but in it's current state it has basic functionality, basic storage, basic backup, with remote and network access. With better firmware and software, this product could be a must-have.
Pros:
Inexpensive
90 days free phone support
3 year warranty parts & labor
1TB storage
Remote access for only $20 per year
Ability to add another 3.5" SATA drive and utilize RAID feature
No need to install the desktop apps on additional computers, just access it's assigned IP on your network (192.168.1.?)
Can use this as a network printer server by connecting the printer through USB
File upload is very easy - just drag and drop
Cons:
Mirror backup is not a mirror- it's just a backup
Incompatibility with some routers
Folder management is pretty basic
Slow backups
I feel the 90 day free phone support should be longer, at least six months

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Includes one 3.5-Inch SATA drive and one open hot-swap bay. Add a spare disk drive at your convenience for automatic data mirroring. Acts as a multimedia hub that serves music, video, photos and files to any device on your home network. High-speed network connection for fast data transfers and streaming performance. Access files and play or view content at home and over the Internet. Integrates with Facebook, iTunes, Picasa2 and Web-enabled phones2

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NETGEAR Digital Entertainer Live (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)Traditionally known for their routers and network devices, Netgear offically entered the growing home media player market this September with the Digital Entertainer Live. After owning the superb but ethernet-less Western Digital WD TV HD Media Player, I was looking for a device that could play all the 720p/1080i/p MKV videos directly off my D-Link DNS-323 2-Bay Network Storage Enclosure - NAS server and D-Link DNS-321. I didn't want to have to copy files off the network onto USB hard drives then walk them over to my media player just to play them on my TV. After testing this device for several hours, I am disappointed and can say that the EVA2000 is definitely not ready for prime time.
First is the question of what resolution this device actually supports. It is not listed here on Amazon, in Netgear's press release, or on the product specifications page, and no mention is made on the box except the phrase "HD TV media player". Netgear is perhaps deliberately vague on this point. If by "HD", they mean being able to connect to an HDTV, then that is true. If they mean "HD" as in 720p/1080p, then it is not true.
Despite having HDMI out, this device does not output at 1080p at all. It also doesn't play 720p files as far as I can tell. Every one of the hi-res MKV's I tested off my external hard drive failed (18 random movie files @720p and 1080i, H.264 encodes), producing an "unable to display video of this resolution" error. Similarly, the AVI's and WMV's at 720p that I tested also failed. As far as I am able to determine, it can play only up to 480p. I tried a 720x400 .MKV that did play, so Matroska support is working, but I was unable to fast-forward or rewind the file. Other low resolution .AVI files, .MP4's played without an issue.
The device did not recognize any MKV's off my NAS through UPnP (Universal Plug and Play). MKV files on my other server, running Twonky (DLNA software) did show up, however, they could not play since they were 720p.
Next is the lack of subtitle support, or non-Western character sets. The supported system languages are German, English, and French. No Unicode support means filenames and folders will be illegible, showing up as empty squares instead (see picture in gallery).
For internet TV, this product works as described. YouTube and other streaming videos work flawlessly. You can watch videos from all over the world. There are literally hundreds of free internet channels listed, divided by world region. I tested a few CCTV channels (China), Aljezeera English, an Indian channel, Odoroku.tv (Japan), C-SPAN, some Spanish channels, as well as some random others. Almost all of them worked without a hitch, after a brief period of buffering (length depends on network conditions). A few sites couldn't be reached, or failed to buffer and kicked me back to the channels menu. Again, because these are free sites streamed from the web, picture quality is very low, though watchable and a nice option for those who don't want to watch them on their computers. You can bookmark them for fast retrieval. I found the variety of sites listed here to be a pleasant surprise. They represent a wide range of interests and are from all over the world. (These are all free sites you can access from your computer also.)
The picture quality is usually terrible, however, since most internet videos are low-res videos (320x240) that are heavily compressed. When blown up 5x or more to fullscreen on your HDTV, the compression artifacts will be much more apparent and you'll see a lot of macroblocking and pixelation. On a smaller, non-LCD TV, this might be acceptable.
Because you'll be spending a lot of time pushing buttons to navigate around, due to no keyboard or mouse, I've included a series of screenshots to give you a better idea of how the interface works. Remote control response time can be sluggish, so you'll be seeing the revolving dial a lot. Worse is that you can't hit "Back" on the remote to cancel a read command. You have to wait until it finishes trying to read the file or network. During web streamed videos, I couldn't fast-forward. Searching for videos was easy through the onscreen keyboard, but overall I found the interface clunky and not all that attractive, made worse by that spinning dial that popped up with almost every command I pushed.
Lastly, is the lack of an optical output. For wireless, you will need to buy the dedicated Netgear wireless kit. A third party USB wireless dongle (AirLink 101 AWLL6070 150Mbps 802.11n Wireless LAN USB 2.0 Adapter) I tried did not work.
To sum up, this product fails to meet expectations and went back to Amazon Returns after 2 days. It is NOT capable of hi-def playback. It only plays back standard def video. If you enjoy watching blocky internet streams on your TV and don't care about hi-def, then maybe this device would be of value. There is no way to select stream quality from the sites that offer HD streams.
At $150, with no gigabit Ethernet, no optical out, and no hi-def, this product does not compete favorably against other devices already on the market or soon to be released, like the WD TV Live ($120), which adds network support to the already solid and popular WDTV; or the Seagate FreeAgent Theater+HD ($135) and ASUS O!Play - TV HD Media Player ($99), which, like the WDTV Live, is networked and plays 1080p.

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Play your movies, music and photo collections stored on USB storage devices and computers right on your TV. Enjoy YouTube and other Internet video LIVE.n vao voas the loghsl geo Loreum ebspom thleo lakdyog alkdoeon vao voas the loghsl geo Play movies, video, music and photos stored on USB drives, computers or NAS Enjoy YouTube on your TV, without a computer Watch pay-per-view new release movies on-demand without a subscription Watch Live Internet TV from around the world via VuNow (1-year service included) Browse and play popular movies and shows from Hulu, Netflix, Amazon VOD, CBS, CNN, and ESPN and more using PlayOn on your PC. (free trial in box) Search for Internet video using key words Works with older TVs and new HDTVs Easy to use remote control Wirelessly connect to the Internet by using the Digital Entertainer Live Wireless USB Adapter

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Netgear DM111P Broadband DSL Modem Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this NETGEAR DM111P ADSL2+ Ethernet DSL modem to work with a new NETGEAR router (WNDR3700). NETGEAR support helped me with the setup and every thing worked fine for about 6 hours. I returned the modem to Buy.com for a refund which was promptly processed. I went back to my old SpeedStream 5100 DSL modem and have not had any problems since I reinstalled the SpeedStream.

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Netgear DM111P DSL Modem DM111P-100NAS Modems

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