Netgear WG111US Wireless G Usb Adapter

10 Review to this product

• 

  Sam Park
  November 10th, 2010 on 2:21 am

  Rating

  I’ve read other reviews that harp on the difficulties of installing with Windows 7, dropped connections and over-heating. I can state confidently that installation was straight forward on Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit with the drivers supplied in packaging. I’ve had no dropped connections with a Belkin wireless router and I’ve been hitting real-world download tests of 15Mbps on my cable internet connection, which is the same speed tested with a 10/100/1000 Mbps ethernet wired connection. Signal strength is strong across multiple plaster/wooden walls in an apartment building. The unit gets warm but is nothing close to hot to the touch after continuous use. The supplied software does seem superfluous but doesn’t cause any problems running in the background. I haven’t checked to see if things work normally with it uninstalled but don’t see any reason to try since things are running smoothly thus far.
• 

  cfor
  November 10th, 2010 on 2:34 am

  Rating

  Originally bought this because it is one of the few wireless networking adapters that has drivers that will work with Vista 64. It has performed flawlessly over the last few months under regular use. I was having trouble on an separate XP system using a Linksys USB adapter, but the WG111 gets a strong signal and never drops it. Overall I have found the Netgear wireless adapters to outperform the Linksys. This would be a good buy at twice the price.
• 

  Dan Dee
  November 10th, 2010 on 8:48 pm

  Rating

  This is my second Netgear USB wireless adapter. I’ve been using one happily for a couple years on my desktop (Windows) system.

  My neighbor offered me a few old desktop computers he was going to throw out, urging me to try to get one going with parts from the three. (I can’t turn down free junk.) The ex-corporate Compaq responded favorably to my tinkering, so it seemed like a good time to download a copy of the Linux operating system to see what that environment is like.

  I decided to try the Mandriva distribution after reading summaries of the various kinds at linux.com. The installation went well and I was navigating comfortably in a short while. I plugged in the Netgear adapter into a USB port, and moments later I was informed that my home’s wireless network had been found and what was the password? I typed it in and was off and running, just like that.

  My compliments to Netgear for making a good, inexpensive adapter, and to Mandriva for having its driver right in their basic installation to handle it.
• 

  leelay
  November 14th, 2010 on 9:12 am

  Rating

  I purchased a Vista laptop a few months back and no longer needed my XP desktop on the first floor of the house. The problem was, I dreaded the prospect of having to get a super long ethernet extension cord and tediously staple-gunning it along the wall all the way down to where I wanted to put my computer in the basement. The other option was to get some sort of wireless card installed to my desktop, but I’m not that tech-savvy and generally try to avoid ulcer-causing IT-related nightmares.

  So I procrastinated for a good long time, frozen by my aversion to either manual labor or the daunting task of setting up my own wireless network. The months passed –spring summer autumn winter / he sang his didn’t he danced his did– and one day I finally just went out and purchased this Netgear USB Adapter, and it was so much easier than I had ever expected to get it working. For one, it’s a plug-in usb interface, so there wasn’t the PCI card installation to deal with, and since this interface works so well, I wouldn’t recommend that the novice user go out and get the PCI card version unless s/he has particular reason for it.

  This is about all it took to receive wireless internet on my XP desktop:

  1) Removed driver cd installation disc and usb adapter from box
  
  2) Installed drivers from enclosed cd onto my desktop pc
  
  3) Plugged in the usb adapter into a rear port on my desktop pc
  
  4) Clicked “next,” etc. as directed by the setup window after I plugged in the usb wireless adapter

  And then I was online. I was a little worried that the wireless range wouldn’t be very good since the router was on a different floor, but it turned out to be fine, for the most part. Once in a while the little green icon in the taskbar that indicates online connectivity blinks red, but it’s only for a second and isn’t enough to cause much interruption in my site browsing activities.

  I’m not sure if the setup process was made easier because both my router and this adapter are made by Netgear, but for whatever the reason, it was simple for me to set up and use so I’m recommending it. That is all… I hope my review has been helpful to you in your hunt for the perfect network adapter!
• 

  Kenneth T. Weaver
  November 14th, 2010 on 9:58 am

  Rating

  Due to the nature of my work, I have used several types of these 54Mbps wireless cards. The only 2 Wireless Homenetworking I recommend to others is either D-Link or Netgear.

  I personally am using a 54Mbps wireless WG111 USB adaptor on my PC plus 2 others in the house.

  In addition I use the Neatgear 54Mbps Wireless Card (WG511) for my older Dell laptop. I have used these adaptors for over a year and have not had to replace them, or have had any problem with their peformance.

  I have installed hundreds of these for customers. It does come with software for the drivers, AND comes with a NETGEAR PROGRAM that overides windows. I never use the program personally. I just use the CD for the drivers, after insert the adaptor. It also comes with the software updates for vista.

  I found that as long as you have a Wireless Netgear Modem, it never seems to have any problems with 128bit encryption or 64bit (which is what I mostly use)

  The biggest reason for any Netgear adaptor 128 or 64 bit is 1st) If you use install and use the NETGEAR PROGRAM, then the best way to avoid internet drop off, is to enter you 64 or 128 bit encryption password on the first page of the progam IN THE MANUAL SLOT and not the 2 slots for above! Trust me I know.
  
  2nd) If you plug the adaptor in, and then insert the CD just for the drivers (when prompted) WITHOUT using Netgears program, then you have to set internet options to set LAN and check “automatic” and leave proxy settings alone. Then right click on the little wireless pic in your tray, and select “status” then “properties”. From there at the top box scroll down to TCP/IP and click properties and make sure “automatic is checked” The click close and click the middle tab. If there is more than 1 network in your area or in that box, remove them all, except yours. Then make sure to check the box “let windows configure my wireless settings for me” and on the last tab check the box “automatically connect to this network when in range” After that click okay, and close. It may start to try and connect right then, or you can right click on the little wireless computer in tray and select “view wireless networks” and you will see your there, click connect and it will prompt you for you password, twice and thats it. You don’t have to type in the password any more. Everytime you turn on your computer, it will automatically detect settings and connect you to your wireless internet network.

  It sounds like a lot, but it really is simple and will prevent internet drop off tremendously!

  I setup networks for a living and years ago, I used to pull my hair out sometimes, until I finally found out what works the best, regardless of number of networks, users or 64 and 128 encyrption. If the router is setup correctly and you install Neatgear wireless usb or card, you will be very happy. I have moved and used the same USB and CARD for my laptop with 3 dirrent networks, and all I did was set it up with the new password and it is working as of now.

  Hope this helps
• 

  L. turk
  November 14th, 2010 on 7:13 pm

  Rating

  I bought this at such a great price, I may as well have stolen it! When I ordered this I thought I was going to get a piece of junk in the mail or worse yet, not get anything at all because I swore it was a joke. I couldn’t believe such a handy little piece of equipment was being sold so cheap! I have been using this since the second I opened the package and I do not have any complaints at all. If you need a wi fi adapter and you are on a budget, then this one is for you!
• 

  J. Cole
  November 14th, 2010 on 9:15 pm

  Rating

  I had this thing for 2 months and got constantly bad signal from it. It would go all the way down to 2mbps. I did not pay for a crappy b signal. I paid for a good g signal. What was wrong you ask. I had the netgear plugged directly into the back of my computer. When I used the provided usb extension cable voila I have had nothing but 54mbps since. Keep this adapter away from your computer otherwise your signal will be extremely terrible.
• 

  S.Zimm
  November 15th, 2010 on 11:02 am

  Rating

  I’ve only just begun using the adapter, but so far it works perfectly.

  1) Easy to install
  
  2) Includes a USB extender cable (a nice and useful feature)
  
  3) My download and upload speeds tested as the same as when the computer was hard-wired with the ethernet cable

  I’m at 95% signal strength one room away from the wifi antenna. I’m no expert, but this did exactly what it it was supposed to do. I have a Netgear antenna, so my only recommendation is to get a USB adapter from the same company that makes your wifi router. That was recommended to me by my IT guy at work and it worked flawlessly with this equipment.
• 

  B. Cochran
  November 15th, 2010 on 11:45 pm

  Rating

  The Netgear wg111us wireless USB adapter Pulls in signals well and holds em well. I have tried many brands and models of wireless USB adapters, but I keep buying more of these for a reason. I use a linksys router and these adapters(you cannot go wrong for the price)!
• 

  Kofi Anim-Appiah
  November 16th, 2010 on 8:35 pm

  Rating

  This thing simply does what it’s supposed to do – no fuss. Easy to install. I like the velcro attachment arrangement (if you need to keep it mounted – I do, on my Dell laptop with a dead PCMCIA slot). It connects with my Linksys WRTG54 easily and reliably at 54Mbps (router upstairs, me downstairs). Highly recommended.