Actiontec USB 802.11b Wireless Adapter

Manufacturer: Actiontec Electronics Inc.
Supplied by: Actiontec Electronics Inc.
Price: $119.99 

by Dean Barker  2/4/2002

Introduction

Home networking has taken hold.  Having more than one functional PC in the average home is no longer unusual.  So it is only natural to link these machines together to share data and resources.  Now, networking has always come across to many people as a very advanced and complicated undertaking.  The connection and configuration of a hub, the network setup, and not to mention all that wire.  Setting up a network is not especially difficult; it is just intimidating to the average user.  Then again, changing the oil in a car for the first time is intimidating.  But once you do it once, it's a piece of cake from then on.  Another issue is that the average user and hard-core tech both have lots of wire coming out of their computers.  On any given day, looking behind my box brings up thoughts of Indiana Jones hanging on to his whip over that tomb filled with snakes.  Yea, more wire, that’s exactly what we all need.  Enter wireless network adapters.

Wireless technology is nothing new but it has only been in the past couple of years that wireless technology has matured to be a practical and useful option.  This came in the form of the accepted 802.11b universal protocols that standardized the industry.  Couple this with USB to create a hot swappable network adapter and a star is born.  What other benefits can a USB wireless network adapter give you?  Well for starters, as with any network you can share files, printers, and Internet access.  USB eliminates excess wire and makes a single unit fit either desktop or laptop applications.  And with transfer speeds of up to 11mbps this may be on the short list of many a geek's want list.  We want to thank Lauren and Lesley at Actiontec for giving us the opportunity to monkey around with these USB Network Adapters.

What you get  

Opening up the box shows that Actiontec takes things seriously.  The packing is first rate, almost guaranteeing that there will never be any problems with shipping damage.  Included in the box was the Adapter, USB adapter cable, Driver CD, Installation manual, a quick start guide, and warranty registration card.  Actiontec has taken a lesson from AOpen with the inclusion of a quick start guide.  If you don’t want or need to go through the entire manual, you just pick up the quick start guide for the down and dirty to get things running.  The installation manual was very well written and easily understandable for the novice wanting to get their feet wet with networking.

The unit itself measures roughly 85 x 50mm.  This is about the size of a credit card.  On the back of the adapter are four rubber non-skid feet to keep it planted on any surface should you lay it horizontal on a desk or table.  There are also two cut outs on the back so you can hang the unit by a screw on a wall, out of the way, if you don't want it on your desk.  Actiontec also included some Velcro with some stick on one side so you have yet a third way to secure your wireless adapter where ever you want.

The USB cable is a bit over five feet long so there should be no problem with reaching whatever out of the way place you want to set the adapter.  This feels to be about the right length.  Any longer would be too much cable to deal with and any shorter could be inconvenient.

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