The Microsoft MN-500 Wireless Base Station is a router with integrated wireless access point and a 4-port Ethernet switch. This is the centerpiece of an 802.11b wireless network. The Microsoft easy-to-use setup software makes it easy for you to connect multiple wired and wireless computers in your home or small office to the Internet through a single broadband connection, such as a cable or DSL modem.Enjoy data transfer rates of up to 11 Mbps for wireless connections and 100 Mbps for wired connections - that's significantly faster than a typical broadband connection. Built-in security feature provides strong security features including a built-in hardware firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), and 128-bit wireless security (WEP).
The Microsoft wireless router is the ideal central access point for your wireless network. Connect multiple computers to a single broadband connection. Roam your house or office with the freedom and mobility of a Wi-Fi equipped laptop computer, share files and printers with all the other computers on the network, or play games with multiple players on the Internet and within your own network.
Features include an easy-to-use setup wizard, designed to make connecting your computers together easier. The router comes with strong security features, including a built-in firewall, Network Address Translation (NAT), and access control lists. The 4-port router easily connects to your network with universal plug and play for functionality such as voice messaging, video messaging, and games. You can also monitor your network status easily with Microsoft broadband network utility.
Included in the box with this wireless router are a stand (detachable), power supply cable, Ethernet cable, startup guide, user's guide, setup CD-ROM, and a blank floppy disk.
System requirements include: a computer with a network adapter to configure the router, an external broadband (cable, DSL, or other) modem with Ethernet port (not compatible with dial-up modems), Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or Netscape Navigator 4.7 or later to view and use the management tools, and an available 120 V AC power outlet.
Additional requirements include: a computer running Windows 98, 98 SE, Me, 2000 Professional, XP Professional, or XP Home Edition, Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later (setup will install Internet Explorer 6.0 browser components, if necessary, but will not displace your primary browser), 28 MB of available hard disk space if you already have Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6.0 (132 MB of available hard disk space if you are installing Internet Explorer for the first time), a 4x or faster CD-ROM drive, and a VGA or higher resolution monitor.
Note: Not all Internet service providers (ISPs) allow the sharing of a broadband connection. Please check with your ISP.
1 Nothing but junk
I purchased this router a few weeks ago, and it
never did work. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
I sent emails to Amazon, and the person I bought it
from. They didn't even have the courtesy to reply.
Don't think I'll do business with either one again.
2 Going on for one and half year
I am writing this after using this product for around two years. Excellent product. My Inspiron 8100 has Microsoft's wireless card and PC has D-Link DWL-122. No problem and no downtime at all ( sometimes for months I don't have to touch my router ) . Have been running 128-bit encryption all the way. I was also able to connect to the router running RedHat 9.0 and Fedora 3.0. Overall A+ rating.
3 Great Router But Had Few Problems
This Router Was a Great Buy I Bought Another one later on it worked so great. Micorsoft Made A Great Router But I Have Had A Few Problems And I HAd To Call Microsoft Support A Few Times But In The End It All Has Worked Out And Because I Had Those Problems I Give IT A 4
4 Excellent product
I bought this product three weeks ago and I have no complains so far. We have a couple of laptops at home and we were tired of moving cables around. After reviewing some opinions I decided to buy this one. The signal is very good. In addition, using its software package it is very easy to install and configure.
5 A Great Wireless Router
I bought this router from Amazon based on the reviews I've read after my Netgear router pooped out after about a week and a half. The router couldn't be easier to set up. My whole wireless network was up in about 10 minutes. After I had it up and running, it informed me of a software and firmware update, which was extremely painless, and it was worked flawlessly since. Has good security features. I actually liked the Netgear web-interface better for stuff like MAC address filtering, but this one works too. 2 Thumbs up!
6 Only for Beginners.
I purchased the MN-500 Wireless Base Station last May and it worked great all summer. In fact, it is the simplest router I have ever used. Setup was simple, quick, and it enabled all the security features automatically, as opposed to using default settings that are easily compromised.
However, after three months of using this device, it simply stopped working. The lights did not blink; they all just stayed lit. Technical support was very helpful and sent me a replacement promptly and I was just as pleased with the new unit.
Suspiciously enough, this same problem occurred a mere three months later. I will not comment on the technical support the second time around, but they sent me a new router, anyway.
The third MN-500 I received was the new and improved version of the product, released with the same features as the MN-700 Wireless Base Station sans wireless-G capabilities. In other words, it was now using a "Commercial-Grade SPI Firewall."
To say the least, the new MN-500 not only had the same capabilities as all the other MN-500 Wireless Base Stations I had received, but it was in fact, the SAME router. It did not have any of the additional enhancements that were listed on the box and it used the same firmware version as the previous models. I saw nothing in the router configuration concerning control of the firewall by any means different than was previously available. My understanding (in dealing with LINKSYS products) is that a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) Firewall gives you more control over incoming packets than the choice to simply enable or disable the firewall, which is the only choice given for the MN-500.
Even when I updated the firmware, I still saw no change to this feature and was very disappointed that it did not give me more advanced controls over my Internet connection.
On the bright side, the base station has given me strong wireless connections and I have never received a drop-off in communication between any wired or wireless device with this product. Nevertheless, this product needed to be replaced twice and does not have any of the features a computer user might want. I turned to the WRV-54G Wireless VPN Broadband Router from LINKSYS, and despite its poor remarks here at Amazon.com, I have never had a single problem. (Please note that I update all my firmware promptly upon each release.)
7 Unbelievable!
I know there are many Microsoft bashers out there, but bottom line is their hardware products always work without a hitch. I have used Microsoft Keyboard and Mice with no problems ever.
I bought a Netgear WGT624 router which was a nightmare. Reboot issues remain ignored by Netgear, and their support is lacking. I read the reviews of the MN-500 router by Microsoft so I decided to give it a go. At the price you cannot go wrong.
I am a very proficient network type guro, and manage a modest size network at Stanford. I have always been hesitant using wireless because of the hit and miss connection issues. My laptop has a wireless network card so I decided to take the plunge at home. Dealing with the Netgear router made me want to give up, but using the Microsoft router, I must say I am very impressed.
At first glance and feel, its rather cheasy (showing my age). Setting the unit up was a breeze. You can set the router up without using the software, but I like the software so I used it. After a few clicks, it was up and running. Wireless too. No problems at all! It was really refreshing to use a wireless router without haveing to deal with hassle. Plugged it in, ran the software, surfed the web, end of story.
The software will notify you of an update, and I recommend you do. It adds an extra security feature - dissabling of SSID broadcast. So what do you get for about 40 bucks?
1. Wireless router
2. 4 port switch
3. Firewall
4. MAC address filtering
5. 64 or 128bit WEP
6. Disable of SSID broadcast
7. Very good wireless range - 20% greater than the WGT624 in B-mode.
and all of the other usual features like DHCP.
Sure its only 802.11b, but its tried and tested. If you are looking for a router, get this router!
8 I didn't even need the CD!!
Well, I took it home, opened the box and did exactly what all the stickers and instructions say not to. I just plugged it in. By the time I booted up by desktop and launched IE the MS500 had found my DSL router and autoconfigured everything I needed. It worked right out of the box with no install CD or setup required!!! How much easier can it get than that!! Very good product.
9 Easy to setup but didn't work so well with one computer
I use this wireless router to connect two computers at home. Was easy to setup but didn't work so well with a PII computer running Windows ME.
Initially I connected a PIII running XP and a PII using ME. I had to go through several steps everytime I booted the computer running Windows ME to get the network connection to work.
After getting rid of the PII computer and getting a new celeron (still runing ME), I now have no problems.
So beware if you have plan to use this with older computers.
10 No Muss, No Fuss Networking--This Is It!
If you want a reliable, easy-to-install wireless network, this base station/router is a great centerpiece. I have had it configured with both cable and DSL modems, and the MN-500 worked great on both. The security is very good with the built-in WEP and inegrated firewall. For an added measure of security, you can also enable MAC filtering so the base station communicates only with hardware you designate by MAC address. Outstanding tech support by Microsoft for 2 years is an added bonus. When I called for help about a setting, Microsoft kept calling me to ensure everyting was OK--unheard of nowadays! The only hitch I've run into with the MN-500 is using the automatic install wizard. It doesn't seem to always work reliable, so I've had much better success just configuring the base station manually, which isn't as scary as it might sound. You just access the base station with your web browser and type in some information. The range is excellent, and there is no place within my house or yard where I cannot access the base station with my remote PCs. The manual is excellent in all regards and explains all of this in terms anyone can understand. Overall, an excellent product.
11 Easy to set up, worked great right away on both my laptops
I have MSN DSL, so this was just an add on to make my DSL service wireless. We have two laptops at home, a Sony VIAO and an HP. The Sony has an Orinoco network adaptor card. I set up the HP with the included MS network adaptor card in minutes, then set up the Sony in even less time. I had our whole new wireless network running in probably 20 minutes, and working great on both laptops all over the house. I'm not really a novice but I'm no network expert either, and this was my first go at setting up a home network. Glad I bought it.
12 Solid performance
I have had the Microsoft Broadband Networking Wireless Router for almost a year and it has given me surprisingly little trouble. The setup can be a little tricky for computer novices and when there is a problem with the network, it is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of the error. However, the quality of the connection that the base station provides is excellent and it works well throughout my house and even outside. Overall, it is an excellent investment for a multi-computer home.
13 Great product!
I was looking for a reasonably priced router that offered wired and wireless connections. So when the MN500 appeared in appeared in my Gold Box I bought it without hesitation, given the good reviews it has received. I have Windows 2000 Professional so I had to use the manual installation procedure. However, it was pretty straightforward and I was up and running in a few minutes. The documentation that comes with the product is good. The Base Station Management tool is quite user friendly. The only thing I did not like was that there was no "progress indicator" when I was trying to connect to my ISP using PPPoE. The status just showed "Connecting" for a long time. Luckily I realized I had typed in the wrong password and was able to resolve the problem. Overall, an excellent product.
14 It really didn't work for me
If you have ANY other piece of wireless equipment in your hosuehold, such as portable phones, this device WILL NOT WORK. I got signals from 15' maximum, not the 150 feet advertised. I returned it and got a Linksys router with the Signal Booster. It is awesome. Microsoft, stick to the stuff you're good at please
15 Worst I've ever seen MN-500
This router was difficult and confusing to set up. I couldn't get it to configure and tried three different computers. When I did finally get it configured it worked fine, until I bought a new computer and tried to run setup again and once again I had difficulties. I ended up buying a different router of a different brand. Maybe Microsoft should stick to hardware.
16 Super product but unreliable
I brought this router and the notebook adapter to share my internet conneciton. Setup was very easy just using the quick set up card. The price is just great given that it is 5 times faster than the prior generation product. The Broadband management utility is a nice utility to visually manage and check your connection. The wireless encryption security feature gives you added peace of mind knowing that a roaming intruder doesn't piggy back on your internet connection.
I have intermittent disruptions with the laptop to which the router is connected via the ethernet cable reporting 'Network disconnected'. This requires a reboot (and a labourous disk check up). Despite having all the updated firmware.
My suggestion - research other products (Netgear, etc) also. Make sure you take advantage of a 30 day guarantee, if available
17 Look no further
After spending days trying to get a competitor's product to work, I spied the MN-500 and MN-510 USB network adapter at a local discount store. Bought 'em both on impulse, and was stunned to have the shared broadband connection and network up and running about 15 minutes after I got home. Amazing.
No doubt there are a lot of technologically superior networking products, but you've gotta hand it to Microsoft: their setup instructions and configuration utilities really set the standard. This is a quality product. I'd recommend it to anyone.
18 Novice User
While it took longer than 5 minutes, I was able to get the system set up for my desk top and my lap top in less than half an hour. Set up was easy and the system is working beyond expectation. The Microsoft replaces Linksys, which was a disappointment from the first instance; confusing set up and very poor customer support.
19 Superb Product
Microsoft delivers another great wireless networking product! Installation was amazingly easy and performance is great. I've used their earlier MN-500 wireless-B router for the past year and recently upgraded to this G version. Even with my 802.11b Dell laptop with the latest Intel Centrino technology, speed and distance are improved over the earlier router.
I can't say enough good things about this product. The radio signal is very strong (more than 6Mbps) throughout my 5000sqft+ home with no dead spots. I don't know how the Microsoft engineers did it. The Linksys WRT54G that I tried for a week is a poor performer compared to this Microsoft unit.
Although Microsoft is known for great software, this product should earn them honor in the hardware category. Highly recommended!
20 Customer service by Microsoft A+
I recently bought a new IBM Centrino powered laptop (R40) and wanted a wireless broadband connection for my home. After reading all the reviews on the $50 - $75 routers I picked the Microsoft MN-500 based on customer service. After installing the software I was unable to connect to the internet. My computer recognized the wireless connection but could not connect to the internet. I had a 10 minute wait in primetime to talk to a customer service rep at Microsoft. Within 15 minutes I was running full throttle throughout my small condo. Full signal, regardless of where I went. Needless to say I am very happy with my purchase. And you get a 2 year warranty. I hope Microsoft keeps the customer service in this country. I will avoid offshore customer service companies. And no, I am not in the tech business. My limited experience with offshore customer service has been very negative. You could give me a wireless router and if they have poor customer support I would give it back to you. You get what you pay for!
21 Unsatisfactory condition on delivery
I have to give a middle of the road mark for this item, as I can't really comment, sending it back unused. After much deliberation and reading of various reviews of brands on this site , I decided to take a chance on the microsoft's wireless router.
I order this item on a Thursday (2 weeks ago) and paid for 2 day delivery. Imagine my joy when it arrived next day! Then imagine my dissapointment when I discovered that this item was not new and all of the included packaging had previously been ripped open. It wasn't even close to passing as new. Packed it up and sent it straight back.
Still waiting for refund or replacement (with new untouched product).
I've bought a lot of stuff from here in the past and expected better than this from Amazon.
22 Don't Even Consider This Product
Weak system. Set up on WIn XP machine and was terrible. Signal was weak no matter what we did. Set up the entire system in one room, shut down all wireless phones, cell phones and anything with an on/off switch. No go. No police stations, fire stations etc nearby. Eliminated all possibilities. Sent back for Netgear b system. Works great. Microsoft should stick to their monopoly areas.
23 Idiot Proof
This is the most simple hardware device you'll ever install. Just read and follow the instructions and you'll be wireless in minutes. I will recommend this wireless router and related adaptors to everyone that asks.
WARNING - D-Link is complicated, the instructions are limited, and customer support is a group of barely-english speaking techs that simply repeat your problem to you and send you an email acknowledging your problem, yet provide no solution. Next time you have a horrible taste in you mouth or a bad headache, think D-Link!!
24 hate microsoft, but love this router
This was my second attempt to attach a wireless router to our hardwired network at home. I am not a tech geek, but have worked on my own pc's since the days of IBM XT/dos. The last router I tried (linksys) was a headache to install. It took a weekend to get the settings right, etc.
This one is simple. Really, really simple. Which was a good thing since there was no phone number for tech support to be found anywhere in the documentation or on-line (my one complaint).
I put in the cd, followed the instructions from the booklet for adding on to an existing network - and it worked. I cannot emphasize how fast and easy the process was. The router's range spans our large 2 story home, with very few dead spots.
The installation booklet is very well written and actually explains what the acronyms mean. Don't know what the heck DHCP is? The booklet explains what it means, what it does, and why it might effect you. Then it explains how to change the settings, step by step. I paid $$$ last time for a separate book which didn't explain it nearly as well.
This is a terrific product.
25 Mostly great, but...
Generally, it works great! Starts up quickly, easy to set up (including WEP security), good range, hums along reliably.
My only complaint is that it seems to broadcast the SSID by default, and I can't find a way to turn it off. I'd prefer if my neighbors couldn't see my network so easily. I live in an apartment, so this is a serious concern for me. Hopefully a firmware upgrade will add this feature.
26 setup by a novice
Setting up the router with a cable connection and a desktop running windows 98(second edition) worked flawlessly. Setting up the rounter wirelessly with an IBM laptop(Pentium M) running windows XP was tricky. (Problem was that the laptop found another network. Tech support said I was picking up a neighbor's network. I told them they were crazy. I live on an acre out in the country.) What worked for me was reinstalling the cisco chip on the motherboard and NOT installing any of the router software on the laptop. Instead I just clicked on network neighborhood and it found the network.
I have a connection with comcast. During the transition from AT&T, the internet connection to the laptop wouldn't stay. I called Microsoft and IBM tech support and no one had the answer. I found the answer to this problem on Microsoft's website. The trick was to tell the router software to look for a new ISP every 2 weeks instead of every 2 hours.
By the way, this was my first attempt of networking anything!!! So if I can do it.......anyone can. I love being wireless with a laptop. We live in a 2000 sq. ft. ranch style house. The connection is great from one end of the house to the other going through a livingroom and kitchen with possible electrical interference. It even works in the screened porch with a metal roof. AWESOME
27 Gotta hand it to them...
Not being a huge Microsoft fan, it's hard to argue with them, it's hard to argue when they do it right. Like everyone else, I installed the software following the directions completely and of course the Internet didn't come up. I called the toll-free #, a woman took my info, created a profile, told me how long I'd have to wait (she was right on-about 20-25 mins.) The technician tried many things and finally we found the problem (it wasn't automatically assigning IP address and DNS server). Voila. Rep was very professional, no attitude, and knew where to go. This beats a disaster experience I had with a Linksys router-my last one. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em they say. Good for Microsoft. The router works incredibly fast. I'm quite pleased.
28 Highly reccomended!!!!
It's 7 pm; I need to get my homework done and research online, my dad needs to check his stocks and work on things, and my mom needs to get a recipe and ask her friend for advice. You can't just barge onto the computer, that would be rude and may not even work. So what do you do? Well if you have another computer with an ethernet port, all you need to do is pick up a broadband router. I faced a similar situation to the one above not too long ago, and went on a long search for the perfect router. I eventually came down to this one, by Microsoft. I bought it thinking since it is a Microsoft product, it's gotta be good! Boy was I wrong... IT WAS FANTASTIC!!!! (I also read up a lot on it too). FYI, you also need a USB wireless adapter for every computer/device you wish to hook up to your network, I bought that too. Installation was easy as cake, although I ran into a small problem but it turned out to be nothing big at all. I fret a bit and then called up Microsoft Tech Support and was blown away by how nice they were and how helpful they were too! Extremely patient people who knew what they were talking about, and it only took literally a second to fix my problem! I highly reccomend this product! Works 100% well, never failed, fast, easy to set up, great support!
29 Worth every penny!
Let me give you a little background about myself and the situation: I'm a network person. I don't really see eye-to-eye with Microsoft very often, either. I read up a lot on technology; I'm the "computer guy" at work, and the "computer guy" at school. I'm also the "computer guy" at home. We have four computers in my house. My parents have a computer that they always want to work, my brother always wants to try the latest and greatest stuff on his laptop in the apartment (he's 23), and my sister just wants to click on the AIM icon and chat with her friends. And of course I want to use my laptop without restriction. Here's the gimmick: since I'm away at school most of the year, I have to make sure things are running fine when I leave.
My project this summer was to give my brother (and myself) wireless access while letting my sister and parents continue to use their wired computers. We already had a nice spot in the house where we had a hub that would be perfect for a router.
First we tried a Linksys. I really thought that it would just be plug and play, but instead it was "plug, play, and then stop working after about a day". I knew that my parents wouldn't want to reset the router every day, so the linksys went back to the store.
Then, we tried a Netgear (the 814). We use Netgear switches at work, and they always seemed robust. It was easier to set up, but this had similar problems, it would stop working after about a few days. The wireless connection was also very poor only about 15 feet away. I was really disappointed since I've always trusted their products in the past.
Being a network guy, I did some testing and tried to find out why these routers were failing. Turns out that they were getting "overloaded" with my brother and sister using several downloading programs at once so much that it was killing the units. I thought this was totally unacceptable that a router could get killed with some traffic.
So as a last-ditch effort I bit the bullet and bought the MN-500. I knew it was Microsoft right away since it came with a setup CD, two manuals (a "quick start" and a "manual"), and a floppy disk to save your settings. I resisted the urge to just plug it in and mess around for a few hours (like the Mr. Know-it-all that I can be) so I popped in the CD. Microsoft write a nice tool that really simplifies setting up the router (don't need to touch the web interface). Once you set up the router you just bring the CD and floppy to each computer you want to set up and it sets the settings and adds a nice status tool on each computer. (Just as a note these tools aren't necessary if you don't want them on your computer or if you have a Mac or Linux or something else).
My brother loves the fact that he can open his ports right from the control panel for games, and my parents like the little tool it puts next to the clock to let them know the router is working.
Lastly, the router seems to handle the heavy traffic we put on the router. We've been running straight for about two weeks now.
I'm a network guy and know my stuff, but to be honest I think that if you can read the instructions on the setup CD and the little quick start poster they give you, no one should have problems with this router. I really believe that I won't be getting any phone calls from my family while I'm away at school this year.
30 MN-500 - Doesn't get any easier than this
I recently upgraded my internet connection from a regular 56K modem to Verizon's DSL service, and wanted to share my new connection with my secondary computer in a bedroom. I looked at several different options including running wires through the attic, but the resounding choice was to go wireless.
I have had over 6+ years dealing with computer hardware and software, but networking I have never had real formal experience dealing with, so I was a bit ansy when it came to purchasing and setting up my first wireless network. The wireless hardware market is relatively consolidated between Linksys, Netgear, DLink, and to a smaller extent, Microsoft. I chose to go with MN-500 over the others because of my excellent previous experience with other Microsoft hardware.
I purchased it, got home, opened the box - was surprised that the router could stand up or lay flat on it's side - a great feature. Came with all necessary cables and great instructions. Hooking up cables and driver installation was a breeze on Win98. Then it came to setting up my wireless information: my SSID, base station password, channel, WEP key, and some other information. Having not worked with wireless before, it was very intuitive. Got everything correct, then went through the painful process of setting up my wireless USB adapters. Had to reboot the MN-500 once in order to get the USB adapters to recognize the network, but after doing so it worked perfectly.
The MN-500 configuration page shows what computers are hooked up to your network, and the management page has all the usual options: WEP, NAT Firewall, Mac and Client Filtering, LAN and WAN setup, and logging. Very easy to use.
In terms of performance - the MN-500 has been reviewed by many major sites and has been called the slowest in terms of performance of any wireless router. I don't transfer files often between computers so that is not much of an issue. The speed it does transfer files at is more than adequate. In terms of download speed over the internet, the speed is the same on the wireless computers as it is on the wired computer.
The base station itself - features 4 ports for wired access, and status indicator lights showing if the router is having problems, what port is using the network, and so forth. The MN-500 automatically assigns DHCP IP Addresses, so there's no need to manually do it unless you enjoy the challenge. Also, the MN-500 is XBox Live! and XBConnect compatible, so getting your XBox online is as simple as plugging it into the router.
My only gripes about the router: you cannot turn off auto broadcast. That might be a security concern to some, especially if you live in an apartment. (My router is next to a window so I'm kind of concerned) My other gripe: this might be wishful thinking, but you should not be able to lock yourself out of the router through mac filtering, which unfortunately, is possible with this router. (Easily avoided by doing a hard reset on the router)
Overall however, this router is great for the newbie wireless user or even the advanced. It's a great piece of hardware that's easy and simple to use and I'd recommend it to anyone.
31 Great tech support
Great tech support. They help us with 2 problems, it took more then 2 hours but they did it.
(it had nothing to with there product, it was are PCs )
32 Outstanding wireless router for mixed network
I have a mixed network, a Mac G4, Dell Dimension 8250, homemade, Compaq Armada M700 w/ 3Com wireless card, and NEC SuperScript 1450N printer. After trying a number of other wireless routers, which I was not able to connect to w/ the Armada and 3Com wirelss card, I installed the Microsoft router and after changing the default IP address from 192.168.2.1 to 192.168.1.1 everything worked flawlessly. It was necessary to change the default IP since the NEC printer had a fixed IP.
Was really surprised, since I have a Mac on my network, but thanks Bill and Steve for an excellent product.
33 Best in 802.11b class
Definitely the best among the 802.11b access points/routers. I've tried all the major brands, and in my three story house, this one gives the best reception. Signal is reported to be weak by my laptop once I'm on the 2nd floor, but is still good. On the third floor it's "very poor" and may drop once in a while, but still works fine 95% of the time. With the other brands I didn't get any reception on the 2nd floor.
Very easy to set up. I recommend going directly to the web-based firmware management tool via your Internet Explorer. That way you can just hook it up, open the management page, and do the settings. If you use Microsoft's set-up page, you may end up using the management tool anyway.
34 Easy installation, nice wi-fi access point
I got this one set up in about 5 minutes. I skipped the software at first because I knew how to use the browser-based configuration utility. So just hooked everything up (you don't need to turn off anything, unless you want to play safe), and then set up DSL access (called "WAN" in Microsoft's lingo) and security. Now everything works great. Two machines hooked via cable, two more by wi-fi. I use MAC control and WEP for wi-fi security. A WPA update is on the way, which I hope is soon.
I didn't see the need for "g" since 802.11b is already 50x faster than my DSL, and I don't use LAN features, just Internet surfing.
One thing I wish the product had is the ability to turn off SSID broadcast, so casual users can't just pick up your SSID easily. Of course, you should NEVER use wi-fi for any confidential e-mails (HTTPS web browsing is ok), since WEP is not really secure, even at 128-bit level. Wait for WPA update, which is promised for the next firm upgrade.
Called customer service to ask about WPA and after on hold for about 5 minutes, a polite, English-speaking technician answered my questions. He didn't sound like he was talking to me from India, which is nice, since I have tons of trouble understanding people with Hindi accents (my love for Apu on the Simpons notwithstanding).
35 Wireless that works
I'd have given this 10 stars if it were 802.11g, but it doesn't really matter, since 802.11b is fast enough for broadband (and even T1 and T3!), and I don't transfer huge files between my PCs.
I'd tried Netgear, D-Link and Linksys and was sorely disappointed by the limited ranges on those AP/router units. Netgear was the worst. Finally I decided to give this a try. I was a little skeptical at first since I wasn't excited about a Microsoft product. "Plain and buggy," I thought. But, five minutes after installation, I finally got steady wi-fi signal all over my house, whereas before with the other AP/routers the signal would drop completely after less than 20 feet. It has worked well ever since. Very happy with it.
There's a twenty-dol rebate until June 30. But you'll have to dig for the rebate form on Microsoft's online store site.
36 It couldnt' have been easier
Although I consider myself pretty computer savvy, I was intimidated about setting up a wireless network. The reviews I read were very encouraging so I bought the base station and the wireless network card for my laptop. I usually avoid the directions unless absolutely necessary but read every word on this one. The good news is, there wasn't a lot to read and everything was very well explained. Within an hour of opening the box, I was surfing the net on my living room couch. Sweet!
37 Better and more affordable than the Linksys Router
Light, small, easy to install. No problems so far with this wireless system. My base station is outside a guess house and there were no drop off into the house. ... This is way cheaper than the bulky popular Linksys Wireless system. I highly recommend this wirless system from Microsoft over the Linksys system. Good job Microsoft!!!
38 Good product, soured by bad service
Having had various wireless routers from D-Link, Linksys, 3COM, and Netgear in my house and office, I am pretty familiar with all the features; how these products work and what they are suppose to do. Microsoft has an advantage over their competitor as they know their own OS better than anyone else, so the router's installation is really fool proof and it installs seamlessly with Windows XP.
Although feature wise it is not as extensive as that found with the Linksys wireless router, the product has enough features to satisfy most home users and I had it working with my Comcast cable modem in under 10 minutes. The installation CD is one of the best implemented solution out there and it is very easy to follow the directions.
Now the bad part... If you are planning to buy this product and expect a rebate from Microsoft, forget about it! I followed the instructions and destroyed my box to send them the required bar codes from the box along with my receipt and rebate form. They wrote back a few weeks later and stated that I did not follow their instruction and if I do not send them the required bar code, I will not be eligible for the rebate.
Unfortunately, I can't even return the product now since I don't have a box anymore. If you are wondering about the rebate deal, call them at 800-622-4445.
39 A good deal
After problems with my Netgear wireless router, I chucked it and bought this one. Easy to install, including automatic setup of WEP encryption. Plus a nice interface that lets you check all of your settings at a glance. Tech support is first-rate, too---only a minor problem in the setup where it wouldn't recognize my cable connection, and they walked me right through it within 5 minutes.
May cost a bit more than some of the others, but you get (1) easy setup and guaranteed XP compatibility and (2)true firewall built in (meaning you don't need software that constantly interrupts all of your other apps). Well worth it for the amateur home network!!
40 Great with Firmware V1.09.008
I upgraded to firmware V1.09.008 and it now has all the features I was looking for in a wireless router.
- 4 RJ45 ports
- 128-bit WEP (criticized as weak, but stil better than not using WEP)
- Disable SSID (critical in securing your wireless network)
- MAC filtering
- Built-in firewall (just make sure to forward port 113 to one of your internal IPs to make sure you are fully stealthed)
- Ability to completely disable wireless
Excellent router and all the work that MS has done on the firmware is encouraging. I can't wait to see what else they add.
41 Great
I had two Linksys wireless routers and they both broke so I bought this one. I had ABSOLUTELY no trouble setting it up. I didn't have to mess with it or call anybody or anything. Granted, I have XP so that had a lot to do with it. But I was surfing wirelessly and playing SOCOM Navy Seals online within minutes. I just hope it doesn't break like the Linksys and it will be my favorite. Plus it's cheaper.
42 Great Product! Setup on XP was a cinch!
I hate dealing with tech support, so if I cant get a product to work on my own, I return it. After struggling with D-Link, Linksys, and Siemens wireless networking products and eventually returning them all, I gave Microsoft a shot. Setup was easy! I followed the quick set up instructions and was up and running within 15 minutes. At first, it wasnt working. I went into the coniguration and noticed that Microsoft had automatically setup the wrong mac address for my cable modem. After changing it, my wireless network was up and running. I also purchased the wireless notebook card for my laptop. Setup was even easier. I wish I would have gone with Microsoft first instead of having to go through the headaches of the other brands out there.
43 CD setup a joke
You'd think, and seems common sense enough, that the documentation and the included CD setup would tell you the correct procedure to properly setup your hardware. That following the onscreen instructions will at least get you to the problem so you can try and find a workable solution. Not for this product. Calling tech support (and waiting 50 min) is a requirement.
OK, here's how it went. I followed onscreen instruction from the setup CD. Went past the hurdle of 'identifying base station' stage (power cycled modem), but got stuck on 'configuring base station' stage. Help screen suggested I turn off XP firewall and disable ICS. Neither of them were turned on to begin with. Microsoft hardware support site was no help either. Finally, I broke down and called tech support.
Here's how the wacky solution works out.
-First had to remove the installed program from add/remove program, and go online using just your modem to verify online connectage.
-Put CD in tray and install SOFTWARE only, then exit the setup.
--reset router (MN-500) (which is accomplished by sticking a small sharp object in that little hole in the back, and holding it there until the power light starts flashing and letting go), connect modem to router and router to PC.
-Install hardware, and turn off PC when finished.
-Unplugged both Modem and router, and unplugged all ethernet wires to and from anywhere. Wait 4 minute. After 4 minutes, replug the power outlet for both router and modem. Put one end of an ethernet cable on port #2 of the router, and the other end on the PC. Turn on PC.
-configure your base station by going into the Microsoft Broadband Network Utility in your start/all programs section.
-after configuration, connect your modem to your router. Go online and ensure online connectivity.
Sure didn't say that in the manual though. I spent 3 hours because of very poor documentation. Even with clearly written instructions, what I did could be very confusing. Product works like a charm, now that it's properly installed (properly in this case is not following instruction that comes with the product).
44 Unbelievably happy with it
OK, I had a bit of a problem installing this, but I still couldn't be happier with it - because of *gulp* Microsoft's incredible technical support. I called on Easter Sunday night, after 9 p.m. EST, got straight through with no wait and had my problem completely resolved in minutes. I then installed the Wireless Notebook Adapter without a hitch and was up and running from every room in a three-story home flawlessly. Best price by far of any of the other networking options I looked at, and the reviews here at Amazon were quite accurate and quite helpful.
45 Works great -- great tech support
I bought this router as the starting point for a home office network. Instructions were clear enough, and there were no problems with installation until the end. It wouldn't recognize my internet connection. I was shocked when I called the toll free tech support number on a Saturday afternoon and was connected with a rep in about 2 minutes with virtually no time "on hold." She was very patient, walked me through powering everything down and then back up, and quickly took me to the exact point in the software that I needed to fix. Plus there was an almost immediate e-mail confirming what we'd done, and what the problem was.
Needless to say I was blown away. I have hardwired two desktop computers to the router, and installed a wireless adapter in my laptop and it all works perfectly. I couldn't be happier.
46 5 Star for now....
Yes, I also capitulated and bought HW from the Evil Empire. It hurt to turn over MORE cash to Wild Bill and the boys from Redmond, but it was worth it.
I had been using a 2 piece Linksys setup - 4 port switch and seperate WAP. A few months ago my Linksys decided to stop being reliable. I know it's the WAP because I can leave my wireless connection up for DAY'S at a time other places. The only way to fix it was to power it down and then back up again. Needless to say, this got old, especially when it would happen multiple times an hour. Linksys tech support tried and tried - I was on the phone multiple times for 4 or 5 HOURS!
I gave in. Dropped both pieces of gear in place of this integrated WAP/router.
To put it simply, flawless. I am moderatly PC and network proficient and the setup CD took me through the the entire install in minutes. It's connected to my Win XP laptop which I am still using my Linksys wireless card on. It detected and brought up my WinXP Dell desktop instantly as well.
The only reason I say "5 stars for now" is because I was just as happy with the old Linksys for months before. Let's see if this device lasts longer then the 8 months it took my old WAP to die.....
47 Excellent product. Very helpful support.
I've always sworn by Microsoft hardware ever since I had an MS optical mouse that died and they replaced it no questions asked, didn't even ask for the old one, just mailed me the latest and greatest version by express mail after I just read a code off the bottom of the mouse.
I have two computers running XP, a desktop and a laptop. Thought I would give Microsoft's wireless hardware a try after being downright confused by all the many different companies in the wireless hardware game. After being unable to get things up and running the first night I called technical support the next day. Had to wait about 30 minutes to get someone on the phone (in fairness I called at a peak time of the day) but the technical support person was extremely nice and VERY helpful. He spent about and hour with me walked me right through setting up the base station and then walked me through setting up the wireless card in my laptop and testing everything to make sure it was working OK which it was. I definitely would not have been able to do it on my own. He told me setting up the DSL PPPoE connection is sometimes a little tricky. After thinking it was a lost cause the night before he was able to walk me right through the entire process. He even help me set up my printers for sharing on network and testing it out and also gave me some tips on some things to look for if I ever did have a connection problem for some reason. I cannot say enough about how pleasant and knowledgable the support person was.
All in all, I'm very happy with the Microsoft Broadband Networking products and I am getting a good signal all over my 2 story home. Toll free support and warranty for two years gives me great confidence in this purchase(by then I'm sure it will outdated anyway as technology marches on).
48 An excellent venture into wireless
The wife and I are laptop users for work, so we both have laptops in addition to the home "core" PC. It got to a point where on the weekend we would have 2 100-ft cables strung across the room from our linksys router/hub to the various machines. We finally decided enough was enough and tried to go wireless.
At first, we tried the big boy on the block - Netgear - but the wireless NIC kept locking up my laptop and didn't like the wireless hub was picky about interacting with other brand NICs (I found a Linksys wireless NIC works best on my Tecra). After a few trips back and forth to Comp-USA (those guys are so understanding), we had our best luck with the MS router - the range gives a very good signal across both floors of our 1400 sq foot apartment, and the configuration was a breeze.
The only complexity came from connecting to the router once it's been secured. Once locked down, you need a string of hex characters (0-9,A-F) to authenticate a new card to the station; but the disk-based configuration actually even makes this a breeze. But even without the risk, the peace of mind the security brings is worth the one-time 90-sec investment of typing. :) It easily skates into 5-starts.
49 Know what you're buying!
My notes on Microsoft Wireless Base Station setup:
-- if running Windows 2000, you are in for tough going. The setup wizard will not work with W2000, so you are on your own doing a manual setup and reading every one of the fine-printed tech-speak words on pages 41 through 72 of the user guide. You will start feeling pretty lonely by about page 50. On page 84 of the users guide it says "setup and functionality are limited for Windows 2000".
-- the AC adaptor is 120V AC/60Hz, not 50 to 60Hz, so take note Europeans. This is a US-only-electric supply product (AC adaptor output is 12VDC/500mA.
-- the MS Base Station lies between your DSL/Broadband modem and your computer, and can connect to your computer only by using an Ethernet connection. So, if your DSL/Broadband modem connects to your computer using USB only, you are out of luck.
Go find another base station.
Bottom line: Dont even think about buying this product without a thorough review. Save your receipt!
50 Don't be afraid, go wireless. The MN 500 makes it easy!
I love gadgets and technology, but I am NOT a computer expert and wireless networking terms such as MAC numbers and Port Forwarding and DMZ are pretty foreign to me. I just wanted a wireless way to share my broadband internet connection between our home office desktop, my PDA (iPAQ 5455) and our kitchen/family room based laptop. The Microsoft MN 500 Wireless Base Station is the ticket to easy wireless networking. All you really need to read is the 4 page quick start guide and the device will be up and running. I read the very informative 100 page manual as well and learned a thing or two, but I really didn't need that informtion. The base station connected flawlessly -though I did reset my cable modem after connecting. That is not in the instructions but my ISP told me it would be a good idea. The base station has worked perfectly since and the signal is very strong throughout my house, upstairs and down- and in fact even in my driveway outside (so I was certain to leave the built-in encryption feature on to prevent drive-by theft of my signal.) My base station is tucked into a cubby hole in my computer desk next to the cable modem and has no problem sending its signal throughout the house. Those who have had problems with the signal probably just need to move the device. There is a lengthy discussion about placement of the base station in the manual (away from metal computer cases, for example). The MN-500 also comes with a hardware firewall. There is much debate as to whether software or hardware firewalls are best. I'm testing. The first two weeks I had my base station I disabled the hardware firewall and continued to use my Norton software based protection. Now, I've disabled that and am using the MN 500 alone. The ease of installation and the firewall and encryption features make this a great product for people who want to share the internet at home but don't want to learn the inner workings of wireless.
51 Quality is Excellent
I was very impressed at both how easy it was to set up a network using MSN's Wireless Base Station and how nicely it works. Do not be discouraged when you are first setting it up - I had to take about an hour with the Tech Support to get the base station up and running, but after everything was in place - the speed and quality is excellent. One thing to note: you will probably want to change your power options on the computer that is directly connected to the BroadBand Internet Connection, so that it no longer powers down and goes into a Standby Mode, or otherwise everyone loses their connection to the Internet. The signal strength is awesome - and the base station is so tiny (I expected it to take up a lot of room) - all of the adapters as well (USB and PC Cards). We have 5 computers running off of this station all at the same time, all connected to one Internet connection and we do not feel any restrictions in performance whatsoever. I did a little reading about this after I got it - it can network up to 200 computers all at once (5 is plenty for my family though). Do not be afraid to purchase this - well worth the money - just have a little patience setting it up - Tech Support at MSN was awesome and you have 2 FREE Years of Unlimited Support.
52 Not as good as Linksys and others
I purchased the MS Wireless Base Station as a replacement for the Linksys broadbrand router and wireless AP (consolidate from 2 to 1 piece of equipment). Price and name were a factor for me. MS has never let me down....until now. It was very easy to set up and directions were clear and concise. However, the Base Station signal was very weak from upstairs to downstairs in my home (about 60 feet). Room to room was okay. And that was when it was up and operating! I experienced about a 75% up time with this base sration. I went back to my old reliable 2-piece set up with Linksys equipment (100% up time)! I'll stick to the proven performers from now on. MS has a ways to go to get my support on their networking hardware.
53 It works with AOL, and it Works Well !!!
5 stars, although AOL said only Linksys brands of routers are compatible with their broadband, I bought this one. Couldn't resist the price after rebate, and Microsoft's reputition plus the length of the warranty. Now I can access the net everywhere in my 2 story house and in my backyard (using Microsoft's wireless notebook adapter), there is no blind spot whatsoever. This router came with the latest firmware so there is no need for further download. I am very happy with it. Wireless broadband connection speed is just as fast as my wired connection speed of about 400-550 kbps. To connect through AOL, just go to MS broadband network utility --> Tools --> Base station management --> select wireless bridging mode and you are done.
54 Excellent Product... No Kidding!
You'd think that Microsoft would make a bad wireless networking product - think again. The Wireless Base Station is top notch with high quality hardware and easy to use (and customizable) software. Installation under Windows XP Professional is flawless. LinkSys and SMC cannot match the performance and OS integration.
55 Microsoft is on top of the pc game!
This wireless station is near perfect in all aspects:
-price
-set-up
-ease of use
-performance
-tech support
You won't regret buying this and other MS wiresless broadband products!
56 GET THE NEW FIRMWARE !!
Very simple: With the original firmware 1.00 this product is complete ... ! Base station will loose wireless connections, switch ports will play dead, autodetecting 10/100 cards will fail etc etc. BUT, with the new firmware 1.08 (download and microsoft.com) all these problems disappeared and it works VERY GOOD !! Better performance, stable connections and it still looks very nice. Thumbs UP ! It's a shame microsoft is still not selling these in europe...i took one with me from my last visit to the states.
57 Really great, really surprised....
I decided to go with the Microsoft setup after reading some of the other reviews, and I am so pleased! I had the whole thing set up in abouot half an hour and it works so well. Microsoft has made it very easy to set up a network. I'm Microsoft certified, but not everyone is...my parents could probably set this equipment up and get it working easily. The price is also pretty great...I didn't expect to be able to set up a wireless network so cheap, but I did. Microsoft has done well with their first venture into broadband hardware...the only warning I would make is immediately download the firmware update for the base station. I would definitely recommend this setup!!!!
58 Have no fear!
After days (weeks) of online review of most popular/available wireless products, I finally settled on linksys line-up. However, the sheer variety of Linksys products is easy to confuse their own marketing department. (Warning: most stores still cary old and new versions of the same produts side by side - i.e. PrintServer EPSX3 versions 1 and 2 and many more). After much confusion, I purchased Linksys dual band (2.4GHz .11b and 5 GHz .11a plust the USB network adapter and the wireless PC card adapter). Then realized that .11a/5GHz spec has a very limited range. Since 11Mbps rate of .11b (2.4GHz) is still much faster than the fastest available internet connection, didn't need the headache of .11a (5Ghz) "dual band" option, and linksys boxes still unopened, found out about the MS wireless products. I liked what I read about it from other reviewers and bought MN-500, MN-510 and MN-520.
Over the X-mas break, I settled in to install my new MS network (with a brand new XP Pro installation on the computer). Things went pretty well until the setup finished and I discovered that I had . . . no internet connection. Tried many things (every time restoring a virgin XP install from a DriveImage backup). Nothing worked and I was just about to give-up after several hours when I decided to give the "tech-support" a chance (something I hate doing). This is what happened:
1. The first tech-sup guy listened to my venting patiently for about a minute and a half without interrupting, and very politely informed me that he was a customer rep and proceeded to ask a few questions to start a "case". The guy sounded like he had a psychology degree - very nice.
2. I was trabnsferred to "Bill" who again patiently listened and took m ethrough the steps (no frustration). Againg everything was as it should be but no internet connection.
3. Finally, he suggested removing the power from the *cable modem*. After that, everything was up and running beatifully. The problem all along was the cable modem not releasing the IP info to the new base station (the reset took care of that).
4. "Bill" suggested to stay online while I connected the USB adapter on the other computer. Without exagerration, this took about 3 or 4 minutes to get online.
5. My connection on the second floor was 4 bars out of 5 with "Very Good" rating (I stashed the base station into a cabinet to test it). When I took it out, I get 5/5 bars and "Excellent" rating on the utility. It reports 11Mbps ( I don't know what the real throughput is), but I am not worried, This connection is faster that my T1 at work.
It'works as billed and it's great. Linksys is going back. After seeing the setup of Linksys PrintServer I have, I realized what other HW manufacturers miss. The SW that makes the product . . .
59 Microsoft Enters Wirless Arena in Style
Having been a previous owner of a Linksys ethernet DSL/Cable router, I had high standards. The linksys was flawless to setup.. very easy.. and worked with my PPoE account information at SBCYahoo.
But rather then go with the Linksys wireless, I had some gift cards and decided that change is fun when it comes to computer stuff.
I was correct. This MS product is sweet. It worked easily. I've had great reception. The base unit is downstairs and the USB adapter is upstairs. Excellent to Very Good signal strength.
Laptop PCcard works just as well.
I think the floppy based configuration information and the broadband networking CD for setting up additonal computers really makes this very easy for the average user.
I'd have to say that this wireless product is much easier then the competition. So far, this is a 5-star product.
60 Did not work after 4 hours playing with it
I'm not sure why others seemed to have a much easier time getting this installed and working. Microsoft is the devil.
61 It really works...
I had doubts, but I installed the cable modem to the base station to an XP machine plus a laptop running XP and it really only took about 10 minutes per machine. XP really makes the install easy. I loaded it to a third machine running Win 98 and here's where I had problems...the software install had glitches and it just wouldn't load certain info until I called tech support. We downloaded a new update to the base station, and did an un-install/re-install of the software to the Win 98 machine and it worked. I can see files and printers and I am really glad with the results and the convenience. I now have computers connected to the Internet, where I want them, not where the phone jack is. I'm writing this review from a laptop using the wireless connection in the kitchen...
62 EXCELLENT- better than SMC range
I used to own an SMC AccessPoint (AP). I bought the Microsoft AP as a second AP to extend the range of my SMC by daisy chaining it with my SMC. This was going to require a lot of drilling and wiring to my house. But before doing this I decided to check out the range of the Microsoft AP.
I installed the Microsoft AP and switched off my old SMC AP. It works about the same. But then I installed the firmware upgrade for the Microsoft AP. Wow what a difference. It now has sufficient range to cover my whole house, saving me the trouble of all the wiring work.
63 Wireless for Mere Mortals
I'm not a networking guy. I'm not capable of drawing you a network diagram of my "home LAN" and don't really care to be honest. A DMZ to me is a military term. I wanted 2 things only: I wanted a wireless LAN at home and I wanted some reasonable security in front of my PC. I'm not too concerned about hackers sitting outside my house with wireless NICs trying to establish a connection...my PC would be the last thing I would reach for if I encountered that situation.
Now, I have no real point of comparison (Linksys, Netgear, etc.), but I believe Microsoft hardware products are typically a higher quality than other brands (I'm a little biased since I used to work there). The ONLY problem I ran into setting up was my SBC DSL software had a firewall application that conflicted with the router. Once the software was disabled, I connected without a problem. I also bought the Microsoft wireless NIC for my laptop and so I can surf from anywhere in my house (1 level ~1,650 sqft.). The occasion that I had to call tech support at MS was a breeze. They are AWESOME! They had me up and running in no time (I called SBC half-a-dozen times and after 4 hours they were still clueless). A co-worker of mine just recently bought a Netgear setup and he had the same software/hardware conflict, so it's something to be aware of.
All in all:
This router performs beautifully and is all I could ask for.
The menu is easy and intuitive.
Tech Support is GREAT!
Price is competitive.
What else is there? I highly recommend.
64 A snap!
I live in a townhome with 3.5 bedrooms (approx. 1700 sq feet). I bought the Microsoft home base unit with 4 Microsoft Wireless USB Adapters. We hooked up all 4 units with ease. The wizards worked flawlessly. I have the base unit downstairs, and 4 machines upstairs, and all of them are receiving signals just fine... a "Very Good" rating instead of Excellent when upstairs though. It's good enough to watch a movie wirelessly. I took my laptop outside to see how far I could go... went to the curb, which is about 15-20 feet in front of the house. It's good enough for me.
Also, I have a computer hooked up to it by ethernet cables, a laptop with integrated wireless, and 2 Xboxes hooked up. All 8 machines are working fine.
Caveat... all machines are running Windows XP.
65 It may take a little tweaking, but this network rocks!
I thought the installation instructions were simple. They even had instructions for people who didn't follow the instructions. I connected an iMac, a Dell (P-3) running XP Pro, and a HP 2200 printer with a JetDirect card to the base station and have a laptop with a wireless card.
I did have problems getting the PC to see the printer, but this was largely because I had a static IP address configured before. Once I fixed that, it was great. The wireless weaved in and out even though I had at least 40 percent signal in the house. I solved that problem by turning the security (with the encryption key) off and relying on the MAC (Ethernet;nothing to do with Apple) address filtering for security. In that mode, you put the MAC addresses of all of your devices into the base station. Since I did that, my wireless connection has been golden. I had the laptop's wireless up for six hours at a stretch without a single dropped connection.
I would recommend this mainly because it seems to be a very reliable unit with great wireless reach at an unbelievable low price. I thought I would have to pay alot to get something that worked this well. Even for newbies, the configuration wizard is very easy to use, and failing that, the technical support is terrific.
66 Wireless Networking is a breeze with this product
First, I did not buy this product off the bat. I went with a Netgear MR314. I work on computers all day, and my job involves troubleshooting, so I am not a dummy. But the Netgear product was a pain to set up and never worked right in connecting to my wirelessly enabled laptop. I traded it for this Microsoft product based on word of mouth and whoa! It was remarkably easy. First, the setup program is very helpful, and they even make setting up an encrypted network about as easy as possible. Also, the Microsoft manual is better and gives you info on how to network printers and share folders, which the other product did not address at all. I have a troublefree connection now.
If you have a choice of buying another brand's wireless router/firewall cheaper, please keep in mind that part of the price of the Microsoft unit is the ease of installation, and in my personal experience, paying an extra ten dollars or so would have saved me a whole week of hassle!
67 Check with your ISP!
Set up and installation were a breeze...except the unit kept sending incorrect logon info to my ISP. As a result I had to have my password reset by my ISP.
Microsoft Tech Support was quick to reach but unable to assist with the problem. Eventually had to return the Network.
Check with your ISP to determine which Networking System they support!
68 Never got it to work...even after 6 hours of trying
After about 6 hours of trying, including the accidental
discovery of a firmware update I was never able to get
the wireless connectivity promised.
The irony of the situation is that I bought the MN-500
from Microsoft SOLELY due to the fact that I thought it
would be easier to install and get running.
My friend has a netgear that he swears by, but I'll just
stick to a physical cable for now. This stuff requires
WAY too much knowledge to install and configure. I was
never confident I had it installed properly. I'd watch
the wireless connection show up as enabled, with
excellent signal strength, yet it never connected to a web
site. Then it would drop the connection. Then it would
come on again. Sometimes, it would require manually
connecting to the base station despite the fact that I
thought I had it set to auto connect.
Basically a 6 hour nightmare
69 Totally smooth setup. I love wireless!
Setting up the product was the easiest thing I've ever done for my computer. I just popped in the disk, entered in some information, plugged in my connection, and I was off and running.
I am running it in my condo, with no signal problem at all (though it's pretty small anyway). Having wireless and a laptop is so nice. I can sit back in the couch and get whatever I need done.
Very awesome!
70 Should have been bold!
I bought the equipment several weeks ago to set up both my laptop and my desktop in a wireless network. Finally ran out of excuses this morning and decided to take the plunge and install. I had everything up in 30 minutes without a problem. First I set up the wireless base station while still connected to the NIC of my desktop. Then I set up the wireless notebook adapter. After setup I had to search for the printer on the network but it came up immediately and I set it as the default printer. Then I returned to the desktop, uplugged the NIC card and set up the wireless USB adapter. This was absolutely painless, everything is working. My son is tracking football stats on the laptop in the living room and I have more room on my desk. Both my desktop and laptop are running Windows XP Pro.
71 Pretty smooth
I recently purchased this product along with the mn-520 wireless notebook adapter. I am not a big microsoft fan so it was a little painful to give them more of my money but there were some good rebates at a retail center (initials BB) so I thought I would give it a try. I am fairly familiar with computers but I think a neophyte could set this up with no problems. I was up and running in about 15 minutes without a flaw. I connected my Win 2000 laptop to my XP desktop and am having a great time wandering around the house, surfing. I haven't tried to test the distance limits yet but I give MS two thumbs up for this one.
72 For the novice
Wasn't sure what I was getting into when I got the idea to network my three computers together- using a wireless access - this is for: a desktop, laptop/school and laptop/work. So, I did a lot of research and figured this one looked the easiest. It was. It serves as the gateway/access point I needed to network these computers and share a printer. I was able to hook up my desktop within just a few minutes. My school laptop was a whole different story. It came with an IBM adapter (card) and it had to be configured ... didn't know how, so I called Microsoft. They were great.. [...] But, a few clicks later, I somehow figured it out. So, as I enjoy surfing the net while sitting in front of my TV as my husband surfs the net in the office, I have to say the whole experience was worth it! The only other problem I had was setting up my printer b/c I have Windows 98, 2000, and XP - so I had to reinstall drivers. Good Luck!
73 Excellent
This is a combined review of the MN-500 / MN-510 / MN-610 since they are combined (the MN-610 is a kit of a MN-500 base station and MN-510 USB adapter). The base station installed up to the very end. It said that the installation could not complete because of a firewall or similar problem. I checked, re-checked and re-booted many times. However, I could get through to the Internet, so I had no idea why it would not continue the installation. I ended up calling technical support and they were very helpful. Since I was connecting to the Internet, everything was configured. It just would not complete and make a floppy that could be used on the other systems. So, that part had to be done manually. I was glad support was quick and helpful.
Installing the first other station was very easy, but the second was more problematic. Still, compared to other network installations, it was pretty easy.
Throughput is pretty impressive. In fact, it is just as fast on the others as it was on my base station BEFORE the wireless network. My base station varies from the same performance to THREE TIMES what it was before. I am guessing that the router doing the firewall instead of the OS doing it may account for most of the improvement.
Overall, we are very happy with it.
74 Just as billed
All the manufacturers of wireless systems claim that their wireless products are easy to setup, compatible and have great support. Unfortunately, that's not true. I bought and returned a Belkin after running into trouble and discovering that their "free" support required a tolled call to a call-back service. LinkSys couldn't tell me if the version of the products they shipped would be XP compatible or not (some were and some were not). The Microsoft hardware was easy to setup as billed and I had no trouble locating competent assistance via their tech support when I ran into some trouble with my cable modem. While its still early, so far so good with this system and a notebook adapter.
75 Not a single problem.
In short, great product.
Installed everything on two desktop PCs and a notebook in a matter of minutes and instantly got the network up and running.
Haven't seen a single bug so far.
UPnP works fine too.
76 Not ready for prime time
This unit while attractive and easy to install compared to competing Linksys products has some major flaws at the current time. Namely dozens of people in just the first week this has been onsale (look at their newsgroup) including myself have experienced a strange problem where every 6 hours or so the 802.11b signal stops cold and can only be restored by removing and restoring power to the base station. While the flaw isn't fatal, maybe annoying it is totally unacceptable to release units in this shape. Until a fix is in, and right now it appears Microsoft is trying to see if it is a hardware flaw or firmware fix that is needed I would hold off.
UPDATE: 5 weeks after I bought this unit (today is 11/10/02) MS has released privately a firmware fix that makes this unit work perfectly. It will be released publically within a week. This makes the unit the equal of competitors in a great form factor. Because of the poor testing this unit underwent prior to sale I can't give it 5 stars, but now it is 4 star worth.
77 Easy to setup! Iffy wireless connection reliability!
I had two desktops that were to be connected to the base station directly through Ethernet cables and a laptop that had a wireless adapter. On my first desktop, I popped in the CD and installed the Microsoft Broadband software - the wizard was very easy to use and it helped me configure the base station, provide the necessary values for security (128-bit WEP) and even save the settings onto a floppy. I was online and connected from this desktop just like that!
On my second desktop, I installed the broadband software and configured just the network adapter on this machine - the floppy made it very simple to carry over the settings and I was connected quite easily over here.
On the laptop, after installing the software, the wizard was unable to configure my LAN-Express IEEE 802.11 PCI adapter; I had to open the host config XML file on the floppy, copy the WEP key and paste that into the connection properties to get into my wireless network. I'd expect that this sort of manual configuration would be unnecessary for most wireless adapters.
With the base station upstairs, the reliability downstairs (about 30 feet away through walls) has been iffy. The connection does seem to go away from time to time. Signal strength is only "Very good" and not "Excellent" as it is in all the rooms within 20 feet upstairs.
Planning on experimenting with moving the base station around upstairs to get the location right.
78 Now ready for prime time (Revised)
Even though I could find no reviews I bought a MN 500 base station and a MN 520 laptop card anyway, reasoning that Microsoft would make wireless netwoking equiptment simple to install on XP. I initially had trouble with the installation, but with the aid of some really great techs,( included is 2 years free support on an 800 number!) discovered that I only needed to reset the cable modem (Best Data CMX110). After doing this the installation worked like a charm including the laptop card. I am now sharing the internet, files and a printer between a Dell Demension 4400 (XP Home) and a Dell Inspiron 8200(XP Pro.) The signal and speed is strong everwhere I use it in my 2500 Sq. Ft. 2 story home. A great value with all of the included features not normally found on other products.
79 Wireless Base Station Rocks!
Great Product! Easy to setup and they have figured out how to make wireless security easy to install and usable. I also like the small footprint.
