Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I purchased the SS1021 because it has minimal hardware and software requirements which allowed its use with my old notebook computer that has a 166 MHz processor, 80 MB RAM, a 2 GB hard drive and Win98. The only other potential choice was a Microsoft MN-520, but it required Internet Explorer 5.X or 6.X, neither of which run well on my notebook. Most other cards require Win98ME or SE or later operating systems and greater than 200 MHz processors.
If your wireless network knowledge is limited, adding this card to an existing could be frustrating, since the printed insructions are minimal and no glossary of LAN or internet terms is provided. My LAN is based on a Linksys BEFW1154 wireless router and two other WinXP computers, so it took me longer than expected to figure out which IP, DNS, DHCP, gateway, WEP encryptation and SSID settings to use on the Win98 system and how to enter them in the SS1021 configuration utility program. Solving these issues using a web-based tech support system would not be fun.
After I got the card talking to the router, the notebook crashed repeatedly from a corrupted operating system file, which required reinstalling the system. This was my fault, since I forgot that any PCM card installed on this notebook requires the sound card interrupt and I/O address settings to be manually changed from the default, even though Windows Device Manager shows no conflict with other hardware.
A distances of 10-12 from the router, but the data transfer rates seem comparable to the WinXP boxes and it hasn't drop the connection once in 8 hours of operation. When moved to the other end of the house (~75 feet and one masonry wall away) the data transfer and conection quality are unsatisfactory. My HP WinXP notebook's integral wireless system is unfazed in the same distant location. I downgraded my original rating to 2 stars due to the poor performance at larger distances from my wireless router.
Here's an update on this card. It quit working 4/27/2004, and on boot-up I get a message that states it is not working and should be reinstalled. After repeated attempts to load drivers and the configuration program, I even reloaded the operating system. The light on the card, indicating it is locked onto the wireless router, is on all the time, even during bootup. It used to blink until it locked on. The config program will not run. Whether it's a hardware or software problem, or a combination of both, the hassle of using this card in not worth it.
Final downgrade to 1 star based on Siemens tech support personnel agreeing card had failed (it would not install and operate in another notebook), but refusing to honor warranty since it was bought on-line. The card got very hot when it did operate; I think the heat killed it.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Siemens SpeedStream Wireless PCMCIA Card (SS1021)
Plug the SpeedStream Wireless PCMCIA Card into your notebook PC and you've got the freedom to roam while staying connected. In the boardroom or the backyard, you can access the corporate LAN or surf the Internet without cables or outlets to tie you down. Simple, quick, plug-and-play installation means high-speed networking is now almost instant. Use this affordable, high-performance solution in ad-hoc (peer-to-peer) mode to connect directly with other SpeedStream Wireless PCMCIA Card users. Get a SpeedStream Wireless PCMCIA Card and free your broadband life.
Click here for more information about Siemens SpeedStream Wireless PCMCIA Card (SS1021)
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