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Linksys BEFW11S4 Wireless-B Cable/DSL Router | 
 enlarge | Brand: Linksys
Category: CE
List Price: $69.99
Buy Used: $24.50
You Save: $45.49 (65%)
Used (8) Refurbished (1) from $24.50
Avg. Customer Rating:  1079 reviews
Sales Rank: 1990
Platforms: Windows Nt, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Nt 3.5, Windows Nt 4, Windows Nt 5, Windows Me, Windows Xp, Windows 2000 Server, Windows
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Operating System: None
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.3
Dimensions (in): 11.3 x 3.5 x 9.5
Warranty: 1 year warranty
MPN: BEFW11S4
Model: BEFW11S4
UPC: 745883549948
EAN: 0745883551330
ASIN: B00005ARK3
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Connects to a broadband modem, a 10/100 Ethernet backbone, or wireless network | | • | Long wireless operating range supports 300 feet indoors and 1,500 feet outdoors | | • | Provides roaming, best access-point selection, load balancing, and network traffic filtering | | • | Configurable through your networked PC's Web browser | | • | Can act as a DHCP server for your existing network |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The Linksys BEFW11S4 is your all-in-one networking device This wireless router features support for the 802.11b protocol, which lets you wirelessly access your network and the Internet from up to 800 feet (outside), or 300 feet (inside) away
Amazon.com Review
In the past, people creating a home network had to choose between string ing cheap Ethernet cable all over the house or spending tons of cash on a slow, unreliable wireless system. Products like the BEFW11S4 wireless four-port cable/ DSL router from Linksys have changed all that. This unit works as an Internet ga teway, traditional four-port Ethernet hub, and wireless Ethernet hub; is easy to install; and is relatively inexpensive. With the Linksys cable modem and wireless Ethernet adapter we tested with the unit, everything worked like a charm with next to no configuration hassles.p The BEFW11S4 is chunkier than a standard Ethernet switched hub, but is so versatile that a little extra bulk is acceptable. Basic installation involves little more than plugging in the power cord and connecting the Ethernet output from your cable or DSL modem to an input port on the back of the device. Four Ethernet ports on the back accept connections from computers with standard network interface cards, while two antennas on the back handle the unit's wireless capabilities. The standard ports operate at up to 100 Mbps, while the 802.11b technology allows for wireless transmissions at up to 11 Mbps. That's not the blazing-fast performance you'd get from more expensive 802.11a or 802.11g wireless products, butis more than enough to handle Internet connection sharing, LAN gaming, and normal file transfer duties.p This product's forte is Internet connection sharing, as it serves as a single point of contact for every computer attached to a home network. All your ISP sees is one IP address sending and receiving Internet traffic, even though several computers on the other side of the BEFW11S4 might be accessing the Internet at the same time. The other nice thing about this setup, as opposed to standard Internet connection-sharing software, is that no particular PC must be turned on before the others on the network can access the Internet. As long as the BEFW11S4 is running, any PC can get on the Web.p Although the device is surprisingly easy to set up, a Web-based interface is available that lets advanced users access security settings, permissions, and a variety of other options. It is easy to use and can be accessed by any PC on the network without having to install special software. The unit itself provides plenty of feedback, as it is equipped with several LEDs that indicate the status of each standard connection, along with the wireless signal. There also is an uplink port on the back that lets users add more hubs, switches, or other devices as their network grows.p The router performed as expected in tests, providing fast 100 Mbps speeds to two basement computers using the standard Ethernet ports and a steady 11 Mbps signal to a third PC located upstairs and about 40 feet laterally from the base transmitter. The strength of the wireless signal is entirely dependent on the conditions in which the device is used, but most home users shouldn't have a problem reaching any one room of their house from any other room.p Perhaps the only drawback to the BEFW11S4 is that if installation doesn't go as smoothly as it did for us, configuring the device could be difficult for novice users. It's designed to be a plug-and-play unit, but there are hundreds of seriously advanced settings lurking under that friendly facade that can really mess things up if they are not configured properly. The good news is that most users likely won't have any problems, and once the BEFW11S4 is set up it works so smoothly and seamlessly that you'll forget it's there after a while. I--T. Byrl Baker/Ip BPros:/B ul liEasy installation, seamless operation liMakes it very easy to share an Internet connection liPowerful configuration options for those who want to get their hands dirty /ul BCons:/B ul liWireless Ethernet adapters to connect to a PC must be purchased separately li802.11b transmission speeds are pokey compared to more modern standards /ul p For more information on the differences between an Access Point and a Router wit h Access Point, see the following table: P IMG alt="access point vs. router" align="center" border=0 src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/misc/access-vs-wireless-chart.gif"ptable width="100%" border="0" tr td width="42%" height="439" align="center" valign="top" pimg src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/linksys_comparison_small.jpg" width="339" height="350" border="0"/p pstrongfont size="2"emSee a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies./em/font/strong/p/td td width="58%" align="left" valign="top"pWireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere -- without wires. Outside of the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, airports -- great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.br br strongWhat Wireless Standard is Right for Me? /strongbr Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. /p pBasically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. br br For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: /p ul li802.11b /li li802.11a /li li802.11g/li /ul pTo learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart./p/td /tr /table
Amazon.com Product Description
The EtherFast wireless access point and cable/DSL router features a router, a four-port 10/100 switch, NAT firewall, and an IEEE 802.11b wireless access point (11 Mbps). This all-in-one device allows wireless PCs and wired Ethernet PCs to access a single broadband Internet connection for sharing IP addresses, files, printers, and other network resources while conserving desktop space. The built-in four-port switch enables wireless and wired notebook and desktop PCs to share high-speed Internet access. p Configurable as a DHCP server for your existing network, this router acts as the only externally recognized Internet gateway on your LAN and serves as an Internet NAT firewall against unwanted outside intruders. It can also be configured to filter internal users' access to the Internet. The 4-port switch dramatically increases the speed of multimedia and gaming connections. p This device comes with a one-year warranty and free 24/7 technical support.p Note: All Linksys routers now include a special edition of Norton Internet Security! Claim your free CD-ROM by calling (800) 814-0180, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific time, seven days a week.ptable width="100%" border="0" tr td width="42%" height="439" align="center" valign="top" pimg src="http://images.amazon.com/images/G/01/electronics/detail-page/linksys_comparison_small.jpg" width="339" height="350" border="0"/p pstrongfont size="2"emSee a comparison diagram of the different wireless technologies./em/font/strong/p/td td width="58%" align="left" valign="top"pWireless networks are rapidly becoming more popular and coming down in price. Since they don't require cables, you can use the devices anywhere in an office or home, even out on the patio. There's no need to roll out an Ethernet network cable to each room of a house; you can network anywhere--without wires. Outside the home, wireless networking is available in hotspots at coffee shops, businesses, and airports--great when you're on the road and need to get some work done. For convenience, wireless networking is the answer.br br strongWhich Wireless Standard Is Right for Me? /strongbr Now that you've decided to create a wireless network, the next step is to figure out which wireless standard to use. /p pBasically, a standard is a set of specifications for a device. All devices that follow a specific standard share operating characteristics, such as the radio frequency used and maximum data transfer speed. br br For wireless networking, there are three standards to choose from at this time: /p ul li802.11b /li li802.11a /li li802.11g/li /ul pTo learn about the differences between the standards and select the right one for your network, click here for an easy-to-understand chart./p/td /tr /table
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1074 more reviews...
 This router sucks November 16, 2008
It's true I bought it used, so maybe that's why it works so bad, but maybe not. The only way to get a good signal from it is to be less than 10ft away. If I go into the other room, it drops in and out. I regret spending $30 on this POS.
 Excellent Product May 19, 2008
I don't consider myself a techie in the least bit but this router was a snap to set up and use. I have had it for over a year. I had to replace the power adapter but that is probably because of a surge I replaced it and the router is still going. I would recommend this to anyone great value great price.
Linksys May 14, 2008
The linksys in excellent shape and came very quickly in the mail! Its still working beautifully and we've had it for almost 2 years now! Thanks.
Ideal for home! February 29, 2008
In the last three years i bought three units and until today are working properly in my house and the house of two friends. Easy installation and configuration. After three years i dont have problems with this router.br /Only one recommendation: try always that your router works with the newest version. You can download free at Linksys web site.
 Served Me Well for More Than 5 Years January 3, 2008
I bought this router over 5 years ago when it first came out, and it served my needs just fine the whole time. I live in a 3000 square foot single story L-shaped home. The router was positioned at the vertex of the L and was barely able to cover the furthest rooms in the house. I finally decided to replace it this year with a higher performance model (D-Link DIR-655) supporting the new wireless standards (802.11g and 802.11n). The Linksys router worked fine for supporting my wireless needs for web browsing and it even did a pretty good job wirelessly streaming music around the house. It was a little slow with streaming photos though and definitely wasn't fast enough to stream DVD quality video reliably. When we needed to perform large (hundreds of megabytes) file transfers between computers, we usually ended up plugging in an ethernet cable, because the wireless file transfers were too slow. In general, for an 80211b router, this router did a fine job, lasted a long time, and was easy to setup. I can't comment about the Linksys support, because I never needed any support. I'm deducting 1 star however, simply because in this day and age, nobody should be buying a Wireless-B router anymore. I suggest that you invest a few more bucks (if that much) to get at least a Wireless-G router with the same features. If you have devices that support Wireless-N and you can afford a hundred bucks for a router, then I suggest the D-Link DIR-655.
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