The Bottom Line
Wireless networking is becoming more affordable every day, and this Linksys BEFW11P1 is one of the cheapest offerings in the home wireless market. Don't expect entirely smooth sailing, though.
Pros
- Generally the lowest cost product of its kind
- Relatively easy to set up
Cons
- No support for secondary dial-up connections
- Frequent resets, firmware upgrades may be required
- Uneven quality of documentation and tech support
Description
- Compatible with Windows, Macintosh, and other popular network client platforms.
- Compatible with the 802.11b wireless standard.
- Device range up to 164 ft (50 m) indoors and 820 ft (250 m) outdoors at full 11 Mbps performance.
- Supports existing 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps wired Ethernet LANs.
- Includes Web-based remote management interface and network traffic filtering capability.
- Dimensions: 7.44 in (18.6 cm) x 6.16 in (15.4 cm) x 2.64 in (4.8 cm). Weighs 1.1 lbs (0.5 kg).
- Includes Linksys 1-year limited warranty.
Guide Review - Linksys BEFW11P1 - Wireless AP + Cable/DSL Router with PrintServer
Some owners of this Linksys product have expressed concerns about its quality. Some report needing to manually reset the BEFW11P1 power as it "freezes" or "hangs" periodically under active use. Some also complain about poor wireless range, flaky support for DHCP and unreliable print serving. It may also be necessary to upgrade the BEFW11P1 firmware and tweak settings periodically.
If a person looks at just the specs, the Linksys BEFW11P1 is a great value. It offers good wireless range and performance, is not too difficult to set up initially, and contains some nice extras like support for VPN protocols. Those new to networking may prefer a product that works more reliably than the Linksys BEFW11P1 out of the box.
