Netgear WG111 Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter

The NetGear WG111US 54 Mbps Wireless USB 2.0 Adapter featured a more flexible design that worked well for both desktops and
notebooks.

Also, WG111 supports 802.11g, making it backward-compatible with 802.11b. It measures just 0.6 x 3.72 x 1.19 inches, weighs just 1.13 ounces, and almost looks like a USB flash drive. The WG111 can plug directly into a USB port, so it’s much more convenient than the Linksys WUSB54G to use with any notebook.

For desktop systems, the WG111 includes a USB extension cable and a plastic cradle. Using the included Velcro strip, you can attach the cradle somewhere where you can receive a clear signal and use the extension cable to connect the WG111 to your desktop. The WG111 performed a little better than the Linksys WUSB54G. Despite its small size, I generally received a better and smoother signal with the WG111. The WG111 is easy to install and configure. The WG111 is backward-compatible with USB 1.1, but USB 1.1 limits the maximum throughput to roughly 12Mbps.

Security

The WG111 support for WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) and WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access). Configuring these settings using the included software is straightforward, but if you’re connecting to an existing network, you’ll need to have this information ahead of time. The software included with both devices supports profiles that let you set security parameters for wireless networks you frequently connect to.