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(More customer reviews)Alert: there's a twenty-dollar rebate if you buy this from J&R via Amazon before 12/31/2005.
The ZyXEL AG-225H 802.11a/b/g Wi-Fi Finder & USB Adapter (the official name) is a three-in-one device that packs some useful features for the wireless road warrior: it sniffs out access points (APs), it works as a USB wi-fi adapter, and it can turn an Internet-connected Windows PC into an access point!
The package comes with the ZyXEL AG-225H adapter, a Quick Start Guide that describes the finder and wi-fi adapter functions, a software installation CD-ROM for Windows, a USB extension cable, and a wrist strap.
Physically, the adapter is slightly larger than a pack of chewing gum.Its USB connector hides behind a cap.Inserting and removing the cap is a breeze, yet there is enough friction to keep the cap secure.In fact, this has the best balance of friction and ease of insertion/removal I've laid my fingers on; it actually feels good to put on and take off the cap!Unfortunately, the cap is small and, when taken off, can be misplaced very easily.
The ZyXEL has a small b&w LCD screen that shows hotspot info in the finder mode.When connected to a PC, it shows the status of the built-in LiIon rechargeable battery: charging, or full.Under the LCD screen are two blue LED indicators, one for power and the other for wi-fi access indication.
There are two buttons at the top: one for controlling the seek mode (see below) and the other allowing you to scroll through the list of APs.It took me a while to remember not to use the Seek button as "previous," as there is no previous button.You just keep pressing the Next button to cycle through the list of APs.There's a Power switch at the bottom.This power switch controls the finder mode; when connected to a PC, it has no function.
Ok, now let's look at the three operational modes in detail.
As a wi-fi finder, the ZyXEL allows you to identify nearby (and useable) wi-fi APs without having to turn on your laptop.The packaging says a scan takes only 6-7 seconds.Unfortunately that's false advertising.In my many repeated trials, it always takes at least 20 seconds, or as much as 30 to 35 seconds, for the finder to locate all the APs nearby.(The ZyXEL has a small built-in LiIon rechargeable battery which recharges whenever the adapter is inserted into a PC's USB port.)
Once it displays the list of APs -- it can display up to 15 APs, sorted by signal strength (how useful!) -- the finder displays on the small LCD screen each AP's SSID, signal strength, security, type (802.11a, b or g), and channel.(Battery status of the adapter is also displayed.)Unfortunately, it does not refresh each AP's status automatically.You'll have to re-scan, by pressing the Seek button, to get up-to-date information on the APs.
In addition to the basic AP finding mode, you can tell the ZyXEL to only show open APs, i.e., those without security.Note that an open AP doesn't necessarily mean it gives you free Internet access, as the host might have an account validation feature (e.g., many hotel APs).You can also tell the finder to lock on to a particular AP so you can "track" it.
As a wi-fi adapter, the ZyXEL goes into a PC's USB port and allows you to surf the Internet wirelessly.Before you insert the ZyXEL for the first time, be sure to install the driver software first.Otherwise, Windows will not be able to recognize the adapter.The installation is very easy and straightforward.In addition to the driver (which includes a Windows service and a WinSock layer), you also get the ZyXEL wi-fi set-up utility.Note that this utility *only* works with the ZyXEL adapter.
The ZyXEL utility displays a windows of useful information about your wi-fi connection, including a nice-looking signal strength bar.If all you want to do is connect to the nearest open AP, the utility does the job.But if you want to set up a particular SSID to access or security, good luck: the utility's interface is not too user-friendly.It's probably not going to be hard for you to figure things out (hint: go to the Profile section to set things up), but it's not very intuitive, esp. for non-expert computer users.
At least, the adapter features excellent performance: it's very good at pulling in signal and maintaining steady, usable reception from the AP.It simply works very well.Its lightweight means it won't add much weight to your laptop.
Finally, you can also use the ZyXEL hardware and software to turn your Internet-connected PC into an AP.Here your host PC is already connected to the Internet via Ethernet -- could be LAN, DSL, cable modem, dial-up, etc. -- and the ZyXEL can work in "access point mode."But you'll also need to set up Windows Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in order for this to work.This involves some work.Please see my 12/5/05 blog entry for details on ICS setup.Once properly set up, the ZyXEL turns into a powerful AP.
The documentation that came with the ZyXEL, both printed and electronic, is poor-quality, esp. the electronic user's guide, which misses important information about using the adapter as an AP.(That's why I created a blog entry to detail the steps needed.)E-mail support is fast; they e-mailed me back two hours after my initial inquiry, although the response had poor grammar and wasn't particularly helpful.
In summary, if you are a wi-fi geek or a road warrior who wants to maximize wi-fi on your laptop, the ZyXEL AG-225H is quite a useful gizmo for finding nearby APs, quickly identifying open APs, and even turning a friend's PC or a hotel PC into an AP (assuming you can install the ZyXEL utility on that PC and have administrator right, too).I also like the ZyXEL's excellent performance as a wi-fi adapter.
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ZyXEL AG225H 802.11a/b/g/n Wifi Finder, 802.11g USB 2.0 Adapter, and Soft Access PointProduct Description: The ZyXEL AG-225H is the ultimate high-tech tool for the road warrior.The AG-225H combines 802.11a/b/g USB 2.0 adapter technology with a fully functional wireless hotspot detector all housed in a sleek device small enough to fit into any pocket.Detect any flavor of wireless network from 802.11a all the way to the newly Drafted 802.11n.The dual-band tri-mode USB adapter is equipped with a high contrast backlit LCD screen and built-in LiON battery, allowing you to scan the environment for hotspots without turning on your computer.With WPA and WPA2 support, the AG-225H can provide a secure wireless connection when used as a 54Mbps high-speed USB wireless adapter.Mac OS support brings the AG-225H to another level of functionality and compatibility never before thought possible!
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