User Reviews (31 - 41 of 95)

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Superb Product

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 21, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Microsoft delivers another great wireless networking product! Installation was amazingly easy and performance is great. I've used their earlier MN-500 wireless-B router for the past year and recently upgraded to this G version. Even with my 802.11b Dell laptop with the latest Intel Centrino technology, speed and distance are improved over the earlier router.

I can't say enough good things about this product. The radio signal is very strong (more than 6Mbps) throughout my 5000sqft+ home with no dead spots. I don't know how the Microsoft engineers did it. The Linksys WRT54G that I tried for a week was a poor performer compared to this Microsoft unit.

Microsoft may be known for their software products, but this unit should give them solid recognition in the hardware category. Highly recommended!

No Problems

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: November 30, 2003
Author: Amazon User

1st time wireless user and big surprise...no problems, set up base station , and 2 remote computers (notebook & kids PC) in about 15-20 mins, use a cable modem, have XP on all machines with Norton firewall and Antivirus. All up and running and no signal drops etc. PS just to be safe I downloaded the base station patch before beginning the install. Cheers

Trouble-free installation

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: December 26, 2003
Author: Amazon User

This router (bought bundled with the wireless laptop card) was purchased to replace a D-Link with which we weren't satisfied because we were never able to network our two home computers.

The documentation that came packaged in the Microsoft box was outstanding. Detailed and easy-to-follow steps were laid out in a straight-forward manner. Anyone who is only minimally familiar with computers and computer hardware/software can navigate through the instructions with realative confidence.

The device came with its own setup wizard which, of course, was perfectly compatible with Windows XP! The wizard, in conjunction with the instruction manual, explained exactly what to do and when to do it. It was never ambiguous. The wizard detected and used our original ISP settings/information by itself. It instructed us when to disconnect our previous router and connect our new router. Microsoft even included a blank floppy to be used for saving our connection settings and then transferrring these same settings to our other computer to be networked. The instructions stepped us through setting up the home network on all home computers.

As said before, installation was quick and easy. The instructions were clear and detailed. Our two computers were wirelessly networked without a hitch. It also seems that the wireless adapter card maintains MUCH better connection with the base (I haven't noticed any interruptions in the connection).

Microsoft is big because they've earned it! I'm more than happy to give them my money when they give me products like this in exchange!

Horrible Horrible Performance

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 8
Date: June 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this router based on some of the good reviews that I'd seen on amazon. My goal was simple - to hook up ONLY my laptop wirelessly so I didn't have to be tethered to the room the internet was in.

I got the wireless to work pretty quickly, but kept losing connection every three to five minutes. It turns out there's a quirk with XP where you need to reset something so it doesn't do that. Ok fine.

I went online found the fix and was able to go online.

Great I thought as I surfed wirelessly in my livingroom.

The next day I turned on my computer. No signal. Weird. So I fiddled, and fiddled for an HOUR still no signal. and not just no signal but the base station couldn't 'find' the internet. I gave up went to bed. Next day turned it on...everything worked perfectly. The day after that nothing. I write this post tethered to my land line and really really annoyed at Microsoft. The base station stops work for NO REASON. I mean I didn't touch the settings, nothing. Sometimes I turn on my computer and it work, sometimes I turn it off and it doesn't work.

Also Micrososft's customer service is HORRIBLE. You have to talk to one person who takes down all your information before transfering you to a tech person who then takes down all your information. I was on the phone FIFTEEN MINUTES before anyone asked what my problem was. Ridiculous.

I'm refunding it and I advise you to all STAY FAR FAR AWAY.

Not ready for release

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 7 / 14
Date: February 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Bought this router 2 weeks ago to replace wired network. I have 2 wired connections from desktop computers and one wireless from laptop.
Here are some observations:
1) 2-3 sec delay when openning the page with browser
2) Setup was not that easy (my configuration was not described in the manual)- had to call tech support 2 times
3) Even though download speeds measure OK, overall impression is that this thing is sooooooo S-L-O-W (possibly due to 2-3 sec lag).
4) Can not disable the farewall

5) Wouldn't work with PPPoE (DSL) at all without firmware upgrade - would randomly drop connection
6) When open the browser after turning computer on, have to reload the page few times just to get DHCP working
7) Loses wireless connection from 2.4 GHz phones
8) Some pictures are not displayed in the browser - was told to clear the cache (???). Hm, never had that issue with wired router before

Overall, I am very dissatisfied with the product, considering the fact that at least I am able to surf the net and download files. Look first on microsoft's website to find disscusion groups on this router and see for yourself what to expect before buying it.
I would give it a 1 star but at least I was able to get it "working".
I noticed some positive reviews here too. Did you try to connect directly to the net to see if there is a difference in speed?

Buggy & seems like a Beta......MS Support has no answers.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: October 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I purchased the MN-700 and found that setup was seamless, however after functioning for a few minutes, the router stopped responding to all machines on the network (wired, wireless, XP, ME and 98) - no internet, no network, no response from router. The only way to correct this was to either go through the setup process again, hard reset the router or unplug and plug the router. And then the router would stop responding again...

I exchanged this for a new one and found I had the same problem. During a 3 hour call with MS support I got an initial response that the problem was software and that I would need to speak to the OS folks (hey isn't that Microsoft). She eventually figured out (after me telling her numerous times) that the problem was hardware as all my machines could not talk to the router. I then asked what are the chances that I get two exact hardware problems on two different routers? She told me this was common and that she has seen it on three routers for some users!!! What does this tell you????

Then when I called for a new one, the MS rep told me that they could not send me a new one because the MN-700 hadn't been released yet. Well then how is it available online and also at major electronics retailers? They said they had to check and get back to me. Not the answer I was looking for.

One last thing, take a look at MS's support site and look at the support page. You'll find that there are many entries on the site with the same problem. The official MS response is to refer you to another email address that deals with bugs.

Bottom line is that MS should not have released this until they got all of the bugs out. Buyer beware.

Working Fine

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: October 24, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I just installed the MN-700 in my home network, replacing 3 Cisco Aironet 340/350 PCI cards in an ad-hoc network. I have one PC with Win2K Pro and two WinXP boxes. The installation of the BNU software was smooth. I hardwired my Win2K Pro PC to the router using the included ethernet cable and installed the MN-730 PCI cards in the XP PCs. The network was up and running very quickly. I did encounter one problem. Whenever I brought one of the XP PCs on the network - it crashed the network. Turns out I had the W32.Welchia.Worm on that PC. Once that was removed - its been working great! I gave it four instead of five stars because according to the microsoft broadband newsgroup, they are having with trouble WPA security, but since I use WEP I didn't have a problem.

very reliable and easy to use

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: August 30, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I had my wireless network up and running within 20 minutes after opening the box. I have mainly WinXP Pro machines running on the network, but I also have a Win98 machine running on it with no problems whatsoever.

Please note that if you have no idea what you are doing, setting up ANY wireless network will be difficult. But if you even have a small idea of what you're doing, the documentation and wizards really make this product easy to set up and configure.

I've used this product for over a year now without a problem.

Does not work with DSL

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: February 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The router does not work with Bellsouth DSL. I spent two hours on the phone with tech support without resloution. There is a probelm with this router dropping off while using the PPPoE. Tried configuring dynamically but could not. All my research told me the same assumption: IF YOU HAVE DSL AND WANT A ROUTER THAT WORKS WELL, FORGET MICROSOFT!!!!!!
Thankfully i still had my receipt. I took it back and got a Linkys router instead.

the one that i bought is being returned soon

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 10
Date: January 17, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I got this one for my girlfriend for Christmas. She was really excited to get it up and running in her apartment - oops.

The stability of the .g version versus the .b version is inexplicable. I have had my .b up and running for MONTHS - never had a problem. I couldn't get this .g router to be stable for more then 20 minutes at a time. I did all the updates, ran through the setup just like MS said to do - nada, nothin.

After struggling through this on a Wednesday night and Thursday morning I bought her a .b to replace it on Saturday. Got that one running and working fine in about 15 minutes and haven't had a problem since. Sticking this one in the mail in the next few days to return it.

I really don't know what the hell the problem is between these two but MS has a homerun with the first one and this one pretty much blows.

r.

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