User Reviews (1 - 11 of 95)

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What more could I ask for?

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: December 21, 2007
Author: Amazon User

I've had this router for 3+ years. Bombproof. Never had a single problem that could have remotely been traced to this router. I really don't know what else to say.

Full disclosure: I work for MS. But if something doesn't work, I dump it. And this thing has been nothing short of perfect.

OK but be aware of critical software setting for IIb laptops

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: April 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The Microsoft MN-700 Wireless 802.11g router was my first experience with wireless. Installation was easy, and the NetGear IIg PC card in my Sony laptop recognized the router immediately, and worked perfectly.

The Netgear IIb USB device in my wife's Toshiba laptop recognized the router, but would not work. Of course, I suspected the IIb USB device. After days of calling, updating, swapping devices and reinstalling software, I found an option in the router's Base Station software that was set at "IIg (faster)". As soon as I changed the setting to "IIg plus IIb (slower)", the Netgear IIb device worked fine.

So, Microsoft's hardware is great, the software is great. But the lack of clear simple communications caused me distress.

If MN-700s are preset to "IIg only", then documentation should be presented that reads "The Base station is preset at the faster IIg speed. If your laptop has a IIb device, use Base Station software to select the slower option."

I suspect that a good number of the poor reviews for this product at Amazon may be attributed to this issue.

Very Easy setup, If u've problems, reinstall the software.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: May 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

MICROSOFT HAS PULLED OUT THIS PRODUCT. So, I don't think this review counts. Anyways, unless you are getting this one for FREE, DON'T BUY.

Well, I read all the reviews on Amazon and was almost on the verge of concluding that ONLY LINKSYS is the real wireless router and the others are just cheap imitations. Thankfully i didn't rush to buy a $100 router and bought this cheap router from "unreliable" microsoft as many would put it. Its nice looking too instead of looking like an alien with two long antennae. The setup is easy if you read the instructions first!! I hooked to the ethernet connection of my computer for setup. i think its just better that way. I had a hiccup in the beginning coz the software probably didn't load correctly. happens, its Microsoft. so i uninstalled it, rebooted and reloaded the software where in the options it showed me the basestation setup option. it wasn't available on first attempt. i think my compy had a grudge then. anyway, the setup is easy, asks you what you want to do, how to setup and all that. I had the mixed mode default for wireless. It has MAC Filtering (is that an option??) and 128/256 bit encryption that i use from my notebook to the basestation just in case some peeping tom wants to see what i do. A thing to note though, when you try getting that key from the base station utility, the textbox doesn't show the whole damn key so i fought for about an hour on my notebook blaming everyone and everything around me and in this world for the mess till i read that the key is 26 characters and the one i had was smaller. Now i started blaming myself and yes, Microsoft. anyways, i connect perfectly. even when you run that utility, it will tell u your IP, your base station, whether you are connected to the internet and yes, any other network shared devices. i have two desktops on the ethernet connections and a laptop and i share the printer on one of the desktops, fax software on the other. so am pretty happy and content with the setup. the speed is pretty good too. i copied a huge file, about 600MB from my laptop to my desktop and it was pretty fast. I use an Asante FriendlyLAN 802.11G card for
my notebook FYI.
Update: I had dropped connection problems too but then i found them to be with my wireless card since I use it at work too sometimes. I figured that i have to use its own software to choose the profile instead of allowing windows to automatically connect since Windows tries to be oversmart and disconnects often.

Microsoft will not leave the wireless business

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 6
Date: June 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I don't own the MN700 base station. But I own the microsoft USB wireless receiver. I read the review of the last writer regarding Microsoft will leave the wireless business. WRONG ! Absolute incorrect. Do not listen to the word from the circuit city salesman. Guys! Think! Wireless will be the future of another great money making business. Wi-Fi will become more and more popular. Do you think Bill Gate will surrender in this big market? Don't be fool! Wireless is the trend of this computer world in next era. I have no doubt that Microsoft will invest more in the wireless market. I think you should worry about Microsoft will become a monopoly in this wireless world again.

signal is okay, setup should be better

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: June 16, 2004
Author: Amazon User

this is another wireless class g router used as ap
the manual has the instruction how to set it as ap
however, once I follow the manual, I lost the access, forced to hard reset
if you'd like to use it as ap, do the following:
login
go to wireless, give it SSID, pick a favorite channel
go to LAN, MAKE SURE GIVE IT AN IP, and disable DHCP
after that, connect any LAN port to router, connect in wireless to test
the signal is okay, but not better than SMC 2804, and there's a disadvantage over SMC is the antenna is not removable, that unable to use hi gain antenna without breaking down
another shortcoming is WPA setup do not have hex, only passphrase, that there may be a chance to "guess" wrong
for my opinion, SMC 2804 is better on wireless part, and somewhat misleading manual and setup to make it fall short

Cable length is important

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: December 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I purchased this as a replacement for a Linksys BEFSR41 for two reasons; the Linksys did not maintain a connection with my ReplayTV 4500, and I got a Wi-Fi laptop.
Setup of the MN-700 was easy and the LAN connections were fast and stable. The problem was that the MN-700 would not link up with my Toshiba PCX2200 cable modem. The 3' Cat 5 I had been using with the Linksys did not work. Neither did a couple of 6 footers that worked elsewhere. It was not until I connected the two with a 10' Cat 5 that I got a link. Not sure why this is, but it appears cable length is important.

waiting for the third version

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 9
Date: October 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

the first and second versions of Microsoft stuff sucks, right? I guess we need to wait for the third version, because this one isn't working. Friendly telephone support, though.

nice interface, if only it worked

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 5
Date: October 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Everything went smoothly, except that thing where it cuts out every three minutes. Microsoft says they'll send me another. We'll see.

Joining the chorus -- this product has real problems

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: October 28, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Reading some of these other reviews, I felt like I had written them, given our common experiences: 1. The base station continually disconnects from the internet and drops its connection with the computer; 2. The Microsoft tech service people are very nice (that's worth a star) but don't have a clue what the problem is; 2. They sent me a new unit and that doesn't work either. Linksys, here I come.

So many problems installing on Win ME

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 4
Date: November 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Opened box and attempted install. Software keeps locking up...Internet Extorter won't open when connected to router (works fine when connected to cable modem directly). After much fussing about, got the software to configure and load correctly but requires unplugging network cable from computer first. Also, compared to other router products I've used, the web interface is SLOWWWWWWWW...noticed this device is running WinCE...hmmm.

Works ok with win2k, but can't connect my Orinoco Silver (802.11b) to the router (may be a card issue rather than router).

Highly recommend investigating other choices from established netoworking companies that don't release beta products!

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