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INTRODUCTION
We've seen a few similar devices from various vendors on a great and innovative
product that serves as TWO uses - a USB 1.1
"Stick" that works as both a memory storage device (this one
is 128MB) as well as a 802.11b wireless adapter. Giga-Byte has put on
some new features we've not seen from a device of this type -
1) There's no drivers to install. Simply plug it in and
it completely works right away as both a storage device AND as an 802.11b
network adapter - simultaneously.
2) There's a "3D" swivel so that you can adjust
the unit to fit your laptop or computer to your liking
3) There's an actual LCD light display so you can see what
is going on with your network device
key features / specs
The features of the unit:
- Flash Memory: 32M/ 64M/ 128M/ 256Mbytes
- Unique 3D Rotation LAN card to locate best quality
- Host Interface USB1.1
- Built in chip antenna
- Frequency Band: 2.4 to 2.4840GHz
- Radio Technology: DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum)
- Support Software AP
- IEEE802.11b
- Station Mode: Windows 98SE/Me/2000/XP
- SW AP Mode: Windows XP
- LED Indicators : Read/ Write, Link and intensity of received
signals
- Dimension (Wx LxH) : 126mm x 25mm x 16mm (device only)
Particularly impressive are the levels of storage
available ... obviously the more you need the more expensive things can
get, but a 128MB stick can get you buy with just about anything you want
to do. The USB 1.1 interface is no big deal with the network (it exceeds
the possible bandwidth received from the network) but it DOES matter when
it comes to transferring files over from your computer.
installation
A blind chimp could have installed this product. This is
what you literally do:
Step 1: Remove from packaging
Step 2: Admire how pretty it is
Step 3: Plug it into your USB 1.1 port
Done! Yes, it's THAT easy ... no messy CD installation or major prep work
to your computer that's needed. This product receives an A+ grade for
installation ease ... big time kudos to Giga-Byte on this one.
Performance
Testing the Giga-Byte Wireless network (the unit and the
wireless 802.11g/b access point) was done with the help of NetIQ's Qcheck
software, which is freeware and can be downloaded by clicking
here.
 Windows
XP shows a consistent throughput level when testing. With the remote computer
in a room separated from the access point by two separate walls (this
was the same room we put the computer with the PCI wireless adapter in),
we got a consistent throughput rate of 6.0 Mbps. When tested in the same
room with the antennae sitting next to each other, an 11.0 Mbps connection
was made. Overall, the signal strength is enough to make web use and file
sharing a very practical reality.
How did the unit far, say, 100 feet away? Anywhere from
0 to 6 Mbps, with not much latency to interfere with your work. This product
is ideal for "mobile" situations for researchers or students.
Using the Qcheck software, we tested both the response time test, which
Qcheck returns the minimum, maximum and average number of seconds it took
to complete a transaction and a throughput test, which returns the amount
of data per second that was successfully sent between the two endpoints.
Close Tests (remote computer exactly 5 feet away, unobstructed):
The Response Time test yielded an average response time of 1.9 ms.
The Throughput tests yielded an average mbps of 4.1 Mbps.
Weird thing is that those "close test" results
are very, very to the ones we got with a PCI adapter. So overall, the
computer when placed right next to the access point (on a desk near the
access point 5 feet away to be exact), performs very well.
Overall Impressions
I have to say this is a nifty product. I am very impressed
with the installation which couldn't have possibly been any easier. The
performance of the product was very nice. There are only "two"
things really holding back the performance - one is that the 802.11b protocol
tops out at 11 Mbps, and the other is the USB 1.1 interface. The 802.11g
performs much faster (54 Mbps) and USB 2.0 would see file transfer rates
for the memory storage go much quicker. However, you have to consider
value - and a product that would be a 802.11g + USB 2.0 (yet to see it
on the market at all by the way) would be extremely expensive. So for
$69.99 this GN-WLBZ201 Storage + Wireless LAN Card (stick) is a good deal.
The "coolness" factor is definitely high, mainly
due to the sleek look and the neat 3D rotation. The usefulness of such
a product is very high ... we're always looking for memory sticks, as
they are so handy to go from place to place, and why not get some added
value in the form of wireless networking to go on top of that?
Overall, this product has some great features, and is one
of the more innovative versions of this product we've seen to date.
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10 / 10 |
OVERALL SCORE
92%
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9 / 10 |
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9 / 10 |
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10 / 10 |
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8 / 10 |
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9.2 / 10 |
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