pc cards

Hi I just got my Linksys WUSB54G installed with the WRT54G wireless router. I've read that this adapter doesn't support WPA, is this true? Cause for some reason I got it to work with WPA-PSK on both the router and adapter on Windows XP. In order to have the WPA feature for the adapter, you must run windows update and have the WPA security installed.

The adapter says it only supports Windows XP and 2000, yet when I tried installing it on 98SE, it worked perfectly fine except that there's no WPA feature nor is there a windows update to get the WPA security, so I'm using WEP instead. In order to get it to work, I had to use the software program that the adapter came with, where I configure the SSID, etc.

Does anybody know if there is a way to get WPA on windows 98se, and is there a way to configure the wireless connection other than using the software it came with?

If you go to wi-fi.org and check to see if the adapter is wi-fi protected access, the label has that feature checked, so does it mean it supports WPA or not?

It was very easy to install and I like the size, the problem is performance. I think there is a flaw in the design of their receivers. I am connected to a Linksys WAP54G with 128 bit encryption. At 80 feet from the access point with a medium signal strength, I watch the bitrate fluctuate from 2 to 54mbps and every point in between at a rate of once per second. The internet connection was unusable. So I moved the Access Point to being 5 feet away. You would expect to see the performance pegged, right? Though the signal strength was pegged, the bitrate jumped around between 24 and 54 mbps. The internet was quite usable at 5 feet. In both of these tests I took a second computer, my laptop with built-in wireless, and put it next to my computer with the WUSB54G. It had no bitrate fluctuation and the performance was great. (So it isn't my access point). Right now I am shopping for another USB adapter and this one will be placed in my bottom desk drawer, my electronic equipment graveyard. I am professionally trained in electronics. This shouldn't be so hard.

I was a little hesitant to purchase this adapter several months back because I was aware that it didn't support WPA encryption (which is far more secure than the old WEP encryption). Because I moved into a new apartment and I needed two computers, I went ahead and purchased this adapter anyway. I was pleased at how easy it was to set up and use, and I was able to get 128-bit WEP encryption to work with my WRT54G router in almost no time. I figured that I can continue using the adapter and change my WEP key every once in a while to prevent hackers from entering my network.

I went to Linksys's support site earlier today and I am very happy to find out that there is a driver update posted with WPA support under Windows XP!! Not only was I able to easily set up WPA-PSK with this adapter, but my machine can now communicate with the router using the more secure AES encryption protocol!

I am only giving this adapter four stars for two reasons: first, there doesn't appear to be any native Linux support for it. I couldn't get the Prism driver to work with the adapter, even in the slower 802.11b mode. I suppose that I really ought to be using an Ethernet bridge (such as the WET54G) if I need to connect this PC using Linux.

In addition, the adapter didn't include the Funk Odyssey client that normally ships with the WPC54G and WMP54G adapters. From what others have told me, the Funk client is much more featureful and easier to use than the Windows XP Wireless Zero Configuration feature.

Overall, I am very happy with this adapter and I will recommend it to other Windows XP users.