Comments on: Review: Why the Netgear WG311 v3 Sucks http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/ One nerd's struggle against the beast that is technology Thu, 28 Aug 2008 17:10:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Wayne http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-19300 Wayne Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:46:59 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-19300 Does anyone who got the WG311v3 to operate with Vista (can't call what I have as working) used it in an environment with multiple WAPs in the same SSID? I have a bunchload of the Netgear cards that lock onto the WAP with the lowest channel in the SSID, even if the signal strength is extremely low and the signal strength of the higher channel is great. The card also does not do multicast with the Netgear drivers. I used the Marvell driver and got multicast to work, but the selection of which WAP to connect to is still lowest channel rather than strongest signal. Using Optiplex 745 with 2GB RAM, Vista Business and either the Netgear or Marvell drivers I never got the error 10, but the cards are in the range reported by Netgear as "applicable for replacement". Netgear, however admit to no problem with the card despite its behaviour. Agreed - never netgear again! Does anyone who got the WG311v3 to operate with Vista (can’t call what I have as working) used it in an environment with multiple WAPs in the same SSID? I have a bunchload of the Netgear cards that lock onto the WAP with the lowest channel in the SSID, even if the signal strength is extremely low and the signal strength of the higher channel is great. The card also does not do multicast with the Netgear drivers.

I used the Marvell driver and got multicast to work, but the selection of which WAP to connect to is still lowest channel rather than strongest signal.

Using Optiplex 745 with 2GB RAM, Vista Business and either the Netgear or Marvell drivers I never got the error 10, but the cards are in the range reported by Netgear as “applicable for replacement”. Netgear, however admit to no problem with the card despite its behaviour.

Agreed - never netgear again!

]]> By: moreusefuladvice http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18297 moreusefuladvice Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:58:17 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18297 If you have a Netgear adapter and a XP computer and are experiencing dropped wireless connections, make sure that you disable WZC in Services. When both the Netgear utility and WZC are running they may conflict with each other. To disable WZC go to control panel/admin tools/services/scroll down to WZC and disable at startup. If you have a Netgear adapter and a XP computer and are experiencing dropped wireless connections, make sure that you disable WZC in Services. When both the Netgear utility and WZC are running they may conflict with each other. To disable WZC go to control panel/admin tools/services/scroll down to WZC and disable at startup.

]]> By: samehere http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18296 samehere Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:44:15 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18296 WG311v3 PCI **faulty batches in circulation** READ READ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- We have found the issue to code 10 error after installing the WG311v3 PCI Adapter. Tech support in Australia has informed me that there are faulty batches in circulation. You find these by looking for the S/N (Serial Number) on a white (in my case) sticker on the back of the PCI Card. If it starts with any of the following numbers take it back to your retailer and inform them Netgear knows of this problem. 1CX1763 1CX1773 1CX1783 1CX1793 Now why this was not posted on the website or sooner in the forums I have no idea and in defense of Netgear I should have called their tech support line first as unlike many other companies the first person I talked to resolved the issue. I returned my card which was replaced in about 3-4 weeks. Installed it just like I did with the faulty card and hey presto. All works well. You can type your serial number into this checker to see if you are applicable for a replacement card: https://my.netgear.com/myNETGEAR/checkWG311v3.asp WG311v3 PCI **faulty batches in circulation** READ READ

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We have found the issue to code 10 error after installing the WG311v3 PCI Adapter.

Tech support in Australia has informed me that there are faulty batches in circulation.

You find these by looking for the S/N (Serial Number) on a white (in my case) sticker on the back of the PCI Card.

If it starts with any of the following numbers take it back to your retailer and inform them Netgear knows of this problem.

1CX1763
1CX1773
1CX1783
1CX1793

Now why this was not posted on the website or sooner in the forums I have no idea and in defense of Netgear I should have called their tech support line first as unlike many other companies the first person I talked to resolved the issue.

I returned my card which was replaced in about 3-4 weeks. Installed it just like I did with the faulty card and hey presto. All works well.

You can type your serial number into this checker to see if you are applicable for a replacement card: https://my.netgear.com/myNETGEAR/checkWG311v3.asp

]]> By: samehere http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18295 samehere Tue, 15 Jul 2008 08:27:59 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-18295 Same problem here. Very low signal from 5 metres away, dropping out all the time, not loading properly. I replaced with a USB adapter and now get excellent signal. I cant believe netgear would sell this piece of crud. Same problem here. Very low signal from 5 metres away, dropping out all the time, not loading properly. I replaced with a USB adapter and now get excellent signal. I cant believe netgear would sell this piece of crud.

]]> By: » What’re you lookin’ at? @ nerd. http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-16095 » What’re you lookin’ at? @ nerd. Wed, 07 May 2008 00:07:04 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-16095 [...] Review: Why the Netgear WG311 v3 Sucks (72) Slightly dodgy network card that Netgear don’t seem that fussed about fixing. Bad on XP, it got worse on Vista (see number 4). [...] [...] Review: Why the Netgear WG311 v3 Sucks (72) Slightly dodgy network card that Netgear don’t seem that fussed about fixing. Bad on XP, it got worse on Vista (see number 4). [...]

]]> By: nerd. http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-16004 nerd. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:22:31 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-16004 Try this link instead then: <a href="http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?driverId=122" rel="nofollow">http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?driverId=122</a> Try this link instead then:
http://www.marvell.com/drivers/driverDisplay.do?driverId=122

]]> By: Cannofindit http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-15991 Cannofindit Sun, 27 Apr 2008 06:29:01 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-15991 I can't find the Marvell drivers as the link that points to it is broken. Anybody know where I can download the drivers? I can’t find the Marvell drivers as the link that points to it is broken. Anybody know where I can download the drivers?

]]> By: dave9_3 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-15925 dave9_3 Sat, 26 Apr 2008 07:52:15 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-15925 Sh1t ! Ive just bought one of these! Ive got netgear router and wireless access point and never had a problem with them. I figured go with netgear again. Not received the card yet. Maybe I'll be lucky. Anyone else had problems when used with other netgear hardware? Sh1t !
Ive just bought one of these! Ive got netgear router and wireless access point and never had a problem with them. I figured go with netgear again. Not received the card yet. Maybe I’ll be lucky.

Anyone else had problems when used with other netgear hardware?

]]> By: Andero Trigonometro http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-13186 Andero Trigonometro Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:00:40 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-13186 Good article, very helpful, easy to find on Google. Someone should send the article to NetGear, it's a shame they provide such a pathetic service. Good article, very helpful, easy to find on Google.

Someone should send the article to NetGear, it’s a shame they provide such a pathetic service.

]]> By: Barry http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-8793 Barry Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:37:32 +0000 http://nerd.steveferson.com/2006/10/31/review-why-the-netgear-wg311-v3-sucks/#comment-8793 This card has been a pain for me in both Linux and Windows. The Marvell drivers work well in Lunux - random disconnects are gone. My connection in Windows is stable, but the Netgear utility won't boot up about half the time. there's a link to the windows drivers them on a Ubuntu page - google wg311v3 how to or something like that. If I could be arsed, I would get a different card for sure but mine works tolerably well now. This card has been a pain for me in both Linux and Windows. The Marvell drivers work well in Lunux - random disconnects are gone. My connection in Windows is stable, but the Netgear utility won’t boot up about half the time.

there’s a link to the windows drivers them on a Ubuntu page - google wg311v3 how to or something like that.

If I could be arsed, I would get a different card for sure but mine works tolerably well now.

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