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US Robotics 5430 wireless gaming adaptor
Price: £69.99 inc VAT

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall

Reviewed By: Matt Chapman

This review updated: 19/08/2004
Featured in magazine:
Issue 90
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: US Robotics
Web Address: www.usr-emea.com


People in possession of both a broadband connection and a games console have a whole new world of online gaming awaiting them. If your console and TV are in a different room though, it may not be practical to run a wire between your entertainment devices and your phone line. For a while now wireless products have been available that give you a greater choice of where you play your favourite games, and US Robotics has extended this field with a new 802.11g standard wireless gaming adaptor. If you have an 802.11g wireless network you can now play online at speeds up to 54Mbps, instead of the 11Mbps available with an 802.11b network.

Features
As this device really has only one specific task there aren't many bells and whistles to shout about. However, you can use it to connect any device that has a standard Ethernet port, including consumer devices such as internet radios, digital video recorders and other internet appliances.

Performance
The adaptor worked well, even a good few rooms away from our wireless hub. Its antenna can swivel in the direction of your wireless kit to help maximise the range if you're having trouble with the speed because the signal is getting weak. It also supports a 'frame bursting' standard that can offer 25 per cent extra speed when used with compatible 802.11g Wi-Fi products.

Ease of use
The Automatic Configuration feature enables the device to find and connect to the nearest wireless access point, so you may be able to plug it into the Ethernet port on the back of your console and start playing straight away. However, if you have security set up on your network (and you should have), you'll have to attach it to an Ethernet port on your PC to set it up before you can start to play.

Value for money
One annoying problem we've found when playing online is that you can be excluded from certain people's games if your internet speed isn't very good. If you're a serious gamer this product is worth the price to stop this happening. If you're only connecting it to an 802.11b wireless network, the adaptor works at the slower 11Mbps speed, so is still worth getting if you know you'll be upgrading the rest of your kit at some point.

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