ASUS WL-300g

It has been a long wait but fast wireless networks have now arrived with the awkwardly named 802.11g standard. Without getting into boring technical details, the new standard is five times as fast as traditional wireless networks - 54Mbit/s - which makes it possible to stream videos wirelessly in the home. It's also backward- compatible, so you don't have to throw away any of your existing kit.

That just leaves the problem of how to make the upgrade. ASUS has one answer with its WL-300g wireless access point. Plug this into your existing home network and you can start taking advantage of the faster speeds. If you've got a broadband connection, you can also turn the access point into a router and share your internet connection.

The WL-300g comes in a neat little box that can either be placed on a desk or if preferred, mounted on a wall. It's very flexible in this regard and clearly has been well-designed.

Unfortunately, getting the WL-300g running through its web-based configuration program isn't easy. Both the online help and the paper manual are packed with technical terms, which soon confuse things. Even the Quick set-up wizard assumes far too much knowledge.

Switch to any of the more complex settings and you will soon get lost in jargon. Unless you have an encyclopaedic knowledge of wire-less networks, this product could end up as a very expensive paperweight.

Even if you do get the system working, there are other obstacles to overcome. Foremost is the fact that ASUS only has wireless PC Cards to work with the new standard. If, like most people, you have a standard PC there are no PCI alternatives, so you'll have to look to other manufacturers for help. The WL-300g left us disappointed. The instructions and set-up utility are far too complex for most people, which makes this a difficult product to recommend.

Contact: SPD Ltd 0870 870 7647
www.asustek.co.uk