Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

I am trying to extend my wireless network-not hard you may think....

I have a wireless Netgear DSL modem/router, I bought a Netgear wireless access point which I wanted to put in my living room to give a good wireless signal in there. Apparently the Netgear router doesn't 'do' wireless bridging, & can only be connected to a wired network.

So... I was recommended a Belkin 54G wireless access point (Thanks Stuartbe :afire: ;) ) which according to the box/website will do the job

http://catalog.belkin.com/IWCatProdu...%2Etworking%2F

Now I discover (after much faffing about :mad: ) that it will not talk to my Netgear router. :grind:

So the info on the box and the website is misleading at very least, as nowhere does it mention that you need a Belkin router to connect the WAP to. :mad:

On the phone to Belkin UK now......

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Why dont you send/take it back and swap it for a netgear WAP?

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

:blush: :erm: :Sprint:

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

The netgear wap does not do bridging :(

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Tried that....

[Edit]-Also, part of my annoyance is that Belkin can advertise a product in this way, to me it is (at best) misleading.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Okso, a Netgear wireless bridge then

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/...505352-2966803

edit, forget that, it's wireless/ethernet sorry.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Sorry if this is a bit late, but I've just noticed this and I'd point out that, under the Sale of Goods Act, products must be "Fit for purpose" and "As advertised".

Given what you've posted above, it looks most definitely like it's not "as advertised" since there's nothing to suggest that it's *not* compatible with your set-up and, in fact it says "Compatibile with all 802.11b devices" which rather contradicts their statement:

"Access points/Routers of different brands or of the 802.11b standard will not communicate wirelessly with the Belkin 54g access point/router."

It sounds as if you've got a very good case for getting a full refund.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Getting a refund won't be a problem. ;)

My main beef was that Belkin couldn't really have given a to$$. They were so blase about the whole thing it was amazing.

They were just like "Oh, you need to speak to Tech Support" :rolleyes: & couldn't grasp that I had already been there/done that & established that it wouldn't work, & that I wanted to speak to sopmeone about their (misleading?) advertising-they picked the wrong person to try to play telephone ping pong with! :D

I just feel Belkin should have attempted to resolve the situation more than they did-they had an opportunity to sell me a Belkin router that would (alledgedly!) have done the job, & had they offered some kind of discount due to their error I would have bought one-now as it is, I have returned the WAP & will never touch Belkin again. :dozey:

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

I've just had a similar run-in with Belkin over something that was not fit for purpose.

It's a car kit for my iPod, and the cassette adapter wouldn't work with my stereo - but instead of trying to find a solution their answer was my stereo was 'too good' for their product!! And basically abandoned me. I also had no end of hassle getting a refund from the store - but that's another thread one day!

Anyway, I reported them to Northants Trading Standards, where they're based.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

I guess I'm lucky, my Belkin wireless router and WAP have been running now for around a year with not a single problem. Hopefully I'll never have to speak to Tech support if they're that bad, alternatively I'll upgrade both of them before they go tits up.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

In fairness, Tech Support were very good. They were both polite & knowledgeable.

It was the (supposed) Customer Care woman who clearly didn't have a clue & was desperate to fob me off to someone else (sound familiar? ;) )

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Very familiar, sounds like a phonecall I had with Pipex late last week.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Exactly!

The thing is, as I said they had an opportunity to turn a problem into cash, but she seemed more intent on trying to pass me to the 'Marketing' Dept to 'discuss' it with them-wtf? :rolleyes:

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

How did you approach the call? If you took the approach or i know what i want or the person responding wasnt technically minded then why shouldnt they hand the call off? Would be silly to pay techy people vast sums of cash to answer the phone all day.

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

I was polite, & concise in what my 'issue' was. I explained that I had bought a Belkin WAP following the promises of what it could do on the box/websitem, & that I had spoken to TS who had confirmed to me (in writing) that it could not be done, but as I said she clearly had no clue what was going on & thought it would be simpler if she palmed me off to someone else (Marketing Dept) :nono:

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

Hmmm......

I wonder if this is of any use:

http://www.lanshop.co.uk/images/ant2405m.jpg

http://www.lanshop.co.uk/html/ant2405i.htm

Might be just what the doctor ordered? :shrug:

Re: Thanks for nothing Belkin
 

That would certainly boost your signal - your neighbours would love it - you do have encryption turned on don't you :erm: