Thanks for nothing Belkin

[Neil]

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 ) which according to the box/website will do the job

Advantages :
†¢ Adds wirelessly networked PCs to your wired network, or extends the coverage range of your wireless networking environment
†¢ Extends your 802.11b or 802.11g wireless network
†¢ Three times the operating range of 802.11a
†¢ Compatibile with all 802.11b devices
†¢ Provides a wide wireless range, requiring 75% fewer access points to cover the same wireless area as an 802.11a network
†¢ Features wireless 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption
†¢ Offers backward-compatibility with all

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

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

*Thank you for contacting Belkin Technical Support.

Please note that wireless bridging is supported only between the Belkin 54g access point and the Belkin 54g routers. Access points/Routers of different brands or of the 802.11b standard will not communicate wirelessly with the Belkin 54g access point/router.

Please refer to the support article at
http://web.belkin.com/support/kb/kb.asp?a=2814
for information on wireless bridging.

We hope this information is helpful. Please let us know if you require any further assistance. We'll be glad to help you.

If you have any other questions or problems please call us toll free at 0080022355460
You can also contact us at 01933 35 2000 Extension 2075, Option 1 (Paid
number)

Belkin Technical Support*

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.

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

[Bifta]

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

[Stuartbe]

[Stuartbe]

Originally Posted by Bifta

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

The netgear wap does not do bridging

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bifta

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

Tried that....

Originally Posted by Neil

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.

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

[Bifta]

Okso, a Netgear wireless bridge then

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

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

Originally Posted by Neil

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

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.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Graham

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.

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" & 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!

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.

[andygrif]

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.

[Bifta]

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.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by Bifta

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.

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? )

[Bifta]

Originally Posted by Neil

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? )

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

[Neil]

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?

Originally Posted by Neil

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?

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.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by gary_580

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.

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)