Spotting Counterfeit WICs
Counterfeit WICs are coming out of China in mass production and the majority of them are being sold on eBay and online. Learn how to differentiate which ones are fakes and which ones are the real deal. Tip: Check out the various photos that compare counterfeit and legitimate WICs online. They will show you what to look for in counterfeit WICs Article: Counterfeit Cisco products are all over the Internet. eBay is literally riddled with these products and sellers with tens of thousands of feedbacks sell them without even knowing the difference. Recognizing the differences between Counterfeit Cisco WICs are easy to notice once you know what to look for. If you set two cards next to each other and begin comparing them, you will be able to spot the differences in counterfeit WICs. But, if you've never seen a true WIC next to a counterfeit WIC, you will most likely not be able to tell which is which. So, in order to learn about these differences, it is smart to go on the Internet and look at the various photos that are available. Also, if you have a legitimate WIC card already, compare it to the WICs you purchase online. There tons of people who are on the Internet selling counterfeit WICs, but nobody ever knows the difference. If the person provides you with a photo of the actual WIC card, you will be able to see a few key differences in the real thing versus the fake things: • Brightly orange UPC codes with thin bars, the lines do not extend to the edge of the sticker as they do on real pieces. • Tightly coiled copper wire instead of widely space cooper wire • Dirty soldering versus clean soldering • No hologram • Shiny, cheap looking screws • Jack butted up against the face of the card instead of 1/16 to 1/32 inch protrusion • LED connector color is bright red when it should be rose and bright blue • No embedded number on the metal when there should be These are just a few of the key points to look for when comparing genuine Cisco WICs to counterfeit WICs. The majority of the counterfeit parts come from China. For the most part you can tell if something is counterfeit simply because the parts appear to be cheap and fake. Also, Cisco uses copper solder and the Chinese use silver. Counterfeit parts also tend to not be consistent in their parts. They will use whatever they can get a hold of and they do their best to create a product that is very similar to the real thing. By learning the various points to look for, you will be able to determine whether or not the products you buy online are fake or not. Additionally, you want to be certain that you always purchase Cisco products from certified resellers. It's important to realize that eBay is not the only place you can find affordable Cisco WICs. You can purchase these products online from certified resellers and you can save up to 90% on some products.