Router Review
This posting discuss about router. Many router product on the world. We never know what the peformance of it. So I compare routers review. The compare product is Linksys WRT56GS, Netgear WGT624, D-Link DI624, Dell Wireless 2300, Microsoft MN-700, and Buffalo AirStation WLA-G54. I hope you can choose the best router after read it.
Linksys WRT54GS
review by: Xiao Ming Wu
Editors' note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. (12/9/04) The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster makes it easy to set up a typical home or office network, and it comes with all the documentation you need to get it up and running. It touts a wealth of advanced networking and security features, and it's fast, especially in networks with both 802.11g and 802.11b connections.The illustrated Fast Start guide for the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster walks you through the basic setup, which includes connecting the router to your computer and broadband modem, configuring all the computers on the network to work with the router, and configuring the router. The Fast Start guide is more thorough than others we've seen, with plenty of images and screenshots illustrating the setup process. We were glad to see brief explanations of basic networking terms, such as the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing and what to do if your DSL provider uses PPPoE. The guide also describes how to connect to the WRT54GS's browser-based configuration tool if you need to tweak the router's configuration--for example, to supply the router with a static IP address. No quick-setup guide can cover all possible networking scenarios, but Linksys's step-by-step guide does an excellent job rounding up the usual suspects and making it easy for most homes and small offices to set up a network in a few minutes. In most cases, you need only to plug in the router and connect the cables. For more complicated setups, Linksys includes a thorough user guide detailing the WRT54GS's diverse features.Although the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is easy to set up, you'll find a number of advanced features and configuration options under the hood. The Linksys WRT54GS's browser-based configuration tool gives you access to the router's networking and security settings, such as DHCP server and client settings, firewall settings, and wireless encryption settings. The router also comes with two types of firewalls. One is a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall that makes sure packets are part of a legitimate connection; the other is a NAT firewall that effectively hides computers behind the router. You can lock your network down even tighter by configuring the router to block services such as FTP and Telnet. A DMZ function located on the configuration tool's Applications and Gaming tab lets you place one computer outside the firewall, which can be useful for Internet gaming and videoconferencing. The Linksys WRT54GS also lets you set up access-control policies that grant Internet access to specific computers on your network at predetermined times of day and days of the week. If you telecommute, the router's VPN pass-through support will help get you to work. The Linksys WRT54GS router also has good wireless security. You can configure it to use WEP or WPA. WPA is stronger than WEP, but it's important to have both options, because you may want to connect to older 802.11b devices that lack WPA support. We also like that you can turn off the beacon on the WRT54GS's integrated 802.11g access point. This helps protect you from uninvited guests by stopping the access point from advertising its presence to the world. The Linksys WRT54GS router comes with removable antennas, giving you the option of attaching high-gain antennas to the unit to increase its range. Our only gripe was that the router lacks a mounting bracket.The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is one of a growing number of wireless routers touting proprietary speed enhancements. Like the D-Link DI-624 and the Netgear WGT624, the WRT54GS SpeedBooster router includes a technology (in this case, Broadcom's Afterburner) that substantially increases wireless network performance. The enhancements kick in only if all the devices on the network are playing by the same proprietary rules; otherwise, the device scales down to standard 802.11g speeds. We think that this limitation makes the SpeedBooster enhancement (and similar Turbo or Super-G offerings from vendors such as D-Link and Netgear) more of a marketing gimmick than a significant feature. Proprietary solutions depend on networks molded out of homogenous gear, limiting your purchase choices and tying you to a single vendor. On the other hand, the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster does a fine job supporting standards-based equipment from other vendors, even older 802.11b gear. In CNET Labs' mixed-mode tests, which measure throughput when both 802.11g and 802.11b transmissions occur simultaneously, the WRT54GS delivered the fastest speeds we've seen, clocking in at 25.8Mbps. The Linksys also went the distance, stretching as far as 200 feet in our range tests.
Netgear WGT624
review by: Allen Fear
The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router is a good example of the advantages and disadvantages of bleeding-edge technology. It offers nearly double the throughput of standard 802.11g devices and increased range to boot. Plus, the WGT624's fast throughput over distance combined with its support for portions of the 802.11e draft standard make it well suited for streaming media over your wireless connection. Other advanced features, such as an SPI firewall and support for Dynamic DNS, make the WGT624 a good choice for techies who are looking for a high-performance wireless router and are willing to perform an occasional firmware upgrade. (Netgear has already released one firmware upgrade for the router that fixes some bugs and enhances performance.) If the idea of router maintenance doesn't appeal to you, consider the Dell Wireless 2300, which lacks the speed of the WGT624 but is easier to set up, or the Microsoft MN-700, which automatically checks for firmware upgrades. The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router comes with all the hardware and software you'll need to set up your network. In addition to the router, the product package contains an AC power adapter, a rubber stand, an Ethernet cable, a printed installation guide, and a CD containing a comprehensive reference manual. We like the compact design of the WGT624. The router's rubber stand and built-in mounting bracket on the bottom panel help you position the device for optimum range. The LEDs on the front of the unit let you monitor data passing across the WGT624's Ethernet and wireless interfaces. Plug the router in, connect it via the Ethernet cable to your broadband modem, and you've installed the WGT624 hardware. The network installation is a little less straightforward, and the printed guide may leave some in the lurch. The guide asks you to manually reconfigure the network settings of each computer if necessary, then it refers you to an online resource to learn how to do this. In contrast, the Dell Wireless 2300 and the Microsoft MN-700 include software that automatically configures the network settings for the router and any connected computers, making these instruments better suited for those new to networking. After you connect the WGT624 to your local network, the router's browser-based Smart Wizard automatically detects the type of Internet service you have and directs you through the rest of the installation. The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router has a good feature set that meets the needs of both advanced users and those with little or no networking experience. The WGT624's browser-based configuration tool is easy to navigate and offers features tailored for family networking. The tool is password-protected and includes a content-filtering section that gives you control over the types of sites your computers can access, letting you restrict access based on keywords, service types, IP addresses, and times of day. The WGT624 also displays detailed logs of the Web sites that your computers have accessed or attempted to access, which lets you police the types of traffic passing through your network. The router includes two different types of firewalls: network address translation (NAT), which hides your computers' IP addresses behind the router's IP address, and stateful packet inspection (SPI), which checks individual data packets to make sure they are part of a legitimate connection. Together, these firewalls provide strong security against most attacks originating from the Internet. The WGT624 also supports WEP and the stronger WPA encryption scheme. We wish that the WGT624 supported wireless distribution system (WDS). Limited range is a problem for many home networking environments, and WDS makes it easy to expand your coverage area by simply adding a repeater, such as the Buffalo WLA-G54C, to rooms where your signal is weak. The WGT624 has other performance enhancers under the hood that make it especially well suited for streaming media. Portions of the 802.11e draft specification are built into the router's firmware. These new features ensure that streaming media applications, such as the voice and video links in a teleconference, aren't interrupted by a simple file transfer. This means that you can participate in the teleconference over your wireless connection and download data from the Internet without suffering degradation in the audio or video quality of the links. The most noteworthy feature of the Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router is its inclusion of Super G Technology (link is a PDF file), which boosts the router's speed to nearly twice the tempo of standard 802.11g devices'. A recent firmware upgrade allows the router to switch dynamically to support standard 802.11g and 802.11b devices when they enter the network. CNET Labs tested the router's throughput with various adapters concurrently, and the results are impressive. The WGT624 ran circles around the U.S. Robotics USR8054. Better yet, the Netgear router delivered fantastic range in our indoor tests, providing stable connections as far as 225 feet away.
D-Link DI624
Review By: Allen Fear
Editor's note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. (12/14/04) When we first reviewed the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router a year ago, we were unimpressed, but that was then, and this is now. The new DI-624 is about half the size of the original and twice as fast. It also comes with an improved quick-installation guide, a more comprehensive manual, stronger security features, and an excellent support package that includes a long, three-year warranty. Few routers are as easy to set up as the DI-624, but if the thought of typing an IP address into your browser's address bar makes you sweat, then consider the less powerful but easier to use, Microsoft MN-700. On the other hand, if you're looking for a fast router with excellent range and a bushel of features, such as a configurable firewall, parental controls, top-notch wireless security, and VPN pass-through support, then look no further. With a current street price of about $70, the DI-624 is a great buy for both home and small office networks. For a router with such an advanced feature set, the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is easy to set up. The package includes everything you'll need: the router; a CD-ROM containing a manual and warranty info; an Ethernet cable; and a 5V DC power adapter. The new DI-624 is compact, about the size of a medium-size paperback, and its bottom panel doubles as a mounting bracket, making it easy to attach to a wall or the ceiling. Unfortunately, the DI-624 doesn't come with a stand for vertical positioning, which is a feature we like in the Netgear WGT624. The hardware setup is a snap, literally. Connect the DI-624 to your broadband modem with the cable that came with your modem, use the Ethernet cable in the package to connect the router to your computer, and you're done. Although D-Link doesn't offer an automated configuration routine like the one you'll find with the Dell Wireless 2300 and the Microsoft MN-700, the DI-624's network setup is about as easy as it gets; it's one of the smoothest setup routines we've seen. The printed quick-installation guide walks you through every step of the installation process, with screen shots and instructions for both Mac OS X and Windows XP that show you how to connect to the DI-624's browser-based configuration tool. The browser-based tool itself includes a five-step setup wizard that automatically detects your Internet connection and configures security for your wireless network. The explanations and instructions in the printed quick-installation guide seamlessly complement the wizard, addressing each step in the process. The D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is chock-full of features for both homes and small offices. Auto MDI/MDIX ports in the router's Ethernet switch eliminate the need for costly crossover cables and make the DI-624 easy to connect to other hubs and switches. The router also comes with a removable antenna, so you can expand your coverage area by adding an antenna. The router also features parental controls that include URL filtering, domain blocking, and access scheduling by day of the week and time of day. If you play games over the Internet, you can use the DI-624's special gaming mode, which adjusts the firewall to allow for network entertainment. For connections that demand even less restrictive access, such as videoconferencing, you can use the router's DMZ feature, which lets you place a single computer outside the router's firewall. If you telecommute, the DI-624 also supports VPN pass-through for both PPTP and IPSec. With a firewall that is more configurable than most we've seen, the DI-624's security is top-notch for a consumer router. You can turn the firewall on and off, a feature missing from the Microsoft MN-700 and one that can be important for troubleshooting and allowing certain types of connections. You can also create a list of rules that let you allow or deny specific types of traffic between your internal network and the Internet. For example, you can block UDP traffic from the Internet targeted for a specific port on one of your computers. The DI-624 heaps on wireless security features. The router supports not only 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption, but also WPA and ironclad 802.1x authentication via a RADIUS server. The D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is one of the best-performing routers we've seen. Like the Netgear GT624, the D-Link DI-624 comes equipped with an Atheros AR5002 chipset, the secret to its blazing throughput and great range. If you already have a DI-624, you can upgrade the router's firmware to the latest version to take advantage of the new performance enhancements. The so-called 108Mbps firmware is currently available only for DI-624s with a label on the bottom that reads "H/W Ver.:C1." At close range, the DI-624 clocked in at 44.4Mbps. That's about twice as fast as a typical 802.11g router and just under the Netgear WGT624's speed of 47.1Mbps. The DI-624 also matched the WGT624 in range, surpassing other 802.11g performers with a record-setting 225 feet. We were less impressed with the DI-624's performance in a mixed environment with 802.11b devices. Here, the router was able to eke out only 11.6Mbps at close range, noticeably less than the 18.2Mbps demonstrated by the Dell Wireless 2300.
Dell Wireless 2300
Rreview By: Patrick Unnold
Editors' note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. Dell's Wireless 2300 broadband router offers superior performance and a well-rounded feature set suited for the home user. Windows 2000 and XP users, as well as novices, will like the streamlined installation, which nearly runs itself (other operating systems are supported, but not as seamlessly). The Wireless 2300 supports both 802.11b and 802.11g and touts an excellent array of security options, including WPA, WEP, SSID blocking, stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall, and parental controls. You can also link the router to two additional Wireless 2300 routers to increase your 802.11g coverage area. This is the most polished 802.11g router we have seen to date. The initial setup of the Wireless 2300 is simple and quick, especially for those with Windows 2000 or XP systems. Inserting the accompanying CD starts the Setup Wizard. After a quick scan of your network, the Setup Wizard automatically configures the settings for both your computer and the Wireless 2300. With the Setup Wizard making all of the networking changes for us, we connected quickly and were surfing within just a few minutes. The process takes a bit longer with other OSs, but the included user guide walks you through the process. Changing the router's configuration requires the Web-based configuration tool; unfortunately, it's a little convoluted. For example, the Setup Wizard warns you to lock down the wireless network by changing the SSID, enabling WEP or WPA, and turning off SSID broadcasts. The first two items are easily found in the Basic section of the configuration tool, but users must make their way to the wireless settings of the Advanced section to turn off SSID broadcasts. The Wireless 2300 is packed with features and security, and it supports 802.11g and boasts an eye-pleasing exterior design. The sleek, silver-and-black chassis has wall-mounts built into its base. The clearly labeled indicator lights show activity for the Internet connection, each of the four ports on the built-in 10/100 switch, and the wireless LAN. The Wireless 2300 offers the latest in security options for wireless networking. It supports the new WPA encryption scheme as well as the older 64/128-bit WEP standard. There's no support for 802.1x authentication, but the router does offer an expansive MAC address feature that can be applied to all clients of the Wireless 2300, whether wired or wireless. Stateful Packet Inspection, NAT, packet filtering, and intruder-detection alerts offer a high level of Internet security. Additional security features include port forwarding, which allows for both a DMZ computer and the forwarding of specific packets to specific computers. The well-rounded parental-control feature lets you block Internet access for specific computers by time of day. You can also limit Internet access completely or restrict it to a list of Web sites. Another great feature is the router's ability to create a wireless bridge with up to two additional Wireless 2300s. This lets it function as a bridge and a repeater, similar to the Buffalo WLA-G54. The Dell Wireless 2300 offers some of the best 802.11g throughput rates we've seen to date, second only to the U.S. Robotics USR8054. In our tests, the throughput rates for 802.11g peaked at 23.5Mbps for 802.11g, and those for mixed-mode (with both 802.11g and 802.11b clients transmitting simultaneously) reached 18.2Mbps. The throughput degradation over distance is also very good. Most notably, both the Wireless 2300 and the USR8054 outperform their competitors in mixed-mode performance by more than a factor of two. The Wireless 2300 has a few limitations. The user guide indicates that the Wireless 2300 can support only 16 wireless clients or 64 NAT clients; in addition, having more than 20 simultaneous users of any type degrades the device's overall performance. Most home users will never stress the Wireless 2300 to this extent, but small offices could begin to hit the performance ceiling if their network grows large enough.
Microsoft MN-700
review by: Patrick Unnold
Microsoft's new 802.11g MN-700 wireless broadband router is designed so that even a novice user can expand a home network easily, but it has a few shortcomings compared to the Editors' Choice-winning Dell TrueMobile 2300. The setup process and the configuration utility are very user-friendly, and Microsoft's support options will help with most problems you might encounter. It offers most features that home users need, and the Setup Wizard automatically turns on wireless security--a unique and much-needed detail. Its range is excellent. Experienced users will be frustrated by the lack of advanced configuration options and wireless bridge support, however. Like the Dell TrueMobile 2300's streamlined installation routine, the MN-700's Setup Wizard gathers the necessary network information automatically before configuring both your wireless network adapter and the MN-700. The Setup Wizard supports all Windows platforms; a nonautomated, browser-based interface is available for other OSs. We uncovered a bug in the Setup Wizard software that prevented the application from completing normally when we attempted to use a workgroup name that contained a period. Microsoft tech support worked quickly to determine the cause and promised a fix in a future release. The MN-700's documentation is excellent. In addition to the printed installation guide, you get a thorough, printed user guide with a lengthy troubleshooting section, as well as detailed instructions for nonstandard installations, such as using the MN-700 as an access point instead of as a router. You use the Broadband Network Utility, which you install on one of your networked machines during setup, to check network status and adjust the MN-700's configuration. Like the Setup Wizard, the Broadband Network Utility is novice-friendly; it's easy to navigate, with clear help information on each screen. The utility also checks automatically for updates, making it simple to keep the firmware current. The MN-700's impressive security setup includes one unique and much-needed touch: wireless security is enabled during setup--no other product we've seen does this--and other security features, such as Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and NAT, are always on. Additional security features include parental controls, client filtering, 64/128-bit WEP, 256-bit WPA, DMZ, MAC address filtering, and detailed logging. While the MN-700 boasts 802.11b/g Wi-Fi certification and an impressive feature set for home users, it doesn't offer much advanced configurability. For instance, it lacks options such as support for RADIUS and wireless bridging, which are available on similarly priced products, such as the Buffalo AirStation router. Also, you cannot control the output wattage for the wireless network or adjust the security level of the firewall. The only option available for configuring the firewall is a check box for enabling ICMP blocking. The Dell TM2300 gives you more control of the firewall. The MN-700's hardware features mirror those of most other home routers. The device sports a rotating external antenna and a four-port 10/100 Ethernet switch that autosenses crossover cables as well as the line speed. The MN-700 is designed for the desktop and is not well suited for mounting on a wall or a ceiling. With a healthy throughput of 21Mbps in 802.11g mode and nearly 12Mbps in mixed 802.11b/g mode, the MN-700 outperforms many of the wireless broadband routers we've tested. However, the MN-700 still falls short of the throughput we've seen in the broadband routers released since the 802.11g specification was ratified, specifically the US Robotics 8054 and the Dell TrueMobile 2300. Thanks no doubt to its rotating external antenna, the MN-700 showed solid performance over distance, outperforming even the US Robotics 8054 and the Dell TrueMobile 2300. In our tests, the MN-700 achieved a throughput of nearly 6Mbps at a whopping 175-foot distance in 802.11g mode, and it didn't completely drop off until it approached 200 feet. That gives it about a 25-foot advantage over the Dell and US Robotics products. The extra distance could be important, because unlike the Dell TM2300, the MN-700 cannot be linked via a wireless bridge.
Buffalo AirStation WLA-G54
Reviewed by: Patrick Unnold
A single wireless router or access point can't always cover every room in a house. The Buffalo WLA-G54 wireless bridge gives you a plethora of features and options for expanding your home or office network without stringing cable. It includes a four-port switch for wired clients, and it supports both 802.11b and 802.11g standards. Because it's externally identical to the Buffalo AirStation 54Mbps wireless broadband router we've previously reviewed, it suffers from the same flaws, including limited mounting options and hard-to-see LEDs for the four-port switch. The Buffalo WLA-G54 installs easily to a wired network, but connecting it to another Buffalo AirStation to create a bridge is harder than it should be. When you start the initial configuration, you can designate either a wired or wireless connection; the quick-setup guide has decent instructions for both. In either case, you have the option of connecting to the WLA-G54 via the Client Manager software included on the CD-ROM or a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Once you've connected a computer to the WLA-G54, you're ready to integrate it into your network by assigning IP addresses and the ESS-ID and configuring security options. The browser-based configuration tool includes wizards for WEP settings and MAC address restrictions, plus an advanced-configuration page that gives you direct access to all of your options. If you use the WLA-G54 to create a wireless bridge to another Buffalo AirStation, you must register the MAC address of each Buffalo access point, router, or bridge on your network under the WDS section of the configuration screen. The terse documentation fails to cover this process thoroughly. The Buffalo WLA-G54 wireless bridge distinguishes itself from other bridges, such as the Linksys WET54G, with its Wireless Distribution System (WDS) support. This lets the WLA-G54 act as a wireless repeater with up to six Buffalo WDS-enabled AirStations, such as the Buffalo AirStation router on a single network, making it an ideal solution for large houses or apartment buildings. Because WDS is not a standard, however, it doesn't work with non-Buffalo products. A swivel cover on the top of the back panel conceals an MMX connector. For larger sites, the WLA-G54 also works as a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge that's capable of communicating with up to six other Buffalo base stations--a quick, easy way to extend your wired network or improve your existing WLAN coverage. The WLA-G54 is packed with the latest security options to lock down your network. It offers both 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption, but the WLA-G54 also supports WPA and 802.1x. Remembering some of the WLA-G54's more complicated settings is easy because the bridge lets you save its configuration on a local PC. This feature, along with the recessed reset/initialization button on the back of the WLA-G54 that resets it to factory defaults, is very handy in case you find yourself locked out of the device. The only feature we didn't like were the unit's LEDs, which are positioned on the bridge's side and difficult to see. The performance of your Buffalo WLA-G54 will depend greatly on how you've configured it and what it is doing on your network. As an 802.11g access point, the WLA-G54 offers good range, with consistent and decent throughput up to around 100 feet before a swift decline. The Linksys WET54G performs better, but the WLA-G54 offers WDS, which the WET54G lacks. Assume a throughput hit when you configure the WLA-G54 (or most any wireless bridge) as both a bridge and an access point for wireless clients. That's because in a bridged network, configuration packets have to be transmitted over the WLAN once to get to the WLA-G54 bridge, then again from the bridge to the next Buffalo AirStation or client adapter connected to your wireless network.
source:www.review.cnet.com
Editors' note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. (12/9/04) The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster makes it easy to set up a typical home or office network, and it comes with all the documentation you need to get it up and running. It touts a wealth of advanced networking and security features, and it's fast, especially in networks with both 802.11g and 802.11b connections.The illustrated Fast Start guide for the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster walks you through the basic setup, which includes connecting the router to your computer and broadband modem, configuring all the computers on the network to work with the router, and configuring the router. The Fast Start guide is more thorough than others we've seen, with plenty of images and screenshots illustrating the setup process. We were glad to see brief explanations of basic networking terms, such as the difference between static and dynamic IP addressing and what to do if your DSL provider uses PPPoE. The guide also describes how to connect to the WRT54GS's browser-based configuration tool if you need to tweak the router's configuration--for example, to supply the router with a static IP address. No quick-setup guide can cover all possible networking scenarios, but Linksys's step-by-step guide does an excellent job rounding up the usual suspects and making it easy for most homes and small offices to set up a network in a few minutes. In most cases, you need only to plug in the router and connect the cables. For more complicated setups, Linksys includes a thorough user guide detailing the WRT54GS's diverse features.Although the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is easy to set up, you'll find a number of advanced features and configuration options under the hood. The Linksys WRT54GS's browser-based configuration tool gives you access to the router's networking and security settings, such as DHCP server and client settings, firewall settings, and wireless encryption settings. The router also comes with two types of firewalls. One is a Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall that makes sure packets are part of a legitimate connection; the other is a NAT firewall that effectively hides computers behind the router. You can lock your network down even tighter by configuring the router to block services such as FTP and Telnet. A DMZ function located on the configuration tool's Applications and Gaming tab lets you place one computer outside the firewall, which can be useful for Internet gaming and videoconferencing. The Linksys WRT54GS also lets you set up access-control policies that grant Internet access to specific computers on your network at predetermined times of day and days of the week. If you telecommute, the router's VPN pass-through support will help get you to work. The Linksys WRT54GS router also has good wireless security. You can configure it to use WEP or WPA. WPA is stronger than WEP, but it's important to have both options, because you may want to connect to older 802.11b devices that lack WPA support. We also like that you can turn off the beacon on the WRT54GS's integrated 802.11g access point. This helps protect you from uninvited guests by stopping the access point from advertising its presence to the world. The Linksys WRT54GS router comes with removable antennas, giving you the option of attaching high-gain antennas to the unit to increase its range. Our only gripe was that the router lacks a mounting bracket.The Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster is one of a growing number of wireless routers touting proprietary speed enhancements. Like the D-Link DI-624 and the Netgear WGT624, the WRT54GS SpeedBooster router includes a technology (in this case, Broadcom's Afterburner) that substantially increases wireless network performance. The enhancements kick in only if all the devices on the network are playing by the same proprietary rules; otherwise, the device scales down to standard 802.11g speeds. We think that this limitation makes the SpeedBooster enhancement (and similar Turbo or Super-G offerings from vendors such as D-Link and Netgear) more of a marketing gimmick than a significant feature. Proprietary solutions depend on networks molded out of homogenous gear, limiting your purchase choices and tying you to a single vendor. On the other hand, the Linksys WRT54GS Wireless-G Broadband Router with SpeedBooster does a fine job supporting standards-based equipment from other vendors, even older 802.11b gear. In CNET Labs' mixed-mode tests, which measure throughput when both 802.11g and 802.11b transmissions occur simultaneously, the WRT54GS delivered the fastest speeds we've seen, clocking in at 25.8Mbps. The Linksys also went the distance, stretching as far as 200 feet in our range tests.
Netgear WGT624
review by: Allen Fear
The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router is a good example of the advantages and disadvantages of bleeding-edge technology. It offers nearly double the throughput of standard 802.11g devices and increased range to boot. Plus, the WGT624's fast throughput over distance combined with its support for portions of the 802.11e draft standard make it well suited for streaming media over your wireless connection. Other advanced features, such as an SPI firewall and support for Dynamic DNS, make the WGT624 a good choice for techies who are looking for a high-performance wireless router and are willing to perform an occasional firmware upgrade. (Netgear has already released one firmware upgrade for the router that fixes some bugs and enhances performance.) If the idea of router maintenance doesn't appeal to you, consider the Dell Wireless 2300, which lacks the speed of the WGT624 but is easier to set up, or the Microsoft MN-700, which automatically checks for firmware upgrades. The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router comes with all the hardware and software you'll need to set up your network. In addition to the router, the product package contains an AC power adapter, a rubber stand, an Ethernet cable, a printed installation guide, and a CD containing a comprehensive reference manual. We like the compact design of the WGT624. The router's rubber stand and built-in mounting bracket on the bottom panel help you position the device for optimum range. The LEDs on the front of the unit let you monitor data passing across the WGT624's Ethernet and wireless interfaces. Plug the router in, connect it via the Ethernet cable to your broadband modem, and you've installed the WGT624 hardware. The network installation is a little less straightforward, and the printed guide may leave some in the lurch. The guide asks you to manually reconfigure the network settings of each computer if necessary, then it refers you to an online resource to learn how to do this. In contrast, the Dell Wireless 2300 and the Microsoft MN-700 include software that automatically configures the network settings for the router and any connected computers, making these instruments better suited for those new to networking. After you connect the WGT624 to your local network, the router's browser-based Smart Wizard automatically detects the type of Internet service you have and directs you through the rest of the installation. The Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router has a good feature set that meets the needs of both advanced users and those with little or no networking experience. The WGT624's browser-based configuration tool is easy to navigate and offers features tailored for family networking. The tool is password-protected and includes a content-filtering section that gives you control over the types of sites your computers can access, letting you restrict access based on keywords, service types, IP addresses, and times of day. The WGT624 also displays detailed logs of the Web sites that your computers have accessed or attempted to access, which lets you police the types of traffic passing through your network. The router includes two different types of firewalls: network address translation (NAT), which hides your computers' IP addresses behind the router's IP address, and stateful packet inspection (SPI), which checks individual data packets to make sure they are part of a legitimate connection. Together, these firewalls provide strong security against most attacks originating from the Internet. The WGT624 also supports WEP and the stronger WPA encryption scheme. We wish that the WGT624 supported wireless distribution system (WDS). Limited range is a problem for many home networking environments, and WDS makes it easy to expand your coverage area by simply adding a repeater, such as the Buffalo WLA-G54C, to rooms where your signal is weak. The WGT624 has other performance enhancers under the hood that make it especially well suited for streaming media. Portions of the 802.11e draft specification are built into the router's firmware. These new features ensure that streaming media applications, such as the voice and video links in a teleconference, aren't interrupted by a simple file transfer. This means that you can participate in the teleconference over your wireless connection and download data from the Internet without suffering degradation in the audio or video quality of the links. The most noteworthy feature of the Netgear WGT624 108Mbps wireless firewall router is its inclusion of Super G Technology (link is a PDF file), which boosts the router's speed to nearly twice the tempo of standard 802.11g devices'. A recent firmware upgrade allows the router to switch dynamically to support standard 802.11g and 802.11b devices when they enter the network. CNET Labs tested the router's throughput with various adapters concurrently, and the results are impressive. The WGT624 ran circles around the U.S. Robotics USR8054. Better yet, the Netgear router delivered fantastic range in our indoor tests, providing stable connections as far as 225 feet away.
D-Link DI624
Review By: Allen Fear
Editor's note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. (12/14/04) When we first reviewed the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router a year ago, we were unimpressed, but that was then, and this is now. The new DI-624 is about half the size of the original and twice as fast. It also comes with an improved quick-installation guide, a more comprehensive manual, stronger security features, and an excellent support package that includes a long, three-year warranty. Few routers are as easy to set up as the DI-624, but if the thought of typing an IP address into your browser's address bar makes you sweat, then consider the less powerful but easier to use, Microsoft MN-700. On the other hand, if you're looking for a fast router with excellent range and a bushel of features, such as a configurable firewall, parental controls, top-notch wireless security, and VPN pass-through support, then look no further. With a current street price of about $70, the DI-624 is a great buy for both home and small office networks. For a router with such an advanced feature set, the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is easy to set up. The package includes everything you'll need: the router; a CD-ROM containing a manual and warranty info; an Ethernet cable; and a 5V DC power adapter. The new DI-624 is compact, about the size of a medium-size paperback, and its bottom panel doubles as a mounting bracket, making it easy to attach to a wall or the ceiling. Unfortunately, the DI-624 doesn't come with a stand for vertical positioning, which is a feature we like in the Netgear WGT624. The hardware setup is a snap, literally. Connect the DI-624 to your broadband modem with the cable that came with your modem, use the Ethernet cable in the package to connect the router to your computer, and you're done. Although D-Link doesn't offer an automated configuration routine like the one you'll find with the Dell Wireless 2300 and the Microsoft MN-700, the DI-624's network setup is about as easy as it gets; it's one of the smoothest setup routines we've seen. The printed quick-installation guide walks you through every step of the installation process, with screen shots and instructions for both Mac OS X and Windows XP that show you how to connect to the DI-624's browser-based configuration tool. The browser-based tool itself includes a five-step setup wizard that automatically detects your Internet connection and configures security for your wireless network. The explanations and instructions in the printed quick-installation guide seamlessly complement the wizard, addressing each step in the process. The D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is chock-full of features for both homes and small offices. Auto MDI/MDIX ports in the router's Ethernet switch eliminate the need for costly crossover cables and make the DI-624 easy to connect to other hubs and switches. The router also comes with a removable antenna, so you can expand your coverage area by adding an antenna. The router also features parental controls that include URL filtering, domain blocking, and access scheduling by day of the week and time of day. If you play games over the Internet, you can use the DI-624's special gaming mode, which adjusts the firewall to allow for network entertainment. For connections that demand even less restrictive access, such as videoconferencing, you can use the router's DMZ feature, which lets you place a single computer outside the router's firewall. If you telecommute, the DI-624 also supports VPN pass-through for both PPTP and IPSec. With a firewall that is more configurable than most we've seen, the DI-624's security is top-notch for a consumer router. You can turn the firewall on and off, a feature missing from the Microsoft MN-700 and one that can be important for troubleshooting and allowing certain types of connections. You can also create a list of rules that let you allow or deny specific types of traffic between your internal network and the Internet. For example, you can block UDP traffic from the Internet targeted for a specific port on one of your computers. The DI-624 heaps on wireless security features. The router supports not only 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption, but also WPA and ironclad 802.1x authentication via a RADIUS server. The D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G router is one of the best-performing routers we've seen. Like the Netgear GT624, the D-Link DI-624 comes equipped with an Atheros AR5002 chipset, the secret to its blazing throughput and great range. If you already have a DI-624, you can upgrade the router's firmware to the latest version to take advantage of the new performance enhancements. The so-called 108Mbps firmware is currently available only for DI-624s with a label on the bottom that reads "H/W Ver.:C1." At close range, the DI-624 clocked in at 44.4Mbps. That's about twice as fast as a typical 802.11g router and just under the Netgear WGT624's speed of 47.1Mbps. The DI-624 also matched the WGT624 in range, surpassing other 802.11g performers with a record-setting 225 feet. We were less impressed with the DI-624's performance in a mixed environment with 802.11b devices. Here, the router was able to eke out only 11.6Mbps at close range, noticeably less than the 18.2Mbps demonstrated by the Dell Wireless 2300.
Dell Wireless 2300
Rreview By: Patrick Unnold
Editors' note: The rating and/or Editors' Choice designation for this product has been altered since the review's original publication. The reason for this is simply the general improvement of technology over time. In order to keep our ratings fair and accurate, it's sometimes necessary to downgrade the ratings of older products relative to those of newer products. Dell's Wireless 2300 broadband router offers superior performance and a well-rounded feature set suited for the home user. Windows 2000 and XP users, as well as novices, will like the streamlined installation, which nearly runs itself (other operating systems are supported, but not as seamlessly). The Wireless 2300 supports both 802.11b and 802.11g and touts an excellent array of security options, including WPA, WEP, SSID blocking, stateful packet inspection (SPI) firewall, and parental controls. You can also link the router to two additional Wireless 2300 routers to increase your 802.11g coverage area. This is the most polished 802.11g router we have seen to date. The initial setup of the Wireless 2300 is simple and quick, especially for those with Windows 2000 or XP systems. Inserting the accompanying CD starts the Setup Wizard. After a quick scan of your network, the Setup Wizard automatically configures the settings for both your computer and the Wireless 2300. With the Setup Wizard making all of the networking changes for us, we connected quickly and were surfing within just a few minutes. The process takes a bit longer with other OSs, but the included user guide walks you through the process. Changing the router's configuration requires the Web-based configuration tool; unfortunately, it's a little convoluted. For example, the Setup Wizard warns you to lock down the wireless network by changing the SSID, enabling WEP or WPA, and turning off SSID broadcasts. The first two items are easily found in the Basic section of the configuration tool, but users must make their way to the wireless settings of the Advanced section to turn off SSID broadcasts. The Wireless 2300 is packed with features and security, and it supports 802.11g and boasts an eye-pleasing exterior design. The sleek, silver-and-black chassis has wall-mounts built into its base. The clearly labeled indicator lights show activity for the Internet connection, each of the four ports on the built-in 10/100 switch, and the wireless LAN. The Wireless 2300 offers the latest in security options for wireless networking. It supports the new WPA encryption scheme as well as the older 64/128-bit WEP standard. There's no support for 802.1x authentication, but the router does offer an expansive MAC address feature that can be applied to all clients of the Wireless 2300, whether wired or wireless. Stateful Packet Inspection, NAT, packet filtering, and intruder-detection alerts offer a high level of Internet security. Additional security features include port forwarding, which allows for both a DMZ computer and the forwarding of specific packets to specific computers. The well-rounded parental-control feature lets you block Internet access for specific computers by time of day. You can also limit Internet access completely or restrict it to a list of Web sites. Another great feature is the router's ability to create a wireless bridge with up to two additional Wireless 2300s. This lets it function as a bridge and a repeater, similar to the Buffalo WLA-G54. The Dell Wireless 2300 offers some of the best 802.11g throughput rates we've seen to date, second only to the U.S. Robotics USR8054. In our tests, the throughput rates for 802.11g peaked at 23.5Mbps for 802.11g, and those for mixed-mode (with both 802.11g and 802.11b clients transmitting simultaneously) reached 18.2Mbps. The throughput degradation over distance is also very good. Most notably, both the Wireless 2300 and the USR8054 outperform their competitors in mixed-mode performance by more than a factor of two. The Wireless 2300 has a few limitations. The user guide indicates that the Wireless 2300 can support only 16 wireless clients or 64 NAT clients; in addition, having more than 20 simultaneous users of any type degrades the device's overall performance. Most home users will never stress the Wireless 2300 to this extent, but small offices could begin to hit the performance ceiling if their network grows large enough.
Microsoft MN-700
review by: Patrick Unnold
Microsoft's new 802.11g MN-700 wireless broadband router is designed so that even a novice user can expand a home network easily, but it has a few shortcomings compared to the Editors' Choice-winning Dell TrueMobile 2300. The setup process and the configuration utility are very user-friendly, and Microsoft's support options will help with most problems you might encounter. It offers most features that home users need, and the Setup Wizard automatically turns on wireless security--a unique and much-needed detail. Its range is excellent. Experienced users will be frustrated by the lack of advanced configuration options and wireless bridge support, however. Like the Dell TrueMobile 2300's streamlined installation routine, the MN-700's Setup Wizard gathers the necessary network information automatically before configuring both your wireless network adapter and the MN-700. The Setup Wizard supports all Windows platforms; a nonautomated, browser-based interface is available for other OSs. We uncovered a bug in the Setup Wizard software that prevented the application from completing normally when we attempted to use a workgroup name that contained a period. Microsoft tech support worked quickly to determine the cause and promised a fix in a future release. The MN-700's documentation is excellent. In addition to the printed installation guide, you get a thorough, printed user guide with a lengthy troubleshooting section, as well as detailed instructions for nonstandard installations, such as using the MN-700 as an access point instead of as a router. You use the Broadband Network Utility, which you install on one of your networked machines during setup, to check network status and adjust the MN-700's configuration. Like the Setup Wizard, the Broadband Network Utility is novice-friendly; it's easy to navigate, with clear help information on each screen. The utility also checks automatically for updates, making it simple to keep the firmware current. The MN-700's impressive security setup includes one unique and much-needed touch: wireless security is enabled during setup--no other product we've seen does this--and other security features, such as Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall and NAT, are always on. Additional security features include parental controls, client filtering, 64/128-bit WEP, 256-bit WPA, DMZ, MAC address filtering, and detailed logging. While the MN-700 boasts 802.11b/g Wi-Fi certification and an impressive feature set for home users, it doesn't offer much advanced configurability. For instance, it lacks options such as support for RADIUS and wireless bridging, which are available on similarly priced products, such as the Buffalo AirStation router. Also, you cannot control the output wattage for the wireless network or adjust the security level of the firewall. The only option available for configuring the firewall is a check box for enabling ICMP blocking. The Dell TM2300 gives you more control of the firewall. The MN-700's hardware features mirror those of most other home routers. The device sports a rotating external antenna and a four-port 10/100 Ethernet switch that autosenses crossover cables as well as the line speed. The MN-700 is designed for the desktop and is not well suited for mounting on a wall or a ceiling. With a healthy throughput of 21Mbps in 802.11g mode and nearly 12Mbps in mixed 802.11b/g mode, the MN-700 outperforms many of the wireless broadband routers we've tested. However, the MN-700 still falls short of the throughput we've seen in the broadband routers released since the 802.11g specification was ratified, specifically the US Robotics 8054 and the Dell TrueMobile 2300. Thanks no doubt to its rotating external antenna, the MN-700 showed solid performance over distance, outperforming even the US Robotics 8054 and the Dell TrueMobile 2300. In our tests, the MN-700 achieved a throughput of nearly 6Mbps at a whopping 175-foot distance in 802.11g mode, and it didn't completely drop off until it approached 200 feet. That gives it about a 25-foot advantage over the Dell and US Robotics products. The extra distance could be important, because unlike the Dell TM2300, the MN-700 cannot be linked via a wireless bridge.
Buffalo AirStation WLA-G54
Reviewed by: Patrick Unnold
A single wireless router or access point can't always cover every room in a house. The Buffalo WLA-G54 wireless bridge gives you a plethora of features and options for expanding your home or office network without stringing cable. It includes a four-port switch for wired clients, and it supports both 802.11b and 802.11g standards. Because it's externally identical to the Buffalo AirStation 54Mbps wireless broadband router we've previously reviewed, it suffers from the same flaws, including limited mounting options and hard-to-see LEDs for the four-port switch. The Buffalo WLA-G54 installs easily to a wired network, but connecting it to another Buffalo AirStation to create a bridge is harder than it should be. When you start the initial configuration, you can designate either a wired or wireless connection; the quick-setup guide has decent instructions for both. In either case, you have the option of connecting to the WLA-G54 via the Client Manager software included on the CD-ROM or a browser such as Internet Explorer or Netscape. Once you've connected a computer to the WLA-G54, you're ready to integrate it into your network by assigning IP addresses and the ESS-ID and configuring security options. The browser-based configuration tool includes wizards for WEP settings and MAC address restrictions, plus an advanced-configuration page that gives you direct access to all of your options. If you use the WLA-G54 to create a wireless bridge to another Buffalo AirStation, you must register the MAC address of each Buffalo access point, router, or bridge on your network under the WDS section of the configuration screen. The terse documentation fails to cover this process thoroughly. The Buffalo WLA-G54 wireless bridge distinguishes itself from other bridges, such as the Linksys WET54G, with its Wireless Distribution System (WDS) support. This lets the WLA-G54 act as a wireless repeater with up to six Buffalo WDS-enabled AirStations, such as the Buffalo AirStation router on a single network, making it an ideal solution for large houses or apartment buildings. Because WDS is not a standard, however, it doesn't work with non-Buffalo products. A swivel cover on the top of the back panel conceals an MMX connector. For larger sites, the WLA-G54 also works as a point-to-point or point-to-multipoint bridge that's capable of communicating with up to six other Buffalo base stations--a quick, easy way to extend your wired network or improve your existing WLAN coverage. The WLA-G54 is packed with the latest security options to lock down your network. It offers both 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption, but the WLA-G54 also supports WPA and 802.1x. Remembering some of the WLA-G54's more complicated settings is easy because the bridge lets you save its configuration on a local PC. This feature, along with the recessed reset/initialization button on the back of the WLA-G54 that resets it to factory defaults, is very handy in case you find yourself locked out of the device. The only feature we didn't like were the unit's LEDs, which are positioned on the bridge's side and difficult to see. The performance of your Buffalo WLA-G54 will depend greatly on how you've configured it and what it is doing on your network. As an 802.11g access point, the WLA-G54 offers good range, with consistent and decent throughput up to around 100 feet before a swift decline. The Linksys WET54G performs better, but the WLA-G54 offers WDS, which the WET54G lacks. Assume a throughput hit when you configure the WLA-G54 (or most any wireless bridge) as both a bridge and an access point for wireless clients. That's because in a bridged network, configuration packets have to be transmitted over the WLAN once to get to the WLA-G54 bridge, then again from the bridge to the next Buffalo AirStation or client adapter connected to your wireless network.
source:www.review.cnet.com
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