All Modem routers Feeds

Linksys WAG354G

tech.co.uk staff — 1204462915

Linksys' 802.11b/g ADSL router has been through a few changes, rather like the Netgear DG834G.

It has become more reliable with progressive firmware updates, and has also changed colour and shape in the three years since it was first launched. Despite its grotesque blue finish, the original box worked fantastically. Long-term testing did reveal some fallibility, but this has been ironed out with updates.

With the launch of this ADSL 2 version Linksys plumped for a silver antenna free design, but the US still prefers the blue - so much so that it's even used on the US version of the company's new Draft-N router. In Europe, the same model will be silver, and the upright design means it can easily be stood on a shelf.

The WAG354G is a breeze to set up and use; it really does give you the best of everything. The user interface is simple to configure, and there are numerous ways you can control users attempting to log onto your network. Such settings are increasingly common on all router configuration interfaces, but they're simpler to use on the Linksys.

The user interface is a web page on the router that you use to change settings on the device. Pricing for the WAG354G is now excellent and you should be able to pick it up for around the £70 mark - roughly the same as the Netgear DG834G and the BT Voyager 2110, but obviously shop around for the best deal.

However much you pay for it, you'll get an excellent performer, one we wholeheartedly recommend.

Zyxel Homeplug AV Router

1202743016

Getting your AV kit networked is a logical extension of using compressed music and downloaded video from the Internet. But it's not without its problems. Wi-fi is flaky and bandwidth limited, which makes it a poor conduit for video. It's also just not always possible to wire up all areas of your home.

This is where PowerLine comes into its own. Using 200Mb Ethernet adaptors, you can shuffle even hi-def video through your existing electricity mains, extracting it wherever you have a power point. This integrated router solution goes one further.

It combines a 200Mbps PowerLine output with BT-approved modem and wi-fi enabled router. The system is both powerful and versatile. It's best paired with Zyxel's own 200mbps adaptors. If you need to upgrade just a couple of components, it makes a lot of sense.

Highs

It looks smarter than a BT Homehub. The router offers four Ethernet connections and is neatly finished in fashionable gloss white.

Integrated PowerLine into the router/modem is a wizard idea and goes some way to justifying the cost of the unit.

Lows

Setup is not as intuitive as you might hope.

It's not possible to successfully mix the Zyxel PowerLine adaptors with those from other brands (for example, they wouldn't hook up with 200Mb Netgear adaptors).

Belkin N1 Vision F5D8232-4

1201871427

Full credit to Belkin for coming up with a router that stands out from the crowd. Based on the N1 model this N1 Vision stands vertically, so that you can clearly see the LCD display.

Belkin has ditched the usual array of flashing activity lights and instead has used a monochrome LCD display to keep you up to speed with the doings of your router, starting with the initial configuration. It's much easier to check the power is on and the cables are plugged in when you have a message that spells out the situation.

Once up and running, the display allows you to monitor upload and download speed, see how much bandwidth is being used, allow guests access to your secure network and check out who is connected to your network without referring to the Belkin Networking Utility on your laptop. The guest feature is very neat, as the press of a button will generate a temporary password for visitors to your home or office that allows them access to the network with the minimum of hassle.

Easy to set-up

The most useful features of the N1 Vision come into play when you're setting up the network; so once you're finished the screen loses a part of its value, but that's no problem as you can switch the display into a different mode and it becomes a digital clock. The fact is that most routers would benefit from a switch to disable the array of flickering activity LEDs, but Belkin has made it a reality.

The router part of the equation is an excellent example of second-generation Pre-N or Draft-N hardware that provides good coverage in conjunction with the F5D8053 USB adapter.

You can plug the adapter directly into your laptop or you can use the one-and-a-half metre extension cable, which has a solid base that stands the adapter vertically to give it the greatest possible chance of sniffing out a wireless signal.

Linksys WRT350N ver.2

1201784838

Linksys has used this distinctive router casing in a number of models and we saw it a few months back in the WRT300N. Thankfully, the colours have been toned down, so the casing is black with silver trim. However, we found that Linksys still uses its garish mix of black and purple in the configuration screen.

The router can sit flat with the array of aerials running down one side or you can stand it vertically, in which case it looks like a piece of military hardware.

Previous Linksys routers have had an anonymous button on the top, but on this model the button is covered by a sticker that says 'Reserved', so it would seem that someone at Linksys has a cunning plan that may eventually swing into action.

Check Compatibility

This is version 2 of the WRT350N, which denotes a shift from Broadcom silicon to Atheros. This could be significant if you are kitting out your office and want to ensure your hardware is compatible with existing routers and access points.

Despite the update, we noted the WPC300N PC Card carries a sticker that says it was manufactured in July 2006, while the router dates from May 2007.

On the back of the router, next to the Gigabit WAN connections, there's a USB 2.0 port that earns the WRT350N its description as a Wireless-N Gigabit Router with Storage Link. The idea is you plug in a USB hard drive or memory key to act as network-attached storage. It works well enough, but we're not too sure how useful it is to share files in this manner.

The Linksys wireless connection utility is basic, but it shows the available networks, the type of security they're using and the MAC address of the router. Both the connection utility and router configuration screen look similar to those from D-Link, although we prefer the look and feel of the Linksys. Overall, this is a basic but user-friendly product.

Netgear RangeMax Next

1201774330

It's a sign of the times that 802.11n has taken so long to limp towards ratification that there is a fair amount of Draft-n hardware on sale that is getting rather long in the tooth. That's not to say that the Netgear RangeMax Next DG834N looks old, as the Apple-esque styling seems bang up to the minute.

The pearl white colour looks attractive and the six antennae are neatly concealed inside the tall casing where they are out of sight. Netgear specifies that the DG834N has to stand vertically, which is presumably to ensure that the casing gets a decent supply of fresh air to keep it cool.

Unfortunately, when you look beyond the cosmetics, the signs of ageing aren't far away. The obvious clues are the four Ethernet ports that are 10/100 instead of Gigabit. We were staggered to see the firmware is v1.01.06, which is current, but dates back to October 2006.

The configuration details are printed on the back of the router in really small letters on a grey background that makes them very tricky to read, so old Netgear hands will be pleased to hear that you can still configure the router by typing in the following URL: http://www.routerlogin.net.

Easy Configuration

Once you've got the configuration screen open, you'll find it is clear and well laid out, so configuring your router is quick and easy. Externally there's an annoyance as the power adapter is so big it won't fit easily on a four-gang adapter.

When it came to the matching adapter, we could have used the WN511B PC Card, but opted for the WN121T USB adapter, which may have been a mistake. It's a large flat device that measures 100 x 100 x 10mm. It connects using a USB cable and is supposed to stand vertically on a small pop-out base, but it kept falling over.

We have no idea how this inelegant solution is supposed to work in an airport lounge or on the train, but perhaps it will be fixed by the time 802.11n is completed.

TRENDnet TEW-633GR

1201773357

TRENDnet has a new look for its router, but things didn't start too promisingly for the router and USB adapter. For starters, the USB adapter didn't install properly with the drivers on the CD, so we had to download revised driver v1.1 from the website.

We were additionally confused as the adapter was identified by Windows Vista as a WN121T v1021, which is the same model code as the USB Netgear adapter we had previously installed on the same laptop. The adapter is 27mm wide, just like the D-Link adapter; however, TRENDnet provides a short USB extension cable that should avoid any installation problems.

Unfortunately, installing the router was also fraught as the CD sleeve for the router has the IP address you need for configuration and a note that the default username and password are 'admin'. Unfortunately, this is incorrect as the password is left blank.

Once installed, things improved as the configuration software for the router is very good. However, it also installs a 14-day free trial of Network Magic software. Annoyingly, there's no way to cancel this.

Simple Design

Once we'd overcome the problems we were pleasantly impressed by the TRENDnet router. It's attractively styled with a shiny black casing, three antennae along the right-hand side, a green power LED, red LEDs for the connections and a WLAN flick switch on the left-hand side.

On the top of the router there's a WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button to speed the synchronisation of security settings of WPS adapters with the router.

Inside the router there's an Atheros wireless chip and also a Ubicom Stream Engine that prioritises data traffic to ensure that video and games will stream smoothly without any glitches.

Overall, the TRENDnet software was very useful and we would have rated the hardware higher if the installation had been easier.

D-Link DKT-810

1201711701

The D-Link DKT-810 All-In-One ADSL2+ modem router starter kit consists of a DSL-2740B router which costs £89 and a DWA-140 USB adapter that will set you back £45, both including VAT, so the boxed set saves you a whole £2.

In addition to the ADSL kit, D-Link sent us a £46 DWA-643 ExpressCard adapter which caused us some grief as it resolutely failed to make a wireless connection to the router. We had no such trouble getting a connection with the USB adapter. However, the strength of the connection was rather weak.

The adapter measures a chunky 27mm wide, so you might have trouble plugging it in next to another USB device. In the case of our Lenovo T61 laptop, we suffered a different problem as the USB ports are arranged on the edge to save space, so the D-Link adapter lifted one side of the laptop off the surface of the desk.

Sturdy Construction

The styling of the router is under-stated with a matt-black casing that has a silver joining strip that connects the top and bottom together with a brushed metal fascia. Although the router looks good, it feels rather light. However, the construction was sturdy. There's an on/off button at the back alongside the four 10/100 Ethernet ports and DSL phone socket, but sadly no Gigabit on this model.

D-Link supplies the log-in details that you need on a handy set-up sheet, but the configuration screen is a bit of a nightmare. It's arranged with five tabs across the top and a list of options down the side that change depending on which tab you display. The information isn't presented very clearly so, for instance, it took us a few minutes to work out that we were using firmware 2.24, which happens to be the current version. It also took a short while for us to realise that WPA-Personal security is enabled by default.

Finally, the D-Link wireless connection manager is basic and offers nothing over the standard Windows utility. Overall, this is an expensive and slightly uninspired piece of wireless kit.

Belkin N1 Vision

tech.co.uk staff — 1197849600

So the N1 Vision is basically a router with a screen, isn't it? Indeed, so rather than focusing on the traditional router functions, we'll talk more about what's new. The setup is seamless and is disc-less. The screen is undoubtedly a luxury, but it's handy.

As we mentioned above, one of its cleverest features is to hand out 'guest pass' security keys to your guests. You can also use it to view the amount of data downloaded by each connected client PC as well as allowing you to monitor your upload and download speed.

The latter feature is surprisingly less useful than we thought it would be; a description that could be applied to several of the other views.

Performance of the draft 2 specification is a lot more stable and works with standard 802.11g wireless adaptors, which is what you'll probably be using. Once again, though, the draft 802.11n's boon is range, which is superb in terms of cutting out obstacles even in our busy office environment.

But can you justify the outlay for the screen? Only you can decide on that one.

FON (La Fonera+)

tech.co.uk staff — 1195084800

Wi-Fi is pretty much everywhere: at least that's the theory behind FON, which aims to create the world's biggest Wi-Fi network.

The FON device, La Fonera+, is just a wireless access point that provides communal internet access through your broadband connection. The thinking is that users will share their connections in exchange for being able to use other FONs wherever they go.

Many people would be horrified by the idea of sharing their internet connection given how much wireless security is in the news. Yet the premise of this Spanish invention is to benefit FON users by creating an account that enables them to use any FON point throughout the world. As an added incentive, they can also earn cash by opening up their own connection and charging for it via PayPal.

It's an interesting idea and has been embraced widely across Europe. Now it's the UK's turn to try out FON, but does it provide real value in rip-off Britain?

Wireless revolution?

To date, around 450,000 "Foneros" are sharing their connections. BT has announced a partnership with FON to expand these networks in the UK, so expect to hear much more about them in the future.

Using the Windows network connection wizard the FON Spot is easy to set up, but it's noticeably different from the usual wireless networks. You'll notice that two networks appear to be listed: My Place, which is your own WPA-protected connection, and FON_AP, the public connection that you wish to share. The network key is located on the La Fonera+; you then register your FON account online and you're all set.

The tiny La Fonera+ is well built and has good signal strength, plus there's a useful map on the FON website to help you find local hotspots. However, unless you live in an urban centre you're unlikely to find another FON to use. And as for money-making opportunities, FON takes 50 per cent of every connection you charge for, so don't expect to give up your day job any time soon!

Devolo dLAN Wireless Extender Starter Kit

tech.co.uk staff — 1193266800

This is something we've been hoping Devolo would release for an age now. Having played around with the company's HomePlug stuff before, we know that its solutions offer quality connections, but the ability to extend wireless coverage just strikes us as something that should have happened before now.

This works exactly as you would expect. Connect the standard dLAN plug next to your router and then plug the other into a socket that isn't covered by your normal access point. Next, you'll need to set up the connection and the Wireless Extender using the web-based interface, and you're good to go.

The actual connection between the two plugs is limited to 85Mbps, although as this is a 802.11g device, that's well over the limit of 54Mbps anyway. In testing we were maxing out at 10Mbps when copying from the network, but this is more than enough for sharing your internet connection to the harder to reach areas of your house.

It's a fair whack of cash mind, and there are cheaper options available, but the units are well built, and the connection wasn't affected by turning other mains devices on and off, which can be a problem that affects other brands.