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Wi-Fi Draft-2.0 802.11N Routers: Good, Better, and Best

Linksys routers scored well in our high-end and midrange matchups, but competitors performed respectably. At the low end, Belkin is a clear winner.

PC World Staff

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 11:00 AM PDT
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Name PCW Rating
Dual-Band Routers
Linksys Dual-Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router With Storage Link WRT600N
• PCW Rating: 91 Superior
• Wireless mode: Simultaneous 2.4 GHz/5 GHz
• Antennas: 3 transmitting, 3 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100/1000
• Performance: Superior
• Features: Superior
• Design & usability: Superior
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Support for simultaneous top-performing 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz Wi-Fi nets, superior router features, and USB hard-disk sharing send the Linksys right to the head of the class.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
Full ReviewTest Report
Pending
Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station With Gigabit Ethernet
• PCW Rating: 84 Very Good
• Wireless mode: Either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
• Antennas: 3 transmitting, 3 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100/1000
• Performance: Superior
• Features: Very Good
• Design & usability: Very Good
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This speedy and versatile router runs in either 2.4- or 5-GHz mode, sports both printer and hard-disk sharing, and provides excellent software and a good setup wizard.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
Full ReviewTest Report
Pending
Midrange Routers
Linksys Wireless-N Gigabit Router WRT310N
• PCW Rating: 83 Very Good
• Wireless mode: 2.4 GHz
• Antennas: 3 transmitting, 3 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100/1000
• Performance: Superior
• Features: Good
• Design & usability: Very Good
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Sleek and speedy, this Linksys is a good choice for a small business that wants 2.4-GHz and gigabit support and doesn't need the multimedia-friendlier 5-GHz option. Has deep routing features.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
Full ReviewTest Report
Pending
Netgear RangeMax Next Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500
• PCW Rating: 70 Good
• Wireless mode: 2.4 GHz
• Antennas: 2 transmitting, 3 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100/1000
• Performance: Good
• Features: Fair
• Design & usability: Good
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A workhorse n router with very good performance and features. Its ability to expand its range wirelessly with additional access points is a plus for large offices or homes.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
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Pending
Low-End Routers
Belkin N Wireless Router F5D8233-4 v3
• PCW Rating: 73 Good
• Wireless mode: 2.4 GHz
• Antennas: 2 transmitting, 2 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100
• Performance: Good
• Features: Fair
• Design & usability: Good
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A low-cost router that doesn't skimp on performance or design, though it lacks gigabit ethernet. Great setup software and lifetime warranty.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
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Pending
D-Link Wireless N Router DIR-615 vB2
• PCW Rating: 61 Fair
• Wireless mode: 2.4 GHz
• Antennas: 2 transmitting, 2 receiving
• Ethernet: 10/100
• Performance: Poor
• Features: Good
• Design & usability: Fair
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This router is priced right and hits all the routing high notes (gigabit ethernet aside), but stumbles on performance and ease of use.
(Last Rated: April 30, 2008)
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Pending
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We tested each router and corresponding USB adapter in a series of short-range, medium-range, and long-range tests conducted in a real-world suburban home. We tested 2.4-GHz modes at close range and at long range. We tested 5-GHz modes at close range and at medium range (they were unable to complete our long-range tests). For the close-range tests, we set up the router in a home office and positioned the client approximately 6 feet away in the same room. In the medium-range tests, we kept the router in the office but moved the client two rooms away. In the long-range tests, we kept the router in the office but set up the client in the backyard, about 60 feet away. We connected our server test bed--a 2.13-GHz Core 2 Duo E6400 system running FreeNAS 0.686.1 revision 2744--to the router via ethernet. Our client test beds were identical HP Compaq 6510b 2.20-GHz Core 2 Duo T7500 laptop PCs running Windows Vista Business SP1 with all internal radios disabled. We ran a script containing a series of uploads and downloads of a 106MB file, using the Windows FTP client. We ran our tests multiple times in multiple positions, repeating them on several different days at each test location.

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