Netgear WNR834B Wireless Router, the smart pick for home users

Monday, December 8, 2008, 9:18
Gadgets
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It is indeed very good news for the domestic router users to loosen their nerves from the tyranny of wires. Netgear releases its latest creation intended for home users. One does not has to be a typical network geek to configure this router as far as its easy to use interface and wireless anywhere-connectivity is concerned. Talking about performance this device passed with flying colors with a combination of Ixia IxChariot tests and many other real world tests.

As its review, Netgear continued to win ways under the hood of its WNR834B series. It has a sleek design ready to be loved by users. It conceals all three of its antennae inside the case giving itself a nice sober look. Being so easy to be put in a book case or a shelf does not imply that it can’t be adjusted for its antennae’s position for better signal strength. It also includes the typical power port, four LAN jacks, one WAN jack and a pinhole reset button on its back edge.

Setting up routers has never been this easy as it is now with Netgear. There is a CD that has an easy setup wizard, or it can be configured through the Web based interface. The latter method is simplified by Netgear by enabling a direct access to easier to remember www.routerlogin.net. One can also use the device’s IP address (192.168.1.1). The wireless router automatically detects the hardware LAN settings, so in case another device might also be running with that IP, and then it switches to a different IP. A smart tweak like this can save a lot of troubleshooting time.

The router has a performance efficient enough at shorter ranges. The internal antennae do cut down on higher ranges but within a radius of about 30 feet it performs pretty well. This performance was recorded with three walls in between but when there is no necessity to cover up a large multi-storied building the Netgear is excellent. When connected with multiple clients it can reach out a maximum of 53 Mbps, astonishingly better than a single draft-N client where the benchmark was 41Mbps top. The upgraded firmware is responsible for this improvement. Also it was tested okay for the 802.11G performances.