Cadillac has announced the availability of an in-car wireless internet option on its CTS sport sedan beginning in April in the US. The new option will be called Cadillac WiFi (sic) by Autonet which will be dealer-installed.
The new Cadillac WiFi by Autonet Mobile can be transported to different cars. (Credit: Autonet)
The Autonet device connects to the internet over the 3G mobile phone network — or 2.5G if absolutely necessary — and acts as a Wi-Fi router to any wireless devices, such as smartphones and notebooks, in the car. Autonet Mobile says early market experience indicates that this option will appeal to families first, as opposed to the mobile business professional you probably think would be its main initial market. The device will have a retail price of US$499, and the service will cost either US$29 or US$59 per month — the former including 1GB of data, the latter 5GB.
We've seen this Autonet device before, although the latest model is smaller, dockable and sports an internal Wi-Fi antenna. A company called Waav offers a similar rig, but what's interesting about the Cadillac-Autonet deal is that a top-tier carmaker is putting its imprimatur on general-purpose in-car internet connectivity.
Of course, the big competitive threat is that we all just decide to get in the car with our iPhones or netbooks with integrated 3G wireless connections, and skip mobile routers altogether. Companies in the emerging in-car internet space will soon need to bring more to the party than just Wi-Fi and some 3G network massaging; they'll need to bundle and optimise services for in-car use, as well as develop car-specific interfaces, and deliver both in a way that speaks to two major use cases: driver and passenger.
That said, it's heartening to see an internet option make its way to the showrooms of global auto brands. Shame then that Holden's planned relaunch of Cadillac has been put on ice and that Australia has yet to see BMW's in-car internet service.
A mobile broadband card jutting out from the side of your laptop isn’t that attractive, but if your notebook doesn’t have a PC Card or ExpressCard slot, take a good look at the Verizon Wireless UM150. Although it’s on the bulky side, this USB modem’s good throughput and built-in microSD Card slot, which allows it to double as a flash drive, make it a versatile mobile companion.
UM150 USB Modem Design
At 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.7 inches and 1.6 ounces, the rectangular UM150 is reasonably portable but large compared with the sleeker $149 Verizon Wireless USB727 Modem (2.8 x 1.0 x 0.5 inches and 1.1 ounces). Since the black modem stands upright when its rotatable USB port is plugged into a notebook, keeping it plugged into your system while your notebook is in your bag—as you would with an ExpressCard or PC Card—isn’t advisable. On the plus side, we had no problems plugging the UM150 into the ultra-thin MacBook Air.
On the face of the card are four blue lights indicating signal strength. Two other small red and green LEDs indicate whether the unit is powered and if a card has been inserted. A built-in, flimsy retractable antenna is located on the top. A slot on the side accepts microSD Cards and turns the device into a flash drive. We took advantage of the UM150’s microSD slot by transferring photos from one laptop to another.
Setup and Ease of Use
Installing the UM150 on an HP Pavilion dv6500 was simple with the included VZAccess Manager CD-ROM. We connected to Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO Rev. A network via the VZAccess Manager, and the bottom right of the window displayed our connection signal and our network. The interface was easy to use and contains more tools than Sprint’s mobile broadband portal. Shortcuts to Verizon’s text messaging service and our default e-mail program increased productivity by letting us skip the step of having to launch our Web browser and manually enter the URL.
UM150 Performance
We tested the USB modem’s connectivity in a few locations around Manhattan by downloading a 5.7MB file from an FTP server to our notebook and uploading a 990K ZIP file to the same FTP site. In a deli where the Rev. A signal strength was excellent, downloading the file took just under a minute (at 791 Kbps), and uploading took between 26 and 33 seconds (282 Kbps to 304 Kbps). These speeds are better than what the Kyocera KPC680 Express Card turned in at the same location within the same half hour.
The UM150’s downlink performance in a 21st-floor conference room was nearly as fast, offering 778 Kbps downlink speeds for the same 5.7MB file. The Kyocera card was just behind with a throughput of 718 Kbps. The UM150’s uplink performance (377 Kbps versus 316 Kbps) was also better.
On the basement level of New York’s Penn Station, where signal strength was poor (just one bar of service), we had difficulty connecting to the network; it got stuck on the authenticating step for more than 2 minutes, and downloading our 5.7MB file took an average of 7 minutes (111 Kbps). In this location the Kyocera KPC680 offered slightly better performance (121 Kbps downlink).
During a train ride to New Jersey, browsing was mostly smooth but choppy when we went under overpasses. Under a bridge, we lost the signal completely but were able to reconnect in less than a minute.
Verdict
In general we prefer the KPC680 ExpressCard because it costs $30 less and fits into an ExpressCard/34 slot, which is a sleeker solution for mobile users. However, the UM150 is a good choice for notebook owners who want a little more throughput and the option of using their USB modem as a flash drive. We just wish it were a little more compact.
Supports Windows 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or higher
Pros:
Easy to use
MicroSD card slot
Cons:
Requires a monthly data plan
WiFi access points seem to be easier and easier to come by these days. Heck, even McDonald’s and Dairy Queen allow you to get your net fix while you’re chowing down on a burger and shake. But what do you do during the times when you need net access from your laptop and there’s no WiFi at your location? If you have Verizon Wireless cellular coverage, you could use the USB727 Modem.
Hardware Specifications
BroadbandAccess and NationalAccess Compatible 2–in–1 USB Device: BroadbandAccess and Memory storage (4GB+ capacity–sold separately) Rev. A Capable: Typical download speeds of 600–1400 kbps and upload speeds of 500–800 kbps* Compatible with all devices supporting the Type A USB interface including desktops, notebooks, tablet PCs and PDAs High performance, flip–up antenna External Antenna Port/Connector (external antenna sold separately) 3–color service state LED 2–way Text Messaging capable (via VZAccess Manager) NDIS driver support VPN compatible
Package Contents
USB727 modem Neck strap User guide Driver / application CD for Windows and OS X
The USB727 modem looks a bit like an oversized USB flash drive. At 2.76 x 0.98 x 0.47 inches and 1.13 ounces, it will fit into pretty much any pocket or gear bag with ease.
Speaking of it looking like a flash drive, this modem has a MicroSD slot in the side that will allow you to do just that. There’s also an external antenna connector hidden behind a rubber plug.
To begin using the USB727, you first have to install the VZAccess Manager application that is included on a CD, or can be downloaded from the Verizon Wireless website. There’s a version for both Windows and OS X. I tested the USB727 exclusively on my MSI Wind netbook running Windows XP. After the software is installed, you can then plug in the modem.
VZAccess Manager will allow you to control both the cellular USB727 modem, and your WiFi connections. As you will notice in the screen shot above, it sees the USB727 modem (listed as NationalAccess – Broadband Access) and my gadgetnet WiFi access point. From that screen, you can double click one to initiate a connection. When the connection is established, you can surf like you would with any other broadband access.
I live very close to a Verizon tower, with EV-DO access. I was able to easily connect in various areas of my home, including the basement. The USB727 modem has a small flip up antenna, but I didn’t really notice any real difference with it in the up or down position.
This modem will work with EV-DO rev A. It seems that Verizon is currently calling their two wireless network technologies NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess respectively. The USB727 should give you average speeds of 60-80 kbps and bursts up to 144 kbps on NationalAccess (non-EV-DO). For BroadbandAccess (EV-DO), typical download speeds of 600 Kbps – 1.4 Mbps and upload speeds of 500-800 Kbps can be expected. Here are some tests that I did using speedtest.net.
Tested in my home, upstairs at around 5pm or so EST.
These last three tests were captured at my day job around 2pm EST. I did three consecutive tests and as you can see, the results were quite different.
Despite the varied speed results, surfing, watching YouTube videos, downloading files, etc, felt quite snappy with this modem. I didn’t notice any lagging during the times I was using it.
In addition to managing connections with the USB272 modem and your WiFi card, the VZAccess Manager can show you an access log of those connections.
It can also show you the total data you’ve used for the month, and when it will reset.
You can even send and receive SMS text messages from the VZAccess Manager application. When a message is received, your laptop will make an annoying buzz type noise to let you know you have a message. There are no graphical indications though, so if you miss the audio alert, you’ll not know you have a new message unless you click the TXT icon in the manager app.
The modem itself is pretty cheap at $80. The only problem is that you have to commit to a 2yr plan and pay a monthly data usage fee. Right now, there are just 2 plans to choose from:
5 GB of data for $59.99/mo. ($0.25 for additional megabyte) 50 MB of data for $39.99/mo. ($0.25 for additional megabyte)
I don’t know about you, but I would go through 50 megabytes in a wink of the eye… An additional $40 or $60 a month over and beyond a regular cellphone plan probably makes this device prohibitive for most folks. But for those that can afford it, I found the Verizon Wireless USB727 modem to be an extremely easy to use and capable device. If you don’t want to rely on WiFi access points, free or for pay, this might be just the device to keep you connected on the road.
The "latest" EVDO Rev-A USB modem for use on the Sprint MobileBroadBand EVDO network is the U-680.
Actually, its not that new. Its the same Franklin CDU-680 that 3Gstore.com has been selling with Sprint EVDO service since Sept. 14, 2007 - nine months ago!
There really isn't anything different about the Sprint U680 except that it has a Sprint logo instead of a Franklin logo, and that customers can now request that be insurance be added to their monthly bill to cover loss or damage. Aside from that, the Sprint U680 offers no improvement over the Franklin CDU680 we've already been selling.
3Gstore has just received its first shipment of the new Sprint U680 USB modems, and already has them listed for sale with service contracts on our online Sprint EVDO order form. 3Gstore will pre-activate all U680's before they leave our warehouse to ensure that they are fully operational and that the very latest firmware and PRL information are on board. This service helps to ensure that U680's are not DOA and that installation and activation on customer's computers goes as smooth as possible. It also allows for immediate use with EVDO routers like those from Cradlepoint.
Photo shows a Sprint labeled U680 with boxes from first shipment
Inside the box that ships from Sprint are a user's manual, the U680 itself, a soft pouch and a USB Y-cable that can be used to draw additional power from a second USB port to compensate for weak EVDO signal.
The U680 ships with a user's manual, soft pouch, and USB Y-Cable
The Sprint U680 is compatible with Windows Vista/XP, Mac OSX 10.4+, and even has files needed to allow for relatively easy use on Linux distros. When is inserted into a computer's USB port it shows up just like a "USB Flash Drive", and opening it up would reveal the contents as shown in screenshot below.
The contents of Sprint U680's 64mb flash memory
Sprint has included software that allows for "One Touch" programming of the U680. Screenshot below shows the dialog screen that displays before the activation process starts.
The 'One Touch' activation dialog for the Sprint U680
The Sprint U680 is very compact. In fact, with its swiveling USB connector folded into itself to be put away and transported, it is nearly the same size as the Compass 597 USB modem with its USB cover in place, as shown in the next photo.
Sprint U680 and Compass 597 are the same size, when not in use.
The Sprint U680's swiveling USB connector allows it to be positioned upright, making it less likely to be accidentally bumped into and may receive better signal. The next photo shows the discontinued AirCard 595u along with the new Sprint U680 and the other USB modems currently available from Sprint: the Ovation U727 and the Sierra Wireless Compass 597.
Sprint's marketing plan for the U680 claims that the U680 is the only USB modem that fits the MacBook Air without needing a USB cable. Our guess is that their marketing research was done before the Sierra Wireless Compass 597 came out because not only does the Compass 597 fit and work nicely with the MacBook Air, it sticks out less than the Sprint U680 does. The photo below shows how much longer the U680 is than the Compass 597 when "flat out", which is the position it needs to be in to connect to the MacBook Air.
With swiveling connector straight out, the U680 is longer than 597U
Sprint U680 works great with MacBook Air, and can rotate up a little bit.
As mentioned earlier, the Sprint U680 works great with all of the Cradlepoint Routers and it also works with the Kyocera KR2 router, too. For maximum portability, the Sprint U680 and Cradlepoint PHS300 make a really good combination, as shown in the photo below.
We did a full review of the Franklin CDU680 back in September, and it is highly recommended reading for those who are just now learning about the Sprint U680. Check it out at:
The Huawei E160G USB Modem is one of four mobile broadband dongles available from operator 3. It is a pretty standard looking dongle at first glance. Available in either black or white, it is bigger than a USB stick at 75mm x 25mm x 12mm.
The Huawei E160G USB Modem is part of the amazing £15 for 15GB of data a month, which makes it one of the most eagerly waited 3G dongles on the market. We take it for a spin around town…
Like many of its competitors you may find the Huawei E160G USB Modem’s somewhat broad-in-the-beam measurements means it obscures access to an adjacent USB port on your laptop or even your desktop computer.
If you are a keen user of ports, you can always opt for a USB extension cable to minimise this problem, and happily enough, 3 provides one.
What’s neat about this particular dongle is that is has a microSD card slot in one side. Drop a card in and the dongle doubles up as a portable storage device. It supports cards up to 4GB in size. Meanwhile the SIM fits into a slot by the USB connector.
Plug the dongle into a USB port and the software it requires automatically installs. Thereafter whenever you plug the dongle in its software maximises so you are ready to go online with a single click on a huge, green Connect button which it is impossible to miss.
When you are connected the modem lights up to show how fast your connection is. Green is for GPRS, blue is for 3G, cyan is for HSDPA. As well as getting you onto the Internet for data purposes there’s an SMS manager with its own address book to help you keep in touch.
The whole thing is hard to fault, really. It does what it does very well indeed, is easy to set up, and doubles up as a USB storage device. Super.
Verdict The Huawei E160G USB Modem is one of the best 3G dongles we’ve had the pleasure to use. As in just a couple of minutes this dongle gets you onto the Internet faultlessly and first time. We approve.
Best features Built in microSD card slot Very easy to use software Incorporates SMS utility
Not so good A bit on the large side
Closest rivals
Huawei E156 Pay As You Go Mobile Broadband Modem Huawei E156 Pay As You Go Mobile Broadband Modem The 3 USB modem gives you true mobile broadband that’s easy to use and won’t cost you an arm and a leg
Vodafone K3520 USB Stick Mobile Broadband Modem The Huawei K3520 USB Stick Modem delivers freedom from wires and hotspots and super quick access to the Internet and your email.
T-Mobile 110 Mobile Broadband Modem The T-Mobile 110 Mobile Broadband USB stick is so easy to use – just plug it in, it self installs the connection manager and all you need to…
The 3 USB modem gives you truly mobile broadband that’s easy to use and won’t cost you an arm and a leg. It means freedom from wires and hotspots, and access to the Internet at breakneck speeds.
Three’s hottest new dongle comes in black, and has a MicroSD memory card slot suitable for cards up to 4GB in size, so it can double up as a memory stick as well.
The E160G is an even simpler plug and play dongle, as it’s preloaded with the new Birdstep dashboard, which gives you a link from their desktop straight through to My3 and a broadband dashboard which automatically updates itself to a new version when available.
Everything auto-installs so you get on the web even quicker than before. And when you’re in a Turbo Network you can get broadband internet access speeds of up to 3.6MBps. Plus with the E160g supporting speeds of up to 7.2Mbps, you’re futureproofed for a while against network developments.
To give you an idea of what each bundle could get you, we’ve put some examples below.
1GB of data lets you: Send 650 plain text emails AND surf the web for 30 hours AND download 30 two minute videos AND download 60 music tracks.
3GB of data lets you: Send 2000 plain text emails AND surf the web for 100 hours AND download 100 two minute videos AND download 200 music tracks.
7GB of data lets you: Send 4500 plain text emails AND surf the web for 200 hours AND download 200 two minute videos AND download 400 music tracks.
To use your sleek Stick USB Modem you’ll need a few things. Your computer or laptop needs a minimum of 50MB hard disk space, 1 free USB port, a Windows 2000, XP, Vista or and Mac OSX operating system. And the great user-friendly Modem Manager interface not only manages your connection, it displays all the messages you receive on your mobile broadband number. You can even reply to your text messages while logged in.
NetworksQuad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz / EDGE (EGRPS) with a maximum transmission rate of 236.8kbps / GPRS / WCDMA 2100 MHz (HSDPA) up to 7.2 Mbps
The good: All-in-one device for wired and wireless networking; easy setup; inexpensive; abundant security features; three-year warranty.
The bad: Disappointing performance; lacks some high-end features.
The bottom line:A bona fide networking Swiss Army knife, the CG814M does it all, cheaply and simply.
Specifications: Dimensions (W x D x H): 10 in x 6.7 in x 1.3 in ; Connectivity technology: Wired ; Data transfer rate: 11 Mbps ; See full specs
Reviewed by:
Brian Nadel
Reviewed on:12/18/2008
Updated on: 02/04/2008
Released on: 12/01/2005
By combining the three most useful home-networking devices into one sleek box, the Netgear CG814M wireless cable modem gateway brings the data into your home and distributes it across your network with its built-in, four-port Ethernet router and wireless 802.11b access point. This versatile networking trifecta is easy to set up and use, although its performance falls a little short of the mark set by its peers. Still, the CG814M works with any DOCSIS cable network, making it the easiest, most secure, and most economical way to deliver broadband data to all corners of a house. Netgear also offers a DSL version, the DG824M Wireless ADSL Modem Gateway, for those who use telephone lines for a broadband connection. Other vendors, including Toshiba and Linksys, will have similar products out soon, but for now, the CG814 is the only home-networking hat trick available.With the Netgear CG814M wireless cable modem gateway, you can get data flowing quickly and easily across your home network. In fact, this gateway requires little or no experience. Simply connect your cable network's coaxial line into the back of the rounded silver device, plug in the included AC adapter, and log on to the Web-based configuration tool either through the built-in, four-port router or Wi-Fi access point. For the network-phobic, you can also connect a computer via USB, but you must load the USB driver from the included floppy disc first.
To our surprise, the multitalented CG814M operates with very little fuss and frustration. Based on version 1.0 of CableLabs' Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS), the CG814M should work on most of the nation's cable networks. Still, we suggest you check with your cable provider before you plunk down any money. If you're particularly forward-looking, you can upgrade the CG814M to the DOCSIS 1.1 specification, which will streamline Internet radio and video by providing the equivalent of a direct data connection for these purposes. (For more information on DOCSIS, including a list of certified products, check out the CableLabs Web site.)
Try as we might, we couldn't detect any difference between the hardworking, multitalented CG814M and the three devices it replaced on our test network (a Motorola Surfboard cable modem, a Linksys router, and an Intel Wi-Fi access point), except that it helped us reclaim some desktop space and ditch a bunch of unsightly cables. The device can connect with up to 32 wireless computers and 253 wired ones with the right hardware. The package even comes with everything you need to create a complete home network: a Wi-Fi cable box, an AC adapter, network and USB cables, and an installation guide. The included CD-ROM contains electronic versions of the installation guide, as well as a 100-page manual and a nifty animated assistant that helps walk tenderfeet through setting up the device.
802.11b radio.
Resembling the Netgear MR814 802.11b cable/DSL wireless router but without the antenna, the CG814M wireless cable modem gateway can sit on its own, lie stacked on top of other devices, hang on a wall, or be bolted to a shelf via its recessed screw holes. Along its front face, the CG814M has eight iconic LEDs that show the unit's power, cable, Ethernet, USB, and Wi-Fi connection status. Instead of an integrated 802.11b data radio, the CG814M uses the company's MA401 802.11b wireless PC Card as its transmitter. The back of the unit features a switch for returning the unit to its factory settings, but it clears the settings for all three devices at once.
You can easily configure the CG814M via its HTML setup screens. In a bid to reduce setup anxiety, the configuration screens feature well-written explanations--which novices should read before clicking--in the right-hand margin. On the Wireless tab, you can enter the Wi-Fi network name or service set identifier (SSID), the WEP encryption settings, and the access-control list. The unit comes with the SSID set to Wireless and the WEP encryption disabled, but we recommend that you change these immediately to safeguard your network from passing hackers. The device supports 64- and 128-bit WEP encryption but not the more secure 152- or 256-bit protection found on the D-Link AirPlus DWL-900AP+.
Wireless-settings screen.
With a built-in firewall, the CG814M performs stateful packet inspection to guard against denial-of-service attacks and to carry out port forwarding, blocking, and triggering to run special applications and programs. In addition, you can grant or deny clients access to your network based on MAC addresses. You can also filter content by blocking Web sites based on keywords or URLs, making this gateway perfect for families concerned about keeping kids away from questionable Web sites. And if you can't get your videoconferencing software or favorite online game to work, you can set up a DMZ to bypass these security precautions.
There are three shortcomings, however, that restrict this device to home use only. The CG814M can't work as a wireless bridge to pass along a Wi-Fi stream to an unconnected access point. It also doesn't show network statistics for tweaking settings, and you can't adjust radio details such as transmission power, beacon interval, RTS threshold, fragmentation length, and DTIM interval.A jack-of-all-trades and master of none, the Netgear CG814M wireless cable modem gateway lagged slightly behind other networking devices in both wired and wireless operation in CNET Labs' tests. With a Wi-Fi throughput of only 3.9Mbps, the CG814M failed to keep up with the Siemens SpeedStream 2624 wireless DSL/cable router, which delivered nearly 30 percent more bandwidth. As a wired router, it stayed ahead of the Belkin wireless cable/DSL gateway router but fell behind the HP wireless gateway hn200w with a rating of 84.3Mbps. The combo device had perfect compatibility with five different Wi-Fi radios and an average range of about 80 feet.
Throughput tests Measured in Mbps (longer bars indicate better performance)
Range test Relative performance in typical office setting
0.0 to 1.0 = Poor
1.1 to 2.0 = Fair
2.1 to 3.0 = Good
3.1 and higher = Excellent
Netgear CG814M wireless cable modem gateway
2.0
Linksys WAP51AB dual-band wireless access point
2.0
3Com OfficeConnect wireless cable/DSL gateway
2.3
For practical throughput tests, CNET Labs uses NetIQ's Chariot 4.3 software as its benchmark. For wireless testing, the clients and routers are set up to transmit at short ranges and at maximum signal strength. CNET Labs' response-time tests are also run with Chariot software using the TCP protocol. Response time measures how long it takes to send a request and receive a response over a network connection. Throughput and response time are probably the two most important indicators of user experience over a network. For more details on how we test networking devices, see the CNET Labs site.
The Netgear CG814M wireless cable modem gateway comes with a three-year warranty--much longer than most of the competition, with the exception of Intel and Belkin. The company's Web site hosts a well-thought-out, interactive configuration guide, which can help home networkers choose the right equipment. You can also find how-to videos and simply worded guides that show you exactly what to do to set up a home network. Although the company's Web site often loads slowly, it contains a good variety of support services, including software downloads, tips, and FAQs. You can also make a toll-free call to Netgear 24 hours a day or e-mail one of the company's technicians from the Web site.
Almost every broadband router destined for the home market these days has Wi-Fi capability. In fact, it's been ages since we reviewed a router that didn't include radios for wireless networking. That means you've got a ton of choices when it comes to selecting the right router for your home or small business. It can be confusing, even to seasoned professionals.
One way not to choose is to go by the makers' advertised speeds, which seldom have much to do with reality. Some vendors go as far as using the "300" megabits-per-second speed in the names of routers that can't achieve anywhere near that throughput in the real world. Your best bet is to avoid any pitch that tells you about the speed of the router. Instead, you should look at many features that you might need and that might be buried deep down in the feature chart. Fortunately, the market is flooded with Wi-Fi routers, so finding a good one could be simpler than you might think, if you know what you're looking for. I've put together a list of the ten key points you should consider when choosing a Wi-Fi router:
Is 802.11n (N) really that much better than 802.11g (G)? Yup. Believe it or not, the 802.11g Wi-Fi router, which uses a technology that has been around for seven years, is still popular, especially in the corporate world. Small businesses buy G routers because they are cheaper and perform adequately. Some 802.11g routers include specialized functions that are essential in business, such as powerful policy-based firewalls and threat-management features. In the home, however, speed is far more important, and there the 802.11n Wi-Fi router is king. Some N routers, such as the TrendNet Gigabit, can deliver upwards of 200 Mbps, and can theoretically reach 300 Mbps. N routers often deliver as much as five times as much throughput as G routers in real-world testing.
Are dual-band routers better than single-band routers? N routers come in two flavors—single-band and dual-band. Single-band routers use the 2.4-GHz band, the same frequency used by G routers. Dual-band N routers support 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz bands. Even at 2.4 GHz, N routers are faster than G routers because they make better use of the frequency range in the band, and they're better at bouncing signals off surrounding surfaces such as furniture and walls. Average throughput for single-band N routers is usually five times as fast as G routers. And switching a dual-band N router from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz is like trading a Toyota for a Maserati. Some routers can achieve as much as 100 Mbps more by switching up. The answer is, therefore, an overwhelming yes: Dual-band band routers, though generally more expensive, outperform single-band (2.4-GHz) routers.
What about a simultaneous dual-band router? Simultaneous dual- band N transmission is a recent development used by some manufacturers to simplify switching between bands. Routers with this feature, such as the D-Link DIR-825 Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router and the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station 802.11n, transmit the N signal simultaneously in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. By using both frequencies, the routers achieve longer range and better signal strength, and, as you might expect, they don't require manual switching between bands. Simultaneous dual-band routers are also more efficient in their throughput. Some, such as the D-Link DIR-825, can even manage the bands without any input from users. Simultaneous dual-band can help stabilize the overall throughput on your network. These routers are generally more expensive than regular dual-band routers, but they are worth the extra few bucks if you've got the cash to spend.
Do I need two, three, or four antennas, or maybe hidden ones? Because the speed in N routers depends heavily on signal bouncing and multiple transmitters and receiver antennas, the ideal antenna configuration is 4 by 4. This means the router has four antennas, each of which has a transmitter and an antenna. Generally, however, most high-end N routers come with a 3-by-2 or 3-by-3 antenna configuration. While antennas come in all shapes and sizes, most are visible, tubular antennas. Vendors like Apple, Netgear, and Linksys by Cisco have redesigned some antennas so they are hidden from view, as in the Apple Xtreme, the Netgear RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500, and the Linksys by Cisco Dual Band Wireless-N Gigabit Router WRT320N routers. During testing, however, I haven't found any noteworthy performance advantages of one antenna design over another. The crucial point to consider is the number of transmitters and receivers built into the router.
What is guest access? Guest access is one of the most useful, and most underrated, features of a wireless router. Routers with guest access, such as the Belkin N+ Wireless Router (F5D8235-4), can separate a Wi-Fi network into two. This capability allows friends to use your broadband access without knowing the password for your network. You can achieve a similar configuration with routers that support virtual LANs (VLANs), but the steps in setting up multiple VLANs are more difficult. I highly recommend this feature.
What about Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)? Wi-Fi Protected Setup is a standard for securing your laptop with a Wi-Fi router. The technology simplifies the encryption process that users otherwise have to go through to secure a Wi-Fi network. Is the technology simpler to use than the schemes that preceded it? That depends on the laptop and operating system you use. Vista's Windows Connect Now (WCN), for instance, is compliant with WPS. When WPS does work, it's a simple process. Getting the configuration to work on laptops that don't support it (in both software and hardware), however, is quite an ordeal. Should you then look for this feature in a router? No. WPS isn't essential, and, all too often, some part of your setup won't be compatible. Still, many N routers offer it, and, when it does work, it's worthwhile.
How many wired ports do I want? The more the merrier. While most Wi-Fi N routers come with a standard five-port block, you'll be surprise how many don't—the Apple AirPort Xtreme and Apple Time Capsule, for example, have only four ports apiece. Adding a NAS device, an Xbox 360, a VoIP phone, and a PC will max out a five-port router (the last port connecting to your DLS or cable modem). If your router has only three free LAN ports, you'll have to buy a switch to accommodate extra network devices.
Is a router with a strong firewall important? Luckily, most routers include a firewall, and many use the SPI (stateful packet inspection) firewall, which is considered to be better than the older NAT firewall. A few routers, such as the SMC Barricade N Wireless Broadband Router (SMCWBR14S-N2), provide a range of manual settings on a firewall. Are these routers better? Not really. Typically, manual firewall settings are designed for specific usage needs and not for enhancing the overall capability of a firewall. As long as a Wi-Fi router has a SPI firewall, that's enough for most us. On a side note: most N routers support WPA2-PSK encryption, which is what I recommend.
Can home routers meet the needs of small businesses? For the most part, yes. However, sometimes businesses need extra security or technologies that are not available in some home routers. There are a few home routers, such as the SMC Barricade N Wireless Router and the ASUS RT-N11 EZ Wireless N Router, with advanced features, such as 802.1X authentication, routing, and VLANs that make them particularly attractive to small businesses.
What's the best way to access your router remotely? Routers like the Netgear WNR3500, which support dynamic DNS—as in the Dyndns.org or TZO.com services—are the best to buy if you want to access your network remotely. With dynamic DNS, you can gain access by using a domain name like myhomenetwork.net instead of using the IP address provided to you by your ISP. Since ISPs rotate IP addresses, the easiest way to find your network on the Web is by activating a dynamic DNS account in your router.
Like SMC, Trendnet might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think wireless routers. You're more likely to think of bigger names like D-Link or Netgear. But (again like SMC), the company is doing fine and producing competitive wireless equipment at attractive prices. Though it follows the annoying industry-wide trend of Really Long Router Names, the Trendnet 300Mbps Wireless N Gigabit Router (model TEW-633GR) sells for only around $125 and has all the features you could want—except for one.
We might as well get this out of the way at the start. Though it incorporates Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) wired ports, the TEW-633GR uses only the 2.4-GHz band for 802.11n traffic. This is fine for the wireless-g or 802.11b clients on your wireless network: They'll be able to connect. But because they're crowding the same spectrum with your new "n" clients, the "n" clients will see a definite drop in performance. Also, if you've got a lot of neighboring access points or wireless routers clogging up the 2.4-spectrum in your area, those will have an adverse effect on throughput as well. So here's my most serious ding against the TEW-633GR: If you're going to go to the trouble of upgrading the wired ports to GigE speeds, why wouldn't you tack on a 5-GHz-capable radio so that "n" can perform at its optimal throughput? It just doesn't make sense to skip this step. For four good routers that didn't skip it, see my roundup of dual-band routers.
But if you're not in a crowded area, wirelessly speaking, and if you don't have any legacy "g" or "b" clients to worry about, then the TEW-633GR is certainly a competitive choice. First, it looks cool in the way that the Linksys WRT600N does. The router has a sleek glossy black finish with three antennas on the right side, the usual series of activity/speed LED indicators on the front, four GigE switched ports, and one GigE WAN port on the back. There's one thing out of the ordinary: Trendnet also included a side-mounted Wi-Fi Protected Setup switch for easy WPS client configuration (WPS is a standard for easy and secure establishment of a wireless network), and a slide switch that turns off the wireless networking. I really liked the latter, as you usually need to hit a router's Web interface to disable wireless networking. This can be an easy way to check for specific network problems if things go wrong.
Setup is conducted via the usual CD-based routine. Plug a workstation into one of the router's wired ports, insert the CD, and the setup wizard kicks off. Like most of the other routers we've reviewed recently, the Trendnet seeks to take you from powering the router up all the way through setting up your wireless and wired networks. It looks as if Trendnet and D-Link have the same OEM outfit programming their setup installations, because the two routines looked very much alike, and both had similar problems—though Trendnet's were far more pronounced.
When I ran this install routing on the D-Link DIR-855, the install wizard refused to see my Internet connection. Fortunately, the router itself saw the connection just fine and finished the rest of the basic install on its own. The TEW-633GR had more problems, however. First, it refused to see the wired adapters of my Dell XPS and Gateway E275-M notebooks. The wizard tells you to unplug your Ethernet cable from your existing modem or router before the installation and then tries to check for the adapter. But when you obediently unplug the cable it simply assumes, because the cable is unplugged, that there isn't an adapter at all. You need to skip ahead a couple of steps in the wizard and plug your PC into the router (and power the router on) before the wizard can even begin its run.
That was annoying enough, but then the wizard hung when looking for the Internet connection as well. Switching to another PC and starting the wizard all over again, including the trick of powering the router on before I was told, allowed me to get through the wizard. In case you want to bypass this and go directly to the router's management screen—good luck. The default Web address is 192.168.10.1 (usually it's 0.1 or 1.1—thanks, Trendnet). However, neither that nor the router's default password is listed in your startup materials. You'll need to go dig through your docs to find those.
And as if all that wasn't enough, the install wizard installed a trial version of Network Magic without ever giving me a chance to opt out. The wizard finished and the Network Magic icons were there. I had to uninstall after the fact. That's bad software citizenship, no matter how you slice it.
All that said, setting up the wireless network wasn't particularly hard. Enter a wireless network name (aka SSID), choose your security mode (again, I highly recommend WPA2, though, if you've got older "g" and "b" clients, you'll likely get pushed back to WEP unless you can find new drivers), click "Finish," and you're done. Like SMC, Trendnet's setup utility provides well-written "Learn More" descriptions of the important setup steps; if you're confused, browsing these should clear things up. Once completed, the wizard shows a summary of your setup information, reminds you to record this information somewhere, and then saves a text file with the info to your desktop. Very thorough—and I like thorough.
I had one inexplicable hiccup, post-setup. Upon checking my network after setting up the router, none of the PCs could see my HP Color LaserJet 3800dn. The printer was set to receive an IP address via DHCP, but the address refused to take. My XP, Vista, OS X, and Fedora 8 clients, as well as my Netgear ReadyNAS NV+, all took their addresses just fine, but the HP had to be manually configured with a static IP address before anything could print. The fix was easy enough, and, for things like printers and NAS boxes, I like to assign static IPs anyway. But networking newbies will doubtless not be pleased when their printer doesn't show up without further configuration.
Setup and management of the Netgear RangeMax Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500 router ($119.99 direct) is easy enough for networking neophytes to handle. And advanced features, such as its wireless repeating capability (which extends the reach of your Wi-Fi network) could make it attractive to experts looking for a good deal for a small business. But while this 2.4-GHz router's features sound good, digging a little deeper reveals unimpressive performance and an interface that needs work (especially where it concerns security).
Setup
The WNR3500 has a distinctive, black lacquered 8.9-inch-high case, and blue LEDs illuminating both sides of the panel make the device reasonably attractive. On the clearly marked front panel, numbered, multicolor LEDs indicate which ports are connected. Lights for Wi-Fi and WPS encryption are also nicely displayed. The device is a bit large, though, for hardware meant to reside in a home.
The router has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, eight internal antennas, and two control buttons—one in front, the other in back. The first turns on WPS encryption automatically, the second enables the (useless but attractive) antenna lights. Because the WNR3500's antennas are embedded—that is, hidden in the case—there's no way to adjust them, so finding a good location for the box is important. Leaning it on a wall or blocking its sides will likely reduce performance.
Netgear hasn't modified its setup process for as long as I can remember, and I can understand why: It just works. The smart wizard walks you through all the steps needed to get you started with a minimum of fuss. At the end of the process, the wizard prompts you for a username and password. Forcing you to choose a password is a good security practice—too many people leave the default. Unfortunately, first you have to find the default password, which is in the setup manual on the CD. Netgear might want to rethink this unnecessary complexity.
The WNR3500 uses Netgear's familiar user interface, and the layout has remained largely unchanged since the company entered the Wi-Fi router market. While the setup process hasn't needed to evolve, the interface should have—it dates from a time when people were less concerned about wireless intrusions, so, for example, you'll find no dedicated security section. Instead, protection features are scattered throughout the UI. Wi-Fi security and filtering settings live in the workspace panel, but the access-control button sits in the advanced wireless settings pane
A simple display is provided at the front with status indicators for power, WLAN, DSL line and Internet connection. Note that only one indicator is provided for the Ethernet switch so you can't see which ports have devices attached to them.
The Install Assistant aims to make light work of initial configuration and runs through physically wiring up the router's DSL and network ports. An auto-detect function attempts to identify your DSL connection type and to save time, you should enable the Vista Telnet client and ensure that your PC has picked up an IP address from the router
Don't worry if you haven't done this as the routine shows you how to enable the Telnet client and once it's found the modem it asks for your account details. We had no problems with our BT Business Broadband connection and were up and browsing in a matter of minutes.
There's more as the Assistant offers to enable wired and wireless QoS (quality of service) as well. This is more basic than many other routers as it prioritises traffic based on the network port rather than the application. Essentially, if you're using applications such as VoIP or gaming then give that port a higher priority and make sure all the related systems and devices are connected to it.
The router's web interface may not be very pretty but it does provide easy access to each function. It opens with a basic setup screen where you can change your DSL settings or fire up the auto-detection wizard. The System Status screen provides a complete rundown on all network ports, the wireless access point and clients that have received an IP address from the router's DHCP server.
All - in - one package, ease of use, advanced features .
Disadvantages:
Price
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
Until recently, home networking has been the domain of nerds, and rich ones at that. Not only did a home network require at least two (expensive) PCs, but also the other relevant equipment which itself wasn't exactly as cheap as chips (to quote another "Duke").
There has been much grumbling in this household about the amount of time that I spend online hogging the phone line and I had always promised that as soon as I considered broadband to be within my price range, I would sort out this problem and everyone would be happy.
Well, that day has arrived, and as the resident nerd it's up to me to sort out the whole sorry mess. As I usually find, the problem to be solved wasn't exactly straightforward. Chez Duke has two PCs, in two separate rooms, on two different floors. The PC at the very top of the house is the one used most often, but it's the second PC, on the floor below, which is right beside the phone point. As you can imagine, the long phone extension cable running down the stairs created all sorts of havoc, especially when checking emails or chatting on instant messaging and someone kicked the lead out of the phone socket or demanded some phone time. Although my solution was a lot more expensive, physically wiring the PCs together was too huge an undertaking, especially since the wiring would be semi-permanent.
The final point was that I didn't want one PC to be some sort of "master" (i.e. needed to be switched on to be able to enable the broadband connection) and I was looking for a solution where either PC could be booted up and used irrespective of the state of the other.
Due to restrictions with wiring and the like, I had to resort to the more expensive wireless technology, and my research around the internet led me to the Netgear 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router (with 4 port switch). Phew, what a mouthful, eh? This set up would mean that the PC beside the phone point would be physically connected to the router whilst the PC at the top of the house would be connected wirelessly which solves all my problems!
I can hear you all running away in terror at the horrible jargon, so stop! Return! I shall try to explain to you what this is all about.
I suppose the best place to start is the ADSL part. You probably know ADSL better as Broadband. Broadband is a fast internet connection (depending on the speed of the most common broadband connections it can be between 4 and 10 times faster than your ordinary modem connection). ADSL is generally associated with BT telephone lines. If you are running your phone line/broadband connection through a cable company such as NTL, you'll need slightly different equipment.
Wireless is also pretty easy to explain, cos it means you don't have to use wires. It's as simple as that.
As an aside: Wireless network technology may also be described as 802.11a, 802.11b or 802.11g, and you shouldn't panic if you see these complicated looking numbers. The 'g' suffix at the end of the numbers indicates that the speed of the connection is 54 Mbps, transmitted at 2.4GHz whereas the 802.11 indicates the protocol (or interface) used to transmit and receive the data. 'a' and 'b' suffixes mean that the same interface is used, but at different speeds and frequencies. It's more common to see 802.11b and 802.11g these days. 802.11b and 802.11g are compatible as they transmit information at the same frequency, although 'g' is approximately 5 times faster than 'b'.
A firewall isn't a big nasty thing looking to kill you either. A firewall is a piece of hardware or software (in the case of the Netgear, it's hardware) which monitors internet signals going to and from your PC and has the ability to restrict access, based on your settings, stopping anything that you don't want accessing your PC. If you're looking to have a broadband internet connection (or any kind of internet connection which is pretty much on all the time), a firewall is a must.
Another part of this all-in-one package is the router. A router is typically described as something which enables two different networks to talk to each other. The router sits between these two networks and generally gives information the best path to take to get to the required destination.
Finally, we move onto the switch. A switch is a piece of equipment which gathers information from and distributes to a variety of sources (in this instance, it will be to and from all the computers in your network). It may also be required to act as a filter as well.
Essentially then, the Netgear 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router provides you with a broadband modem and hardware firewall base unit whilst allowing you to network your computers together without the inconvenience of wires, although that option is also open to you.
Inside the box, you'll find the actual base unit along with a power supply, a micro filter, two cables, the driver software on CD and the instructions.
The instructions are very clear and give precise details on exactly what you will need, although it's worth reading these before your ADSL connection is switched on in case you need extra equipment. Everything you need to connect to your broadband is contained within the box with two exceptions. If you wish to connect wirelessly, then you will need to purchase a separate wireless network card/device (typically priced somewhere between £30 and £50) and you may have to invest in extra micro filters (apart from the one you use to connect the router to the phone line, you'll need extra ones for each phone you have connected to an extension in your house at around £5 each.) It's advisable to have these at hand before you install the hardware as voice communications through the telephone lines can interrupt your broadband connection (and the microfilters keep the voice and broadband signals separate).
Installation was incredibly easy, and between unwrapping the package and reading the instructions, the first PC in the house was connected to my broadband connection within ten minutes all thanks to the incredibly easy Setup and Detection Wizard which automatically detected practically all the settings I needed to use. Bear in mind that five minutes of this was because I kept mistyping my login details for my broadband connection, and you'll see how simple this process is! The CD which accompanies the base unit is exceedingly useful at this point, giving advice and providing tutorials and troubleshooting guides should anything go wrong. It does get a bit technical in places, but is clear and easy to understand where it really counts.
The base unit itself is roughly just smaller than the size of an A4 sheet of paper in terms of desk footprint and roughly an inch and a half high (not including aerial), although there are screw holes on the bottom/back for wall mounting if desk space is limited. It's very plain looking with a few status lights across the front and the power socket and network ports along the back. The status lights, which indicate power and network activity through the 4 physical ports, the wireless connection and the broadband connection, are clear and easy to see.
Once initially installed, setting up the router/firewall is slightly more difficult. The instructions are sadly not as helpful here and many 'ordinary' users may find themselves out of their depth when trying to set up some of the slightly more advanced aspects such as the firewall but generally, most people should be able to get themselves up and running with no difficulties whatsoever. When accessing the base unit to change or update settings, there is an explanation of each setting to the right hand side of each page, although these may be a bit too jargon-y for a lot of people. That's not to say that it's impossible, because it's easy to set up restrictions to stop your little ones from accessing www.britneyinthebuff.com or www.swearyhumour.org, but tackling something more advanced may leave you scratching your head.
It's important if you are using a wireless connection to secure your connection. I found the manual to be woefully unhelpful at this stage, but found an excellent piece of (general) advice at http://www.pcnineoneone.com/howto/80211bsecurity1.html. (as an aside, there is plenty of great help on a large range of computing topics at this site and is well worth a look!)
The last thing that I did was change the default password for the router as an additional security measure, and satisfied that I had done this correctly, turned my attention to surfing the internet.
Browsing speed, download speeds etc. were all excellent indicating that I had properly connected the first PC to the router/firewall via the network cable, and that I could turn my attention to the second PC which was to be connected wirelessly.
This again was easily done. For simplicity, I used a Netgear wireless network card (WG311) because some people recommend using a card of the same make as your router, but this is not a necessity. Once again, I tested the connection and everything was excellent.
Setting up the network aspect of the system was also easy enough, by running Windows XP's Networking wizard on both PCs. As the router/firewall had already done a lot of the work previously, it was a simple matter of typing in a few names and letting it be. I can now swap documents between the PCs and play games, too.
I've been using the router/firewall now for a few weeks, and as the advert says, the better something works, the less we realise that it's there. This is no less true of the router, and while the performance of it depends also on my wireless network card and my broadband connection (both of which have also been top notch in the same time period), I have been impressed by the ease of installation and accompanying documentation and support options from the website.
Now everyone in the household is happy. The phone line is again free and both computers can simultaneously connect to the internet at speeds better than our previous dial-up connection could provide. If there ever comes a time when I need to add more computers to the network, then this isn't a problem as this piece of equipment can connect up to 253 computers to the internet connection (4 via a cable connection and the rest wirelessly).
If you're looking for further technical information on this router/firewall, then the official site is at: http://www.netgear.com/products/prod_details.php?prodID=223
Total cost of this system: Netgear 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router (with 4 port 10/100 Mbps switch): £122.42 Netgear WG311 54Mbps Wireless PCI adapter: £51.69 Pipex 512 Xtreme Solo Broadband connection: £23 per month (inc. VAT)
One of the PCs already had a network port built in, so I didn't need a network card, although you can pick these up fairly cheaply at around a tenner if you need one and extra networking cable can be picked up easily as well. If you don't know where to get any, you could try Maplin at http://www.maplin.co.uk/
The equipment may be a bit on the expensive side, but I already feel that the cost has been justified. If you're facing a dilemma similar to mine, I can't recommend the Netgear 54Mbps Wireless ADSL Firewall Router (with 4 port 10/100 Mbps switch) highly enough.
