RangeMax Wireless Router, Pre-N
1 A nice improvement
My previous wireless setup in a two story 1920s house, with thick walls and floors, required the use of a range extender to get a signal downstairs from the wired computer and a Netgear MR814 router upstairs.
The antenna technology of this router provides a fine signal throughout the house. I can use WPA security now, which I could not use with the MR814 & range extender combination. Also it uses flash memory for firmware updates (no need for executables).
I use Mac OS X and could not make use of the "Smart Wizard" set up CD. Even the alternative set up files (a bunch of html files) for "other" operating systems were of no use (pages weren't found, tried several browsers). Fortunately having set up a Netgear router before I could figure it out, but others may want to check the Netgear site and download the 175 page reference manual for this product for better information than the quick start guide provides.
2 Quantum Leap
Finally replaced my three year old 80211b Netgear router - this baby TROUNCES the old one in terms of coverage and security. Also now can stream my ITunes flawlessly using my AirPort Express. Not cheap but a great product for those experiencing coverage problems.
3 Not Impressed
Is it just me or are all those 7 antennae connected together into one point, judging by the PCB layout in the attached pictures. This would mean there is no active selection of which antenna is used and no separate channels on separate antennae as claimed?
Is this another bogus for the non-initiated poor users like me? 7 blue LEDs are not worth the bucks.
I'm sticking with the DI-624M for now. It already has a couple of omnidirectional paddles it can use in case of a flood
4 Much better range than 802.11b
I had the Netgear MR814 before buying this. The WPN824 gives me much better wireless coverage with my Powerbook all over my house. My router is placed downstairs in one corner of the house, and I can still get great reception in the opposite upstairs corner of the house, going through several walls and the floor.
It has 7 wireless antennas is built-in that has a blue led that flashes showing it's constantly switching to use the best antenna for reception. Watching my PB, the wireless signal strength fluctuates a lot the further you are away, with the only noticeable difference is increased lag times.
The UI has not changed very much over the MR814. You still can't fine tune the wireless functions very much, although you can now choose the preamble length. Still no QoS. The Attached Devices and Address Reservation of IP addressess functionality works pretty clunky. Sometimes some IPs don't show up.
The current firmware is v1.04, and I suspect there is a bug with DHCP reservation. I reserved my PB's MAC address to a fixed IP. I alternated getting an IP via a fixed cable and the wireless interface and kept getting different IP addressess each time, and not the reserved IP I setup earlier.
After the firmware upgrade (which can be done automatically by the router), I physically removed the power cable to reset the system. It did not start backup and it took a few more tries, including waiting at least 30 seconds before it came back to life.
The other downside is that the wireless router does not work with the Rokulabs M1000 media player. Without having a pure 802.11G base station to compare this to, I'm not sure if this is worth the extra cost for the added range.
5 goes the distance
I had three different wireless routers before this one and none of them would give a consistent signal in my bedroom. With this netgear I get full coverage. It is also the only one that has worked consistently well for streaming music across the house from iTunes on my laptop to my airport express connected to my stereo.
6 AVOID THIS PRODUCT-BUY THE BELKIN ONE
It's hard to tell what they intended this product to do - the installation procedure is so poorly done that it is almost impossible to install. It's a shame, because the concept is good.
Generally anything that claims to have a simple wizard installation is lying.
Buy the Belkin version instead.
